Category: Senior Football

Coach Hill pleased with progress

22 Feb
Michael Dilley All News, Senior Football , , , ,

Defensive Coordinator Darren Hill described himself as being “delighted” with the progress made by the team during this off-season’s training camps.

The second non-residential training camp of the winter took place in Bedford this past weekend, and was attended by over 50 players across the two days.

Commenting on the sessions, Hill said:

The second camp was another great success. Both days saw a combination of scheme install, individual and group skills, film review, group and team practice.

I am delighted with the progress the team is making as a whole and all the players have improved tremendously over the last two days.

This weekend the team welcome Kent Exiles to Bedford International Athletics Stadium for a controlled scrimmage, which gives rookies and first-year players valuable game day experience, and an opportunity to embed what has been learnt during the pre-season so far.

As a result of this weekend’s scrimmage there is no practice for the senior team on Sunday. Youth Team training will take place at BIAS on Sunday afternoon between 1 and 3pm.

February Camp

Eagles
15 Feb
Michael Dilley All News, Senior Football , ,

As part of the Senior team’s preparations for the 2016 season, the second non-residential training camp of the winter takes place this weekend at Bedford International Athletics Stadium.

The weekend kicks off at 8.30am on Saturday morning with a welcome meeting in the BIAS committee room, before the offense and defense split to work on installations.

A lids-only practice session follows heading into lunch, before a second practice session and positional film review in the afternoon and evening.

Sunday starts with another film review and lids-only practice, and ramps up after lunch with a final positional film review and practice in full pads.

We are always on the lookout for new players, coaches and commercial partners. If you would be interested in joining one of our teams in any capacity please do not hesitate to get in touch.

As well as on ovfootball.com, you can stay up-to-date with all the latest news and events on our Facebook page or via Twitter.

Eagles February Camp Schedule:

New Year’s Resolutions

29 Jan
Michael Dilley All News, Come and Try, Flag Football, Senior Football , , ,

It is never too late for some New Year’s Resolutions, and if one of yours is to start playing more sport then you could do a lot worse than join the Eagles!

The club was formed in 2013 following a merger between the Milton Keynes Pathfinders and Bedfordshire Blue Raiders, and now consists of three teams:

Ouse Valley Eagles – Adult Kitted – Age 18+
Bedford Blackhawks – Adult Flag – Age 16+
Bedford Blackhawks – Youth Kitted – Age 14-16 (U17)

We asked some of our senior players for theirs 2016 New Year’s Resolutions, the best of which are here:

Jack Judge
1. Enter a strongman competition
2. Reach the playoffs with OVE
3. Deadlift 260kg
4. Start the season at 120kg
5. 10 TD season

Khrys Speed
1. Play first game for OVE
2. Weigh 94kg
3. Snatch 140 and clean 170.
4. Catch up big JJ on deads.

Chris Parr
Be more like Christian McCaffrey.

James Drake
Find ways every week to make Gareth Pullen shout *insert accent* “Yes Drakey”.

Zach Wodaege
Transform myself from the dominant Julio Jones into Cam Newton and get JJ 10 TDs.

Nathaniel Ashby
Make my 21st consecutive and probably final season one I can be proud of!

Gareth Pullen
Drop weight to 100kg, deadlift 230kg, squat 180kg, lead team with an average of 12 tackles a game.

Andy Larwill
Beat my 6.5 sacks in a game record! And have less concussions.

Rhian Shirley
Squat properly, run faster, hit harder. And a few sacks this year!

We are always on the lookout for new players, coaches and commercial partners. If you would be interested in joining one of our teams in any capacity please do not hesitate to get in touch.

As well as on ovfootball.com, you can stay up-to-date with all the latest news and events on our Facebook page or via Twitter.

Pythons Scrimmage

26 Jan
Michael Dilley All News, Senior Football , , , , ,

Following the first camp last weekend the Eagles had an early opportunity to find out how much the new players had learnt, with a trip to meet the Cambridge University Pythons in our first scrimmage of the season.

With the Pythons in the middle of their season they came out all guns blazing and scored on their first two possessions, but as the Eagles defense became accustomed to the pace and intensity of the game they soon began to assert themselves.

The Eagles offense also started to click into gear with new QBs Zach Wodaege and Michael Davies both leading scoring drives.

The game was played in a marvellous spirit from start to finish and we would like to offer our thanks to Head Coach Julian Fuller and all at the University for hosting us. We hope they got as much out of it as we did, and wish them well for the rest of their season.

Following the positive start to pre-season attention now turns to the second camp of the winter, at Bedford International Athletics Stadium on Saturday 20th and Sunday 21st February.

Coaches delighted with first camp

22 Jan
Michael Dilley All News, Senior Football , , , , ,

The Eagles Senior coaches have hailed the first camp of 2016 pre-season schedule as a huge success.

More than 50 players attended the weekend-long mini-camp, which consisted of a combination of installations, walk throughs, targeted practice sessions and film reviews.

Commenting on the weekend, Defensive Coordinator Darren Hill said:

“Our first ever training camp was a tremendous success. We got our returning players quickly back up to speed, demonstrated to our rookies the standards expected to play football for OVE and embedded a huge amount of both scheme and technique”.

Offensive Coordinator Neale McMaster believes the team is further ahead of where he expected them to be.

“Given that was our first camp, I was delighted with both the enthusiasm and the progress,” he said.

“To be so far along so early in the season is terrific, and it gives us a great platform to build on”.

This weekend the team travel to Cambridge for a scrimmage with the Cambridge University Pythons, and the coaches are looking forward to giving rookies and first-year players exposure to game days, and returning players a chance to knock some rust off ahead of the new season.

“The scrimmage against Cambridge Uni will really cement the plays we have installed and give our rookies much-needed game-like experience,” said McMaster.

Coach Hill added:

“Everyone is looking forward to our scrimmage against Cambridge Uni as a means of solidifying the huge steps we have taken already, as we look towards another challenging schedule in 2016”.

As a result of this weekend’s scrimmage there is no practice for the senior team on Sunday. Youth Team training will take place at Bedford International Athletics Stadium on Sunday afternoon between 1 and 3pm.

Eagles off-season schedule confirmed

07 Jan
Michael Dilley All News, Senior Football , , ,

As part of the Senior team’s objective of gaining promotion to the Premier Division within our first four seasons, the Club are pleased to confirm the pre-season schedule for all prospective players for 2016.

From January, weekend Camps will take place once a month at BIAS focusing on installations, targeted practice sessions and film reviews.

Team Lifts and Camps are mandatory for all team members. The practice field will be available for players after all team lifts should players wish to do a football specific workout afterwards. Players can get in touch with individual coaches if they would like coaches to attend.

All players are expected to be at Golds Gym, Bedford at 8.45am for a 9am start, and will be finished by 10.00am.

In addition to the camps and lifts, we are delighted to announce we will be having scrimmages against the Cambridge University Pythons and the Kent Exiles.

These scrimmages will provide a competitive opportunity for our rookies and first year players to experience a game like scenario before the season begins, and also allow our Veterans to knock some rust off ready for the season beginning.

We will release details of our schedule when we have it.

BAFA NL Expansion and 2016 Opponents Announced

29 Nov
Michael Dilley All News, Senior Football , , , , , , , ,

The British American Football Association (BAFA) have announced an expansion of Division 1 of the National League from 16 to 18 teams, and the creation of MFC1 (Midland Football Conference 1).

The Eagles have been placed in MFC1 along with 2015 opponents Birmingham Bulls, as well Doncaster Mustangs, Nottingham Caesars, Peterborough Saxons and Sandwell Steelers.

Each team will face each conference opponent home and away to make up a ten-game regular season schedule, meaning that unlike in 2015 there will be no inter-conference games.

2015 opponents Hertfordshire Cheetahs, Colchester Gladiators and Hampshire Thrashers have all been placed in South Football Conference 1.

The provisional 2016 regular season schedule is expected to be announced early in the New Year.

2016 Play-Off Structure

For the 2016 season the top eight teams in Division 1 will progress to the play-offs, which will consist of the top two teams in each of the three conferences (NFC1, MFC1, SFC1) plus the two third-placed teams with the best record.

These play-offs will be ranked nationally, and in the first round will see:

#1 hosting #8
#2 hosting #7
#3 hosting #6
#4 hosting #5

The National Bowl finalists will both be promoted to the Premier Division, and will be inserted on a regional basis. This permits two teams from the same conference being promoted if they are able to earn a Bowl spot.

BAFA have also announced that the structure for Division 2 will not be confirmed until the Associate process for 2016 entry is completed next month, however it was confirmed that Cambridgeshire Cats, Chester Romans, East Kent Mavericks and Shropshire Revolution will be competing in Division 2 next season.

2016 BAFA NL Structure (Division 1 Expansion)

North Football Conference 1 (NFC1)
– Clyde Valley Blackhawks
– Edinburgh Wolves
– Gateshead Senators
– Manchester Titans
– West Coast Trojans
– Yorkshire Rams

Midlands Football Conference 1 (MFC1)
– Birmingham Bulls
– Doncaster Mustangs
– Nottingham Caesars
– Ouse Valley Eagles
– Peterborough Saxons
– Sandwell Steelers

South Football Conference 1 (SFC1)
– Bury Saints
– Colchester Gladiators
– Hertfordshire Cheetahs
– Kent Exiles
– Solent Thrashers
– Sussex Thunder

Check back for a closer look at the Eagles’ 2016 opponents on oveagles.com in the coming days.

2016 Merchandise Released

18 Nov
Michael Dilley All News, Senior Football , , ,

The Eagles are very excited to reveal the new 2016 merchandise via our Football America Team Store.

Designed by the club with assistance from our friends at 2G Creative, the gear is all new for this year and features the re-designed logo and updated club colours of white, silver and purple.

There are a number of t-shirts available starting at £12 each, hoodies starting at £20 each and a number of other items available such as hats, shorts, jackets and polo shirts including the designs below.

You can check out the full range by clicking here and visiting the Team Store. All profits made from the sales of merchandise go towards funding game balls and other team equipment.

Final rookie session in Milton Keynes – this Sunday!

21 Oct
Michael Dilley All News, Come and Try, Senior Football , , ,

Our fourth and final rookie session of the month takes place this Sunday at Stantonbury Campus in Milton Keynes, starting at 11am.

American Football has never been more popular in the UK and is one of the fastest growing sports in the country. If you’ve always fancied having a go why not register to try it out at one of our sessions?

Open to those wanting to play for the Youth Team (aged 14+) or the Senior Team (18+), the session takes place between 11am and 1pm. All you need to bring with you is football/rugby boots, some water, appropriate clothing to be out running in the weather and a valid form of photo ID.

To register your interest, please visit the relevant Event Page on Facebook or feel free to turn up on the day of the session:

Session 4 – Milton Keynes

2015rookiesessions

Rookie Report: Danny Cousins

16 Oct
Michael Dilley All News, Come and Try, Senior Football , , , ,

Ahead of this weekend’s Rookie Session in Luton, we sat down with Offensive Lineman, local boy and current Rookie of the Year Danny Cousins from last season’s impressive class of rookies…

Position: Offensive Line (Centre)
Height: 6ft 3ins
Weight: 290lbs
Hometown: Luton, Bedfordshire
Age: 23
Favourite NFL team: Minnesota Vikings
Favourite NFL player: Adrian Peterson

How did you get involved with American football?
After watching NFL for a few years, it was a sport that I really wanted to try out. I played rugby when I was younger and liked contact sports, but wanted to try something different.

A couple of friends and I turned up to the 2014 rookie days in Milton Keynes and St Neots after hearing about them on Facebook and loved it.

The sessions are purely for you to come and have a go. You take part in skills and drills involved with all of the different positions. The players are on hand to answer questions, offer advice and support you. We ended up going to all of the rookie sessions and joining the team!

Did anything take you by surprise during your first season?
Before I started playing, I underestimated how big a part, fitness played in the game. Although it is a “stop/start” game, it’s high intensity and you have to be able to give your all on every down.

I’ve had to improve my fitness a lot, but that was one of my reasons for joining the team too. It also surprised me how much you learn so quickly!

What is your favourite thing about playing for the Eagles so far?
The camaraderie is great. The team spirit amongst us is phenomenal; on the sideline on game day you can just feel that everybody believes in each other and that we can beat anybody!

It gives me great pride to be a part of the Eagles family.

What are your aims for next season?
I want to continue learning as much as I can about the sport, train to become technically and physically better than last year and help the Eagles secure promotion to the Premier Division.

I also want to represent Great Britain. Four Eagles were offered trials this year and I aim to do everything I can to be a part of that number next season!

What advice do you have for anyone considering playing American Football for the first time?
If you have the slightest inclination to give it a go, just do it! Don’t let a lack of knowledge or understanding of the game put you off.

I knew next to nothing when I started last year, other than a few rules I had learned from watching games. The coaches are great and teach you everything you need to know and your team-mates are always happy to help too, you just need to be willing to learn and the term “there’s no such thing as a stupid question” has never been truer!

We’re a dedicated, driven team and if you are willing to listen, learn and work hard, you’ll fit right in!

The third rookie session of the month takes place this Sunday at Lealands High School in Luton, starting at 11am.

American Football has never been more popular in the UK and is one of the fastest growing sports in the country. If you’ve always fancied having a go why not register to try it out at one of our sessions?

Open to those wanting to play for the Youth Team (aged 14+) or the Senior Team (18+), after this weekend we then move to Milton Keynes next week for our final session at Stantonbury Campus.

Each session takes place between 11am and 1pm. All you need to bring with you is football/rugby boots, some water, appropriate clothing to be out running in the weather and a valid form of photo ID.

To register your interest, please visit the relevant Event Page on Facebook or feel free to turn up on the day of the session:

Session 3 – Luton
Session 4 – Milton Keynes

2015rookiesessions