Senior Team Mini-Camp
Senior Team Practice
Second rookie session this Sunday
11
Jan
Open to those wanting to play for the Senior Team (18+), the second of two dedicated rookie sessions takes place this Sunday (15th January) from 11am to 1.10pm at Bedford International Athletics Stadium, Barkers Lane, Bedford.
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 come down and see how you get on?
If you are coming this weekend there are a few things you’ll need to bring with you:
- Water (recommended 2L but the more the better). We know it’s quite stop start, but practices are tough going!
- Rugby or football boots as we train on grass
- Shorts/Joggers or similar
- Top of some kind: sweatshirt, t-shirt or similar
- Gumshield
- You may want to bring a towel and shower things
A full training session will take place next Sunday (22nd January) followed by the first of four mini-camps a week later. Click here for further details on the preseason schedule.
Directions
Running Backs Coach Wanted
05
Jan
The Eagles Senior team are looking for a Running Backs coach to join Head Coach Neale McMaster’s backroom staff for the 2017 season.
The successful candidate will be qualified to BAFCA Level 1 (or be willing to obtain that qualification almost immediately), and will have previous experience of playing or coaching the position.
They will work with our existing team of coaches to develop our players and each other, as the team looks to build on last season’s 4-6 record in BAFANL Midlands Football Conference 1.
If you are interested in this position please contact Coach McMaster via neale.mcmaster@oveagles.com.
First rookie session this Sunday
04
Jan
Open to those wanting to play for the Senior Team (18+), our first of two dedicated rookie sessions takes place this Sunday (8th January) from 11am to 1.10pm at Bedford International Athletics Stadium, Barkers Lane, Bedford.
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 come down and see how you get on?
If you are coming this weekend there are a few things you’ll need to bring with you:
- Water (recommended 2L but the more the better). We know it’s quite stop start, but practices are tough going!
- Rugby or football boots as we train on grass
- Shorts/Joggers or similar
- Top of some kind: sweatshirt, t-shirt or similar
- Gumshield
- You may want to bring a towel and shower things
A second rookie session will be taking place at the same next Sunday (15th January), and that will be followed up by a full training session a week later. Click here for further details on the preseason schedule.
Directions
2017 Senior team coaches named
08
Dec
Eagles Head Coach Neale McMaster has unveiled his 2017 coaching team ahead of next month’s rookie sessions.
The Eagles are very fortunate to have an extremely dedicated group of coaches, who work hard at all levels of the game to ensure that our players are not just the best American Football players they can be, but are also striving to be the best people they can be.
As announced last month, McMaster will take on Defensive Coordinator duties alongside Offensive Coordinator Nick Tilbury, and the duo will be assisted by Gary Villiers (Special Teams), Andy Cox (Offensive Line), Martin Day and Lawrence LaMontagne (Wide Receivers), Burger Swanepole (Defensive Line) and Kevin Kong (Defensive Backs).
Our aim as a club is to put five players a year through their Level 1 coaching badge, and to secure funding to allow all coaches to attend conventions and clinics to promote their learning.
There is currently a vacancy for a Running Backs coach. If you would be interested in taking on the position please get in touch.
Head Coach / Defensive Coordinator – Neale McMaster
Following a successful playing career in Scotland with the University of Glasgow Tigers and East Kilbride Pirates, McMaster moved south of the border in 2012 and joined the Bedfordshire Blue Raiders initially as a player, before becoming Offensive Line coach ahead of the 2013 season.
He became Chairman of the newly-formed Eagles following the merger between the Blue Raiders and Milton Keynes Pathfinders, and was named Offensive Coordinator by former Head Coach Will White.
In Neale’s three seasons as OC the Eagles posted a combined 19-11 record which included a record 75-6 win against the Ipswich Cardinals in 2014 and play-off appearances in 2014 and 2015, and he is also a part of the coaching setup with the Great Britain Lions.
Offensive Coordinator – Nick Tilbury
After a senior playing career that also took in spells with the MK Pioneers, Chiltern Cheetahs, London Mets, Herts Stags, Cambridgeshire Cats, Bedfordshire Blue Raiders and the Saxons, Tilbury transitioned into a coaching role with Peterborough and was part of the staff that took them to the Division 2 Final in 2015.
Following promotion to the BAFANL Midlands Football Conference 1 the Saxons were unable to complete the 2016 season, but Tilbury wanted to remain involved in football, and jumped at the chance to join then-OC McMaster’s coaching staff in the latter half of the season.
Special Teams Coordinator – Gary Villiers
Gary grew up in South London and was forced to play rugby at school. He discovered American Football in the early 80s when Channel 4 started showing regular highlights. Around 84/85, aged 17, Gary found a team forming in a park in Bexley, went along and played unkitted for about a season before The Bexley Barons were finally formed as a kitted team.
Gary played as Fullback and Slot Receiver for a couple of years before switching to defensive-end. Gary then moved on to East Kent (then Kent) Cougars, also briefly with Barracuda and Olympians II. He retired from playing in 1995 after breaking shoulder and had nothing to do with Britball again for 18 years! However, he became increasingly interested in US College Football during that time, eventually studying coaching techniques and philosophies more seriously.
After a move to St Neots, he decided one wet Sunday in early 2013 to see if his local team the Bedfordshire Blue Raiders needed any help and was quickly adopted as Defensive Line Coach assisting Coach Ramsay. Gary found the experience really rewarding and fun so signed up to qualify with BAFCA as a Level 1 coach.
Following that season, Gary was offered the opportunity to coach at Cambridge University with the Pythons where he coached all lineman on both sides of the ball and worked alongside Coach Fuller as Defensive Coordinator, before being named Head Coach ahead of the 2015/16 season.
Offensive Line Coach – Andy Cox
Andy grew up in Daventry and was always actively involved in sport, representing his school at football, rugby and hockey as well as captaining the cricket team. Outside of school it was American Football that grabbed his attention, playing for The Weedon Warriors.
Now working as a Business Analyst, he graduated from the University of East Anglia in 1991 with a B.Sc. (Hons) degree in Physics, and three years of playing for the UEA Pirates American Football team culminated in an appearance in College Bowl V.
In his last two years at UEA, Andy also represented the Norwich Devils, and joined the Eagles ahead of the 2016 season as Offensive Line Assistant Coach.
Wide Receivers Coach – Lawrence LaMontagne
A vastly experienced player and coach who has been involved in the sport since joining the Luton Flyers in the mid-80s.
“LT” spent his playing days with the Bedford Bombardiers, Leicester Panthers, Sheffield, PA Knights and Coventry Jets as at Defensive End, and after retiring from playing has coached with the Jets, Southend, Blue Raiders and Essex Spartans.
Wide Receivers Coach – Martin Day
A one-time Bedfordshire Blue Raider and Lincolnshire Bomber QB, Day has been associated with the Eagles since the merger, spending the majority of his time at Tight End.
He is moving into coaching during the 2017 season whilst recovering from ACL reconstruction surgery.
Defensive Line Coach – Burger Swanepole
Burger is a diehard Patriots fan and all round NFL fanatic. He graduated with a BSc Sports Coaching Science from Worcester University in 2011 where he was also a member the then Worcester Cardinals, and after a rebranding to the Worcester Royals.
Burger took on a Coaching role as Defensive Back Coach whilst studying, where he also gained his British American Football Coaching Level 1, and joins the Eagles for the 2017 season.
Defensive Backs Coach – Kevin Kong
Growing up in Bedford, Kevin was always interested in sports but it wasn’t until Super Bowl XXXIX that he found his true passion, where his now-beloved Philadelphia Eagles lost to a bunch of cheating b… the New England Patriots.
Choosing Loughborough University for their prestigious American Football programme, he started his journey as a Corner Back and eventually earned a place as a starting Safety.
He was one of the original members of the Bedfordshire Blue Raiders and eventually joined the Ouse Valley Eagles when moving back to the area.
Having played for 10 years Kong believes it is time to share what he has learned, and hopefully have a laugh on the way.
2016 AGM Minutes
28
Nov
The 2016 Annual General Meeting took place yesterday (Sunday 27th November) at Bedford International Athletics Stadium, and saw Michael Dilley named the new Club Chairman.
Attended by Club members, coaches, friends, family and supporters, the meeting covered off elections to the committee for the year ahead which included newly-created roles of Academy Coordinator and Flag Football Coordinator, as well as a brief financial update by Treasurer Nick Chapman, and a look ahead to the upcoming year.
Also discussed and approved were proposed changes to the Club Constitution to support the newly-created positions on the Club Committee.
2016 Committee Election Results
- Chairman (two-year term): Michael Dilley
- Academy Coordinator (one-year term): Mark Chilton
- Flag Football Coordinator (one-year term): Jake Cooper
- Communications Manager (one-year term): Michael Dilley
- Child Welfare Officer (one-year term): Jenny Chilton
- 3 x Ordinary Members (one-year term): Gareth Pullen, Ross Hubbard
Following the application and election process there is currently a vacancy on the Committee for an “Ordinary Member”. Fore more information on the role please get in touch.
To download the public version of the AGM presentation please click here.
Notice of 2016 AGM
13
Nov
The 2016 Annual General Meeting will take place on Sunday 27th November at 1.30pm at Bedford International Athletics Stadium, Barkers Lane, Bedford.
Who can attend?
All Club members, coaches, committee, friends, family and supporters are welcome to attend the AGM. This includes all teams under the Ouse Valley Football banner.
Agenda
We’ll try and keep things short and snappy and the focus will be on giving you a chance to ask questions rather than listen to us talking at you. We’ll cover elections to the committee for the year ahead (see below) as well as a brief financial update, a review of the 2016 season and then look ahead to the upcoming year.
Voting
All registered players, coaches, committee members and staff over the age of 18 will be eligible to vote. While we’d love to see former club members, players, coaches etc. on the day, only those registered for the 2016 season will be eligible to vote.
What if I can’t go – can I still vote?
If you can’t make the meeting, you can ask someone to be your proxy. This means that you can ask someone to vote on your behalf, but you have to let us know in advance.
Constitutional amendments
We are currently reviewing our constitution to make sure it’s in good shape. There will be some minor amendments required to support the positions detailed below, and we’ll discuss those on the day.
Items for discussion
If you would like to request an item be raised or discussed at the AGM please let us know at least seven days in advance, i.e. by 1.30pm on Sunday 20th November.
Positions up for election
All committee positions will be up for election at the meeting, except for the role of Treasurer which has a two-year term and was elected last year:
– Chairman (two-year role)
– Academy Coordinator (newly created, one-year role)
– Flag Football Coordinator (newly created, one-year role)
– Communications Manager (one-year role)
– Child Welfare Officer (one-year role)
– 3 x Ordinary Members (one-year role)
To apply
As per the Club Constitution, all persons intending to stand must give notification of their intent prior to the AGM. All nominations also have to be proposed by two team members – one of whom must be a Committee member.
All roles involve a significant amount of commitment. Prospective Committee members will need to to attend regular meetings via Google Hangouts, attend team events, own the delivery of specific pieces of work and have the time available carry out any tasks required.
There are a number of alternative ways to help the team without being on the Committee, so if you’d like to get involved in other ways, please get in touch.
The deadline for applications has now passed.
2016 Award winners revealed
08
Oct
The 2016 Player of the Year Awards took place last night at Revolution Milton Keynes, where Ross Hubbard was the big winner.
Hubbard was named Team MVP, Offensive MVP and Joint Players Player of the Year along with Offensive Lineman Danny Cousins.
Linebacker Gareth “Tish” Pullen took home the Defensive MVP Award, John Rudgard was named Lineman of the Year for the second year in a row, and Offensive Lineman Nathan Spencer won the Rookie of the Year Award.
Ouse Valley Eagles 2016 Award winners
- Joint Players Player of the Year – Ross Hubbard and Danny Cousins
- Most Valuable Player – Ross Hubbard
- Defensive MVP – Gareth Pullen
- Offensive MVP – Ross Hubbard
- Lineman of the Year – John Rudgard
- Rookie of the Year – Nathan Spencer
- Most Improved Player – Rhian Shirley
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