The home of American Football in Beds, Bucks and Northants
Pre-Season training for all Ouse Valley Eagles teams starts on Sunday 6 January 2019 at Bedford International Athletics Stadium.
10:00am Seniors
11:00am Juniors and Youths
Please be on the field at the appointed time. Anyone coming to their first session please arrive in plenty of time for a chat with coaching staff.
Enjoy the remainder of your holidays and let’s be ready to go in the first week of the new year.
The Eagles kick off the 2018 season at home to the Sussex Thunder on Sunday afternoon at Bedford International Athletics Stadium.
After going 10-0 in the regular season last year the Thunder unexpectedly went down 26-9 against the Berkshire Renegades last weekend, and head into the game eager to get back to winning ways.
The Eagles meanwhile come into the 2018 campaign following back-to-back 4-6 seasons, looking to rebuild again with a small but highly committed squad of players keen to cause a few surprises along the way.
The game kicks off at 1pm, with free admission for all.
Head Coach Neale McMaster will be missing LB/TE Darren Willison due to a back injury. WR Troy Mayer has a thumb injury and will be a game-time decision, but QB Martin Day is back making his first start since 2015 following a serious knee injury.
“We’re excited to finally get back to playing football after a long preseason.
“With a small squad and a fair percentage of rookies, we’ll be looking to have an exciting and testing offense, complemented by an attacking defensive and special teams units that will allow us to challenge for that first elusive playoff victory this year.”
If you can’t make it to Bedford to watch the games, we will be providing score updates via our Twitter and Facebook pages.
The Eagles’ 2018 regular season schedule has been confirmed, and sees the team kicking off at home in SFC1 Central to last season’s division champions Sussex Thunder on Sunday 22nd April.
That is followed three weeks later with the return game on the South Coast, before a first ever meeting with the Berkshire Renegades the following week.
After a week of practice we then have games on four successive weeks vs Bristol Apache (H), Berkshire Renegades (H), Oxford Saints (A) and Solent Thrashers (H).
There then follows back-to-back games in July against the Thrashers (A) and Saints (H), before the regular season comes to a close on 12th August with a trip west to face Bristol Apache.
All home games will take place at Bedford International Athletics Stadium and kick-off at 1pm. All away games will kick-off at 2.30pm unless otherwise stated.
As per the 2017 season eight teams in Division 1 will progress to the play-offs, consisting of the top two teams in each of the four conferences (NFC1 North, NFC1 South, SFC1 Central and SFC1 East).
The first round of the play-offs will see the #1 seed in the SFC/NFC face and #4 seed, and the #2 seed meet the #3 ranked team.
The Division 1 Championship will be decided between the NFC1 and SFC1 winners.
The Ouse Valley Eagles were formed in 2013 with the aim of becoming one of the leading lights for American Football in the UK.
Members of our club come from a wide range of backgrounds and over a large geographical area to be part of one of our four teams:
Despite being a relatively new Club, the Eagles are made up of an experienced team of coaching and backroom staff, with more players registering to join each month.
The goal set by our founding committee was to have a club here still winning games in 25 years time, and for our children to be able to play for the same team we did.
That remains the goal today, and we are working every day to make the club bigger and stronger. To register your interest in joining any of the teams under the Ouse Valley banner please complete the form below:
Due to the adverse weather conditions training is cancelled this weekend for all four teams:
– Milton Keynes Redwings (U17)
– Bedford Blackhawks (U17)
– Bedford Blackhawks (Senior Flag)
– Ouse Valley Eagles (Senior)
Apologies for any inconvenience caused, we hope to return to our usual practice schedule next week.
To register your interest in joining one of our teams please complete the form below:
The final Open Session of the winter takes places this Sunday between 11am and 12.30pm at the University of Bedfordshire on Polhill Avenue in Bedford.
American Football is one of the fastest growing sports in the country, and with the success of the NFL International Series interest in the game has never been higher.
If you are aged 18 or above and have always fancied having a go why not try it out and see how you get on? No previous experience is necessary, as our team of qualified coaches will put you through your paces running a series of passing, catching, running and blocking drills designed to give you a real taste of American Football.
If you want to know what to expect at the session, check out this highlights video from our previous Bedford session in November:
There are a few things you’ll need to bring with you to the session:
– Water (recommended 2L but the more the better).
– Rugby or football boots as the session will be taking place on grass
– Shorts/Joggers or similar
– Top of some kind: sweatshirt, t-shirt or similar
– Gumshield
Registration for the session opens at 10.45am, where you will be asked to complete a simple registration form. If you would like to download a registration form and complete it ahead of the session, you can do so here.
Start your Super Bowl Sunday the right way!
Our Senior Team are holding an Open Session between 11am and 12.30pm today at the University of Bedfordshire on Polhill Avenue in Bedford.
American Football is one of the fastest growing sports in the country, and with the success of the NFL International Series interest in the game has never been higher.
If you are aged 18 or above and have always fancied having a go why not try it out and see how you get on? No previous experience is necessary, as our team of qualified coaches will put you through your paces running a series of passing, catching, running and blocking drills designed to give you a real taste of American Football.
If you want to know what to expect at the session, check out this highlights video from our previous Bedford session in November:
There are a few things you’ll need to bring with you to the session:
– Water (recommended 2L but the more the better).
– Rugby or football boots as the session will be taking place on grass
– Shorts/Joggers or similar
– Top of some kind: sweatshirt, t-shirt or similar
– Gumshield
Registration for today’s session opens at 10.45am, where you will be asked to complete a simple registration form. If you would like to download a registration form and complete it ahead of the session, you can do so here.
Start your Super Bowl Sunday the right way!
Our Senior Team are holding a further Open Session on Sunday – 4th February at the University of Bedfordshire on Polhill Avenue between 11am and 12:30pm.
American Football is one of the fastest growing sports in the country, and with the success of the NFL International Series interest in the game has never been higher.
If you are aged 18 or above and have always fancied having a go why not try it out and see how you get on? No previous experience is necessary, as our team of qualified coaches will put you through your paces running a series of passing, catching, running and blocking drills designed to give you a real taste of American Football.
If you want to know what to expect at the session, check out this highlights video from our previous Bedford session in November:
There are a few things you’ll need to bring with you to the session:
– Water (recommended 2L but the more the better).
– Rugby or football boots as the session will be taking place on grass
– Shorts/Joggers or similar
– Top of some kind: sweatshirt, t-shirt or similar
– Gumshield
To register your interest in the session, please respond to our Facebook event, complete the form below, or get in touch via Facebook, Twitter or Instagram.
Before the session you will be asked to complete a simple registration form (registrations open at 10.45am). If you would like to download a registration form and complete it ahead of the session, you can do so here.
The Club AGM, postponed from last month due to the snow, took place on Sunday 7th January at the University of Bedfordshire.
Attended by members, coaches, friends, family and supporters, the meeting covered off elections to the committee for the year ahead, as well as a brief financial update and a look ahead to the upcoming year.
All committee positions will be up for election at the meeting, except for the role of Club Chairman which has a two-year term and was elected last year:
– Treasurer (two-year role): Nick Chapman
– Academy Coordinator (two-year role): Mark Chilton
– Flag Football Coordinator (two-year role): Matthew Couldridge
– Communications Manager (one-year role): Vacant
– Child Welfare Officer (one-year role): Jenny Chilton
– 3 x Ordinary Members (one-year role): Gareth Pullen, 2x vacancies
Following the application and election process there is currently a vacancy on the Committee for a Communications Managers and two “Ordinary Members”. Fore more information on the role please get in touch.
To download the public version of the AGM presentation please click here.
Open to those interested in playing for the Ouse Valley Eagles senior (18+), Bedford Blackhawks Youth (U17) or Milton Keynes Redwings (U17) full contact teams, as well as the Blackhawks senior flag (16+) team, the fourth and final Open Session of the month takes place this Sunday in Luton.
The session runs from 10am to 12pm at Lealands High School, and registrations open at 9.45am.
If you have always fancied having a go why not try it out and see how you get on? No previous experience is necessary, as our team of qualified coaches will put you through your paces running a series of non-contact passing, catching, running and blocking drills designed to give you a real taste of American Football.
If you want to know what to expect at the session, check out this highlights video from our session in Bedford earlier this month:
If you are coming along please mark yourself as attending on the Facebook event, and there are a few things you’ll need to bring with you:
– Water (recommended 2L but the more the better).
– Footwear suitable to be worn on artificial turf
– Shorts/Joggers or similar
– Top of some kind: sweatshirt, t-shirt or similar
– Gumshield (optional but recommended)
Before the session you will be asked to complete a simple registration form (registrations open at 9.45am). Please note for U18s this will need to be completed by a parent or guardian. If you would like to download a registration form and complete it ahead of the session, you can do so here.
It’s not too late to register your interest in Sunday’s session. Just complete the form below, get in touch via Twitter or check out the event on our Facebook page.
Open to those interested in playing for the Ouse Valley Eagles senior (18+), Bedford Blackhawks Youth (U17) or Milton Keynes Redwings (U17) full contact teams, as well as the Blackhawks senior flag (16+) team, the second Open Session of the month takes place this Sunday in Milton Keynes.
The session runs from midday to 2pm at Stantonbury Campus, and registrations open at 11.30am.
If you have always fancied having a go why not try it out and see how you get on? No previous experience is necessary, as our team of qualified coaches will put you through your paces running a series of non-contact passing, catching, running and blocking drills designed to give you a real taste of American Football.
If you want to know what to expect at the session, check out this highlights video from last week’s session in Bedford:
If you are coming along please mark yourself as attending on the Facebook event, and there are a few things you’ll need to bring with you:
– Water (recommended 2L but the more the better).
– Footwear suitable to be worn on artificial turf
– Shorts/Joggers or similar
– Top of some kind: sweatshirt, t-shirt or similar
– Gumshield (optional but recommended)
Before the session you will be asked to complete a simple registration form (registrations open at 11.30am). Please note for U18s this will need to be completed by a parent or guardian. If you would like to download a registration form and complete it ahead of the session, you can do so here.
The best postcode to use for your Sat Nav is MK14 6DT – Soskin Drive, Stantonbury Milton Keynes. There is limited parking near the AstroTurf pitch itself, so please use the larger car park near the entrance if required.
It’s not too late to register your interest in any of our remaining sessions. Just complete the form below, get in touch via Twitter or check out the events on our Facebook page.
As well as Sunday’s session we will be running two further sessions during November:
– Sunday 19th November | Northampton High School, Northampton (10am-12pm)
– Sunday 26th November | Lealands High School, Luton (10am-12pm)