Rookie Sessions – Ouse Valley Football

2017 Preseason Schedule announced

Michael Dilley All News, Come and Try, Senior Football BAFANL, Bristol Aztecs, Kent Exiles, Rookie Sessions

The Senior team’s 2017 preseason schedule has been announced, and includes rookie sessions, training camps and warm-up games against Premier Division opposition.

Rookie sessions designed specifically for new players will take place at Bedford International Athletics Stadium (BIAS) on Sunday 8th and Sunday 15th January. These will be followed by a full practice session on Sunday 22nd January and the first of four “mini-camps” on Sunday 29th.

Full training sessions will take place on Sunday 5th and 12th February before the second mini-camp on 19th and a scrimmage at Kent Exiles on Sunday 26th.

Further training sessions and mini-camps will be held throughout March and April, and on 19th March Premier Division Bristol Aztecs come to Bedford for a scrimmage.

All practice sessions and camps take place between 11am and 1.10pm.

To register your interest in one of our rookie sessions click here to visit our Join Us page.

Rookie Report: Danny Cousins

16 Oct

Michael Dilley All News, Come and Try, Senior Football BAFANL, Come and Try, Danny Cousins, Luton, Rookie Sessions

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

Third rookie session in Luton – this Sunday!

14 Oct

Michael Dilley All News, Come and Try, Senior Football BAFANL, Come and Try, Luton, Rookie Sessions

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

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

Coach White on the Rookie Sessions

12 Oct

Michael Dilley All News, Come and Try, Senior Football Come and Try, Luton, Rookie Sessions, St Neots, Will White

Eagles Head Coach Will White says he is very happy with what he has seen at the team’s rookie sessions so far this month.

A good number of rookie players attended the first two sessions in St Neots over the last couple of weekends, and Coach White was impressed with the new guys.

We put them through a number of drills and ability test to work out how athletic they were and what positions they could help the club.

The standard of the guys has been very good. Most have played sport at a very good level and coped with the things we threw at them without any major corrections needed so we’re looking forward to seeing how they develop.

This Sunday’s session (18th October) takes place at Lealands High School in Luton, with the final session being held at Stantonbury Campus in Milton Keynes a week later.

Both run from 11am to 1pm and are open to anyone aged 14+ (for the Youth Team) or 18+ (for the Senior Team).

Commenting on what rookie players should expect from from the sessions, Coach White said it’s not all just about football:

We do some conditioning work as we want to have a good understanding of the guys’ fitness levels as well as their football ability.

Most of all though people should expect to have fun – we want to make each session enjoyable as possible!

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

Nate Ashby on the 2015 season and life with the Eagles

09 Oct

Michael Dilley All News, Come and Try, Features, Senior Football BAFANL, Come and Try, Nathaniel Ashby, Rookie Sessions

Earlier this week we caught up with Offensive Captain Nathaniel Ashby to hear his thoughts on the 2015 season ahead of this Sunday’s Rookie Session in St Neots.

After several seasons playing for the Cambridgeshire Cats you transferred to the Eagles last year. What was it that brought you to the club?
I played for the Cats for 12 years from the age of 18, but the club really changed a lot over the last five years or so in many different ways, so I felt it was just my time to move on.

Luckily for me the Eagles were newly-formed and had a number of coaches and players I knew and respected, so it was the obvious choice for me to spend the next phase of my career.

The Eagles’ first game of last season was away to your old club. That must have been a strange experience, did you have any mixed feelings heading into the game?
Wow yes it was very, very strange standing on the away sideline at Coldhams common after having played so many games for Cats, and the idea of beating the team that I called home for 12 years was hard not to think too much about.

How did it feel to be named one of the team captains for this season?
Being named a team Captain was great for me. I feel I really earned my stripes on this team due to my attendance all through pre-season and always trying to lead by example as a veteran player.

For that to be recognised amongst a lot of top players was a real honour.

What do you think makes you a good captain?
I think the fact that I have been playing for nearly eighteen years now has given me a lot of experience that I can pass on to others.

I also always try to lead by example in everything I do from turning up on time, to giving full effort every play and also still trying being as coachable as possible by listening to the coaches and not ever thinking I know it all.

As well as a playing captain you were also voted on to the committee this year as Player’s Rep. How did that come about?
Being voted onto the committee came about purely by putting myself forward at the AGM, where I got to stand up and sell myself as a potential committee member to the team.

The fact that I had been on the committee for a number of years at the Cats probably played in my favour, but I also think that I had proven my dedication to the team and the club overall during my time as an Eagle, so everyone at the AGM knew me and what I am about.

How was last season for you?
The season was been terrific for me personally as I made the switch from CB to WR (a decision I made during the off season) after it became apparent that we would be losing a number of veteran WRs from last year’s team due to retirement or other circumstances.

I have played both sides of the ball my whole 20-year career and I saw a team need on the offence coming into this season so moved over.

This has been really interesting for me having to relearn the WR position and an offensive system I have never seen anything like before so it’s kept me challenged which in turn has kept me interested and constantly developing as a player.

What do you most enjoy about playing for the Eagles?
The things I enjoy most about playing for the Eagles are the quality coaching and not just quality, but also the constant challenge you receive from the coaches who like me are never happy to settle for anything less than your best.

I also love how well organised the club is.

But the biggest factor that I love the most is the camaraderie amongst the players as everyone has made me feel really welcome and valued ever since I got here and you can really see that when we play.

We play for each other as a team and there is no individual “super star” players.

What are your aims for next year?
My aims for year ahead are to firstly take the opportunity in the off season to heal and rest up. This past season has been long and tough as I played most games in multiple positions starting on O, D and special teams throughout the year.

I am however back in pre season training mode where I lift weights and run 3-4 times a week to help gradually prepare me for hitting pre season training hard in without it being too big a shock to the system!

My aims as a player are to focus on playing Defence again in particular corner back and help to team to take that next step through the play-offs and make the finals next season.

I’m also the Player’s Rep on the committee, so I would look to maintain that role and help the committee to continue to develop the club into a stable, successful and ever improving organisation.

The second rookie session of the month takes place at Priory Park in St Neots this Sunday (11th October) 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.

Click here for further information, or please visit the relevant Event Page on Facebook:

Session 2 – St Neots – 11th October
Session 3 – Luton – 18th October
Session 4 – Milton Keynes – 25th October

First rookie session in St Neots – this Sunday!

01 Oct

Michael Dilley All News, Come and Try, Senior Football BAFANL, Come and Try, Rookie Sessions, St Neots

The first rookie session of the month takes place this Sunday at Priory Park in St Neots, starting at 11am.

Open to those wanting to play for the Youth Team (aged 14+) or the Senior Team (18+), the first two sessions take place in St Neots on Sunday 4th and Sunday 11th October respectively.

We then move to Luton on Sunday 18th October at Lealands High School, before finishing in Milton Keynes a week later 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 1 – St Neots
Session 2 – St Neots
Session 3 – Luton
Session 4 – Milton Keynes

Rookie Report: Jake Halliday

30 Sep

Michael Dilley All News, Come and Try, Senior Football BAFANL, Come and Try, Jake Halliday, Rookie Sessions, St Neots

Ahead of this weekend’s Rookie Session in St Neots, we sat down with Running Back and local boy Jake Halliday from last season’s impressive class of rookies…

Name: Jake Halliday
Position: RB
Height: 5ft 7ins
Weight: 195lbs
Hometown: St Neots, Cambs
Age: 20
Favourite NFL team: Houston Texans
Favourite NFL player: JJ Watt

How did you get involved with American football?
I got involved with American football through a friend who told me come down and try it out, came to one training session and was hooked.

Did anything take you by surprise during your first season?
The standard of level the division has to offer took me by surprise, there are a lot of committed athletes involved in the sport.

Secondly, what goes on behind the scenes to make the club as successful as it is, a lot of free time and effort goes into making the club what it is.

What is your favourite thing about playing for the Eagles so far?
My favourite thing about playing for the Eagles has to be the team I’m playing with; a lot hard working and committed guys and I have a lot of time for that.

What are your aims for next season?
I’d like to work on getting more game time and being first choice on the depth chart. I’ve been making good progress in the gym in the off season so hopefully it transfers over to on the field.

If you had one piece of advice for anyone considering playing American Football for the first time, what would it be?
Be prepared for the physicality and the dedication of American football.

There is no other sport that has athletes that work this hard for a sport they enjoy. Oh and buy a good lid, you won’t regret it.

The first two rookie sessions take place at Priory Park in St Neots on Sunday 4th and Sunday 11th October.

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:

Session 1 – St Neots
Session 2 – St Neots
Session 3 – Luton
Session 4 – Milton Keynes

We need you for 2016!

14 Sep

Michael Dilley All News, Come and Try, Senior Football BAFANL, Come and Try, Lealands High School, Luton, Milton Keynes, Rookie Sessions, St Neots, Stantonbury Campus

The Club are very pleased to be able to confirm the dates and locations of our Rookie/Come and Try Sessions for this autumn.

Open to those wanting to play for the Youth Team (aged 14+) or the Senior Team (18+), the first two sessions take place at Priory Park in St Neots on Sunday 4th and Sunday 11th October.

We then move to Luton on Sunday 18th October at Lealands High School, before finishing in Milton Keynes a week later 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:

Session 1 – St Neots
Session 2 – St Neots
Session 3 – Luton
Session 4 – Milton Keynes

Tag: Rookie Sessions