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.
Team News
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.
Head Coach Neale McMaster
“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.”
Directions
Game Coverage
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.
Ouse Valley Eagles 2018 Regular Season Schedule
Sunday 22nd April vs Sussex Thunder
Sunday 13th May @ Sussex Thunder
Sunday 20th May @ Berkshire Renegades
Sunday 3rd June vs Bristol Apache
Sunday 10th June vs Berkshire Renegades
Sunday 17th June @ Oxford Saints
Sunday 24th June vs Solent Thrashers
Sunday 15th July @ Solent Thrashers (3pm)
Sunday 22nd July vs Oxford Saints
Sunday 12th August @ 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.
2018 Play-Off Structure
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.
Join the Eagles!
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:
Ouse Valley Eagles (Adult Kitted, age 18+)
Bedford Blackhawks (Adult Flag, age 16+)
Bedford Blackhawks (Youth Contact, U17)
Milton Keynes Redwings (Youth Contact, U17)
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:
The British American Football Association (BAFA) have announced a further expansion of Division 1 of the National League from 20 to 24 teams for the 2018 season, and sees the Eagles remain in the SFC1 Central Conference.
Joining the Eagles in SFC1 Central this year are 2017 opponents Oxford Saints, Solent Thrashers and Sussex Thunder, as well as Berkshire Renegades and Bristol Apache – both promoted from Division Two.
Each team will play each other twice during the regular season (once at home and once away). Details of the regular season schedule are expected to be announced in the coming weeks but will take place between Sunday 15th April and Sunday 19th August.
2017 Play-Off Structure
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.
– Cambridgeshire Cats
– Colchester Gladiators
– East Kent Mavericks
– Kent Exiles
– London Hornets
– Wembley Stallions
Super Bowl Sunday Open Session
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.
What to expect
If you want to know what to expect at the session, check out this highlights video from our previous Bedford session in November:
What you’ll need
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
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 Bedford Blackhawks Youth schedule has been confirmed, and sees the young Hawks kicking off the season next week hosting Berkshire Renegades, Buckinghamshire Wolves and Solent Seahawks.
A fortnight later they travel to Farnham to meet the Knights, Cobham Cougars Blue and the Wolves, before mini-tournaments hosted by Cobham Cougars Blue on 10th June and Buckingham Wolves on 22nd July.
Bedford Blackhawks Youth (U17) 2017 South Conference Regular Season Schedule
Saturday 22nd April (hosted by Bedford Blackhawks)
vs Berkshire Renegades
vs Buckinghamshire Wolves
vs Solent Seahawks
Saturday 6th May (hosted by Farnham Knights)
vs Cobham Cougars Blue
vs Buckinghamshire Wolves
vs Farnham Knights
Saturday 10th June (hosted by Cobham Cougars Blue)
vs Cobham Cougars Blue
vs Farnham Knights
vs Solent Seahawks
Saturday 22nd July (hosted by Buckinghamshire Wolves)
vs Buckinghamshire Wolves
vs Sussex Thunder
vs Swindon Storm
The Eagles’ 2017 regular season schedule has been confirmed, and sees the team kicking off away to South Wales Warriors in SFC1 Central on Sunday 9th April.
It is the first ever meeting between the two sides and is followed three weeks later by a trip to Solent Thrashers on 30th April, and the first of two visits to Oxford Saints on Sunday 7th May.
The first home game of the season takes place on Sunday 21st May when we welcome the Thrashers to BIAS, and the return game against the Warriors on 11th June is the first of three games in successive weeks (away to Sussex Thunder on 18th June and home to the Thrashers again on 25th June).
The Saints come to town on 9th July, and the season is rounded off against Sussex Thunder at home on 23rd July and away to Oxford on 30th July.
Ouse Valley Eagles 2017 Regular Season Schedule
Sunday 9th April @ South Wales Warriors
Sunday 30th April @ Solent Thrashers
Sunday 7th May @ Oxford Saints
Sunday 21st May vs Solent Thrashers
Sunday 11th June vs South Wales Warriors
Sunday 18th June @ Sussex Thunder
Sunday 25th June vs Solent Thrashers
Sunday 9th July vs Oxford Saints
Sunday 23rd July vs Sussex Thunder
Sunday 30th July @ Oxford Saints
Kick-off times to be confirmed.
Play-Off Structure
For the 2017 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 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 British American Football Association (BAFA) have confirmed that the Blackhawks Youth Team will play in U17 Conference E in the 2017 season.
They are joined in the Conference by Buckinghamshire Wolves, Cobham Cougars, Cobham Cougars Varsity and Farnham Knights.
The Young Hawks will face their divisional opponents in a number of mini tournaments that make up the season, and will also come up against Kent Exiles Rebels, Essex Spartans, Sussex Thunder and Cornish Sharks during the regular season.
The full schedule is expected to be confirmed by BAFA in the next couple of weeks.
The British American Football Association (BAFA) have announced a further expansion of Division 1 of the National League from 18 to 20 teams, and placed the Eagles in the SFC1 Central Conference.
Joining the Eagles in SFC1 are the South Wales Warriors, who have taken a voluntary relegation from the Premier Division South, Solent Thrashers, Sussex Thunder and Oxford Saints.
Of our 2016 opponents Doncaster Mustangs are in the NFC1 North Conference, and Birmingham Bulls, Nottingham Caesars and Sandwell Steelers are all in NFC1 South.
Details of the regular season schedule are expected to be announced in the coming weeks.
2017 Play-Off Structure
For the 2017 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 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.
2017 Divisional 1 Alignments
NFC1 North
– Doncaster Mustangs
– Manchester Titans
– Newcastle Vikings (promoted)
– West Coast Trojans
– Yorkshire Rams
