Leeds Bobcats

Last updated

Leeds Bobcats
Founded2008
Dissolved2021
League BAFA National Leagues
DivisionAssociate
Location Leeds, West Yorkshire
StadiumWest Leeds RUFC
ColoursGold Helmets
White, Navy & Gold Jerseys
White & Navy Pants
Head coachn/a
General managerN/a
Division titles2016, 2017
Playoff berths2016, 2017, 2019

The Leeds Bobcats were a British American football team based in Leeds, West Yorkshire who played in the BAFA National Leagues. The club was formed as the Bobcats in 2008 as a youth football team following ties with the Celina Bobcats from Texas. A Bobcats senior team began playing associate Football from 2011 onwards until being granted BAFA status in 2014 in order to debut in the 2015 season. The club has since grown from strength to strength from then onward making it to the playoffs in their second season.

Contents

Just before the start of the 2022 season, The Bobcats announced they had resigned their BAFANL spot, and would be demoting themselves to the BAFA Associate programme. Furthermore the club announced they were being absorbed into the programme of their local rivals the Yorkshire Rams and would be known as the Yorkshire Academy Rams thus becoming the Rams developmen team, however despite announcing their intention to operate, by 20 February 2023 the team had yet to begin operations. [1]

History

Early history

In 2008 members of the Leeds American Football team youth squad were invited to Texas by the Celina Bobcats, who were the Division Three All Star State Champions, following tuition and guidance to form their own team back in England, the Leeds Bobcats were born. In 2010, the Bobcats Youth team won its first trophy after defeating the Colchester Gladiators in the final of a 5 team tournament. Several members of the Bobcats juniors went on to represent Great Britain at youth level and in 2011 the majority of the team progressed to senior level and the Bobcats became a Senior associate team. [2]

Debut campaign

In 2014, the Bobcats were granted BAFA status in order to debut in the 2015 season. The club were entered into the BAFA NFC South 2 along with the Lincolnshire Bombers, Leicester Falcons, Sandwell Steelers, Humber Warhawks and the Peterborough Saxons. The Bobcats debuted in a 54-0 defeat by Sandwell and would only record two victories over Humber in their first season, although the club heavily improved from a poor start and came close to beating both Peterborough and Leicester.

Recent seasons

In 2017, former Running Back and Special Teams Coach, Miles Stanford replaced Paul Goodward as Head Coach after he vacated the position following a long and successful tenure. [3]

After promotion following the 2017 campaign, the Bobcats spent a single season in BAFA Division 1 North during 2018, culminating in relegation back to Division 2. Fergus O'Neil then took up Head Coaching duties in 2019, leading the Bobcats to BAFA Division 2 North Playoff Quarter Finals, where they were knocked out by Scottish side Clyde Valley Blackhawks.

For the 2020 season, highly experienced player and coach Chris Peel was appointed to the Head Coach position to lead the team in the BAFA NFC 2 East after re-alignment from the NFC 2 Central division.

League resignation and merger

Just before the start of the 2022 season, The Bobcats announced they had resigned their BAFANL spot, and would be demoting themselves to the BAFA Associate programme. Furthermore the club announced they were being absorbed into the programme of their local rivals the Yorkshire Rams, thus becoming the Rams development team. [4]

Home ground

The club is based at West Leeds RUFC, Blue Hill Lane, Leeds, LS12 4NZ.

Team records

YearDivConfWLTPForPAgtPApg %
20152South28019331531.50.20
20162West91036813113.10.90
20172Central100043711111.11.00
20181North0905434634.60.00
20192Central62025611514.40.75
20192East-------

Fixtures and results

2015

DateH/ATeamsResultW/L
05/04/15A Sandwell Steelers v Leeds Bobcats44-00L
26/04/15HLeeds Bobcats v Sandwell Steelers 06-57L
03/05/15A Humber Warhawks v Leeds Bobcats16-52W
17/05/15HLeeds Bobcats v Lincolnshire Bombers 26-40L
24/05/15HLeeds Bobcats v Leicester Falcons 07-27L
21/06/15A Peterborough Saxons v Leeds Bobcats40-13L
28/06/15HLeeds Bobcats v Peterborough Saxons 16-28L
05/07/15A Lincolnshire Bombers v Leeds Bobcats27-15L
19/07/15A Leicester Falcons v Leeds Bobcats36-13L
02/08/15HLeeds Bobcats v Humber Warhawks 46-00W

2016

DateH/ATeamResultW/L
10/04/16A Chester Romans v Leeds Bobcats25-34W
17/04/16A Halton Spartans v Leeds Bobcats08-26W
24/04/16A Walney Terriers v Leeds Bobcats06-26W
22/05/16HLeeds Bobcats v Crewe Railroaders 72-07W
05/06/16A Walney Terriers v Leeds Bobcats00-40W
19/06/16HLeeds Bobcats v Crewe Railroaders 01-FFW
03/07/16HLeeds Bobcats v Chester Romans 38-41L
10/07/16HLeeds Bobcats v Walney Terriers 42-03W
24/07/16HLeeds Bobcats v Halton Spartans 46-12W
14/08/16A Crewe Railroaders v Leeds Bobcats29-44W
21/08/16H(P-QF) Leeds Bobcats v Shropshire Revolution 52-21W
28/08/16A(P-SF) Newcastle Vikings v Leeds Bobcats51-14L

2017

DateH/ATeamResultW/L
30/04/17ANorthumberland Lightning v Leeds Bobcats00-46W
07/05/17ACarlisle Sentinels v Leeds Bobcats06-18W
14/05/17A Walney Terriers v Leeds Bobcats00-32W
21/05/17AKnottingley Raiders v Leeds Bobcats06-62W
04/06/17HLeeds Bobcats v Walney Terriers 62-12W
11/06/17AMorecambe Bay Storm v Leeds Bobcats26-44W
25/06/17HLeeds Bobcats v Carlisle Sentinels52-07W
16/07/17HLeeds Bobcats v Morecambe Bay Storm66-08W
30/07/17HLeeds Bobcats v Knottingley Raiders01-00W
13/08/17HLeeds Bobcats v Gateshead Senators 54-46W
20/08/17H(P-QF) Leeds Bobcats v Staffordshire Surge52-08W
27/08/17H(P-SF) Leeds Bobcats v Glasgow Tigers 20-38L

2018

DateH/ATeamResultW/L
14/04/18AYorkshire Rams v Leeds Bobcats31-0L
06/05/18AGlasgow Tigers v Leeds Bobcats20-6L
03/06/18ALancashire Wolverines v Leeds Bobcats49-12L
10/06/18HLeeds Bobcats v Glasgow Tigers16-20L
17/06/18HLeeds Bobcats v Lancashire Wolverines0-58L
01/07/18HLeeds Bobcats v Gateshead Senators 20-28L
08/07/18ANorthumberland Vikings v Leeds Bobcats48-0L
15/07/18HLeeds Bobcats v Yorkshire Rams0-67L
22/07/18HLeeds Bobcats v Northumberland VikingsNP-1L
05/08/18A Gateshead Senators v Leeds Bobcats25-0L

2019

DateH/ATeamResultW/L
28/04/19AMorecambe Bay Storm v Leeds Bobcats12-42W
19/05/19AHalton Spartans v Leeds Bobcats35-14L
02/06/19HLeeds Bobcats v Morecambe Bay Storm44-12W
09/06/19HLeeds Bobcats v Furness Phantoms66-0W
16/06/19HLeeds Bobcats v Knottingley Raiders44-0W
07/07/19AFurness Phantoms v Leeds BobcatsFF-1W
21/07/19HLeeds Bobcats v Halton Spartans6-36L
28/07/19AKnottingley Raiders v Leeds Bobcats20-40W
11/08/19A(P-QF) Clyde Valley Blackhawks v Leeds Bobcats26-8L

2020

DateH/ATeamResultW/L
12/04/20AKnottingley Raiders v Leeds Bobcats-
07/06/20HLeeds Bobcats v Lincolnshire Bombers-
14/06/20ADoncaster Mustangs v Leeds Bobcats-
21/06/20HLeeds Bobcats v Humber Warhawks-
05/07/20HLeeds Bobcats v Knottingley Raiders-
19/07/20ALincolnshire Bombers v Leeds Bobcats-
26/07/20HLeeds Bobcats v Doncaster Mustangs-
02/08/20AHumber Warhawks v Leeds Bobcats-

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References

  1. ↑ https://www.facebook.com/yorkshireramsfootball/photos/a.215252241889094/4927920277288910/ [ user-generated source ]
  2. ↑ "Club History".
  3. ↑ "Roster 2018".
  4. ↑ https://www.facebook.com/yorkshireramsfootball/photos/a.215252241889094/4927920277288910/ [ user-generated source ]
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