Bedfordshire Blue Raiders

Bedfordshire Blue Raiders

Established	2006
Based in	Bedford, Bedfordshire
Home stadium	Phil Cottier Field, Bedford International Athletics Stadium, Barkers Lane, Bedford, MK41 9SB
Head coach	Chris Wallis, Craig Ramsay
General manager	Steve Guy, Tony Law
League	BAFA National Leagues
Division	Division 2 East
League titles	None
Division titles	None
Current uniform
Home Away

The Bedfordshire Blue Raiders were an American Football team competing in Division 2 East of the BAFA National Leagues (BAFANL). They entered the British American Football League in 2008 as one of five expansion teams, and play their home games at the Bedford International Athletics Stadium.

The Bedfordshire Blue Raiders merged with local rivals Milton Keynes Pathfinders in 2013 and formed Ouse Valley Eagles

History

The Blue Raiders were formed in August 2006 by Dave "Hanky Panky" Pankhurst and Steve Guy to replace the former teams from local towns such as Luton, Dunstable and Milton Keynes who all found success during the 1980s and 1990s. ^[1] After quickly recruiting coaches (starting with Chris Wallis, former head coach of local rivals Peterborough Saxons and Cambridgeshire Cats who Guy knew from their time together at the University of Cambridge Pythons BCAFL team in the mid-1990s) and a full playing squad.

The team were accepted as associate members of the BAFL in August 2007.

2007

As part of the BAFL's requirements for associate members, the Blue Raiders arranged the two friendly matches which would enable them to gain full membership and enter the league the following season. The first of these was a home game played on 9 September 2007 against the Maidstone Pumas. Despite the visiting team scoring a first period touchdown, the Raiders were able to come back to win 18–8. ^[2] Their away friendly match was played four weeks later against the Leicester Falcons, who themselves were associate members aiming to join the league. The Raiders lost 0–32. Two weeks later they played their third friendly match away to another associate team, the Milton Keynes City Pathfinders. Despite an early setback when their player-coach Anthony Coverdale dislocated his knee during the kickoff, they recorded a convincing 35–0 win.

The following month, it was confirmed that the Blue Raiders application to become full members had been accepted by the BAFL, and so they were entered into the league for the 2008 season where they were placed into the Eastern Conference of Division Two alongside the Peterborough Saxons, Cambridgeshire Cats, Watford Cheetahs and fellow expansion team the Milton Keynes City Pathfinders. ^[3]

2007 Roster

Bedfordshire Blue Raiders 2007 roster
Quarterbacks  8Liam Cooke 12Tony Law  7Chad Chisolm Running backs 19Khaled Miah 23Stuart Jackson 42Lee Hayward 48Harry Burdon 34Andy Cochrane 83Jack Calow	Wide receivers 11Tim Muelchi 13Michael McNally 27Matt Hollingdale 80Matt Jones 81Nathan Russell 86Steve Webb 87Sam Kilbey 88Anthony Coverdale Offensive linemen 57Walter Bates 60Rick Marsh 62Tony Orfeo 64Alan Ritson 69Martin Songhurst 79Martin Kent 72Frank Moore	Defensive linemen 56Iain Connor   Mike Grigg 92Liam Quinlan   Dan Bradnam 59Paul Hayward 66René Scholtz 77Colin White-McCarthy 54Gareth Thomas Defensive backs 18Kevin Kong 21Dean Faulder 22Chris Gray 24Rhys Evans 25Matthew Hannigan-Train 26Richard Davies 29Dean Griffith 49Carl Gibbins  1Steve Guy	Linebackers  4Kevin Elsdon  5John Stevenson 40Craig Wilde 44Paul Settle 51Alex Shennan 53Barrie Smith 55Mark Davis 93Adam Clayton	Coaching staff Chris Wallis (HeadCoach) Steve Guy (GM) Andrew Barnard (Chairman)

Player awards

The 2007 end-of-season awards took place at Bedford Athletic Stadium:

Blue Raider of the Year – Steve Guy

Players Player of the Year – Lee Hayward

Offensive Player of the Year – Lee Hayward

Defensive Player of the Year – Kevin Elsdon & Paul Settle

Special Teams of the Year – Dean Faulder & Chad Chisolm

Rookie of the Year – Paul Settle

Head Coach's Blue Raider of the Year – Anthony Coverdale

Head Coach's Player of the Year – Mark Davis, Tony Law & Martin Songhurst joint winners

2008

2008 Roster

Bedfordshire Blue Raiders 2008 roster
Quarterbacks 15Phillip Cutts 12Tony Law  1Nick Tilbury Running backs 27Richard Cohen 26Armando Cordero  7Mark Davis  5Pete Hammond 42Lee Hayward 33Khaled Miah 44Michael Wilson Wide receivers 83Jack Calow 88Anthony Coverdale 82Matt Hollingdale 19Michael Jarvis 80Matt Jones 87Sam Kilbey 13Michael McNally 81Nathan Russell 86Matt Smith 21Ben White	Tight ends  8Liam Cooke  6Steve Guy 81Nathan Russell Offensive linemen 64Mitch Allen 57Walter Bates 66Russ Begbie 60Gary Culleton 75Brian Jelley 79Martin Kent 72Frank Moore 71Tim Morris 62Tony Orfeo 69Martin Songhurst 51Alex Wall	Defensive linemen 98Nick Barker 93Andy Barnard 99Iain Connor 96Mike Grigg  5Pete Hammond 48Liam McGar 34Gareth Pullen 92Liam Quinlan 55Paul Settle 51Alex Wall	Defensive backs 23Stuart Butt 21Cameron Clark 40Michael Cox 24Rhys Evans 18Kevin Kong 17Ricardo Lory 29Lee Masters 32Tim Muelchi 31Adam Parker 11Ali Veitch Linebackers 61Gareth Boyd 93Alan Brook 90Matt Field 25Matthew Hannigan-Train 50Darren Hunt 18Kevin Kong 52John Murphy 34Gareth Pullen 54Gareth Thomas 22Chris Gray	Coaching staff Chris Wallis (HeadCoach) Bob Shaw (O-Line Coach) Craig Ramsay (defensive coordinator/linebackers) Steve Guy (GM) Andrew Barnard (Chairman)

Player awards

The 2008 end-of-season awards took place at The Flower Pot in Bedford:

Blue Raider of the Year – Andy Barnard

Player of the Year – Mike Wilson

Offensive Player of the Year – Mike Wilson

Defensive Player of the Year – John Murphy

Special Teams Player of the Year – Michael Cox

Rookie of the Year – John Murphy

Coaches Player of the Year – John Murphy

Head Coach's Player of the Year – Iain Connor & Tony Law

Head Coach's Blue Raider of the Year – Andy Barnard & Steve Guy

2009

In Blue Raiders most successful season they reach their first (and only) Playoff only to be stopped by Colchester Gladiators for the 3rd time this season.

The team were ranked 4th in the conference at the end of the regular season and therefore qualified for a playoff position.

Being ranked 4th meant that they were to meet the number one ranked qualifying team the Colchester Gladiators.

Raiders lost 16 / 41 to the Gladiators.

Coach Wallis Steps Down

The Bedfordshire Blue Raiders announce that head coach, Chris Wallis steps down.

Blue Raiders Announce New GM

General Manager and Founder Member, Steve Guy announced step down, although he will remain a part of the Blue Raiders organisation in the future.

Former QB Tony Law takes over the reins at the team and unveils to the team the re-brand and the future of the team on his watch.

Blue Raiders sign new head coach

The Bedfordshire Blue Raiders announce the appointment of Craig Ramsay as the next head coach of the team.

2009 Roster

Bedfordshire Blue Raiders 2009 Roster
Quarterbacks 15Phillip Cutts  8Jack Lidyard 13Nigel Mansfield Running backs 40Enrique Alonso 28Jack Calow 32Eric Cullipher  7Mark Davis 26Sam Peel 29Liam Quinlan 44Michael Wilson 31Joe Wroczynski Wide receivers 88Peter Coppenhall 80Martyn Forster 82Matt Hollingdale 19Michael Jarvis 87Sam Kilbey 83Dean Moore 81Nathan Russell 86Matt Smith	Tight ends 11Liam Cooke (TE/QB)  6Steve Guy Offensive linemen 62Mitch Allen 57Walter Bates 70Mark Blackwell 79Martin Kent 72Frank Moore 71Tim Morris 60Mark O'Donnell 51Demi Omisakim 69Martin Songhurst 64William Walsh 75Clint Wright	Defensive linemen 98Nick Barker  1Andy Barnard 54Gareth Boyd 59Iain Connor (DL/OL) 48Pete Hammond 25Matthew Hannigan-Train 61Andy Holland 15Mike Keogh (DL/QB) 55Paul Settle Linebackers 90Matt Field 96Malc Fraser 93Brad Hopkins 52John Murphy 50Jim Plagmann 50Gareth Pullen (LB/DL) 49Philip Wingham	Defensive backs 17Michael Cox 23Matthew Johnson (FS) 18Kevin Kong (FS/LB) 31Adam Parker 27Ben Rosen 42Elliot Viechweg	Coaching staff Chris Wallis (head coach) Steve Guy (GM & assistant to Chris Wallis) Andrew Barnard (chairman & assistant to Coach Ramsay) Anthony Coverdale (wide receivers) Craig Ramsay (defensive coordinator/linebackers) Julian Fuller (special teams coordinator/line coach) Geoff Clarke (defensive backs) Rhys Evans (assistant to Coach Clarke) Matthew Hannigan-Train (assistant to Coach Ramsey) Michael Cox (assistant to Coach Clarke) Michael Wilson Snr. (running backs) Iain Connor (strength and conditioning)

2010

This season saw the public unveiling of the new Blue Raiders logo aka "Kiefer" after its initial unveiling to the team at the 2009 Awards evening.

2010 Roster

Bedfordshire Blue Raiders 2010 roster
Quarterbacks  7Luke Smith  8Simon Perks 11Alan Shea 13Phil Cutts Running backs 18Kevin Kong 27Josh Cerri 29Liam Quinlan 30Andi Peat 31Jason Crabtree 32Eric Cullipher 40Enrique Alonso 42Lee Hayward 44Michael Wilson	Tight end 48Mark O'Donnell 57Walter Bates Wide receivers 80Martyn Forster 81Nathan Russell 82Chris Russell 83Ben White 87Nick Piper 88Pete Coppenhall	Offensive linemen 61Warren Temple 62Mitch Allen 64William Walsh 66James Salfarlie 69Martin Songhurst 70Adam Clough 71Tim Morris 72Graham Searle 75Lee Brown 79Martin Kent Defensive linemen 61Warren Temple 62Mitch Allen 66James Salfarlie 75Lee Brown 79Martin Kent 92Liam Smith 98Daniel Field 99Michael Dilley	Defensive backs 17Michael Cox 21Clinton Harper 22Darren Richens 23Matthew Johnson 24Simon Conboy 25Don Palmacci 28Jamie Smith 49Carl Gibbins Linebackers  1Darren Gregory  4Jim Plagmann 50Gareth Pullen 52John Murphy 55Matt Clark 59Wayne Collins	Coaching staff   Tony Law (GM)   Craig Ramsay (Head Coach/defensive Co-ordinator)

Team awards

Blue Raiders win the John Slavin Award 2010 for Best Marked Field for both "Best in Division Two" and "Best in the League". ^[4]

BAFRA awards the John Slavin Trophy in even numbered years to the team with the best marked field. This includes correct field dimensions, correct line and other markings, correct size goal posts, correct positioning of pylons and the condition of the field surface. The title is awarded to the team that has comes out best in an audit carried out by BAFRA members at each game. A perfect facility scores 0. In 2008, when the Trophy was last awarded on this basis, it was won by Oxford Saints. This year saw Bedfordshire Blue Raiders take the title in a close run contest with fellow Division 2 team Berkshire Renegades.

2011

2011 Roster

Bedfordshire Blue Raiders 2011 roster
Quarterbacks  7Martin Day 12Anthony Law 32Darragh Mooney 19Cullum Papworth   Simon Perks Running backs 40Enrique Alonso   Dom Alphe 27Joshua Cerri   Andrew Peat   Brendan Walsh 44Michael J Wilson Tight end 57Walter Bates	Wide receivers 80Marytn Forster   Matt Hollingdale 87Daniel Kilbey 85Kyle Shiels 26Dwayne Small 24Jamie Smith   Ben White Offensive linemen   Adam Clough 66Michael Dilley 79Martin Kent 71Tim Morris 48Mark O'Donnell 56James Salfarlie 75Mike Walsh   Mitch Allen 64William Walsh   Graham Searle	Defensive linemen 96Daniel Field 72Lee Brown 93Conor Hewitt   Gareth Thomas   Sean Dobson Defensive backs 31Jason Del-Boyer 49Carl Gibbins   Kevin Kong 22Darren Richens	Linebackers 54Charles Mack 52John Murphy 50Gareth Pullen Other 29Richard Cooper   Phillip Cutts   Sam Delasalle 28Matt Duffin   Clinton Harper 15Charles Luetchford   Jordan McQueen 55Richard Melton 86David Morales   David Pankhurst  5William Theurer   Adam Veitch	Coaching staff Craig Ramsay (HeadCoach) Anthony Coverdale (Coach) Ian Papworth (Coach) Martin Songhurst (Coach) Michael J Wilson (Coach) Geoffrey Clarke (Coach) Mark Davis (Sideline) Steven Guy (Stats) Kevin Gedny (Official Photographer)

2012

The 2012 season started off well for the Raiders as with an influx of new rookies and several veteran players joining the team.

This coupled with the appointments of former London Blitz Offensive Line Coach and current Great Britain Lions Offensive Line Coach Anthony Fitzpatrick as the new Offensive Co-ordinator and former Blue Raiders Center and offensive line Coach Martin Songhurst as Special Teams Co-Ordinator.

Renewed positive influences were starting to show within the team.

Conor Hewitt (DL) becomes the first-ever Bedfordshire Blue Raiders player to be selected for the Great Britain Lions U19 American Football team.

2012 Roster

Bedfordshire Blue Raiders 2012 roster
Quarterbacks  8Simon Perks 12Tony Law 18Phillip Cutts 19Callum Papworth 32Darragh Mooney Running backs 24Jamie Smith 25Dom Alphe 26Brendan Walsh 27Joshua Cerri 29Richard Cooper 40Enrique Alonso 30Andrew Peat 44Michael Wilson	Tight end 48Mark O'Donnell 57Walter Bates Wide receivers 15Charles Luetchford 80Marytn Forster 82Matt Hollingdale 83Ben White 85Kyle Shiels 86David Morales 87Daniel Kilbey	Offensive linemen 56James Salfarlie 62Mitch Allen 64William Walsh 75Mike Walsh 79Martin Kent 66Michael Dilley 71Neale McMaster Tim Morris 72Lee Brown 93Conor Hewitt 48Mark O'Donnell 57Walter Bates Defensive linemen 79Martin Kent 66Michael Dilley 72Lee Brown 93Conor Hewitt	Defensive backs 22Darren Richens 28Matt Duffin 31Jason Del Boyer 49Carl Gibbins Linebackers 29William Theurer 54Charles Mack 55Richard Melton 96Daniel Field 50Gareth Pullen 52John Murphy	Coaching staff Tony Law (GM) Craig Ramsay (Head coach/defensive Co-ordinator) Anthony Fitzpartick (Offensive Co-ordinator) Martin Songhurst (Special Teams Co-ordinator) Anthony Coverdale (asst. Offensive Co-ordinator/WR coach) Anthony Fitzpartick (Interim Youth Team Head coach)

Player awards

The 2012 end-of-season awards took place at Bengal Brasserie in Bedford:

Blue Raider of the Year – Tony Law

Team MVP – Gareth Pullen

Rookie of the Year – Byron Chowles

Coach’s Player of the Year – John Murphy

Offensive MVP – Enrique Alonso

Defensive MVP – Conor Hewitt

Special Teams Player of the Year – Byron Chowles

Team awards

Blue Raiders win the John Slavin Award 2012 for Best Marked Field in Division Two for the second time running. ^[5]

2013

With great expectation the 2013 season came with the addition of a new Home strip that incorporated the colour scheme from the logo re-brand of 2010.

This season saw the club have the first winning start to the season in its history.

Riding high on a 4-0 start to the season after defeating Essex Spartans, Watford Cheetahs and Maidstone Pumas twice no one could have predicted how the rest of the season would play out.

Once again though, it was an away trip to Colchester that started the downfall of the Raiders season. Poor turnouts in the practices leading up to the game, were starting to take its toll, but as usual the squad arrived on Gameday confident of pulling out a win. Sadly that wasn’t to be the case, and Colchester cantered to a 48-16 victory on their way to lifting the National Division title.

Whilst sporting a record of 4-1, externally everything was rosy for the Blue Raiders. Internally however, practice numbers were falling into the low teens occasionally, as injuries and a lack of player commitment by various members of the squad started to take its toll. 3 back to back losses, including a 21-7 loss to rivals Milton Keynes Pathfinders had left the Raiders with a 4-4 record heading into the last two games of the season. By this point the Raiders had lost a lot of players, and the squad size was approximately half of that which started the season, none of which could have been expected. With no healthy QB’s on the roster for the scheduled game against the Kent Exiles, the decision was made to forfeit the fixture and hand Kent a 1-0 win. This took the Blue Raiders to an upside down record of 4-5, with no hopes of making the playoffs and struggling to see out the season. Practices were now down to around 5-15 people average, and the future was not as bright as all had hoped.

The final game of the season was an away fixture at the Essex Spartans, the team the Blue Raiders beat in the opening game of the season. In order to be able to play this fixture several members of the Blue Raiders coaching staff had to re-register as players and start this game. Thankfully the experience of the players brought them through a tough game, and they finished the season a respectable 5-5. Little did anyone know that this would be the final game the Blue Raiders ever played.

At the end of the game, club general manager Tony Law announced he was stepping down as chairman, and that an EGM would be scheduled to sort out a new GM moving forward. At this point, coaches Anthony Fitzpatrick, Anthony Coverdale, Martin Songhurst and head coach Craig Ramsay also announced they would be stepping down, with Fitzpatrick and Coverdale heading to coach at Premier Division team, the London Blitz, Songhurst stepping down to concentrate on other interests and Ramsay stepping down to spend time with his family, after nearly 25 years of coaching.

Player awards

The 2013 end-of-season awards took place at Indian Summer in Bedford:

Team MVP – John Murphy

Offensive Player of the Year – Darragh Mooney

Defensive Player of the Year – Michael Cox

Special Teams Player of the Year – Danny Lipner

Rookie of the Year – Jack Judge

Senior team season records

Season	Division	Wins	Losses	Ties	PF	PA	Final Position	Playoff Record	Notes
2007	BAFL Qualifying	2	1	0	N/A	N/A	N/A	Wins: Maidstone Pumas MK Pathfinders. Loss: Leicester Falcons	—
2008	BAFL Division Two East	4	6	0	128	197	3 / 5	—	—
2009	BAFL Division Two East	8	2	0	203	73	2 / 4	Lost 16–41 to Colchester Gladiators in quarter-final.	—
2010	BAFA Community Leagues Division Two East	6	4	0	176	134	3 / 6	—	—
2011	BAFA National Leagues Division Two East	3	6	0	88	182	5 / 7	—	—
2012	BAFA National Leagues Division Two East	4	6	0	130	190	4 / 6	—	—
2013	BAFA National Leagues South Central	5	5	0	184	163	4 / 7	—	—

Blue Raiders Britball Records

Longest run 94 – Lee Hayward, (Bedfordshire Blue Raiders) vs Maidstone Pumas, 9 September 2007 ^[6]

Most sacks in a season 13.0 – Paul Settle – 2008 ^[7]

Oldest player to rush for a 1,000 yards in a season Michael J Wilson (born 1963) in 2008. (This record was never submitted to the Britball)

References

1. "Gridiron is back!". BBC. 2006-08-03. Retrieved 2008-07-10.
2. "Bedfordshire win is first step to league qualification". luton-dunstable. Sep 8, 2007. Retrieved 2008-07-10.^{[ permanent dead link ]}
3. Blue Raiders Accepted. "American Football team get OK from British league" ^{[ permanent dead link ]}, Luton On Sunday , Luton, December 18, 2007. December 18, 2007.
4. Slavin Award 2010. "John Slavin Award 2010", , June 30, 2015. June 30, 2015.
5. Slavin Award 2012. "John Slavin Award 2012", , June 30, 2015. June 30, 2015.
6. Longest TD. "Hayward, Lee (Bedfordshire Blue Raiders)", Britballnow. , June 30, 2015. June 30, 2015.
7. Most Sacks in a season. "Settle, Paul (Bedfordshire Blue Raiders)", Britballnow. , June 30, 2015. June 30, 2015.