The East Kilbride Pirates American Football Team will begin their pre-season training on Sunday February 4th. The Pirates will return to Brancumhall Sports Centre for a second year since they returned last season after a three year absence. Club Chairman Ian Smith commented that “The facilities are excellent and the turf held up considerably well last season even during the winter months.” Smith also commented on how excited he was at looking forward to playing in the new BAFL Premier Division. “We have had a large number of enquiries this year from potential players. With more television and press coverage the profile of American football is increasing in the UK, especially as London will now host a regular season game in 2007. We aim to have a strong squad of 40-50 players this year and are still looking for new players. We are playing at the highest level in Britain and have some of the best coaches in the UK who can bring on players to the premier standards.”
Sunday February 4th is also the date for Superbowl XLI, which will be fought out between the Indianapolis Colts and the Chicago Bears. As part of the celebrations the East Kilbride Pirates will be taking part in a fundraising auction with university American football teams, the Glasgow Tigers and the Caledonian Roughriders. Clubs, players and sponsors have donated numerous items which will go on auction in order to help raise funds for the teams in the up coming season. Some of the items up for auction include 4 cinema passes donated by the East Kilbride Odeon and 3 football jerseys’ one of which includes Superbowl bound Chicago Bears Captain Brian Urlacher. The night will be compared by East Kilbride Pirates lineman Matthew Davis, who, having also previously played for the university side Glasgow Tigers, is well known in the Scottish American Football community, Matthew is a part-time stand up comedian and his sharp wit and humours stories should keep the audience entertain throughout the night. The auction will be at Campus in Sauchiehall Street, Glasgow from 8pm and is open to the public.
If you would like to be play or be involved with the East Kilbride Pirates you can email them at info@piratesfootball.co.uk or visit our website at www.piratesfootball.co.uk