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Blue Raiders 2008 MVP Awards
The evening of Saturday 4th October saw the Bedfordshire Blue Raiders hold
their 2008 MVP awards.
The event was hosted at the team’s
favourite watering hole, the Flower Pot public house in Tavistock Street,
Bedford. Players, coaches, sideline staff and many other friends of the Blue
Raiders were in attendance at a lively and fun-filled evening as the team
celebrated their first season as a fully-fledged team of the BAFL and looked
forward with excitement to the 2009 campaign.
Blue Raiders General Manager Steve Guy,
who helped compere the awards ceremony, commented: “Tonight was an occasion for
us to let our hair down after the months of hard work we all put in during the
2008 season and give some formal recognition to some of the people who helped
make 2008 so good, considering it was our first year in the league. We have a
lot to be proud of - I’ll drink to that!”
Steve also wanted to thank The Flower
Pot. “A big Thank You to Darren and all of the team at The Flower Pot. We could
not have asked for a more accommodating venue or friendlier, helpful staff.”
Kevin Gedny, the Bedfordshire Blue
Raiders Official Photographer, was also in attendance and took several photos
of the presentation ceremony, which can be seen on his website:
www.kevingednyphotography.co.uk
Plans are now afoot for the 2009
season. Steve added, “It looks as if we will retain most of the 2008 playing
roster, last year’s rookies now battle-hardened to the rigours of a BAFL
season. We have been approached by several established players who have been
impressed by our set-up and ambition. We will also be making a concerted effort
to recruit first-time players with no previous experience eager to learn the
sport.”
Anybody interested in joining the Blue
Raiders, or any aspect of American Football in the UK, should contact Head
Coach Chris Wallis via email:
headcoach@bedfordshireblueraiders.co.uk
Award Winners:
BLUE RAIDER OF THE YEAR – Voted for by
the team, this award is given to the person judged to have made the biggest
contribution to the Blue Raiders in an off-field capacity.
2nd - Steve Guy
3rd – Chris Wallis
4th - Martin Songhurst
Player of the Year, 1000 yard rusher Mike Wilson.
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2nd - John Murphy
3rd - Matt Smith
4th - Paul Settle
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR - Voted
for by the team, this award is given to the person judged as the team’s best
offensive player in 2008
2nd - Matt Smith
3rd – The Offensive Line Unit
4th - Nick Tilbury
Linebacker, John Murphy.
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1st - John Murphy
2nd - Paul Settle
3rd - Michael Cox
4th - Gareth Pullen
SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE YEAR -
Voted for by the team, this award is given to the person judged as the team’s
best special teams player in 2008
1st - Michael Cox
2nd - Matt Hollingdale
3rd - Jack Calow
4th - Mark Davis
ROOKIE OF THE YEAR – Voted for by the
team, this award is given to the person judged as the team’s best rookie player
in 2008. To be eligible, 2008 must have been the candidate’s first season of
playing in the BAFL.
1st - John Murphy
2nd - Michael Cox
3rd - Gareth Pullen
4th - Michael Jarvis
COACHES PLAYER OF THE YEAR – Voted for
by the coaching staff, this award is given to the player the coaches judge to
have been the team’s best player in 2008.
1st - John Murphy
= 2nd - Iain Connor
= 2nd - Matt Smith
3rd - Mike Wilson
HEAD COACH'S PLAYER OF THE YEAR –
Chosen by Head Coach Chris Wallis, this award is given to the player(s) he
feels best embody the spirit of Blue Raiders…
Iain Connor and Tony Law
HEAD COACH'S BLUE RAIDER OF THE YEAR –
Chosen by Head Coach Chris Wallis, this award is given to the person(s) he
feels have made the most important contribution to the team off the field…
Andy Barnard and Steve Guy
The Blue Raiders play the Northants Hot
Rods this Sunday before taking a break from practice until
November. Anybody interested in joining the Blue Raiders, or any aspect of
American Football in the UK, should contact Head Coach Chris Wallis on
01353 720008 or via email at
headcoach@bedfordshireblueraiders.co.uk
Images courtesty of Bedfordshire Blue Raiders.