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To all Gridiron fans – put Saturday July 19th
in your diaries, for this is the day that the Gloucester Banshees come of age
and take on the might of BAFL Premier giants the Bristol Aztecs. The game is
being staged at Plock Court, Gloucester with a kick off time off 2:30pm.
The Banshees have finally been accepted as Associate
Members of the British American Football League. During their associate
membership the Banshees will have to arrange, stage and play one home and one
away game, these games will be assessed by a Director of the BAFL. These
assessments will be crucial to the Banshees hopes of becoming full members of
the League and entering the 2009 season as full members.
It has taken 19 months of hard graft from the back room
boys, coaches and players to reach the point where American football will be
played at Plock Court. Gloucester hasn’t seen American football since the early
90’s, when the Severn Vale Royals carried the standard.
The 35 man squad mainly consists of rookies but also
includes a smattering of vastly experienced veterans have been in training
since early February, and are now ready to tackle the Aztecs. A seemingly tough
assignment, but with the expert guidance of Head Coach Maurice Myers, defensive
coordinator Ken Gray and assistant coach Martin Evans the boys in black and
silver will without doubt give a good account of themselves.
Coach Myers said, ‘This game is more than win or lose;
it’s about how far we have come as a team. We’ve had our ups and downs, but now
is the time to see if all we have learned on the practice field has stuck.Commitment to the game of American football and the name
of the Banshees, which has been drummed into this young team by the coaching
staff since day one will serve them well when the chips are down.'
Commenting on whether he has any pre game nerves Coach
Myers said, ‘ About a day before the actual game I get a terrible bout of the
jitters. It’s been like that for as long as I can remember. Mind you, there is
always the good bit at the end of the game, when I can sit back in the
hospitality lounge of the Oxstalls Indoor Tennis Centre and mull over the good
bits, and the bad bits, of the Banshees first of many battles that will take
place on our ‘Field of Dreams’.
Even though their first game is almost upon them, followed
by one or possibly two games on the road, the Banshees continue to look for
more players in all positions for the rest of 2008 and on to 2009. If you are
not a player but would still like to get involved in administration or sideline
activities (ball persons, chain crew or statisticians) please contact Jim Byrne
on 01452 306120 or Coach Myers on 01452 729950 – ring now you know it makes
sense. The age range for sideline staff is 14 years and upwards and 18 or over
for senior team players.
As the hours tick away to kick off time on Saturday
defensive coordinator Gray had the final say on the events leading up to the
Banshees debut, ‘We hope we will do credit to those who have shown faith in our
skills and leadership abilities as coaches and what we have instilled in them
does them nothing but credit. I must also thank the people of Gloucester and in
particular Oxstalls Indoor Tennis Centre for inviting us back and giving us all
the physical, practical and logistical support for our new enterprise.
For further information regarding debut fixture of the
Gloucester Banshees click on the link below.
www.bafl.org.uk/artman2/publish/AZTECB/Aztecs_Rookies_Welcome_Banshees_to_BAFL.asp