As is traditional this time of year, we have a chance to reflect on 2010. It was a challenging season for the Sharks, but a successful one.
Our player numbers were a little lower than in previous years and we had a tough playing schedule, but through it all we preserved and produced our eighth consecutive winning season.
Whilst there were many personal highlights for players – some mentioned below – 2010 was a season defined by teamwork. Some of our finest moments came in times of difficulty, whether it was winning with ironman football with 5 players against the Welsh or travelling away for 5 consecutive weekends for fixtures.
So without further waffle, let’s get to the numbers that made up the 2010 Flag Football season…
- The Chichester Sharks qualified for the 2010 BAFA Finals for the 2nd consecutive year, following a 2nd place finish in the BAFACL South Conference. In a 14 game season, we finished with a record of 9-5. Unfortunately, we lost in the first round in a close fought game with eventual finalists, the London Rebels. Despite the result, the day was a great experience.
- In the 3 year history of BAFA Flag, the Sharks overall record is now 31-11 (0.738%) – the most wins by any English flag football club during that period.
- In our 9 season history (BAFA, ESFL, BSFL), the Chichester Sharks have totalled 100 victories. With 161 regular season games played, that is an all-time winning percentage of 0.621%. A pretty impressive feat.
- The Sharks still have had only one losing season – the inaugural 2002 campaign, with a record of 2-5.
- 5 Sharks’ games were decided by a TD or less in 2010 (3 wins, 2 losses)
- The Sharks scored over 30 pts in 69% of games (and conceded over 30 pts in 31% of games)
- The Sharks won 0 games when scoring less than 27 points
- QB Neil Henderson’s 56 TDs in 2010 averaged out at 4.31 per game, his highest in 3 years of BAFA Flag (4.25 in 2009, 4.29 in 2008)
- Conversely, 2010 saw an increase in the number of interceptions per game by Neil – 1.15 in 2010, 1.00 in 2009 and 0.57 in 2008.
- In 2010, Simon Merton set 3 Sharks records – 1) most TDs scored in a season by a non-QB, 2) most receiving TDs in a season and 3) most total points scored in a season by a non-QB with 116 (92 Gary Robinson, 2009; 84 Tom Newberry, 2008; 80 Mike Thompson, 2010). His claim on a 4th record – ‘Highest number of seasons wearing the same pair of football cleats’ – unfortunately cannot be verified.
- Nine different receivers caught touchdowns in 2010 from 2 QBs. Okay, one QB and Justin Handley 😉
- Gary Robinson set a new Sharks sack record with 17 on the season. He also set the single game record with 10 sacks against Woodham Warriors (White) in May. (5 Josh Amis, 2009; 3 Tom Newberry, 2008; 3 Pete Steel, 2008)
- 3 players scored defensive touchdowns in 2010 – Dave Lee, Mike Thompson and Justin Handley
- Mike Thompson led the team with interceptions for the 2nd consecutive year (4 in 2010, 6 in 2009)
- Interceptions by the team dropped from 21 in 2009 (12 games) to 14 in 2010 (13 games)
- The Sharks were kept out of the endzone for Safeties in 2010, following 4 in 2009 and 5 in 2008 (we were pretty damn close on a few occasions though!)
- In the regular season finale, needing a win, the Sharks had a recording setting day from Justin Handley. Scoring 4 TDs on the day, Justin did it in the hardest way possible – 1 TD passing, 1 TD receiving, 1 TD rushing and 1 TD on an interception return. The four scores contributed to a convincing 50-7 victory over the Coventry Jets and a place in the Finals.
So plenty of records, plenty of wins and plenty of fun. Hopefully, all three with be plentiful in 2011.
If you have any other good stats or stories from 2010, please feel free to share in the Comments below.
See you all on the playing field in 2011