Author: Gary

Training is definitely on this weekend, 10am sharp, usual place.Everyone performed very well last week in Andover but there are still things we need to work on. Unfortunately Dayle won't be able to make it on Sunday but Dave and I have been in touch and we have agreed things to work on this week.If you haven't yet confirmed attendance please do so ASAP. If you have said you are coming and your situation changes please let me know too ASAP. It is important and only fair on the rest of the team that we know exactly how many people will be turning up each week.Neil

The Sharks are competing in the 7 team MH Cup tournament on Sunday 20th January in Andover. There was going to be an England vs Wales return International but the Wales team called off just after Christmas.The Sharks are sending a depleted squad as a number of players have moved overseas in the last couple of weeks, while injuries and unavailability has also left only a skeleton squad. Speaking the day before the event, newly installed Head Coach Dayle Kirby said "Although we have a number of players missing I have full confidence in the team we are sending out tomorrow. We have to be adaptable with individuals playing on both sides of the ball. This is the kind of resilience and team effort which won us the title last…

Happy New Year!The first training session of the year will be this Sunday, with a combined Sharks and Team England session. Sharks training begins at 10am as usual, whilst the remaining England players will be joining us at 11am.See you there!

To finish off the year, I thought I'd take a look at how we did this year by looking at the stats we've been keeping. Obviously the biggest stat of all is the W next to our name in the championship game.However, getting there meant some great individual and team performances along the way. You may not have noticed them when spread across many months but once you look at them collectively, you can what a good year we all had as a team.We'll start with some individual performances.Individual statsGames PlayedIts not always easy getting a team together for each tournament so well done to the following players who took part in every game their teams played:Sharks (max. 17 games):17 Neil17 Gary17 Dayle17 LamboMakos (max. 13 games)13 Thierry13 Luke13 Sean13…

For those of you who like to read and have an unhealthy obsession with all things football related, you might be interested in a book I've discovered called the 'Breaker Boys'.It is the story of the Pottsville Maroons, one of the earliest NFL teams, and how they won the league title in their first year in 1925, only to have it taken away by the NFL. They had such a massive impact on the league and helped shaped the sport you watch - and play - today. The forward pass, training, scouting, salary, strategy and teamwork - all shaped in a small coal mining town in Pennsylvania.Its a really easy, interesting read and would be a great way to spend any xmas present money you're given!You can buy it by…

On Sunday, the Sharks took part in an end of season friendly tournament in Billingshurst. We had a really good turn out, with several new teams - and an old face - taking part.We had a squad of 8 playing - Neil, Pete, Ben, Dayle, Thierry, Arthur, Toby and myself - with sideline support from Dave and Lambo.We had a really enjoyable day and a pretty productive one on the pitch. Our group draw featured the Renegade Outlaws, Surrey Stingers Old Boys (kitted team) and the Hastings Serpents. The team played outstanding in all three matches, scoring in the region of 90-100 points (don't have the exact scores at the moment) and conceding ZERO! An outstanding effort. All those who played D should be proud of that feat. Special mention…

Tomorrow the Chichester Sharks will be playing in a friendly tournament in Billingshurst, nr Horsham.We'll be playing on Astroturf at the Weald School - Station RoadBillingshurstW.SussexRH14 9RYAs its a sand based astroturf please make sure you have suitable footwear. Molded cleats or trainers, but not metal spike boots.We have the pitches from 10-4 with floodlights for the final hour. All Sharks leaving from Chichester should meet at the New Park car park ready for an 8a.m. departure.On the basis of the following confirmed teams, entry to the tournament will cost each team £13. Please bring a couple of quid to contribute.Birmingham Raiders / Coventry JetsCanterbury CardinalsChichester SharksHastings ConquerorsHastings SerpentsLeicester EaglesLincoln teamMildenhall MayhemNorth Devon DogsRenegade Outlaws & CH Old BoysSundevil/DestroyersSurrey Stingers Old Boys Time to shake off the post-championship rust!

Exciting new plans for flag football in the UK were revealed this week, as BAFL (British American Football League) announced plans for a new flag league.BAFL Flag will be run and fully endorsed by BAFA (British American Football Association, the UK governing body), providing flag football with the means to expand its popularity and grow as a sport in the UK.The plan is to attract sufficient local and corporate teams to be able to operate regional conferences in the following areas:Scotland Northern Ireland Wales North East England North West England East England East Midlands (England) West Midlands (England) South East England South West England London Yorkshire Tournaments/fixtures throughout the season will determine regional conference champions. The winners of each division will then be eligible for the BAFL Flag National Championships.…

Due to many Sharks players traveling to Dublin to take on Ireland as part of Team England, there will no training this Sunday (25th).Training will resume the following week. Hopefully the weather will be better than it was this past Sunday!!

It will be a training session with a difference this Sunday, as Team England will be joining us for a practice and scrimmage.The Sharks session will begin at 10 a.m. as usual and the England squad will join us at 11 a.m. The session for the England squad may run longer than our usual session, but its up to you how long you want to stay.Based on the last joint session, it should be a lot of fun. Hopefully, you'll also pick up some usual tips from the England coaches.See you Sunday