Tag: Flag Football

FLAG | Blackhawks to play friendly tournament

23 Feb
Michael Dilley All News, Flag Football , , , ,

The 2018 schedule is expected to be finalised shortly, but in the meantime the Bedford Blackhawks Flag team will be taking part in a friendly tournament next month.

The ‘Hawks will face Swindon Storm, Aylesbury Spartans and Salisbury City Marauders in Aylesbury on Saturday 18th March as each team continue their preparations for the upcoming season.

Flag football is the fastest growing format of the game in Great Britain, encompassing schools, colleges, universities and community football.

Flag is non-contact version of American Football where tackles are made by pulling a flag off an opposing player. The game retains the same principles as the contact form, but in a 5v5 non-contact arena with a maximum of 12 players per squad, and is a tremendous way to increase passing and catching fundamentals.

We are always looking for new players to join the Blackhawks, or any of the other teams under the Ouse Valley banner (Ouse Valley Eagles senior contact, Bedford Blackhawks U17 contact, Milton Keynes Redwings U17 contact).

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FLAG | Blackhawks Preseason Schedule confirmed

Blackhawks
27 Jan
Michael Dilley All News, Come and Try, Flag Football , ,

The Blackhawk’s 2017 preseason schedule has been confirmed, and includes come and try sessions, training camps and warm-up games.

‘Come and Try’ sessions for new players will take place at Sunderland Road, Sandy this Sunday (29th January) and Sunday 12th February, either side of friendly games against Aylesbury Vale Spartans and Northampton Phantoms in Aylesbury.

Three training camps (location to be confirmed) will take place on 19th February, 12th March and 2nd April.

PREVIEW | Blackhawks host the Wolves and Panthers

14 Jul
Michael Dilley All News, Flag Football, Previews , , , ,

The Blackhawks are back in action this weekend for the next round of BAFA Flag Southeastern Conference games.

The matches take place on Saturday, are hosted by the ‘Hawks and also feature Ware Wolves and Victoria Park Panthers. Bishop’s Stortford HighFlyers have withdrawn.

The Blackhawks have their full squad available and will at full strength for the game, and Jed Parisi is looking forward to making a final push for a place in the post-season:

It is the penultimate gameday of the season for us and with a team in our division dropping out it tightens everything up again, and a second win against Ware will really help us to push to make the play-offs this year.

Schedule

The first game of the day will kick off at 10am, and pairs the Blackhawks with the Wolves. After Highflyers pulled out of the league the reduced schedule for the morning is:

  • Bedford Blackhawks vs Ware Wolves
  • Ware Wolves vs Victoria Park Panthers
Directions

The games will take place at Sunderland Road Recreation Ground, Sandy, Bedfordshire SG19 1QY:

Game Coverage

If you can’t make it to Sandy to watch the games we will be providing regular updates via the Blackhawks Twitter and Facebook pages.

Keep up-to-date with the latest news, squad details and events with out new mobile app for iOS and Android:

  • App Store
  • Google Play Store

PREVIEW | Blackhawks at full strength for round four

24 Jun
Michael Dilley All News, Flag Football, Previews , , , , , ,

The Blackhawks travel to Hertfordshire this weekend for their next round of BAFA Flag Southeastern Conference games.

The matches, which take place tomorrow, are hosted by the Ware Wolves and as well as the Blackhawks feature the Bishop’s Stortford HighFlyers and Victoria Park Panthers.

The Blackhawks have their full squad available and will at full strength for the first time all season.

Jed Parisi and Jake Cooper come up against their old teammates the Wolves for the first time, and Parisi is looking forward to seeing a few familiar faces:

The lads are all excited for this weekend’s games, no-one more than me and Jake as it’s our first game back against our team Ware.

This game day is critical if we are to qualify for the play-offs this season.

Schedule

The first game of the day will kick off at 10am, and pairs the hosts with the Panthers. The full schedule for the day is:

  • Ware Wolves vs Victoria Park Panthers
  • Bishop’s Stortford HighFlyers vs Bedford Blackhawks
  • Ware Wolves vs Bishop’s Stortford HighFlyers
  • Bedford Blackhawks vs Victoria Park Panthers
  • Bishop’s Stortford HighFlyers vs Victoria Park Panthers
  • Ware Wolves vs Bedford Blackhawks
Directions

The games will take place at Freman College, Bowling Green Lane, Buntingford, Hertfordshire SG9 9BT.

Directions are below, but please drive right to the end of Bowling Green Lane and into the school, straight ahead through to a small car park at the far end of the school. Walk alon side the gym onto the playing field:

Game Coverage

If you can’t make it to Buntingford to watch the games, we will be providing regular updates via the Blackhawks Twitter and Facebook pages.

Keep up-to-date with the latest news, squad details and events with out new mobile app for iOS and Android:

  • App Store
  • Google Play Store

PREVIEW | Blackhawks ready for round two

03 Jun
Michael Dilley All News, Flag Football, Previews , , , , ,

The Blackhawks make the short journey to Aylesbury this Saturday (4th June) for their second round of BAFA Flag Southeastern Conference games.

The games are hosted by the Aylesbury Vale Spartans as well as the Blackhawks also feature Reading Knights, London Rebels and Bishop’s Stortford High Flyers

It will be the Blackhawks’ first games against the Rebels and the Knights, and also sees Wide Receiver Ross Sherratt and Cornerback PJ Pateman make their debuts for the team.

Speaking on behalf of the Blackhawks, Jed Parisi said:

We have been training hard since our last gameday, and with Coach Papworth’s help have been working to iron out the creases.

We have a bunch of new guys who have all added something to the team. The buzz is really good and we are focused on trying to bring in our first win of the season.

Schedule

The first game of the day is due to kick at 10am, and pairs the hosts with the Reading Knights. The full schedule for the day is:

  • Aylesbury Vale Spartans vs Reading Knights
  • Bedford Blackhawks vs London Rebels
  • Bedford Blackhawks vs Reading Knights
  • Bishop’s Stortford High Flyers vs Reading Knights
  • Bishop’s Stortford High Flyers vs London Rebels
  • Aylesbury Vale Spartans vs London Rebels
Directions

The games will take place on the Fairford Leys football pitches, Andrews Way, Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire HP17 8QQ:

Game Coverage

If you can’t make it to Aylesbury to watch the games, we will be providing regular updates via the Blackhawks Twitter and Facebook pages.

Keep up-to-date with the latest news, squad details and events with out new mobile app for iOS and Android:

  • App Store
  • Google Play Store

PREVIEW | Blackhawks to make BAFA debut this weekend

12 May
Michael Dilley All News, Flag Football, Previews , , , , ,

The Blackhawks travel to East London this weekend for their first BAFA Flag Southeastern Conference games of the season.

The games, which take place on Saturday, are hosted by the Victoria Park Panthers and as well as the Blackhawks feature the West Essex Showboats and Aylesbury Vale Panthers.

The only previous encounter between the Blackhawks and any of the teams involved came during the Blackhawk Bowl in February, where the Spartans were victorious over the young ‘Hawks 32-0.

Wide Receivers Connor Stratford, Ryan Moulding and Ross Sherratt all make their debuts for the Blackhawks this weekend as does Cornerback Cody Hinton, and speaking on behalf of the team Jake Cooper says he can’t wait to get the season started:

Along with the rest of the squad I am itching to kick off our debut season in the BAFA Flag Leagues.

Having worked with the majority of the squad for around half a year I have a great deal of faith that this collaboration of players could in time become something incredibly special.

We have players on the roster who have natural ability in abundance, although this may not appear in the pre-season tournament scorelines.

The players have got their heads down and worked week in week out on the lessons learned during those tournaments, and although we are up against arguably the three leading teams in the division this weekend we are looking forward to the challenge.

Schedule

The first game of the day will kick off at 10am, and pairs the Blackhawks up against the hosts. The full schedule for the day is:

  • Victoria Park Panthers vs Bedford Blackhawks
  • West Essex Showboats vs Bedford Blackhawks
  • West Essex Showboats vs Victoria Park Panthers
  • Aylesbury Vale Spartans vs Bedford Blackhawks
  • Victoria Park Panthers vs Aylesbury Vale Spartans
Directions

The games will take place on the old section of Wanstead Flats: Harrow Road, E11 3QD:

Game Coverage

If you can’t make it to Wanstead to watch the games, we will be providing regular updates via the Blackhawks Twitter and Facebook pages.

Keep up-to-date with the latest news, squad details and events with out new mobile app for iOS and Android:

  • App Store
  • Google Play Store

Blackhawks to play in Outlaw Flag League

Outlaw Flag League
06 Mar
Michael Dilley All News, Flag Football , , ,

The Blackhawks will be playing in the Outlaw Flag League (OFL) this autumn and winter.

Newly established in 2016 and based in Northamptonshire, the OFL aims to be one of the largest flag football leagues of its kind in the United Kingdom.

The league’s mission is to provide “free to play, competitive flag football that will continue to attract players, teams and fans from all over the U.K.”

League Members

There are currently nine teams confirmed for the 2016 season, which will run between September and November:

  • Bedford Blackhawks
  • Cheshire Cavalier
  • Chichester Sharks
  • Coventry Panthers
  • Manchester Crows
  • Mansfield Honey Badgers
  • Northants Titans Atlas
  • Northants Titans Oceanus
  • Staffordshire Surge Academy

The teams will be split into two conferences; the Exile Flag Conference (EFC) and Bandit Flag Conference (BFC), the final make up of which will be confirmed once all league members have been announced.

Schedule

The final schedule will be confirmed once all league members have been announced, but regular season games are currently scheduled for the following dates:

  • Sunday 11th September 2016
  • Sunday 25th September 2016
  • Sunday 9th October 2016
  • Sunday 6th November 2016

The Outlaw Bowl Playoffs are currently scheduled for Sunday 20th November 2016.

Outlaw Flag League

Keep up-to-date with the latest news, squad details and events with out new mobile app for iOS and Android:

  • App Store
  • Google Play Store

New Year’s Resolutions

29 Jan
Michael Dilley All News, Come and Try, Flag Football, Senior Football , , ,

It is never too late for some New Year’s Resolutions, and if one of yours is to start playing more sport then you could do a lot worse than join the Eagles!

The club was formed in 2013 following a merger between the Milton Keynes Pathfinders and Bedfordshire Blue Raiders, and now consists of three teams:

Ouse Valley Eagles – Adult Kitted – Age 18+
Bedford Blackhawks – Adult Flag – Age 16+
Bedford Blackhawks – Youth Kitted – Age 14-16 (U17)

We asked some of our senior players for theirs 2016 New Year’s Resolutions, the best of which are here:

Jack Judge
1. Enter a strongman competition
2. Reach the playoffs with OVE
3. Deadlift 260kg
4. Start the season at 120kg
5. 10 TD season

Khrys Speed
1. Play first game for OVE
2. Weigh 94kg
3. Snatch 140 and clean 170.
4. Catch up big JJ on deads.

Chris Parr
Be more like Christian McCaffrey.

James Drake
Find ways every week to make Gareth Pullen shout *insert accent* “Yes Drakey”.

Zach Wodaege
Transform myself from the dominant Julio Jones into Cam Newton and get JJ 10 TDs.

Nathaniel Ashby
Make my 21st consecutive and probably final season one I can be proud of!

Gareth Pullen
Drop weight to 100kg, deadlift 230kg, squat 180kg, lead team with an average of 12 tackles a game.

Andy Larwill
Beat my 6.5 sacks in a game record! And have less concussions.

Rhian Shirley
Squat properly, run faster, hit harder. And a few sacks this year!

We are always on the lookout for new players, coaches and commercial partners. If you would be interested in joining one of our teams in any capacity please do not hesitate to get in touch.

As well as on ovfootball.com, you can stay up-to-date with all the latest news and events on our Facebook page or via Twitter.

Flag football coming to Bedford

08 Jan
Michael Dilley All News, Flag Football , , , , ,

The Eagles are delighted to announce the addition of a flag team to the Eagles family, following a merger with the recently-formed Bedfordshire Broncos.

The flag team will be known as the Bedford Blackhawks, and is one of hopefully many partnerships that will help continue to grow football in the Beds, Bucks and Northants area.

Flag football is the fastest growing format of the game in Great Britain, encompassing schools, colleges, universities and community football.

Flag is non-contact version of American Football where tackles are made by pulling a flag off an opposing player. The game retains the same principles as the contact form, but in a 5v5 non-contact arena with a maximum of 12 players per squad, and is a tremendous way to increase passing and catching fundamentals.

Speaking on behalf of the Blackhawks, Jake Cooper commented:

I am delighted that we have been able to complete this merger. Ouse Valley Football set their standards high which is an ethos we look to apply to ourselves. I’m sure with the guidance of the Eagles we will prosper from this movement, and I am looking forward to working with the club to build something we can all be proud of.

Eagles Chairman Neale McMaster added:

When the club was founded we had some big goals on an initial five-year plan, and today we complete a major one by adding an adult flag football team to the club. The Blackhawks will be competing in the league in 2016 thanks in large part to the hard work of Jake as well as Jed Parisi, and will be run from the existing committee structure with the addition of Jake as the Flag Football Representative.

The Ouse Valley Eagles were formed in 2013 following a merger between the Milton Keynes Pathfinders and Bedfordshire Blue Raiders, and now consist of three teams:

Ouse Valley Eagles – Adult Kitted – Age 18+
Bedford Blackhawks – Adult Flag – Age 16+
Bedford Blackhawks – Youth Kitted – Age 14-16 (U17)

The club is always on the lookout for new players, coaches and sponsors. If you would be interested in joining the club in any capacity please do not hesitate to get in touch.

As well as on ovfootball.com, you can stay up-to-date with all the latest news and events on our Facebook page (facebook.com/ovfootball) or via Twitter (@ovfootball).