The home of American Football in Beds, Bucks and Northants
Pre-Season training for all Ouse Valley Eagles teams starts on Sunday 6 January 2019 at Bedford International Athletics Stadium.
10:00am Seniors
11:00am Juniors and Youths
Please be on the field at the appointed time. Anyone coming to their first session please arrive in plenty of time for a chat with coaching staff.
Enjoy the remainder of your holidays and let’s be ready to go in the first week of the new year.
Players and coaches visited Bedford and Milton Keynes Hospitals over the Easter weekend to deliver chocolate eggs and toys to the Children’s Wards.
We visited the Riverbank Ward in Bedford on Good Friday (30th March) and the Children’s Unit at Milton Keynes on Saturday morning (31st March) to make the special deliveries, which had been donated by the club.
Speaking on behalf of the Club afterwards, Michael Dilley said:
“We always enjoy delivering eggs to our local hospitals and are really pleased to carry on the tradition this year.
“The staff on the wards do an incredible job, and we’re also really happy to be able to show our appreciation in this way”.
The Ouse Valley Eagles were formed in 2013 with the aim of becoming one of the leading lights for American Football in the UK.
The 2018 season is almost upon us but it is never too late to join one of our four teams:
Despite being a relatively new Club, the Eagles are made up of an experienced team of coaching and backroom staff, with more players registering to join each month.
The goal set by our founding committee was to have a club here still winning games in 25 years time, and for our children to be able to play for the same team we did.
That remains the goal today, and we are working every day to make the club bigger and stronger. To register your interest in joining any of the teams under the Ouse Valley banner please complete the form below:
The club are proud to announce the formation of a new U17 contact team, the Milton Keynes Redwings.
The Redwings join the Bedford Blackhawks under the Ouse Valley Eagles banner as a 5v5 contact team, and represent a major step forward in the club’s goal to expand the number of people playing the sport in our area.
Initially the team will play friendly matches during a development year in 2018, with a view of joining the National League in 2019.
Training times and locations for the New Year will be confirmed in due course, but in the meantime anyone who is interested in joining the team should attend one of our Open Sessions taking place this month – continuing on Sunday at Stantonbury Campus between midday and 2pm.
Anyone interested joining the team in a coaching capacity should contact Club Chairman Michael Dilley in the first instance via michael.dilley@oveagles.com, or get in touch via our Facebook and Twitter pages.
The new Redwings logo is a nod to the one used by the Milton Keynes Pathfinders, who merged with the Bedfordshire Blue Raiders to form the Eagles in 2013.
Speaking on the news, Academy Coordinator Mark Chilton said:
“As the only senior club in the region we have a responsibility to promote and grow the game in our area. A major part of that is providing playing opportunities for U18s interested in American Football, and provide a pathway through to our senior team should they want it.
This announcement is part of an ongoing program of starting youth/junior affiliate teams and introduce the game to young people in our region. As a resident of Milton Keynes I am particularly pleased to have helped to provide this unique opportunity for the young people of our City”.
Club Chairman Michael Dilley added:
“When the club was founded one of our priorities was to create multiple youth teams across the area.
We started that in Bedford with the Blackhawks and I’m delighted that we’re able to build on those solid foundations by establishing the Redwings in Milton Keynes.
The future is looking really bright and I’m excited to see how the team develops.”
Open to those interested in playing for the Ouse Valley Eagles senior (18+), Bedford Blackhawks Youth (13+) and Milton Keynes Redwings (13+) full contact teams, as well as the Blackhawks senior flag (16+) team, we will be running three further Open Sessions during November:
– Sunday 12th November | Stantonbury Campus, Milton Keynes (12pm-2pm)
– Sunday 19th November | Northampton High School, Northampton (10am-12pm)
– Sunday 26th November | Lealands High School, Luton (10am-12pm)
To register your interest please complete the form below:
The club are very pleased to be able to confirm the details of this autumn’s Open Sessions ahead of the 2018 season.
Open to those interested in playing for the Ouse Valley Eagles senior (18+) or Bedford Blackhawks Youth (13+) full contact teams as well as the Blackhawks senior flag (16+) team, we will be running four sessions during November:
– Sunday 5th November | University of Bedfordshire, Bedford (10am-12pm)
– Sunday 12th November | Stantonbury Campus, Milton Keynes (12pm-2pm)
– Sunday 19th November | Northampton High School, Northampton (10am-12pm)
– Sunday 26th November | Lealands High School, Luton (10am-12pm)
American Football is one of the fastest growing sports in the country, and with the success of the NFL International Series interest in the game has never been higher.
If you have always fancied having a go why not try it out and see how you get on? No previous experience is necessary, as our team of qualified coaches will put you through your paces running a series of passing, catching, running and blocking drills designed to give you a real taste of American Football.
The Eagles were formed in 2013 with the aim of becoming one of the leading lights for American Football in the UK. We are the only senior full contact team playing in the BAFA National League in Beds, Bucks and Northants, recently announced a partnership with the Bedfordshire Bulls, and with plans to grow the club further in the coming months there really has never been a better time to join!
To register your interest in our Open Sessions please complete the form below, get in touch via Twitter or keep your eye out for the events on our Facebook page.
Ahead of this weekend’s Rookie Session in Milton Keynes, we sat down with Offensive Lineman and local boy Glenn Willshire from last season’s impressive class of rookies…
Position: Offensive Line (Right Tackle)
Height: 6ft 3ins
Weight: 250lbs
Hometown: Milton Keynes, Bucks
Age: 30
Favourite NFL team: I always keep an eye on the Cleveland Browns, and the Seahawks.
Favourite NFL player: JJ Watt
How did you get involved with American football?
I work as a waiter at TGI Fridays and would need to chill out after a busy evening shift and the NFL was always on so TV, so I started to pick up the rules and after talking to friends was invited to come a to a rookie session.
I managed to attend a couple that the Eagles ran in the close season and caught the bug!
Did anything take you by surprise in your first year?
The amount of time the coaches put in to the team (and me as a player). It’s simply amazing.
How quickly I caught the bug too, from the initial rookie sessions, first training sessions and getting all the pads etc. it’s a sport that keeps on giving!
What is your favourite thing about playing for the Eagles so far?
My favourite thing is being part of the team.
There are so many lads from different backgrounds, but when you are on the field, the bus or Facebook we are brothers. The camaraderie between everyone is special and always keeps me smiling.
What are your aims for next season?
To continue to improve and have fun.
If you had one piece of advice for anyone considering playing American Football for the first time, what would it be?
Just do it. Get involved. It’s probably the most fun you can have where you get to hit people and make a ton of new friends.
No matter how slow, fast, big, small etc. you are there’s something for everyone.
Our fourth and final rookie session of the month takes place this Sunday at Stantonbury Campus in Milton Keynes, starting at 11am.
American Football has never been more popular in the UK and is one of the fastest growing sports in the country. If you’ve always fancied having a go why not register to try it out at one of our sessions?
Open to those wanting to play for the Youth Team (aged 14+) or the Senior Team (18+), the session takes place between 11am and 1pm. All you need to bring with you is football/rugby boots, some water, appropriate clothing to be out running in the weather and a valid form of photo ID.
To register your interest, please visit the relevant Event Page on Facebook or feel free to turn up on the day of the session:
Our fourth and final rookie session of the month takes place this Sunday at Stantonbury Campus in Milton Keynes, starting at 11am.
American Football has never been more popular in the UK and is one of the fastest growing sports in the country. If you’ve always fancied having a go why not register to try it out at one of our sessions?
Open to those wanting to play for the Youth Team (aged 14+) or the Senior Team (18+), the session takes place between 11am and 1pm. All you need to bring with you is football/rugby boots, some water, appropriate clothing to be out running in the weather and a valid form of photo ID.
To register your interest, please visit the relevant Event Page on Facebook or feel free to turn up on the day of the session:
The Club are very pleased to be able to confirm the dates and locations of our Rookie/Come and Try Sessions for this autumn.
American Football has never been more popular in the UK and is one of the fastest growing sports in the country. If you’ve always fancied having a go why not register to try it out at one of our sessions?
Open to those wanting to play for the Youth Team (aged 14+) or the Senior Team (18+), the first two sessions take place at Priory Park in St Neots on Sunday 4th and Sunday 11th October.
We then move to Luton on Sunday 18th October at Lealands High School, before finishing in Milton Keynes a week later at Stantonbury Campus.
Each session takes place between 11am and 1pm. All you need to bring with you is football/rugby boots, some water, appropriate clothing to be out running in the weather and a valid form of photo ID.
To register your interest, please visit the relevant Event Page on Facebook:
Session 1 – St Neots
Session 2 – St Neots
Session 3 – Luton
Session 4 – Milton Keynes