Sandwell Steelers

Sandwell Steelers
Established 2013
Based in Tipton, West Midlands
Home stadium Tipton Sports Academy
Head coach Maxwell Petitjean
League BAFA National Leagues
Division Northern Football Conference 1 South)
League titles 1 (2015)
Division titles 2 (2015, 2016)
Current uniform

The Sandwell Steelers are an American football team based in Tipton, United Kingdom. They play their home games at the Tipton Sports Academy. They are a member of the Northern Football Conference 1 South in the BAFA National Leagues.

Senior team

The Steelers were formed in 2013, and lost their first game in the associate process to the Shropshire Revolution 42-12.

In 2014, they were granted full BAFA status[1] and placed in the National Leagues Central division, in the second tier of the British league structure.[2] They would finish the season bottom of the division with a 2-8 record, defeating the Lincolnshire Bombers and Leicester Falcons in their debut season.

After a realignment in league structure for 2015, the Steelers were placed in the third tier in the NFC2 South.[3] Under head coach Jay Alexander, The Steelers finished with a perfect 10-0 record atop their division, and beat the Leicester Falcons and Newcastle Vikings before defeating the Peterborough Saxons 24-7 in the NFC2 Bowl at the John Charles Centre for Sport in Leeds.[4]

After promotion, they were placed in the Midlands Football Conference 1. They finished with a 9-1 record, and were eliminated from the playoffs by eventual Division 1 National Champions, the Bury Saints. Following this game, Jay Alexander stepped down as head coach, and was replaced by former Birmingham Lion and Steelers' O-Line and assistant head coach, Ross Barrow.[5] After another realignment, the Steelers were placed in the Northern Football Conference 1 South, and were considered amongst the favourites for promotion to the Premier division.[6]

In week two of the 2017 season, the Steelers set a new club record for their biggest victory, defeating the Coventry Jets 71-0.[7]

Roster

Sandwell Steelers - 2017 Senior Roster

Quarterbacks

  • Josh Bartimus
  • Callum Davidson
  • Joe Reynolds
  • Stephen Yates

Running Backs & Full Backs

  • Michael Domingos
  • Lewis Horton
  • James Jones-Cross

Wide Receivers & Tight Ends

  • Ben Bray
  • Declan Evans
  • Steve Kinnersley
  • Joshua Lawrence
  • Philip Leader
  • Inderjit Pharwaha
  • Jeevan Sandhu
  • Luke Thompson
  • Austyn Young

Offensive Linemen

  • Stuart Andrews
  • James Astley
  • Sam Astley
  • Rhys Hardwick
  • Ed Holden
  • George Hutchinson
  • Dan Katri
  • Stewart Smith
  • Peter Wilson

Defensive Linemen

  • Sam Banner
  • Adam Bates
  • James Moylan
  • Martin Perry
  • Thomas O'Connell
  • Sam Rafferty
  • Kris Wedderburn

Linebackers

  • Thomas Craddock
  • Anthony Green
  • Jake Hill
  • Clayton Jabbi
  • Jonathan James
  • Stephen Kilvington
  • Greg Kolbiarz
  • Kieran Larkin
  • Jack Lewis
  • Ian Llewellyn
  • Alex Mackenzie-Grist
  • Connor Monkman
  • Leigh French

Defensive Backs

  • Chris Beardsmore
  • Sam Busher
  • Oheeul Choudhury
  • Zac Green
  • Rob Jones
  • Peter Roden
  • Gareth Thomas
  • Paul Zinkus

Season by season record

Season League Regular Season Record Post Season? Awards
Wins Losses Ties
2014 BAFA National Central 2 8 0 No n/a
2015 BAFA Northern Conference South 2 10 0 0 Yes Division Champions, National Champions
2016 BAFA Midlands Football Conference 1 9 1 0 Yes Division Champions
2017 BAFA Northern Conference South 1 7 3 0 Yes n/a
2018 BAFA Northern Conference South 1 7 2 1 Yes TBC
Total 35 14 1 All-time regular season record (2014–2017)
1 National Championship, 2 Divisional Championships

Women's team

The Sandwell Steelers Women's team was formed in January 2014 [8] and compete in a number of different formats.

In August 2014, the team competed in their first friendly game against the Chester Romans at home, securing their first ever victory winning 35-0.

In 2015 the team entered the BAFA leagues competing in their first 5v5 full contact Sapphire Series finishing 11th out of 13 teams.

In 2016, the league was restructured due to the influx of new women's teams and the Steelers entered the 5v5 Sapphire Series in Division 2 South, competing in four rounds and eight games.[9] The team's division included the Wembley Stallions, London Warriors, Portsmouth Destroyers and Iceni Spears. Sandwell played each team twice and ended the season with a 4-4 record finishing 3rd overall for Div 2 South.

In the Autumn of 2016 they competed in the Opal Series, a 5v5 flag football tournament, finishing bottom of the North division with a 0-9 record.[10][11]

In 2017, the Steelers competed in the 5v5 Sapphire Series in the Division 2 North & West Conference competing in four rounds and eight games. The team's division included the Teesside Steelers, Chester Romans, Cardiff Valkyries and Staffordshire Surge.[12] Sandwell played each team twice and finished with their first ever winning season with a 5-3 record, placing third in the Division 2 North & West.[13]

In 2018, the Steelers moved up to the 7v7 format of the game and competed in the Sapphire Series in the Division 2A North Conference taking part in four rounds and eight games. (NB Round Three was cancelled for all competing teams in the Series due to inclement weather.[14]) The team's Conference included the Teesside Steelers and Chester Romans. The South Conference of the Division included the Cardiff Valkyries, Portsmouth Dreadnoughts and Wembley Stallions.[15] Sandwell went into Round 4 top of the North so skipped straight to the semi-finals, ultimately winning against the Wembley Stallions 27-7. Sandwell advanced to the finals against the Portsmouth Dreadnoughts and lost 18-14 securing second place in the Division.[16]

A number of the Steelers Women have represented the GB Lions since their inception.[17]

Roster

Sandwell Steelers - 2018 Women's Roster
  • Laura Ashcroft
  • Chelle Badger
  • Jo Bennett
  • Lauren 'Hands' Carrington
  • Libby Davoren
  • Helen Dorman
  • Sydney Green
  • Leanne Hancox
  • Rose Hayward
  • Sophia Klair
  • Alicia Marcella
  • Stephanie Palmer
  • Shannon Perry
  • Ele Rafferty
  • Sara Reilly
  • Natalie Talbot
  • Emma Wilkinson
  • Laura Williams
  • Samantha Wilson

Season by season record

Season League Season Record Position
Wins Losses Ties
2015 BAFA Sapphire Series 5v5 2 5 0 11th
2016 BAFA Sapphire Series 5v5, Division 2 South 4 4 0 3rd
2017 BAFA Sapphire Series 5v5, Division 2 North & West 5 3 0 3rd
2018 BAFA Sapphire Series 7v7, Division 2a North 3 2 1 2nd
2018/19 BAFA Sapphire Series 7v7, TBC
Total 14 14 0

Youth and Junior

In conjunction with the Birmingham Bulls and the Birmingham Lions, the Steelers field a junior team in national competition.[18]

They field their own youth team in the regional under-17s league, and currently play in the Midlands division.[19] They were entered into competition in 2016, but failed to complete their season.[20]

Staff

Sandwell Steelers staff

Front Office

  • Chairman - Rob Amor
  • Vice Chairman - Anthony Green
  • Treasurer - Peter Roden
  • Secretary - Fiona Mackenzie-Grist
  • Senior General Manager - Stuart Andrew
  • Women's General Manager - Samantha Wilson

Senior Team

  • Head Coach - Maxwell Petitjean
  • Offensive Co-ordinator - Ryan Baker
  • Defensive Co-ordinator - Stuart Andrew

Women's Team

  • Head Coach - Sam Rafferty
  • Offensive Co-ordinator - Jay Alexander
  • Defensive Co-ordinator - Sam Rafferty

[21]

Facilities

The Steelers play their home games at the Tipton Sports Academy,[22] a multi-purpose sports stadium with a 2,000 capacity, 208 of which is seated, which they share with Tipton Town F.C..

They train at the nearby RSA Academy.[23]

Notes

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