Cambridgeshire Cats
Encyclopedia
The Cambridgeshire Cats are an American football
team competing in Division 1 Central of the BAFA Community Leagues
(BAFACL), with their home games played at Coldhams Common in Cambridge
. The club was first formed in 1984, entered senior competition in 1985 and won two divisional titles in the 1990s as well appearing in the playoffs a further six times before folding in 1998. They reformed once again in 2002 and re-entered senior competition, gaining promotion in 2003 only to be relegated two seasons later. Most recently, they won the South East Conference of Division One before losing to the Tamworth Phoenix
in the playoff semi-final.
The following year, they switched to the newly-formed Budweiser League, where they were elected straight into the top division. They finished with a 6-4 record and qualified for the playoffs where they lost in the first round away to the Wrekin Giants
. They were unable to repeat this success the following year—they finished bottom of their group with a 0-9-1 record and so were relegated. They returned to winning ways in the lower division, recording eight consecutive wins on their way to finishing second in their group before losing 24–34 away to the Scottish champions, the Glasgow Diamonds.
1989 was a year of change for the Cats. After securing a sponsorship deal with the Washington State Apple Commission, a Seattle-based apple export firm, they were renamed the Cambridge Crunchers. They also left the Budweiser League to join the newly-formed Combined Gridiron League where they were admitted into the top division, competing in the Central Conference of the Crown National Division. They finished second in the group behind the Colchester Gladiators
, and qualified once again for the playoffs. Unfortunately, they were unable to progress, losing 3–27 at home to the Heathrow Jets.
The following year saw a degree of turmoil for the club, beginning when their sponsors suddenly decided to withdraw their support forcing the club to change its name once again, becoming the Cambridge Wildcats. They moved over to the NCMMA following the demise of the CGL and despite suffering from low team numbers, the team recorded a 6-3-1 season record and so qualified for the playoffs. However, it was revealed that they hadn't paid the required league fees and so they were excluded from the post-season. During the close season, they entered into merger negotiations with another local team, the Newmarket Hornets. However, it emerged that it was actually a take-over attempt by Newmarket, and the club chose to fold rather than lose its identity.
They joined the British American Football Association in 1994, marking the start of the club's most successful spell. They entered the Midlands conference of Division Three and finished top, winning eight of their ten games. As in the previous season, they faced the Redditch Arrows, who they shut out whilst scoring 42 points. The semi-final saw them win away to the Chester Romans to set up their first play-off final. They secured their first divisional title by defeating the Crawley Raiders 25–14.
As a result of their playoff win, the Cats were promoted to Division Two, where they competed in the North / Midlands conference and finished second with an 8-2 record. After beating the Chiefs in the playoff quarter-finals, they were drawn at home to the Lancashire Wolverines
, who had been responsible for the Cats' only two defeats earlier in the season including 35-point shutout. There was no repeat of that heavy defeat this time as the Cats won 42–23 to set up a final against the Plymouth Admirals
. After falling 13 points behind, they eventually won 28–13 to secure their second consecutive divisional championship and promotion.
They struggled in their first season at this higher level, the top flight of the newly-renamed British Senior League (BSL), after many the top players decided to retire before the season started. To make matters worse, the head coach and several players walked out after only a couple of games. Cambridge's dismal season ended abruptly when they could not afford to play their final two home games. After winning just two of their ten games, they finished fourth out of the five teams which made up the North Conference. They once again finished second from bottom the following year, (ahead of the Northants Storm who folded after just three games), and once again in 1998. The Cats finally folded prior to the start of the 1999 season.
in the quarter-final. 2003 saw them perform even better, recording a perfect 10-0 regular season record and finishing top of the South East Conference. They were drawn at home to the Southern Sundevils
in their quarter-final, and needed two periods of overtime before eventually beating them 9–6. However, they lost their semi-final at home to the Bristol Aztecs
.
Despite this disappointment, they were awarded promotion to the new Division 1A, where they finished third in their group and earned a wild-card playoff slot only to lose once again to the Aztecs, this time by a single point. 2005 saw them struggle with player moes and two changes at Head Coach. Winning only one game and scoring just 40 points, they were bottom of the South conference, resulting in them being relegated to Division Two.
2006 saw them surge back to success under Head Coach Rick Bice, finishing with a 5-4-1 record, barely missing out on the playoffs. In 2007, further success saw them qualify for the playoffs after finishing second in the South East conference with a 7-3 record before losing away to the South Wales Warriors
13-7 in the quarter-final.
In 2008, the Cats were moved into the Eastern Conference and recorded their strongest showing since 2003, finishing top with a 9-1 record and achieving an automatic spot in the playoff quarter-finals by virtue of one of South Wales Warriors
nine wins coming by way of forfeit. They met the Warriors at home and beat them 21–12 to set up an away semi-final at the London Cobras
, a team who had won their group with a perfect 10-0 record and conceded just nine points all season. The strength of their London opponents proved too much, with the Cobras winning 32–0.
2009 saw a change in leadership as Coach Rick Bice handed the Head Coaching reins over to Bob Shaw.
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
team competing in Division 1 Central of the BAFA Community Leagues
BAFA Community Leagues
The BAFA National Leagues are the primary American football competition in England, Scotland and Wales. They were formed by the British American Football Association in 2010 to coordinate contact football and flag football across all age ranges...
(BAFACL), with their home games played at Coldhams Common in Cambridge
Cambridge
The city of Cambridge is a university town and the administrative centre of the county of Cambridgeshire, England. It lies in East Anglia about north of London. Cambridge is at the heart of the high-technology centre known as Silicon Fen – a play on Silicon Valley and the fens surrounding the...
. The club was first formed in 1984, entered senior competition in 1985 and won two divisional titles in the 1990s as well appearing in the playoffs a further six times before folding in 1998. They reformed once again in 2002 and re-entered senior competition, gaining promotion in 2003 only to be relegated two seasons later. Most recently, they won the South East Conference of Division One before losing to the Tamworth Phoenix
Tamworth Phoenix
The Tamworth Phoenix are an American football team playing in the United Kingdom. The Phoenix field a senior team in the Premiership of the BAFA Community Leagues...
in the playoff semi-final.
Original formation (1984 to 1990)
The club was first formed in December 1984 as the Cambridge County Cats following trials conducted in the city by the RAF Wyton Eagles, one of the first American football teams to be founded in the UK. They joined the British American Football Federation for the 1985 season, where they competed in the A1 Division and finished top with a perfect 8-0 regular season record in front of crowds often in excess of 600, before losing to the Croydon Coyotes in the semi-final.The following year, they switched to the newly-formed Budweiser League, where they were elected straight into the top division. They finished with a 6-4 record and qualified for the playoffs where they lost in the first round away to the Wrekin Giants
Wrekin Giants
The Wrekin Giants, later the Shropshire Giants, and, subsequently, the Cannock Chase Giants were an American football team based in Telford, Shropshire, in England, in the United Kingdom...
. They were unable to repeat this success the following year—they finished bottom of their group with a 0-9-1 record and so were relegated. They returned to winning ways in the lower division, recording eight consecutive wins on their way to finishing second in their group before losing 24–34 away to the Scottish champions, the Glasgow Diamonds.
1989 was a year of change for the Cats. After securing a sponsorship deal with the Washington State Apple Commission, a Seattle-based apple export firm, they were renamed the Cambridge Crunchers. They also left the Budweiser League to join the newly-formed Combined Gridiron League where they were admitted into the top division, competing in the Central Conference of the Crown National Division. They finished second in the group behind the Colchester Gladiators
Colchester Gladiators
The Colchester Gladiators are an American Football team competing in the South East Conference of British American Football League Division 2. They play their home games at the Broad Lane stadium in Wivenhoe, Essex and train at the Sir Charles Lucas Centre for Sport and Art in Colchester...
, and qualified once again for the playoffs. Unfortunately, they were unable to progress, losing 3–27 at home to the Heathrow Jets.
The following year saw a degree of turmoil for the club, beginning when their sponsors suddenly decided to withdraw their support forcing the club to change its name once again, becoming the Cambridge Wildcats. They moved over to the NCMMA following the demise of the CGL and despite suffering from low team numbers, the team recorded a 6-3-1 season record and so qualified for the playoffs. However, it was revealed that they hadn't paid the required league fees and so they were excluded from the post-season. During the close season, they entered into merger negotiations with another local team, the Newmarket Hornets. However, it emerged that it was actually a take-over attempt by Newmarket, and the club chose to fold rather than lose its identity.
Playoff successes (1992 to 1999)
After two years of inactivity, the club was reformed as the Cambridge Cats with a squad of over 40 players, half of whom came from the 1990 Wildcats team. They joined the British National Gridiron League in 1993, where they played in the East Midlands conference of Division One. They reached the playoffs at the first attempt after finishing second in acampaign which saw them score more than 40 points in six of their ten games. They were drawn away to the Derbyshire Braves in the wild-card round, who they beat to set up a tie against the Redditch Arrows. In a high-scoring game, they won by 54 points to 40 before losing their semi-final against the Lincoln Saints.They joined the British American Football Association in 1994, marking the start of the club's most successful spell. They entered the Midlands conference of Division Three and finished top, winning eight of their ten games. As in the previous season, they faced the Redditch Arrows, who they shut out whilst scoring 42 points. The semi-final saw them win away to the Chester Romans to set up their first play-off final. They secured their first divisional title by defeating the Crawley Raiders 25–14.
As a result of their playoff win, the Cats were promoted to Division Two, where they competed in the North / Midlands conference and finished second with an 8-2 record. After beating the Chiefs in the playoff quarter-finals, they were drawn at home to the Lancashire Wolverines
Lancashire Wolverines
The Lancashire Wolverines are a British American football team based in Blackburn and from the 2007 season will be playing in Division Two of the British American Football League...
, who had been responsible for the Cats' only two defeats earlier in the season including 35-point shutout. There was no repeat of that heavy defeat this time as the Cats won 42–23 to set up a final against the Plymouth Admirals
Plymouth Admirals
The Plymouth Admirals were an American Football team who competed in the British American Football League up until 2010. They played their home games at the Parkway Sports Club in Ernesettle, Plymouth. Formed in 1984, the Admirals were one of the longest established American football teams in the...
. After falling 13 points behind, they eventually won 28–13 to secure their second consecutive divisional championship and promotion.
They struggled in their first season at this higher level, the top flight of the newly-renamed British Senior League (BSL), after many the top players decided to retire before the season started. To make matters worse, the head coach and several players walked out after only a couple of games. Cambridge's dismal season ended abruptly when they could not afford to play their final two home games. After winning just two of their ten games, they finished fourth out of the five teams which made up the North Conference. They once again finished second from bottom the following year, (ahead of the Northants Storm who folded after just three games), and once again in 1998. The Cats finally folded prior to the start of the 1999 season.
Present-day Cats (2002 to present)
Three years later, the club was reformed under their present name of the Cambridgeshire Cats by Chris Wallis, and they entered the Division Two South of the BSL, where they qualified for the playoffs at the first attempt by finishing third out of nine teams, before losing to the Plymouth AdmiralsPlymouth Admirals
The Plymouth Admirals were an American Football team who competed in the British American Football League up until 2010. They played their home games at the Parkway Sports Club in Ernesettle, Plymouth. Formed in 1984, the Admirals were one of the longest established American football teams in the...
in the quarter-final. 2003 saw them perform even better, recording a perfect 10-0 regular season record and finishing top of the South East Conference. They were drawn at home to the Southern Sundevils
Southern Sundevils
The Southern Sundevils were an American football team who competed in the Southern Conference of British American Football League Division One . They played their home games at the ROKO Leisure Centre in Portsmouth, Hampshire, England. Russ Hewitt was the current General Manager and Head Coach...
in their quarter-final, and needed two periods of overtime before eventually beating them 9–6. However, they lost their semi-final at home to the Bristol Aztecs
Bristol Aztecs
The Bristol Aztecs are a British American football team based inBristol, England, at the Filton WISE sports academy of Filton College, Bristol, which is also the base for a number of other sports teams such as Bristol Academy woman's soccer team.- Overview :...
.
Despite this disappointment, they were awarded promotion to the new Division 1A, where they finished third in their group and earned a wild-card playoff slot only to lose once again to the Aztecs, this time by a single point. 2005 saw them struggle with player moes and two changes at Head Coach. Winning only one game and scoring just 40 points, they were bottom of the South conference, resulting in them being relegated to Division Two.
2006 saw them surge back to success under Head Coach Rick Bice, finishing with a 5-4-1 record, barely missing out on the playoffs. In 2007, further success saw them qualify for the playoffs after finishing second in the South East conference with a 7-3 record before losing away to the South Wales Warriors
South Wales Warriors
The South Wales Warriors are an American Football team currently competing in Division 2 West of the BAFA National Leagues . The team was formed after the Tiger Bay Warriors had disbanded due to the departure of head coach Rob Mota, along with key staff and players, by the remaining players and...
13-7 in the quarter-final.
In 2008, the Cats were moved into the Eastern Conference and recorded their strongest showing since 2003, finishing top with a 9-1 record and achieving an automatic spot in the playoff quarter-finals by virtue of one of South Wales Warriors
South Wales Warriors
The South Wales Warriors are an American Football team currently competing in Division 2 West of the BAFA National Leagues . The team was formed after the Tiger Bay Warriors had disbanded due to the departure of head coach Rob Mota, along with key staff and players, by the remaining players and...
nine wins coming by way of forfeit. They met the Warriors at home and beat them 21–12 to set up an away semi-final at the London Cobras
London Cobras (American football)
The London Warriors are an American Football team based in Boston Manor, London. The team were formed in 2007 as the senior outfit for the London Warriors youth team, and currently play in the BAFA Community Leagues Premiership.-History:The London Cobras were formed in 2007 as a senior team of...
, a team who had won their group with a perfect 10-0 record and conceded just nine points all season. The strength of their London opponents proved too much, with the Cobras winning 32–0.
2009 saw a change in leadership as Coach Rick Bice handed the Head Coaching reins over to Bob Shaw.
Senior team season records
| Season | Division | Wins | Losses | Ties Tie (draw) To tie or draw is to finish a competition with identical or inconclusive results. The word "tie" is usually used in North America for sports such as American football. "Draw" is usually used in the United Kingdom, Ireland and the Commonwealth of Nations and it is usually used for sports such as... |
PF | PA | Final Position | Playoff Playoff The playoffs, postseason, or finals of a sports league are a game or series of games played after the regular season by the top competitors, usually but not always with a single-elimination system, to determine the league champion or a similar accolade.In the U.S... Record |
Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1985 | British American Football Federation, A1 Division | 8 | 0 | 0 | 350 | 68 | 1 / 4 | Lost 8–20 to Croydon Coyotes in semi-final. | Team entered league as Cambridge County Cats |
| 1986 | Budweiser League, Atlantic Premier Division | 6 | 4 | 0 | 130 | 198 | 3 / 6 | Lost 16–24 to Wrekin Giants in first round. | — |
| 1987 | Budweiser League, National League Eastern | 0 | 9 | 1 | 150 | 361 | 5 / 5 | — | Relegated to Premier Division |
| 1988 | Budweiser League, Premier Division East Midlands | 8 | 2 | 0 | 287 | 157 | 2 / 6 | Lost 24–34 to Glasgow Diamonds in first round. | — |
| 1989 | Combined Gridiron League National Division Central | 7 | 3 | 0 | 192 | 194 | 2 / 6 | Lost 3–27 to Heathrow Jets in quarter final. | Team changed name to Cambridge Crunchers before start of season. |
| 1990 | NCMMA Midland Conference | 6 | 3 | 1 | 273 | 208 | 2 / 5 | Team expelled from playoffs due to non-payment of league fees. | Team changed name to Cambridge Wildcats before start of season. |
| 1991 to 1992 | DID NOT COMPETE | ||||||||
| 1993 | BNGL, First Division East Midlands | 8 | 1 | 1 | 339 | 71 | 2 / 4 | Beat Derbyshire Braves 30–13 in wild-card playoff. Beat Redditch Arrows 54–40 in quarter-final. Lost 27–31 to Lincoln Saints in semi-final. |
Team re-entered league as Cambridge Cats. |
| 1994 | BAFA Division Three Midlands | 8 | 2 | 0 | 321 | 134 | 1 / 6 | Beat Redditch Arrows 43–0 in quarter-final. Beat Chester Romans 36–19 in semi-final. Beat Crawley Raiders 25–14 in final. |
Conference champions. Division Three champions. Promoted to Division Two. |
| 1995 | BAFA Division Two North / Midlands | 8 | 2 | 0 | 284 | 136 | 2 / 5 | Beat Chiefs 26–20 in quarter-final. Beat Lancashire Wolverines Lancashire Wolverines The Lancashire Wolverines are a British American football team based in Blackburn and from the 2007 season will be playing in Division Two of the British American Football League... 42–23 in semi-final. Beat Plymouth Admirals Plymouth Admirals The Plymouth Admirals were an American Football team who competed in the British American Football League up until 2010. They played their home games at the Parkway Sports Club in Ernesettle, Plymouth. Formed in 1984, the Admirals were one of the longest established American football teams in the... 28–13 in final. |
Division Two Champions. Promoted to Division One. |
| 1996 | BSL Division One North | 2 | 8 | 0 | 107 | 190 | 4 / 5 | — | — |
| 1997 | BSL Division one South East & Midlands | 4 | 6 | 0 | 136 | 183 | 5 / 6 | — | — |
| 1998 | BSL Division One Southeast | 2 | 8 | 0 | 63 | 236 | 5 / 6 | — | — |
| 1999 to 2001 | DID NOT COMPETE | ||||||||
| 2002 | BSL Division Two South | 6 | 3 | 0 | 107 | 102 | 3 / 9 | Lost 25–36 to Plymouth Admirals Plymouth Admirals The Plymouth Admirals were an American Football team who competed in the British American Football League up until 2010. They played their home games at the Parkway Sports Club in Ernesettle, Plymouth. Formed in 1984, the Admirals were one of the longest established American football teams in the... . |
Team re-entered league as Cambridgeshire Cats. |
| 2003 | BSL Division Two South East | 10 | 0 | 0 | 289 | 64 | 1 / 8 | Beat Southern Southdevils 9–6 in quarter-final (2 x OT Overtime (sports) Overtime or extra time is an additional period of play specified under the rules of a sport to bring a game to a decision and avoid declaring the match a tie or draw. In most sports, this extra period is only played if the game is required to have a clear winner, as in single-elimination... ) Lost 12–14 to Bristol Aztecs Bristol Aztecs The Bristol Aztecs are a British American football team based inBristol, England, at the Filton WISE sports academy of Filton College, Bristol, which is also the base for a number of other sports teams such as Bristol Academy woman's soccer team.- Overview :... in semi-final. |
Promoted to Division 1A. |
| 2004 | BSL Division 1A South | 3 | 7 | 0 | 87 | 290 | 3 / 4 | Lost 12–13 to Bristol Aztecs Bristol Aztecs The Bristol Aztecs are a British American football team based inBristol, England, at the Filton WISE sports academy of Filton College, Bristol, which is also the base for a number of other sports teams such as Bristol Academy woman's soccer team.- Overview :... in wild-card playoff. |
— |
| 2005 | BAFL Division 1A South | 1 | 9 | 0 | 40 | 364 | 4 / 4 | — | Relegated to Division Two. |
| 2006 | BAFL Division Two East | 5 | 4 | 1 | 185 | 159 | 3 / 4 | — | — |
| 2007 | BAFL Division Two South East | 7 | 3 | 0 | 307 | 43 | 2 / 6 | Lost 7–13 to South Wales Warriors South Wales Warriors The South Wales Warriors are an American Football team currently competing in Division 2 West of the BAFA National Leagues . The team was formed after the Tiger Bay Warriors had disbanded due to the departure of head coach Rob Mota, along with key staff and players, by the remaining players and... in quarter-final. |
— |
| 2008 | BAFL Division Two East | 9 | 1 | 0 | 336 | 45 | 1 / 5 | Beat South Wales Warriors South Wales Warriors The South Wales Warriors are an American Football team currently competing in Division 2 West of the BAFA National Leagues . The team was formed after the Tiger Bay Warriors had disbanded due to the departure of head coach Rob Mota, along with key staff and players, by the remaining players and... 21–12 in quarter-final. Lost 0–32 to London Cobras London Cobras (American football) The London Warriors are an American Football team based in Boston Manor, London. The team were formed in 2007 as the senior outfit for the London Warriors youth team, and currently play in the BAFA Community Leagues Premiership.-History:The London Cobras were formed in 2007 as a senior team of... in semi-final. |
Promoted to Division 1. |
| 2009 | BAFL Division One South East | 7 | 3 | 0 | 373 | 281 | 2 / 6 | Beat Oxford Saints 25–13 in quarter-final. Lost 6–22 to London Cobras London Cobras (American football) The London Warriors are an American Football team based in Boston Manor, London. The team were formed in 2007 as the senior outfit for the London Warriors youth team, and currently play in the BAFA Community Leagues Premiership.-History:The London Cobras were formed in 2007 as a senior team of... in semi-final. |
— |
| 2010 | BAFACL Division One South East | 9 | 1 | 0 | 368 | 182 | 1 / 6 | Beat Oxford Saints 13–7 in quarter-final. Lost 7–49 to Tamworth Phoenix Tamworth Phoenix The Tamworth Phoenix are an American football team playing in the United Kingdom. The Phoenix field a senior team in the Premiership of the BAFA Community Leagues... in semi-final. |
— |
| 2011 | BAFNL Division One Central | 5 | 5 | 0 | 106 | 195 | 4 / 6 | — | — |
Roster
Cambridgeshire Cats roster |
||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Quarterbacks Running Backs Wide Receivers Tight Ends |
Offensive Linemen Defensive Linemen |
Defensive Backs Linebackers Special Teams |
||||
Coaching staff
- Head Coach: Bob Shaw
- Assistant Head Coach / Offensive Co-ordinator: Kimo Kuheana
- Offensive Line Coach: Brian Jelley
- Offensive Line Assistant: Stuart Tinsley
- Receivers Coach: Tony Reveglia
- Defensive Co-ordinator / Coach: Ray Palmer
- Defensive Backs Coach: Cornelius Walker
External links
- Cambridgeshire Cats Official Site