Cornish Sharks
Encyclopedia
The Cornish Sharks are an American Football team currently competing in Division 2 West of the BAFA Community Leagues
(BAFACL). They play their home games at the Newquay Sports Centre, in Newquay
, Cornwall
. In their first season in the BAFL, the Sharks recorded a 7 wins to 3 losses record and finished second in their conference, but lost their playoff quarter-final to the eventual divisional champions, the Norwich Devils
.
after the demise of the county's only other team the Duchy Destroyers, who had folded some eleven years earlier. After placing adverts in the local press, they held their first trials in January 2006 which was attended by over 140 people, a mixture of local rookies, rugby players, former players, and American servicemen stationed at a local air force base, one of whom had had previous experience with the San Francisco 49ers
.
After obtaining kit from the Duchy Destroyers, the London Mets (one of Brian John Smallworth's former teams), a National Lottery
grant, and sponsorship from 13 local businesses, the Sharks set about gaining entry into the British American Football League
in time for the 2007 season. To do this, they arranged two away fixtures against teams already affiliated with the League, namely Reading and Lincoln, and they won both games convincingly without conceding a single point.
The team were accepted into the South West conference of Division 2. Despite an opening day defeat to the Andover Thrashers, they soon bounced back with three wins, including two consecutive shutout
s. They eventually finished with a 7-3 record, tied with the Thrashers, but were awarded second place by virtue of having scored more points in the teams' two meetings during the regular season.
In doing so, they made British American football history by becoming the first team to qualify for the playoffs in their first ever season. They also finished the regular season by only condending 66 points in their ten games, a record for a new team and a defensive record bettered by only four other teams in the entire league.
In their playoff quarter-final, they faced an away trip to the Norwich Devils
, who had won their conference with a perfect 10-0 record, and despite a brave performance they went down 18–26 to the eventual divisional champions.
On 1/15/2010 the Sharks signed linebacker Jonathan Borrero and wide receiver James Dean both from Miami Fl,(US).They are two players that should make the Sharks a better team overall on both sides of the ball.
The club also operates a Player Exchange Programme in action with two international teams, namely the Tacoma Invaders in Washington, USA
and the Brisbane Rhinos in Australia
.
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). They play their home games at the Newquay Sports Centre, in Newquay
Newquay
Newquay is a town, civil parish, seaside resort and fishing port in Cornwall, England. It is situated on the North Atlantic coast of Cornwall approximately west of Bodmin and north of Truro....
, Cornwall
Cornwall
Cornwall is a unitary authority and ceremonial county of England, within the United Kingdom. It is bordered to the north and west by the Celtic Sea, to the south by the English Channel, and to the east by the county of Devon, over the River Tamar. Cornwall has a population of , and covers an area of...
. In their first season in the BAFL, the Sharks recorded a 7 wins to 3 losses record and finished second in their conference, but lost their playoff quarter-final to the eventual divisional champions, the Norwich Devils
Norwich Devils
The Norwich Devils are a British American Football team based in Norwich, Norfolk.-Overview:The Devils currently field a senior team in Division 2 East of the BAFA Community Leagues...
.
History
The Cornish Sharks were founded in 2005 by Brian Smallworth, Richard Atkinson and Martin Phillips, all of whom were experienced players or coaches looking to bring American football back to CornwallCornwall
Cornwall is a unitary authority and ceremonial county of England, within the United Kingdom. It is bordered to the north and west by the Celtic Sea, to the south by the English Channel, and to the east by the county of Devon, over the River Tamar. Cornwall has a population of , and covers an area of...
after the demise of the county's only other team the Duchy Destroyers, who had folded some eleven years earlier. After placing adverts in the local press, they held their first trials in January 2006 which was attended by over 140 people, a mixture of local rookies, rugby players, former players, and American servicemen stationed at a local air force base, one of whom had had previous experience with the San Francisco 49ers
San Francisco 49ers
The San Francisco 49ers are a professional American football team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the West Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team was founded in 1946 as a charter member of the All-America Football Conference and...
.
After obtaining kit from the Duchy Destroyers, the London Mets (one of Brian John Smallworth's former teams), a National Lottery
National Lottery (United Kingdom)
The National Lottery is the state-franchised national lottery in the United Kingdom and the Isle of Man.It is operated by Camelot Group, to whom the licence was granted in 1994, 2001 and again in 2007. The lottery is regulated by the National Lottery Commission, and was established by the then...
grant, and sponsorship from 13 local businesses, the Sharks set about gaining entry into the British American Football League
British American Football League
The British American Football League was the United Kingdom's primary American Football league from 1998 until 2010. It was formerly known as the British Senior League until 2005. BAFL was the trading name for Gridiron Football League Ltd incorporated as a Company limited by guarantee....
in time for the 2007 season. To do this, they arranged two away fixtures against teams already affiliated with the League, namely Reading and Lincoln, and they won both games convincingly without conceding a single point.
The team were accepted into the South West conference of Division 2. Despite an opening day defeat to the Andover Thrashers, they soon bounced back with three wins, including two consecutive shutout
Shutout
In team sports, a shutout refers to a game in which one team prevents the opposing team from scoring. While possible in most major sports, they are highly improbable in some sports, such as basketball....
s. They eventually finished with a 7-3 record, tied with the Thrashers, but were awarded second place by virtue of having scored more points in the teams' two meetings during the regular season.
In doing so, they made British American football history by becoming the first team to qualify for the playoffs in their first ever season. They also finished the regular season by only condending 66 points in their ten games, a record for a new team and a defensive record bettered by only four other teams in the entire league.
In their playoff quarter-final, they faced an away trip to the Norwich Devils
Norwich Devils
The Norwich Devils are a British American Football team based in Norwich, Norfolk.-Overview:The Devils currently field a senior team in Division 2 East of the BAFA Community Leagues...
, who had won their conference with a perfect 10-0 record, and despite a brave performance they went down 18–26 to the eventual divisional champions.
On 1/15/2010 the Sharks signed linebacker Jonathan Borrero and wide receiver James Dean both from Miami Fl,(US).They are two players that should make the Sharks a better team overall on both sides of the ball.
Senior team season records
| Season | Division | W | L | T | PF | PA | Final Position | Playoff Record | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | BAFL Division 2 South West | 7 | 3 | 0 | 177 | 66 | 2 / 5 | Lost 18–26 to Norwich Devils Norwich Devils The Norwich Devils are a British American Football team based in Norwich, Norfolk.-Overview:The Devils currently field a senior team in Division 2 East of the BAFA Community Leagues... in quarter-final. |
First team in BAFL history to qualify for playoffs in rookie year. Best defensive record for a rookie team. |
| 2008 | BAFL Division 2 South West | 7 | 3 | 0 | 155 | 66 | 2 / 5 | Beat Peterborough Saxons Peterborough Saxons The Peterborough Saxons are an American football team competing in Division 1 South East of the BAFA Community Leagues , with their home games played at Stanground College in Peterborough. The senior team was first formed in 2001 and entered senior competition the following year... 9–6 in wild-card playoff. Lost 3–42 London Cobras in quarter-final. |
— |
| 2009 | BAFL Division Two South West | 7 | 2 | 1 | 295 | 65 | 2 / 5 | — | Record includes one win by forfeit. |
| 2010 | BAFL Division Two South West | 5 | 5 | 0 | 202 | 136 | 3 / 6 | ||
| 2011 | BAFL Division 2 South West | 6 | 4 | 0 | 256 | 159 | 3 / 6 | ||
Other teams & activities
In 2008, the club established the Cornish Academy of American football, a programme aimed at offering youngsters in Cornwall a chance to gain experience in the sport. The academy is composed of twelve teams based all over Cornwall split into three divisions of four teams. The best players from each team will then be selected to play for “Team Cornwall” which will then play in the National League against other youngsters. When a player reaches 18 years of age he can then move up to the Cornish Sharks development team and when ready, can move into the Cornish Sharks.The club also operates a Player Exchange Programme in action with two international teams, namely the Tacoma Invaders in Washington, USA
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and the Brisbane Rhinos in Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
.
Roster
| Cornish Sharks roster | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Quarterbacks
Running Back
Wide Receivers
|
Tight Ends
Offensive Linemen
|
Defensive Linemen
|
Defensive Backs
Linebackers
Special Teams
|
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