Southern Sundevils
Encyclopedia
The Southern Sundevils were an American football
team who competed in the Southern Conference of British American Football League
(BAFL) Division One (the second tier of national competition). They played their home games at the ROKO Leisure Centre in Portsmouth
, Hampshire
, England
. Russ Hewitt was the current General Manager and Head Coach. Russ had been with the team since its inception as a player on the youth team and has progressed through the Senior level and since retiring from player was involved in the management and coaching side of the organisation. Many former Sundevil members have coached or played for national sides, with some going on to trial and play for professional or semi-professional teams.
In 1989 Colin O'Field became team manager and along with new coaching staff the team record improved to 4-4. The 1990 season had promised great things with the addition of Graham Thorpe to assist Coach Riley and so it proved, winning the Southern Conference with a perfect 8-0 record before losing to Waldron in the playoff quarterfinals. 1991 saw the team renamed as the Eastleigh Devils and end their tenure in the two-touch game. They finished the season with a 4-4 record, finishing third in their group and earning a wildcard playoff spot, where they lost 6–8 to the Bournemouth Raiders
.
In 1992, the Eastleigh Devils entered the British Youth American Football Association
to play youth kitted football in the Coastal Conference, where newly appointed Coach, Martin Keogh joined with Coach Thorpe to see the team win their group with a 4-2 record. As group winners, they were awarded home advantage but that proved to be of no avail as they were beaten heavily by the Southend Sabres, who would eventually be crowned champions.
In 1993, the team changed its name to their present title of the Southern Sundevils. They maintained their steady improvement to record a 7-1 season and the Southern Conference Championship before losing their first playoff match against the Heathrow Jets. On a more positive note, both coaches and five players were chosen for the Great Britain Crusaders team. 1994 was the Sundevils' last season in youth football. In a year which saw many of the more established players retiring and rookies joining the squad, they struggled, finishing bottom of their group.
The 1997 season saw a reorganisation of the BSL, with the Sundevils being moved to the Southeast Conference of Division Two. With the arrival of Jim Roberson onto the coaching staff, their squad was bolstered by a number of former Winchester Rifles players who had followed Roberson after their team withdrew from the league and folded. The club improved on the previous season, finishing second in their group with a 6-4 record before losing narrowly away to the Bristol Aztecs
in the playoffs. The following year proved to be their best season so far as they finished clear winners of their conference with a 7-1 record. Their defence in particular stood out, recording four shutouts and only conceding 53 points in their eight games. Their good form continued into the playoffs, recording home wins against the Southend Sabres and the London Mets, they travelled to the Saffron Lane stadium in Leicester to face the Lancashire Wolverines
in the Division Two playoff final. In a tight game, they edged the Wolverines 22–16 to clinch their first divisional championship and earn promotion to Division One.
) and qualifying once again for the playoffs before losing 7–19 at home to the Essex Spartans
.
Compared with the previous season, 2000 was a disappointment, finishing bottom of their group with a 2-6-1 record. 2001 on the other hand saw them return to winning ways, dropping just one game in the regular season to the eventual champions, the London O's
. The first playoff match saw them face off against the PA Knights, a team they had already beaten twice that season, and that dominance continued as they won 22–6. Their next match saw them having to make the long trip up to Scotland to face the East Kilbride Pirates
, and they failed to register a single point, losing 0–22.
2002 saw the Sundevils struggle once again, recording a 3-7 record and finishing fifth. This saw the team relegated to Division Two of the BSL along with Bristol Aztecs, and it was these two teams who would go on to dominate this conference, with the Sundevils finishing second with a 7-3 record. They were drawn away to the Cambridgeshire Cats
in their first playoff match, and the two teams fought out a tight game that finished 6–6 after the regulation four periods. They could not be separated after one period of overtime, but the Cats scored a field goal in the second overtime period to progress.
Despite losing their playoff match, a further reorganisation of the league saw the Sundevils promoted to Division 1A, where they competed in a four-team group with the Cats, the Bristol Aztecs (who won the Divisional playoff) and the Norwich Devils
, who had been relegated from Division One. After a ten game regular season which also saw them play a number of games against teams from Division One as well playing the other teams in their conference, they finished top of Division One A South with a 7-3 record, which saw them beating two of the higher league teams, but also forfeiting a match against the Norwich Devils due to a lack of ambulance at the game. Their top-place finish earned them an automatic place in the playoff semi-final where they played at home to the wild-card entries Staffordshire Surge, recording a heavy 48–3 win, and so earning a trip to the Don Valley Stadium
to face their conference rivals from Bristol. They dominated the playoff final, shutting out the Aztecs as they finished with a 32–0 victory to claim their second divisional title.
Their first season back in the top division proved to be an eventful one, in particular their home match against the London O's. Just days before the two sides were due to meet, an anonymous hoaxer telephoned the team's ambulance provider claiming to be General Manager Russell Hewitt and cancelling the ambulance provision for the remainder of the season. As an alternative provider could not be found with such short warning Southern were forced to postpone the game and the Olympians generously agreed to reschedule the encounter. Then two weeks before the rescheduled game their home pitch was occupied by a group of travellers who had broken the lock to the gate that prevents vehicle access to the pitch. By law they were allowed to stay camped on the pitch uncontested for a maximum of 28 days, leaving the club management with 12 days to secure an alternative venue. Luckily, the travellers left just before the onset of wet weather that would have seen the pitch destroyed by their presence. In the end, the Olympians won the delayed game 0–22. After a shaky start which saw the Sundevils lose two and draw one of their first four games, they eventually finished third in their group with a 4-5-1 record, enough to earn a wild-card slot in the playoffs. They made the long trip up to face the Gateshead Senators, who they narrowly edged out 9–6 to set up a semi-final match against the PA Knights. After a tight game which saw the two teams tied at the end of regular play, the Knights scored a converted touchdown to put them ahead. The Sundevils replied with a touchdown of their own, but their attempt at a two-point conversion failed and so the Sundevils lost 14–15.
2006 saw the Sundevils fare slightly better, recording a 6-4 record to finish third in their group, earning them a wild-card slot for the second year in a row. They put in a strong performance in beating the Birmingham Bulls
22–6 away from home before travelling to the London Olympians. In a high-scoring match, the Sundevils lost 35–43 to the eventual league champions. 2007 saw the league reorganised, and the top flight containing the Sundevils was rebranded the Premier Division. The season was a disaster for the Sundevils. They lost all ten of their games, failing to score a single point in seven of them and scoring just 20 points in total. As such, they were relegated, where they now play in Division One South.
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 who competed in the Southern Conference of 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....
(BAFL) Division One (the second tier of national competition). They played their home games at the ROKO Leisure Centre in Portsmouth
Portsmouth
Portsmouth is the second largest city in the ceremonial county of Hampshire on the south coast of England. Portsmouth is notable for being the United Kingdom's only island city; it is located mainly on Portsea Island...
, Hampshire
Hampshire
Hampshire is a county on the southern coast of England in the United Kingdom. The county town of Hampshire is Winchester, a historic cathedral city that was once the capital of England. Hampshire is notable for housing the original birthplaces of the Royal Navy, British Army, and Royal Air Force...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. Russ Hewitt was the current General Manager and Head Coach. Russ had been with the team since its inception as a player on the youth team and has progressed through the Senior level and since retiring from player was involved in the management and coaching side of the organisation. Many former Sundevil members have coached or played for national sides, with some going on to trial and play for professional or semi-professional teams.
Sundevils' youth origins - 1987 to 1994
The club was founded as the Eastleigh Royals in October 1987 by 20 young football enthusiasts. The team entered youth competition playing in two-touch competition. The team started their first season in the Southern Conference with defeats at Bournemouth and Chelmsford before winning 14–12 against the Fortek Falcons. The season ended with a 2-6 record.In 1989 Colin O'Field became team manager and along with new coaching staff the team record improved to 4-4. The 1990 season had promised great things with the addition of Graham Thorpe to assist Coach Riley and so it proved, winning the Southern Conference with a perfect 8-0 record before losing to Waldron in the playoff quarterfinals. 1991 saw the team renamed as the Eastleigh Devils and end their tenure in the two-touch game. They finished the season with a 4-4 record, finishing third in their group and earning a wildcard playoff spot, where they lost 6–8 to the Bournemouth Raiders
Bournemouth Raiders
The Bournemouth Raiders was an American Football club based in Bournemouth, England. The club folded in May 2006.-Early days:The club was created in 1988 at Bournemouth School for Boys through a group of gridiron football enthusiasts...
.
In 1992, the Eastleigh Devils entered the British Youth American Football Association
British Youth American Football Association
The British Youth American Football Association , was responsible for Junior & Youth American Football within Britain, comprising both fully kitted and flag football. The associated continued until 2007, when it was incorporated into the British American Football League...
to play youth kitted football in the Coastal Conference, where newly appointed Coach, Martin Keogh joined with Coach Thorpe to see the team win their group with a 4-2 record. As group winners, they were awarded home advantage but that proved to be of no avail as they were beaten heavily by the Southend Sabres, who would eventually be crowned champions.
In 1993, the team changed its name to their present title of the Southern Sundevils. They maintained their steady improvement to record a 7-1 season and the Southern Conference Championship before losing their first playoff match against the Heathrow Jets. On a more positive note, both coaches and five players were chosen for the Great Britain Crusaders team. 1994 was the Sundevils' last season in youth football. In a year which saw many of the more established players retiring and rookies joining the squad, they struggled, finishing bottom of their group.
Move into senior football - 1995 to 1998
In 1995, the Sundevils took the decision to begin a senior team. They joined the British Senior League, where they competed in the Southern Conference of Division Three. They struggled in their first season at this new level, posting a 3-7 record, finishing fourth out of six teams but falling well behind the three group leaders who all finished 8-2. The following year saw an improvement, ending the season with a 5-5 record.The 1997 season saw a reorganisation of the BSL, with the Sundevils being moved to the Southeast Conference of Division Two. With the arrival of Jim Roberson onto the coaching staff, their squad was bolstered by a number of former Winchester Rifles players who had followed Roberson after their team withdrew from the league and folded. The club improved on the previous season, finishing second in their group with a 6-4 record before losing narrowly away 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 :...
in the playoffs. The following year proved to be their best season so far as they finished clear winners of their conference with a 7-1 record. Their defence in particular stood out, recording four shutouts and only conceding 53 points in their eight games. Their good form continued into the playoffs, recording home wins against the Southend Sabres and the London Mets, they travelled to the Saffron Lane stadium in Leicester to face 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...
in the Division Two playoff final. In a tight game, they edged the Wolverines 22–16 to clinch their first divisional championship and earn promotion to Division One.
Promotion to the top division
The Sundevils lined up in the Central Conference for the 1999 season, and they carried their good form into this higher level. Once again their defence proved strong, conceding just 81 points in their ten games, whilst at the other end, the Sundevils boasted the best-performing offense in the entire BSL, racking up a total of 236 points. Quarterback Cliff Boddington gained an impressive total of 1216 yards and 14 touchdowns in the regular season, making him the league's top passer. Wide Receiver Paul Brady caught 32 receptions to rank fourth in the league. In defense, Mark Penfound won five fumbles and five interceptions, the fourth best tally in the league alongside his team-mate Paul Davies. Present Head Coach Russ Hewitt also performed well, racking up four sacks, the fourth best number of sacks in the league. Eventually, they finished second in their group with a 7-2-1 (the only tie being a 0-0 draw away to the Bristol AztecsBristol 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 :...
) and qualifying once again for the playoffs before losing 7–19 at home to the Essex Spartans
Essex Spartans
The Essex Spartans are an American Football team based in Billericay, Essex, England. The team has played under the Spartans name since 1998 following a merger between two local teams and currently play in the BAFA Community Leagues, Division 2 East....
.
Compared with the previous season, 2000 was a disappointment, finishing bottom of their group with a 2-6-1 record. 2001 on the other hand saw them return to winning ways, dropping just one game in the regular season to the eventual champions, the London O's
London Olympians
The London Olympians is a British amateur American football team, based in Crystal Palace, London. They are the United Kingdom's most successful amateur American football club...
. The first playoff match saw them face off against the PA Knights, a team they had already beaten twice that season, and that dominance continued as they won 22–6. Their next match saw them having to make the long trip up to Scotland to face the East Kilbride Pirates
East Kilbride Pirates (American football)
The East Kilbride Pirates are an American Football Team based in East Kilbride, Scotland.They currently play in the BAFANational League Division 1 North and are the oldest surviving American Football team in Scotland.-Formation :...
, and they failed to register a single point, losing 0–22.
2002 saw the Sundevils struggle once again, recording a 3-7 record and finishing fifth. This saw the team relegated to Division Two of the BSL along with Bristol Aztecs, and it was these two teams who would go on to dominate this conference, with the Sundevils finishing second with a 7-3 record. They were drawn away to the Cambridgeshire Cats
Cambridgeshire Cats
The Cambridgeshire Cats are an American football team competing in Division 1 Central of the BAFA Community Leagues , 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...
in their first playoff match, and the two teams fought out a tight game that finished 6–6 after the regulation four periods. They could not be separated after one period of overtime, but the Cats scored a field goal in the second overtime period to progress.
Despite losing their playoff match, a further reorganisation of the league saw the Sundevils promoted to Division 1A, where they competed in a four-team group with the Cats, the Bristol Aztecs (who won the Divisional playoff) and 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 been relegated from Division One. After a ten game regular season which also saw them play a number of games against teams from Division One as well playing the other teams in their conference, they finished top of Division One A South with a 7-3 record, which saw them beating two of the higher league teams, but also forfeiting a match against the Norwich Devils due to a lack of ambulance at the game. Their top-place finish earned them an automatic place in the playoff semi-final where they played at home to the wild-card entries Staffordshire Surge, recording a heavy 48–3 win, and so earning a trip to the Don Valley Stadium
Don Valley Stadium
The Don Valley Stadium is a stadium in Sheffield, England and is the home of Rotherham United F.C.. The stadium is an athletics stadium which has hosted major UK Athletic events and the 1991 World Student Games. Sheffield Eagles RLFC and Parramore Sports FC also use the stadium. It was designed by...
to face their conference rivals from Bristol. They dominated the playoff final, shutting out the Aztecs as they finished with a 32–0 victory to claim their second divisional title.
Their first season back in the top division proved to be an eventful one, in particular their home match against the London O's. Just days before the two sides were due to meet, an anonymous hoaxer telephoned the team's ambulance provider claiming to be General Manager Russell Hewitt and cancelling the ambulance provision for the remainder of the season. As an alternative provider could not be found with such short warning Southern were forced to postpone the game and the Olympians generously agreed to reschedule the encounter. Then two weeks before the rescheduled game their home pitch was occupied by a group of travellers who had broken the lock to the gate that prevents vehicle access to the pitch. By law they were allowed to stay camped on the pitch uncontested for a maximum of 28 days, leaving the club management with 12 days to secure an alternative venue. Luckily, the travellers left just before the onset of wet weather that would have seen the pitch destroyed by their presence. In the end, the Olympians won the delayed game 0–22. After a shaky start which saw the Sundevils lose two and draw one of their first four games, they eventually finished third in their group with a 4-5-1 record, enough to earn a wild-card slot in the playoffs. They made the long trip up to face the Gateshead Senators, who they narrowly edged out 9–6 to set up a semi-final match against the PA Knights. After a tight game which saw the two teams tied at the end of regular play, the Knights scored a converted touchdown to put them ahead. The Sundevils replied with a touchdown of their own, but their attempt at a two-point conversion failed and so the Sundevils lost 14–15.
2006 saw the Sundevils fare slightly better, recording a 6-4 record to finish third in their group, earning them a wild-card slot for the second year in a row. They put in a strong performance in beating the Birmingham Bulls
Birmingham Bulls
The Birmingham Bulls were a professional ice hockey team based in Birmingham, Alabama, USA. They played in the World Hockey Association from 1976 to 1979 and the Central Hockey League from 1979 to 1981. The Bulls played their home games at the Birmingham Jefferson Convention Center.Prior to being...
22–6 away from home before travelling to the London Olympians. In a high-scoring match, the Sundevils lost 35–43 to the eventual league champions. 2007 saw the league reorganised, and the top flight containing the Sundevils was rebranded the Premier Division. The season was a disaster for the Sundevils. They lost all ten of their games, failing to score a single point in seven of them and scoring just 20 points in total. As such, they were relegated, where they now play in Division One South.
Senior team season records
| Season | Division | W | L | T | PF | PA | Final Position | Playoff Record | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 | BAFA Division Three South | 3 | 7 | 0 | 98 | 196 | 4 / 6 | ||
| 1996 | BSL Division Three South West | 5 | 5 | 0 | 150 | 232 | 4 / 7 | ||
| 1997 | BSL Division Two South East | 6 | 4 | 0 | 209 | 183 | 2 / 5 | Lost 6–16 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 quarter-final. |
|
| 1998 | BSL Division Two South West | 7 | 1 | 0 | 242 | 53 | 1 / 4 | Beat Southend Sabres 30–16 in quarter-final. Beat London Mets 10–6 in semi-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... 22–16 in final. |
Division Two champions. Promoted to Division One. |
| 1999 | BSL Division One South | 7 | 2 | 1 | 236 | 81 | 2 / 5 | Lost 7–19 to the Essex Spartans Essex Spartans The Essex Spartans are an American Football team based in Billericay, Essex, England. The team has played under the Spartans name since 1998 following a merger between two local teams and currently play in the BAFA Community Leagues, Division 2 East.... |
|
| 2000 | BSL Division One South | 2 | 6 | 0 | 136 | 187 | 7 / 7 | ||
| 2001 | BSL Division One South | 7 | 1 | 0 | 236 | 128 | 2 / 7 | Beat PA Knights 26–6 in wild-card match. Lost 0–22 to East Kilbride Pirates in semi-final. |
|
| 2002 | BSL Division One South | 3 | 7 | 0 | 94 | 175 | 5 / 7 | Relegated to Division Two. | |
| 2003 | BSL Division Two South West | 7 | 3 | 0 | 148 | 88 | 2 / 6 | Lost 6–9 to Cambridgeshire Cats Cambridgeshire Cats The Cambridgeshire Cats are an American football team competing in Division 1 Central of the BAFA Community Leagues , 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... in quarter-final. |
Promoted to Division One A. |
| 2004 | BSL Division One A South | 7 | 3 | 0 | 203 | 95 | 1 / 4 | Beat Staffordshire Surge 48–3 in semi-final. Beat 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 :... 32–0 in final. |
Division One A champions. Promoted to Division One. |
| 2005 | BAFL Division One South | 4 | 5 | 1 | 155 | 126 | 3 / 4 | Beat Gateshead Senators 3–6 in wild-card match. Lost 14–15 to PA Knights in semi-final. |
|
| 2006 | BAFL Division One South | 6 | 4 | 0 | 288 | 199 | 3 / 4 | Beat Birmingham Bulls Birmingham Bulls The Birmingham Bulls were a professional ice hockey team based in Birmingham, Alabama, USA. They played in the World Hockey Association from 1976 to 1979 and the Central Hockey League from 1979 to 1981. The Bulls played their home games at the Birmingham Jefferson Convention Center.Prior to being... 22–6 in quarter-final. Lost 35–43 to London Olympians London Olympians The London Olympians is a British amateur American football team, based in Crystal Palace, London. They are the United Kingdom's most successful amateur American football club... in semi-final. |
|
| 2007 | BAFL Premier Division | 0 | 10 | 0 | 20 | 292 | 8 / 8 | Relegated to Division One | |
| 2008 | BAFL Division One South | 6 | 4 | 0 | 165 | 110 | 2 / 6 | Lost 22–30 to Redditch Arrows in semi-final. |
Roster
| Southern Sundevils roster | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Quarterbacks
Running Backs
Wide Receivers
84 Brandon Despotakis (TE)
Offensive Linemen
|
Defensive Linemen
Defensive Backs
|
Linebackers
Special Teams
|
||||
Notable players
- Justin Despotakis - QB - Played for the 2006 Southern Sundevils and led the league in quarterback rating, completed passes, touchdowns, and passing yards.
- Brandon Despotakis - TE - Played for the 2006 Southern Sundevils. Led the team and the league in receptions with 55.
- Dale Powell - LB - Played for GB.
- Shaun SmithShaun Smith (linebacker)Shaun Smith is an American football linebacker who is an international practice squad player for the Carolina Panthers of the National Football League. He was signed by the Southern Sundevils in 2001....
- LB - selected for Carolina PanthersCarolina PanthersThe Carolina Panthers are a professional American football team based in Charlotte, North Carolina. They are currently members of the South Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Panthers, along with the Jacksonville Jaguars, joined the NFL as expansion...
2008 practice squad, Played two NFL Europa seasons for the Rhein FireRhein FireThe Rhein Fire was a professional American football team in NFL Europe, formerly the World League of American Football. Established in Germany in 1995, the franchise resurrected the name of the former Birmingham Fire team which was active during the 1991-1992 WLAF seasons.-History:The team was...
and Berlin ThunderBerlin ThunderThe Berlin Thunder were a professional American football team in NFL Europe, which was a springtime American football league serving primarily as a developmental league for the National Football League. Most of the players were young American professional players assigned by NFL teams to receive...
. - Cliff Boddington - QB - Played professionally in Austria for Oscar Dinos, has also played for Great Britain, captained team to Division 2 Championship win.
- Mark Penfound - LB - Division 2 Championship MVP, has also played for Great Britain. Only player to have his jersey retired.
- Kirk O'Field - OL - Played for Irish National Team.
- Rob HartRob HartRob Hart is an English American football player who played as a placekicker for NFL Europe's England Monarchs in 1998 and Scottish Claymores from 1999-2004 after college experience at Murray State University in Kentucky...
- K - Played for London MonarchsLondon MonarchsThe London Monarchs were a professional American football team in NFL Europe and its predecessor league, the World League of American Football . The Monarchs played their final season in 1998 as the England Monarchs...
and Scottish ClaymoresScottish ClaymoresThe Scottish Claymores were an American football team from Scotland. The franchise played in the World League of American Football between 1995 and 2004, initially playing all home games at Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh and latterly sharing home games with Hampden Park, Glasgow...
. - Russ Hewitt - DE - Played for Irish National Team.
- Paul Brady - WR - Played for Irish National Team (Career team leader in receptions and receiving yardage)