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Sheffield Giants

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Sheffield Giants
Founded2008; 16 years ago (2008) (as Sheffield Predators)
LeagueBAFA National Leagues
DivisionNFC 1 South
Team historySheffield Predators (2008–2016)
Sheffied Giants (2016–)
LocationSheffield, South Yorkshire
StadiumNorton Sports Park
ColoursBlack Helmets
Sky Blue Jerseys
Black Pants
Head coachMatt Flynn
ManagerZoe McCallum (Team Manager)
Division titles1: 2012
Playoff berths2: 2012, 2013
Websitewww.sheffieldgiants.com

The Sheffield Giants are an American football team based in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England, that competes in the BAFA National Leagues NFC 1 South, the second level of British American football. They were formed in 2008 as the Sheffield Predators but re-branded to the Giants in 2016 in a nod to the Steel City Giants who folded in the 1980s. In 2012 they were crowned Division Two Bowl Champions after defeating the Peterborough Saxons at the Don Valley Stadium.

History

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There have been a number of teams in and around the Sheffield area since the inception of American football in Britain.[1] The Steel City Giants were formed in the 1980s but soon folded in the same era. Until 2008, The Sheffield Tomahawks junior side were the only operating club in the City before The Predators were formed and after finishing their associate period, entered the BAFANL in 2010.[2][3] The Predators first season in Britball ended with a 0-10 record and finishing bottom of the National Central 2.[4]

During this time they have achieved a degree of success, primarily running the double-wing formation,[5] beating the Peterborough Saxons 39-33 in overtime to take home the Division 2 National Championship in 2012 at the Don Valley Stadium in their home town.

In 2014, the Predators announced a partnership with Structure Sport and Fitness Ltd, a gym in Sheffield, worth over £4000 annually.[6]

In 2016, the club was rebranded as the Sheffield Giants after an online voting poll by supporters and the British American Football.[7] The name change came following the teams decision to boost the appeal of the club, citing that the name "The Predators" was a negative name for attracting players from schools and universities[8]

Logos & Uniforms

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The Predators logo was a stylised lion, the team played in gold jerseys with a black trim, and black game pants. The Giants rebrand in 2017 incorporated a full kit rebrand to black helmet, sky blue jerseys and black pants.

Home field

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The Sheffield Giants play their home games at the Sport Sheffield Norton Sports Park complex on Warminster Road in Sheffield. The University of Sheffield American Football Team also play their home games at Norton.

Youth Team

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As well as the adult contact team, the Sheffield Giants also operate both flag football and youth contact teams, the latter is known as the 'Sheffield Giants Academy'.

The Academy began in 2018 with a U16 contact team and has now grown to over 100 players at ages 7 to 19. They are currently recruiting for the non-contact U11, U14 and U17 'flag' teams, along with the U16 and U19 contact teams. All youth teams are inclusive and are mixed gender.

There are two Sheffield Giants flag football teams, a Women's team and a mixed team.

Coaching staff

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Role Name
Head Coach Matt Flynn
Offensive Coordinator Adam Lilley
Defensive Coordinator

Linebackers

Anthony Marsden
Special Teams Coordinator

Linebackers

Dave Rowley
Offense
Running Backs Coach James Tannter
Offensive Line coach Oliver Monaghan
Quarterbacks Coach Jacob Hardy
Wide Receivers Coach Martyn Lee
Offensive General Assistant Summer Morris
Defense
Defensive Line Coach Fernando Carvalho
Assistant Defensive Line Coach Liam Albert
Defensive Backs Coach Sam Calvert
Assistant Defensive Backs Coach Matthew Sherridan
Assistant Defensive Backs Coach Mikey Guinness
Special Teams
Assistant Special Teams Coach Shaun Hird
Assistant Special Teams Coach Aaron Mcwhir
Other
General Assistant Ellie Johnson
Strength & Conditioning Coach Kieran Burke (Team Hallam)
Head Physio Dominic Moon (Pure Physio)
Statistician Jack Dyson
Placement Studen Harvey Evans

Roster

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Quarterbacks

  • 6: Ewan Chisholm
  • 12: Josh Adamson
  • 14: Daniel Mayers

Running backs

  • 24: Scott Roberts
  • 28: Harry O'Neill
  • 31: Anthony Slingsby
  • 34: Sam Evans

Receivers

  • 3: Jason Sanders
  • 5: Jon Taylor
  • 8: Elliott Marris
  • 11: Kieren Singh
  • 17: Jamie Dean
  • 32: Josh Allen
  • 48: John Halliwell
  • 80: Phil Skinner
  • 82: Dan Magee
  • 83: Luke Goodwin
  • 84: Tom Dolan
  • 86: Martyn Lee
  • 87: Ryan Taylor
  • 88: Paul Weston
  • 89: Matthew Webb

Offensive line

  • 54: Rob Bane
  • 58: Si Byrne
  • 59: Adam Lilley
  • 61: Oliver Monaghan
  • 66: Miles Wright
  • 72: Daniel Tipper
  • 73: Benjamin Dixon
  • 75: Pete Draper
  • 77: John Gilmartin

Defensive line

  • 7: Ben Hopkinson
  • 42: Fernando Carvalho
  • 57: Adam Tordoff
  • 65: Nathan Lenthall
  • 68: Kade Chriwa
  • 69: Brad Weaver
  • 92: Martin Dorn
  • 95: Jordan Harding
  • 97: Stephen Connolly
  • 98: Oliver Richards
  • 99: Dan Salt

Linebackers

  • 2: Anthony Marsden
  • 10: Kieran Nelson
  • 19: Jack Ramsden
  • 43: Alex Briggs
  • 44: Russell Waddell
  • 45: Phillip Jarrett
  • 52: Henrique Borges
  • 53: Ben Fenwick
  • 56: Adam Berry
  • 93: Connor Charles

Defensive backs

  • 9: Joseph Higginbotham
  • 13: Nathan Gatchalian
  • 16: Andrew Kenyon
  • 18: Simon Ross
  • 20: Adam Westwood
  • 21: Lucas Klumb
  • 22: Matt Hawker
  • 23: Ash Burgess
  • 25: James Tanner
  • 26: Jack Dyson
  • 29: Matthew Sherridan
  • 33: Lewis James

Kickers

  • 4: Kyle Tranter

Team Records

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Complete records for the club under all three identities. 1986 to 1989 as Steel City Giants, 2010 to 2016 as Sheffield Predators and 2016 to present day for Sheffield Giants .[9]

Year Division Wins Losses Ties Percentage
1986 UKAFL AFC East 8 2 0 0.800
1987 Budweiser League Southern 0 10 0 0.000
1988 Budweiser League Premier Division 9 1 0 0.900
2010 BAFL Division 2 Central 0 10 0 0.000
2011 BAFANL Division 2 Central 6 4 0 0.600
2012 BAFANL Division 2 Central 10 0 0 1.000
2013 BAFANL Premier North 8 3 0 0.800
2014 BAFANL Premier North 4 5 0 0.444
2015 BAFANL Premier North 3 7 0 0.300
2016 BAFANL Premier North 3 7 0 0.300
2017 BAFANL Premier North 4 6 0 0.400
2018 BAFANL Premier North 4 6 0 0.400
2019 BAFANL Premier North 2 7 1 0.250
2020 BAFANL Premier North 0 0 0 0.000^
2021 BAFANL White Rose 6 1 0 0.857^^
2022 BAFANL Premier North 3 7 0 0.300
2023 BAFANL NFC 1 South 5 5 0 0.500
2024 BAFANL NFC 1 North 4 4 0 0.500

^No season due to COVID-19 pandemic

^^One-off restructured division as part of 'return to play' during COVID-19 pandemic

Honours

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Notes

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  1. ^ Britball Now List Of Britball Teams
  2. ^ Sheffield Predators Awards & Honours
  3. ^ "New Green Party branch set up for Rotherham | The Star".
  4. ^ "Predators on the prowl - Sheffield Telegraph". Archived from the original on 4 April 2018.
  5. ^ The Big Interview - Richard Batty
  6. ^ Sheffield Predators agree sponsorship with gym in Sheffield
  7. ^ "Sheffield Predators name-change bid". BBC News. 24 May 2016.
  8. ^ "'Negative' Sheffield Predators team name changed". BBC News. 3 June 2016.
  9. ^ "Historical League Tables in the UK | BritballNow".
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