Coventry Jets

History

The first American football team in Coventry was the Warwickshire Bears, formed in February 1984 by two local men with help from the head coach of a United States Air Force team at RAF Chicksands. The Bears played their first season in the Midland Division of the British American Football League, winning only one regular-season game, but they defeated the undefeated Streatham Olympians 26–0 in a friendly. In 1986, the Bears won the Anglo Conference Central Division with an 8–2 record, including a 100–0 victory over the Black Country Nailers, and hosted the Oslo Trolls, losing by one point on the final kick.

The following year, the Bears merged with the Milton Keynes team to form the CMK Bucks, but the merger failed and the team folded, losing talent such as Von Sheppard to neighbouring teams. The team was reformed as the Coventry Bears, and at the end of 1990 they merged with the Walsall Titans to become the Coventry Jaguars. The Jaguars imported American players Travis Hunter and Craig Otto, finished 10–0 in 1991, and won the NDMA Division II Coca-Cola Bowl, also defeating the Upper Heyford Sky Kings.

In 1992, Hunter left for the Birmingham Bulls, but Mark Cohen joined; the Jaguars again beat the Sky Kings but lost in the league semi-finals and the third-place game.

Teams

The Jets attracted players from across the Midlands and England, though many of the original 2004 squad did not return for 2005. Several players received NFLE National testing invitations: James Hossacks, Dom Olney and Michael Achola in 2005, and Achola, Andy Steadman and Xin Xu in 2006 and 2007. Andy Steadman later joined the NFL International Player Development squad. Centre Tyla Matia, who won the 2008 New Zealand Championship with the Papatoetoe Wildcats, was signed by the af2 Rio Grande Valley Dorados for 2008.

Jets personnel coached with BUAFL teams including the Warwick Wolves, Birmingham Lions, Oxford Cavaliers, Leicester Longhorns, Loughborough Aces, Liverpool Fury and Coventry University Jets. The senior Jets trained at the University of Warwick Sports Centre on a 3G Tarkett pitch. In 2008, Adam Etheridge established the Coventry Jets Flag Team, which became competitive in the BAFL Flag league, featuring players such as Mark Cohen, David Sonne, Shad McCook, Neil Balthazaar and Brian Over.

Rivals

The Birmingham Bulls, the Jets' closest team, became rivals upon their first meeting on 28 May 2006, which the Jets won 27–0. The Bulls lost subsequent games 42–0 and 52–12, and in 2008 the Jets won 67–0, the Bulls' biggest defeat in 25 years. The rivalry was renewed in 2010 with youth teams, the Jets winning 28–24 and the Bulls winning 30–24. The rivalry with the Bristol Aztecs began from banter before the 2006 BAFL Div 1 Bowl game, which the Jets won 52–20. In 2007, the Jets won 47–23 in Bristol and 13–6 in the BAFL Premier semi-final. In 2008, the Jets beat the Aztecs 28–15 and again 31–28 in the semi-finals. In 2009, the Jets won early but suffered their first loss to Bristol, 40–33, and lost the national semi-final 28–14. In 2010, the Jets won both regular-season games but lost the semi-final 34–8.

Playing staff

Steve Coles kicked a 53-yard field goal against London Blitz on 19 August 2007. Tim Spaull threw seven touchdown passes in a 2005 game. Mike Dunson intercepted four passes against East Kilbride Pirates on 11 June 2006. Tom Singleton-Wells was selected for the GB Lions Student squad in 2012.

Krishan Sharma, Alex Preece and Oli Campbell were selected for the GB Lions junior squad for the 2011 European Championships. David Saul was selected for the GB Lions for the 2010 European Championships. Joe Brammer was selected for the GB Lions Youth squad in 2010. Adam Biggs was selected for GB Lions against Centre College in 2010.

Gary Clark was selected for GB Lions against Australia and Sweden in 2009. Mark Cohen, Jeremy Simms, Joe Black and James Hossacks were selected for GB Lions against France in 2008. Tim Spaull was BAFL MVP in 2007. Quinton Little was nominated for BAFL Rookie of the Year in 2007.

Tyler Matia was signed by af2 Rio Grande Valley Dorados in 2007. Andy Steadman was invited to NFL International Player Development camps in 2007 and 2008. Danny Wardell attended NCAA Division 2 Southwest Minnesota State University and redshirted in 2007. Gerry McManus was named Coventry, Solihull and Warwickshire Sports Awards Manager/Coach of the Year in 2006.

Michael Achola, Andy Steadman and Xin Xu were selected for NFLE National Player testing in 2006. Shadrach McCook was selected for Team England against Team Scotland in Edinburgh in 2006. Gerry McManus was named BAFCA Coach of the Year in 2005. Michael Achola, James Hossacks and Dom Olney were selected for NFLE National Player testing in 2005.

Parm Sidhu was nominated for BAFL Rookie of the Year in 2005. Paul Newey, Mark Cohen and Steve Coles were selected as GB Lions captains against Centre College in London in 2005. Paul Newey, Mark Cohen, Tam Byrne, Steve Coles, Saul Freer and Bernie Hacksaw were selected for GB Lions Euro Championships in Finland in 2005. Paul Newey, Mark Cohen, Adam Biggs and Jamie Kilby were selected for GB Lions, winning the Group B Euro Championships in France in 2004.