1987-Present
The University of East Anglia American Football team, also known as the
Pirates, was formed in 1987 by Stewart Croucher. Starting off as an
un-kitted team, The Pirates started their history with a record of 2 wins,
3 losses and a tie.
In 1989, Croucher invited Norwich Devils standout Warren Smart to lead the
team through its transition to a fully kitted squad. 1989 saw the Pirates
consolidate with a 4-4 record, before making a run at the national title
in 1991, with a 7-1 record, Southern Conference crown and British American
Football Coaches Association National Coach of the Year honours for Smart,
before falling to the Teeside Demons at Saffron Lane at College Bowl V.
For the 1992 season, the Pirates recruited former Chelmsford Cherokee
coach, Robin Burton to become Head Coach. Coach Burton led the club to a
5-3 record his first season in charge, culminating in two record breaking
seasons in 1995-6 and 1996-7. In 1995-6, Coach Burton steered Andy Ennis
to a then record 22 touchdown passes in a 5-3 season, where 3 WRs were in
the national Top 10 for receiving. Ennis followed that up with a 7-1
season and a Southeastern Divisional title and a famous come-from-behind
victory against arch-rival Cambridge Pythons. A play-off defeat at the
hands of Bath prematurely ended a College Bowl run. In addition to
garnering Southern Conference Coach of the Year honours, Coach Burton also
oversaw the beginnings of the preseason Old Boys game, started by a group
of former players to provide the Pirates with a preseason tune-up.
Coach Burton returned to the USA in 2000, leaving Offensive Coordinator
Neil Morgan to fill the void. Morgan led a return to the playoffs in
2000-01 and narrowly missed out on a playoff berth again in 2002-3. Coach
Morgan stepped aside and Chris Hailstone stepped into the breach.
Coach Hailstone led a team famed for a ferocious defense and punishing
running game in 2003-4 to a narrow playoff defeat at the hands of the
Cardiff Cobras before becoming the first Pirates coach to lead his team to
back-to-back playoff berths. Coach Hailstone stepped aside midway through
the season in 2005 due to a change in his work situation, allowing Martyn
Doust to complete the season with a 3-5 record. A season of consolidation
followed in BCAFL’s final season in 2006-7 before Coach Doust led the
Pirates to a 5-3 record in BUAFL’s inaugural season.
As for 2008 and beyond? The future looks bright, with many returning
players and stability within the coaching staff. Pirates Nation is always
hopeful of a return to the National Championship game.
Alex 'Statto' Thorpe
#69 Matt Ingram
#66 Toby Leaver
#26 Jesse Lamberth
#10 Andy Ennis
#4 Neil morgan
#41 Richard Mortimer
Coach Robin Burton
#22 Tim Stone
#81 Ian Burchett
#81 Neil Sullivan
#3 Warren Smart
#1 Andrew Laing
#51 Mark Williams
#1 Andrew Laing
#3 Warren Smart
#27 Richard Barnard
#69 Matt Ingram
#81 Ian Burchett