Aberdeen Roughnecks

The Aberdeen Roughnecks are an American football club based in Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire, Scotland, who compete in the BAFA National Leagues NFC 1 North, the second level of British American Football. The team operate from the Sports field within Hazlehead Park that they nickname "The Rig". They were formed in 2012 and after progressing out of Associate status they debuted in the 2014 season.[1] The club have paid homage to the previous Aberdeen-based side the Granite City Oilers and have considered themselves a continuation of the Oilers.[2]

Aberdeen Roughnecks
Founded2012 (2012)
LeagueBAFA National Leagues
DivisionNFC 1 North
LocationAberdeen, Aberdeenshire, Scotland
StadiumHazlehead Park
ColoursWhite Helmets, Red Jerseys, Black Pants
Head coachVacant
Division titles1: 2018
Playoff berths4: 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018
Websitewww.abdnroughnecks.com
Current uniform
Home
Away

The Roughnecks represent the most northern based team currently operating within the BAFANL, in 2018 they were crowned NFC 2 North champions and completed a perfect season when they defeated the Chester Romans in the Division Two Bowl game.

History

Aberdeen had an American football team before the Roughnecks, with the Granite City Oilers running from February 1986. The original team enjoyed some success, winning their conference in 1989 and again in 1993 before they disbanded in 1995.[3]

The club began with a few fans of the sport meeting in Seaton Park to throw a ball around. Joint training camps and scrimmages followed with the Highland Wildcats adult side, giving the players a taste of game action.[4][5]

The Roughnecks now had a head coach in place, and enough players to apply for associate membership of the British American Football Association (BAFA), taking their first step to entering the UK's league structure.[6] Additionally, the club acquired a home field in Hazlehead Park, named The Rig, and installed goals to host home games.

To fulfill the conditions of full membership, the club played 3 matches towards the end of the year: the Glasgow Tigers and Clyde Valley Blackhawks visited The Rig, before the team travelled south to face the Dundee Hurricanes.[7] Despite suffering losses in all 3 games, the Roughnecks proved that they were competitive enough and ready to enter the BAFA National Leagues, and were voted in as full members of BAFA at the body's AGM in November 2013.[8]

Embarking on their first BAFA National Leagues (BAFANL) campaign, the Roughnecks experienced a difficult rookie season, losing their first 8 games before finishing with a maiden victory over the Glasgow Tigers and a tie with the Dundee Hurricanes.[9] Completing the first season successfully allowed the club to set a base from which to build on looking ahead, and they were successful in attracting over 80 potential players to 2015 pre-season training camps.[10]

The club's second BAFA National Leagues (BAFANL) campaign brought greater success, finishing the regular season with a winning 6–4 record and securing a wildcard playoff spot as the NFC's #8 seed.[11] As well as progress made in the senior ranks, the Roughnecks youth side competed in their respective league for the first time, after an initial recruitment drive was successful in attracting enough players.[12]

Junior and Youth Programme

As full members of BAFA, the Roughnecks have now launched a youth development programme (commenced November 2014), as mandated by the governing body.[13] This will initially take the form of a youth team (14–17 years old), with a junior team (17–19 years old) expected to follow at some stage in the future.

Stadium
The Rig, Hazlehead Park

The Roughnecks home field is situated in Hazlehead Park, beside the Joe Paterson Sports Pavilion and its assorted football pitches. Training is also held here every non-playing Sunday from 1pm until 4pm.[14]

Results

2013
Date Opponent Score Record
Sunday 13 October VS Glasgow Tigers L 0-25 0 - 1
Sunday 20 October VS Clyde Valley Blackhawks L 6-90 0 - 2
Sunday 16 November @ Dundee Hurricanes L 22-50 0 - 3

2014
Date Opponent Score Record
Sunday 13 April @ Dundee Hurricanes L 13-40 0 - 1
Sunday 27 April @ Clyde Valley Blackhawks L 0-75 0 - 2
Sunday 11 May @ Glasgow Tigers L 0-39 0 - 3
Sunday 25 May VS West Coast Trojans L 6-48 0 - 4
Sunday 8 June VS Clyde Valley Blackhawks L 0-46 0 - 5
Sunday 15 June @ Edinburgh Wolves L 0-48 0 - 6
Sunday 13 July @ West Coast Trojans L 0-38 0 - 7
Sunday 3 August VS Edinburgh Wolves L 0-69 0 - 8
Sunday 10 August VS Glasgow Tigers W 12-6 1 - 8
Sunday 17 August VS Dundee Hurricanes T 7-7 1 - 8 - 1

2015
Date Opponent Score Record
Sunday 26 April @ Glasgow Tigers W 10-0 1 - 0
Sunday 3 May VS Glasgow Tigers W 2-0 2 - 0
Sunday 10 May VS West Coast Trojans L 7-32 2 - 1
Sunday 24 May @ Newcastle Vikings L 14-45 2 - 2
Sunday 31 May VS Newcastle Vikings L 9-26 2 - 3
Sunday 21 June @ Dundee Hurricanes W 25-6 3 - 3
Sunday 28 June VS Northumberland Lightning W 44-20 4 - 3
Sunday 5 July @ West Coast Trojans L 38-6 4 - 4
Saturday 25 July @ Northumberland Lightning W 53-0 5 - 4
Sunday 2 August VS Dundee Hurricanes W 27-13 6 - 4
Sunday 23 August @ Manchester Titans (NFC 2 Playoff QF) L 54-7 N/A


2016
DateOpponentScoreRecord
Sunday 10 April 2016@ Northumberland LightningL 10-80-1
Sunday 17 April 2016VS Newcastle VikingsL 14-60-2
Sunday 1 May 2016VS Carlisle SentinelsW 26-01-2
Sunday 15 May 2016VS Dundee HurricanesW 20-02-2
Sunday 12 June 2016@ Glasgow TigersL 12-82-3
Sunday 3 July 2016@ Newcastle VikingsW 14-133-3
Sunday 10 July 2016VS Northumberland LightningW 28-04-3
Sunday 24 July 2016@ Carlisle SentinelsW 7-05-3
Sunday 7 August 2016@ Dundee HurricanesW 13-66-3
Sunday 14 August 2016VS Glasgow TigersW 26-87-3
Sunday 21 August 2016@ Chester Romans (NFC 2 playoffs)L 43-67-4

References
  1. "Aberdeen Roughnecks accepted into National League" - Evening Express, 21/12/2013 Archived 2013-12-24 at the Wayback Machine
  2. "Aberdeen Roughnecks American Football Club". Aberdeen Roughnecks. Archived from the original on 24 December 2013. Retrieved 31 October 2020.
  3. www.britballnow.com History
  4. "Joint Training Camp: Aberdeen Roughnecks 0-12 Highland Wildcats" Archived 22 August 2013 at the Wayback Machine
  5. "Joint Training Camp: Highland Wildcats 14-3 Aberdeen Roughnecks" Archived 24 December 2013 at the Wayback Machine
  6. "A warm welcome to new associate teams" - BAFA National Leagues, 30/05/2013 Archived 24 December 2013 at the Wayback Machine
  7. "Roughnecks suffer at the hands of a Hurricane" - Dundee Hurricanes official site, 24/11/2013 Archived 24 December 2013 at the Wayback Machine
  8. "Aberdeen Roughnecks accepted into National League" - Evening Express, 21/12/2013 Archived 2013-12-24 at the Wayback Machine
  9. "Results 2014". Archived from the original on 24 December 2013. Retrieved 22 December 2013.
  10. Facebook Post 02/11/2014
  11. Double Coverage Round-Up
  12. Facebook Post 25/05/2015
  13. "Here's your chance to join the Granite City gridiron boom" - stv Aberdeen, 30/10/2014
  14. BBC Things To Do
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