Scunthorpe Alphas

The Scunthorpe Alphas are an American football club based in Scunthorpe, North Lincolnshire, England who will operate in the BAFA National Leagues NFC Division 2 for the 2021 season. The club play their home games at Quibell Park Stadium and were formed in late 2018 by a consortium of coaches and former players who had previously played together at other local sides. In formation the Alphas became the second American football team to represent Scunthorpe following the Steelers who folded in 1990.[2] The Alphas were made full BAFA members in October 2020 and will play in Division Two for the 2021 season.[3]

Scunthorpe Alphas
Founded2018 (2018)
LeagueBAFA National Leagues
DivisionDivision Two[1]
LocationScunthorpe, North Lincolnshire, England
StadiumQuibell Park Stadium
ColoursWhite Helmets
Navy Blue and White Jerseys
Navy Blue pants
Head coachAlex Robson
General managerWarwick Grosvenor

History

The Alphas were formed in 2018 by a consortium of coaches and former players who had previous links to the Sheffield Giants, Lincolnshire Bombers and Doncaster Mustangs, namely founding members Warwick Grosvenor, Alex Robson, Nick Tomaszewski, Mikey Gray and Iain Heron Stamp.[4]

The club had become the first team to represent Scunthorpe since the 'Scunthorpe Steelers' who folded in 1990.[5] The Alphas added American quarterback Derek Yenerall, formerly of Premier League team Bristol Aztecs to their roster for their debut season and played their first game against Etone Jaguars (formely Coventry Jets) on the 3 August 2019, losing 16-12 in Nuneaton.[6] The Alphas brought American Football back to Quibell Park Stadium for the first time in 19 years when they hosted the Northants Knights on 15 September 2019, in attendance was a crowd of over 400 people.[7]

In February 2020 in preparation for their second season, the Alphas appointed former NCAA LSU Tigers player William Walker Jnr as their new Offensive Line coach. Walker had played under Louis Oubre at McDonogh High School and alongside future NFL players Joe McKnight and Delvin Breaux.[8]

The Alphas were made full BAFA members in October 2020 and will play in Division Two for the 2021 season. BAFA representative Warren Smart commented "BAFA believes that General Manager (GM) Warwick Grosvenor, aided by Assistant GM Nick Tomaszewski and the Alphas management and coaching squad, has established a sustainable, dynamic and competitive club".[9]

Youth Team

The Alphas introduced several levels of Youth team football in 2020 and in turn appointed former Great Britain Lions youth coach Richard Scott as their new U19 Head Coach.[10]

Stadium
Quibell Park Stadium

The Alphas play their home games at Quibell Park Stadium, the former home of the Steelers. Quibell Park is a purpose-built athletics and cycling velodrome stadium that has an American football field in the centre. The Alphas also use the adjacent field for practice making the Quibell Park complex their home for both training and match day.

Coaching Staff
Role Name
Head Coach Alex Robson
Offensive Coordinator Alex Robson
Defensive Coordinator Warwick Grosvenor
Defensive Backs Coach Nick Tomaszewski
Defensive Line Coach Warwick Grosvenor
Offensive Line Coach William Walker Jr.
Running Backs Coach Claudia Tasker
Defensive Line Coach Warwick Grosvenor
Linebackers Coach Ed Heywood
Wide Receivers Coach Alex Robson
U19 Head Coach Richard Scott
Assistant Defensive Line Coach Ryan McEntee
Assistant Defensive Backs Coach Patrick Galvin

[11]

Roster
Scunthorpe Alphas training at night

Quarterbacks

  • 9: Bruce Laughton
  • 11: Derek Yenerall

Running Backs

  • 20: Mark Straw
  • 26: Thomas Kirk
  • 28: Adam Gill
  • 34: Corey Dobbs
  • 00: Brad Walker
  • 00: Ryan Bailey
  • 00: Reece Taylor

Wide Receivers

  • 4: Danny Simpson
  • 5: Tom Goodey
  • 6: Tom Costello
  • 10: Tim Hotchin
  • 12: Dan Kitching
  • 19: Jake Bradley
  • 81: Mat Teal
  • 87 Nick Lamming
  • 00: Ross Wilson

Offensive Line

  • 50: Stewart Robertson
  • 51: Paul Christmas
  • 56: Ryan Burrows
  • 57: Michael Dixon
  • 62: Nathan Goodall
  • 64: Joseph Bradley
  • 65: David Noble
  • 68: Luke Thompson
  • 69: Wayne Dempsey
  • 70: Ricky Smart
  • 74: Thomas Finlay
  • 77: Thomas Brunt

Defensive Line

  • 13: Michael Blades
  • 44: Adrian Swierad
  • 52: Daniel Hollingsworth
  • 79: Tim Wood
  • 90: Ryan McEntee
  • 94: Thomas Bradshaw
  • 95: Ryan Shelley
  • 98: Daniel McGowan
  • 99: Jack Marshall
  • 00: Jamie Naylor
  • 00: Jordan Peterson
  • 00: Ben Westerman

Linebackers

  • 3: Nick Tomaszewski
  • 40: Martin Gregory
  • 42: James Woodward
  • 43: Sean Kirkwood
  • 45: Chris Clarke
  • 46 Ollie Dixon
  • 47: Ryan Davey
  • 48: Ben Manderson
  • 49: Jordan Smith
  • 54: Ed Heywood
  • 55: Steve Sowerby
  • 58: Charlie Wilson
  • 59: Antony Lowndes
  • 80: Jordan Carr
  • 91: Warwick Grosvenor
  • 00: Karol Tyburc

Defensive Backs

  • 22: Joshua Smith
  • 23: Rob Barraclough
  • 24: Gaz Hughes
  • 25: Ash Scott
  • 27: KP Edwards
  • 30: Pete Briscoe
  • 31: Callum Chrost
  • 32: Patrick Galvin
  • 33: Alex Chrost
  • 88: James Larby
  • 00: Stuart Fletcher
  • 00: Cardin Smith

References
  1. https://www.britishamericanfootball.org/news/scunthorpe-alphas-confirmed-as-full-members-of-bafa-national-leagues#.X46w9dBKiUk
  2. "Britball Remembered: The Scunthorpe Steelers". Ninety-Nine Yards: American Football. April 3, 2020.
  3. https://www.britishamericanfootball.org/news/scunthorpe-alphas-confirmed-as-full-members-of-bafa-national-leagues#.X46w9dBKiUk
  4. "Scunthorpe's American Football team to play first game in nearly 30 years". August 2, 2019 – via www.grimsbytelegraph.co.uk.
  5. "After 20 years - American Football returns to Scunthorpe". December 16, 2018 – via www.grimsbytelegraph.co.uk.
  6. "Scunthorpe Alphas American Football". www.facebook.com.
  7. https://www.facebook.com/AlphasFootballUK/posts/972918146379574?comment_id=972935239711198&reply_comment_id=973002519704470
  8. "Former player from USA who played with NFL athletes joins Scunthorpe Alphas". February 14, 2020 – via www.grimsbytelegraph.co.uk.
  9. https://www.britishamericanfootball.org/news/scunthorpe-alphas-confirmed-as-full-members-of-bafa-national-leagues#.X46w9dBKiUk
  10. https://www.facebook.com/AlphasFootballUK/photos/a.789520268052697/1324111801260205/
  11. "Scunthorpe Alphas American Football". www.facebook.com.
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