Sheffield Giants
Founded2008 (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
General managerTom Moxon
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

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

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. The away jersey designed by Britballerz is black with sky blue numbers.

Home field

The 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

As well as the adult contact team, The Giants also operate both a flag football and youth contact team. This 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.

Coaching staff

Role Name
Head CoachMatt Flynn
Offensive CoordinatorAdam Lilley
Defensive CoordinatorAnthony Marsden
Special Teams CoordinatorN/A
Running Backs CoachN/A
Offensive line coachOliver Monaghan
Wide Receivers CoachDan Magee
Quarterbacks CoachJacob Hardy
Defensive Line CoachOscar Vickers
Defensive Backs CoachSam Calvert
Linebackers CoachFernando Carvahlo
Team PhysiotherapistRic Lockhart

Roster

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

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]

YearDivisionWinsLossesTiesPercentage
1986 UKAFLAFC East8200.800
1987 Budweiser LeagueSouthern01000.000
1988 Budweiser LeaguePremier Division9100.900
2010 BAFLDivision 2 Central01000.000
2011 BAFANLDivision 2 Central6400.600
2012 BAFANLDivision 2 Central10001.000
2013 BAFANLPremier North8300.800
2014 BAFANLPremier North4500.444
2015 BAFANLPremier North3700.300
2016 BAFANLPremier North3700.300
2017 BAFANLPremier North4600.400
2018 BAFANLPremier North4600.400
2019 BAFANLPremier North2710.250
2020 BAFANLPremier North0000.000^
2021 BAFANLWhite Rose6100.857^^
2022 BAFANLPremier North3700.300
2023 BAFANLNFC 1 South5500.500

^No season due to COVID-19 pandemic

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

Honours

  • Premier - Northern Conference Winners - 1988 (as Steel City Giants)
  • BAFA Division Two Central - Divisional Champions - 2012 (as Sheffield Predators)
  • BAFA Division Two - National Conference Champions - 2012 (as Sheffield Predators)

Notes

  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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