Nottingham Caesars

Nottingham Caesars

Team logo
Established	1984
Based in	{{{location}}}
Home ground	Harvey Hadden Stadium, Nottingham
Head coach	Barry Boseley
General manager	John Burnett
League	BAFA Community Leagues
Division	Division 1 South West
League titles	None
Division titles	None
Current uniform
Primary Alternate

The Nottingham Caesars are an American football team playing in the United Kingdom. The Caesars field a senior team in Division 1 Central of the BAFA Community Leagues (BAFACL). The team is affectionately known by its players and fans as "The Big C".

History

The Caesars began play in 1992, in competition with the cross-town Nottingham Hoods. The Hoods saw some success including a conference championship in 1992 under the leadership of import players Mike Grossner and Vic Quirolo. The Hoods stopped play in 1994, and this boosted the Caesars considerably, who then posted an undefeated 10-0 record in 1995. Since then, the Caesars have seen moderate success, with 3 conference championships including a trip to the Britbowl in 1997, ending in defeat to the Redbridge Fire 26-7.

Although the team lost out to the Tamworth Phoenix in the 2008 semi-finals, due to a league reshuffle the team earned promotion and in 2009 played in the BAFL 1 South West Conference. The Caesars struggled in 2009 picking up just two wins, 2010 was even less successful with their only win coming at home to the South Wales Warriors on the last day of the season, however this was enough to keep them in Division 1.

2011 season

In 2011 a reorganisation of the division saw the Caesars competing in the Central Conference with the Leicester Falcons, the Birmingham Bulls, the Oxford Saints, the Peterborough Saxons and the Cambridgeshire Cats.

After an excellent pre-season victory over Gloucester Banshees, the Big Cee began the 2011 campaign with a trip to local rivals Leicester Falcons. The heavily-favoured Falcons dominated the first half of the game, but the Caesars rallied to put in a very respectable performance in a 54-22 defeat.

The following week's home opener against Cambridgeshire Cats saw the return of those players who had been in BUAFL action over the winter, and the difference was immediately apparent in a 21-6 victory. Danny Miller picked up the Defensive MVP award on debut, while quarterback Dan Johnson linked well with Charlie Paterson, who continued his fine start to the season with a memorable touchdown.

The unfortunate withdrawal of Peterborough Saxons from the league meant that the Caesars had three weeks of hard practice before welcoming Oxford Saints to the Harvey Hadden Stadium, and it appeared to pay dividends as they picked up their biggest win of the season. Tom Snee score twice on his way to the Offensive MVP award, while a dominant Caesars defence turned the ball over five times in the 52-15 victory.

Three consecutive victories raised morale and expectations in the Caesars camp ahead of the visit of top-ranked Falcons to the Harvey Hadden, but were soon crushed as the visitors racked up the points on their way to a 50-2 victory - with the only Caesars points coming courtesy of a safety on the opening kick of the second half.

That defeat meant that the Caesars would probably have to win three of their remaining four games to enter the post-season play-offs, and started the run-in well with a 25-6 win at Cambridgeshire Cats. After conceding a touchdown on the opening drive, the Caesars defence rallied to shut out the Cats for the remainder of the game, giving the offence ample time to score the necessary points. Running back Simon Dale scored twice, while Johnson found Phil Hine for the receiver's only touchdown of 2011.

The Caesars visited Oxford two weeks later hoping to continue their upturn in form, but were nearly stunned by the plucky Saints. Despite a dominant opening drive, the Caesars offence stuttered in the first half and were made to pay as the Saints ran into a shock lead. Half time saw an about turn in fortunes however, as defensive back Chris O'Dea made a crucial interception, allowing wide receiver Paterson completed a hat-trick of touchdowns and secure a vital 27-13 road win.

Victory at Oxford and the "home" walkover against Peterborough meant the Caesars needed just one win going into their final two games of the regular season to secure a play-off berth, but it would be no easy task against a Birmingham Bulls outfit that had moved to the top of the division following Leicester Falcons fielding an ineligible player in their earlier clash.

The home game saw the Bulls show just why they were one of the pre-season play-off favourites, shutting the Caesars offence down and restricting them to just a field goal. This left the defence with a near-impossible task, and despite the best efforts of defensive MVP Stacey Martin, the Bulls ran out 28-3 winners.

That result meant that the Caesars had to win the final game of the season to progress, but it was not to be. After a cagey start from both teams, the Bulls found their stride and took a lead into half time. Despite a score for the Caesars on the opening drive of the second half, the Bulls secordary stepped up to the plate and scored twice on interceptions as the Big Cee searched for way back into the game.

A 34-10 defeat saw a disappointing end to a highly-encouraging regular season for the Caesars, with plenty of improvement expected in 2012.

The Caesars formally closed the 2011 season with their annual All-Stars Charity Game against the Lincolnshire Bombers. Players from Gloucester, Milton Keynes, Bedfordshire, Sheffield and Doncaster all took part in a highly entertaining match that saw the Caesars All-Stars come from behind in the final quarter to secure a 28-26 victory. The game raised money for local charity When You Wish Upon A Star and the Jennifer Trust.

2011 BAFANL Coaching Staff

Head Coach / Defensive Co-ordinator: Barry Boseley
Offensive Co-ordinator / Offensive Line Coach: Stephen Brittle
Special Teams Co-ordinators: Paul Facey and Ben Pepper
Running Backs Coach: Vanden Warner
Wide Receivers Coach: Richard Musk
Team Manager: John Burnett
Kitted Youth Team Head Coach: Matt Walker

Team Records

2011 BAFANL 1 Central Conference 6-4
2010 BAFL 1 South West Conference 1-9-1
2009 BAFL 1 South West Conference 2-8-0
2008 BAFL 2 Central Conference 9-0-1
2007 BAFL 2 Central Conference 8-2-0
2006 BAFL 1a Northern Conference 0-10-0
2005 BAFL 1a Northern Conference 2-7-1
2004 BSL Division One A Northern Conference 3-6-1
2003 BSL Division Two Northern Conference 9-0-1
2002 BSL Division Two Northern Conference 7-1-2
2001 BSL Division One Northern Conference 1-7-0
2000 BSL Division One Northern Conference 2-6-0
1999 BSL Division One Northern Conference 6-3-0
1998 BSL Division One Northern Conference 5-5-0
1997 BSL Division One Northern Conference 7-1-2
1996 BSL Division Two Northern Conference 6-4-0
1995 BAFA Division Three North East Conference 10-0-0

2011 roster

Nottingham Caesars roster
Quarterbacks 7 Dan Johnson 12 Simon Denning Running Backs 28 Simon Dale 19 William Hobbs 11 Ennis Gale 29 Vanden Warner 88 Dave Hine Wide Receivers 82 Phil Hine 85 Charles Paterson 10 Tom Snee 81 Joseph Pate 81 Rob Hardwick 15 Nikki Burton Tight-Ends 28 Stuart Vickers 22 Nick Wadlow 89 Jerome Edwards		Offensive Linemen 62 Adam Burnett 79 Jacob Vincent 66 Darren Frew Kyle Clark Phil Gaskin Defensive Linemen 78 Andy Cusworth 50 Stacy Martin 52 Paul Facey Alex Poole		Linebackers 3 Adrian Giles 33 Karl Wilkinshaw 58 Leon Lewis 45 Chris Nicholas 9 Jimmy Smith 55 Spencer James Defensive Backs 31 Chris O'Dea 47 Mike Holden 25 Jason Smith 24 Marcus Boswell 43 Dan Kitchen Injured Reserve 18 James Muller

Youth Team

The Caesars Youth Team became fully kitted in the 2009 season, starting as associate members to the league. Due to low numbers, players currently play both sides of the ball; however, numbers are on the rise. In their debut, a controlled scrimmage against the Peterborough Saxons, the team managed to achieve victory. The team will be playing friendly games for the rest of 2009. Following the same pattern as the senior team, the youths are affectionately known as 'The Little C'.

RESULTS

5/4/09 Peterborough Saxons @ Nottingham Caesars W 26-6

19/4/09 Nottingham Caesars @ Yorkshire Rams L 6-0

4/5/09 Nottingham Caesars @ Birmingham Bulls L 24-2

17/5/09 Redditch Arrows @ Nottingham Caesars W 13-12

9/8/09 Nottingham Caesars @ Redditch Arrows W 14-0

4/10/09 Peterborough Saxons @ Nottingham Caesars W 26-0

Youth Roster 2009

Nottingham Caesars Youth roster 2009
Quarterbacks 10 Adam Grant  3 Rahil Hussain  4 Alex Dosiuk 12 Jon Newell Running Backs 45 Will Hobbs HB 55 Dean Butler FB 25 Elliot Sharpe FB 41 Nathon Watson HB 52 Alistair Bagnall FB Wide Receivers 88 Craig Devonport 86 Abreu-Aneudys Sanchez 85 Henry Young 11 Joe Virtue-Haughton		Tight-Ends 59 Kevin Clark 80 Tom Marks 83 Chris Turner Offensive Linemen 57 Jacob Steeples C 71 Ben Harris G 62 Curtis Holmes G 68 Alec George T 75 Jack Cockerill T Defensive Linemen 71 Ben Harris DT 62 Curtis Holmes DT 68 Alec George DT 75 Jack Cockerill DE 85 Henry Young DE		Linebackers 55 Dean Butler MLB 10 Adam Grant OLB 57 Jacob Steeples OLB 41 Nathon Watson MLB 52 Alistair Bagnall OLB Defensive Backs 25 Elliot Sharpe CB 45 Will Hobbs SS/CB 88 Craig Devonport FS 54 Matt Dent CB 41 Nathon Watson LB/FS 86 Abreu-Aneudys Sanchez CB

External links

• Nottingham Caesars official club website