Cambridgeshire Cats

American football club
name =Cambridgeshire Cats
founded =1985
logo =Cambridgeshirecatslogo07.png logosize = 150px
city =Cambridge
misc =(Reformed 2002)
h_pattern_h =_af
h_pattern_la =
h_pattern_b =
h_pattern_ra =
h_pattern_p =
h_pattern_s =_af
h_helmet =000000
h_leftarm =FF0000
h_body =FF0000
h_rightarm =FF0000
h_pants =FF0000
h_socks =0000
h_title = Home
a_pattern_h =_af
a_pattern_la =
a_pattern_b =
a_pattern_ra =
a_pattern_p =
a_pattern_s =_af
a_helmet =000000
a_leftarm = FFFFFF
a_body = FFFFFF
a_rightarm = FFFFFF
a_pants =FF0000
a_socks =000000
a_title = Away
owner =
chairman = Rick Bice
manager =
coach = Rick Bice
division_hist =
* British American Football Federation
** A1 Division (1985)
* Budweiser League
** Atlantic Premier Division (1986)
** National Division Eastern (1987)
** Premier Division East Midlands (1988)
* Combined Gridiron League
** Crown National Division Central (1989)
* NCMMA
** Midlands Conference (1990)
* British National Gridiron League
**First Division East Midlands Conference (1993)
* British American Football Association
** Division Three Midlands (1994)
** Division Two North/Midlands (1995)
* British Senior League
** Division One North (1996)
** Division One South East & Midlands (1997)
** Division One South East (1998)
** Division Two South (2002)
** Division Two South East (2003)
** Division One A South (2004)
* British American Football League
** Division One A South (2005)
** Division Two East (2006)
** Division Two South East (2007)
** Division Two East (2008)
hist_misc =
* Cambridge County 'Cats (1985–1988)
* Cambridge Crunchers (1989)
* Cambridge Wildcats (1990)
* Cambridge Cats (1993–98)
hist_yr =2002
hist_misc2 =
no_league_champs =0
league_champs =
no_div_champs = 2
div_champs = 1994, 1995
no_conf_champs = 4
conf_champs = 1985, 1994, 2003, 2008
no_playoffs = 12
playoffs = 1985, 1986, 1988, 1989, 1993, 1994,
1995, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2007, 2008
stadium_years =
* City Ground, Cambridge (Cambridge City F.C.) (1985–1987)
* Ely Rugby Club (1988)
* Shelford Rugby Club (1989)
* Sawston Village College (1990)
* Coldhams Common, Cambridge (1993)
* Bridge Road (Histon F.C.) (1994–1996)
* Cottenham Village College (1997)
* Cambridge Rugby Club, Grantchester (1998)
* Coldhams Common, Cambridge (2002–present)
website =http://www.cambridgeshirecats.com/

The Cambridgeshire Cats are an American football team competing in the Eastern Conference of British American Football League (BAFL) Division 2, with their home games played at Coldhams Common in Cambridge. The club was first formed in 1984 and entered senior competition in 1985 where they enjoyed a degree of success, winning two divisional titles in the 1990s as well appearing in the playoffs a further ten times before folding in 1998. They reformed once again in 2002 and re-entered senior competition, gaining promotion in 2003 only to be relegated two seasons later. Most recently, they won the Eastern Conference of Division Two before losing to the London Cobras in the playoffs. The team has unofficial connections to the Cambridge-based ARU Phantoms of the BUAFL.

History

Original formation (1984 to 1990)

The club was first formed in December 1984 as the Cambridge County Cats following trials conducted in the city by the RAF Wyton Eagles, one of the first American football teams to be founded in the UK.cite web | url=http://www.britballnow.co.uk/History/Britball%20Teams/CambridgeCountyCats.htm | title=Club History: Cambridge County Cats | publisher=Britball Now | accessdate=2008-09-12] They joined the British American Football Federation for the 1985 season, where they competed in the A1 Division and finished top with a perfect 8-0 regular season record in front of crowds often in excess of 600, before losing to the Croydon Coyotes in the semi-final. [cite web | url=http://www.britballnow.co.uk/History/Tables/1985TABLES.xls | format=XLS | title=1985 League Standings | publisher=Britball Now | date=2008-02-12 | accessdate=2008-09-12]

The folllowing year, they switched to the newly-formed Budweiser League, where they were elected straight into the top division. They finished with a 6-4 record and qualified for the playoffs where they lost in the first round away to the Wrekin Giants. [cite web | url=http://www.britballnow.co.uk/History/Tables/1986TABLES.xls | format=XLS | title=1986 League Standings | publisher=Britball Now | date=2005-12-20 | accessdate=2008-09-12] They were unable to repeat this success the folllowing year—they finished bottom of their group with a 0-9-1 record and so were relegated. [cite web | url=http://www.britballnow.co.uk/History/Tables/1987TABLES.xls | format=XLS | title=1987 League Standings | publisher=Britball Now | date=2006-11-26 | accessdate=2008-09-12] They returned to winning ways in the lower division, recording eight consecutive wins on their way to finishing second in their group before losing 24–34 away to the Scottish champions, the Glasgow Diamonds. [cite web | url=http://www.britballnow.co.uk/History/Tables/1988TABLES.xls | format=XLS | title=1988 League Standings | publisher=Britball Now | date=2006-11-14 | accessdate=2008-09-12]

1989 was a year of change for the Cats. After securing a sponsorship deal with the Washington State Apple Commission, a Seattle-based apple export firm, they were renamed the Cambridge Crunchers. They also left the Budweiser League to join the newly-formed Combined Gridiron League where they were admitted into the top division, competing in the Central Conference of the Crown National Division. They finished second in the group behind the Colchester Gladiators, and qualified once again for the playoffs. Unfortunately, they were unable to progress, losing 3–27 at home to the Heathrow Jets. [cite web | url=http://www.britballnow.co.uk/History/Tables/1989TABLES.xls | format=XLS | title=1989 League Standings | publisher=Britball Now | date=2006-08-31 | accessdate=2008-09-12]

The following year saw a degree of turmoil for the club, beginning when their sponsors suddenly decided to withdraw their support forcing the club to change its name once again, becoming the Cambridge Wildcats. They moved over to the NCMMA following the demise of the CGL and despite suffering from low team numbers, the team recorded a 6-3-1 season record and so qualified for the playoffs. [cite web | url=http://www.britballnow.co.uk/History/Tables/1990TABLES.xls | format=XLS | title=1990 League Standings | publisher=Britball Now | date=2005-12-20 | accessdate=2008-09-12] However, it was revealed that they hadn't paid the required league fees and so they were excluded from the post-season. During the close season, they entered into merger negotiations with another local team, the Newmarket Hornets. However, it emerged that it was actually a take-over attempt by Newmarket, and the club chose to fold rather than lose its identity.

Playoff successes (1992 to 1999)

After two years of inactivity, the club was reformed as the Cambridge Cats with a squad of over 40 players, half of whom came from the 1990 Wildcats team. They joined the British National Gridiron League in 1993, where they played in the East Midlands conference of Division One. They reached the playoffs at the first attempt after finishing second in acampaign which saw them score more than 40 points in six of their ten games. [cite web | url=http://www.britballnow.co.uk/History/Results/1993RESULTS.xls | format=XLS | title=1993 League Results | publisher=Britball Now | date=2005-12-20 | accessdate=2008-09-12] They were drawn away to the Derbyshire Braves in the wild-card round, who they beat to set up a tie against the Redditch Arrows. In a high-scoring game, they won by 54 points to 40 before losing their semi-final against the Lincoln Saints. [cite web | url=http://www.britballnow.co.uk/History/Tables/1993TABLES.xls | format=XLS | title=1993 League Standings | publisher=Britball Now | date=2005-12-20 | accessdate=2008-09-12]

They joined the British American Football Association in 1994, marking the start of the club's most successful spell. They entered the Midlands conference of Division Three and finished top, winning eight of their ten games. As in the previous season, they faced the Redditch Arrows, who they shut out whilst scoring 42 points. The semi-final saw them win away to the Chester Romans to set up their first play-off final. They secured their first divisional title by defeating the Crawley Raiders 25–14. [cite web | url=http://www.britballnow.co.uk/History/Tables/1994TABLES.xls | format=XLS | title=1994 League Standings | publisher=Britball Now | date=2005-12-20 | accessdate=2008-09-12]

As a result of their playoff win, the Cats were promoted to Division Two, where they competed in the North / Midlands conference and finished second with an 8-2 record. After beating the Chiefs in the playoff quarter-finals, they were drawn at home to the Lancashire Wolverines, who had been responsible for the Cats' only two defeats earlier in the season including 35-point shutout. [cite web | url=http://www.britballnow.co.uk/History/Results/1995RESULTS.xls | format=XLS | title=1995 League Results | publisher=Britball Now | date=2005-12-20 | accessdate=2008-09-12] There was no repeat of that heavy defeat this time as the Cats won 42–23 to set up a final against the Plymouth Admirals. After falling 13 points behind, they evetually won 28–13 to secure their second consecutive divisional championship and promotion. [cite web | url=http://www.britballnow.co.uk/History/Tables/1995TABLES.xls | format=XLS | title=1995 League Standings | publisher=Britball Now | date=2005-12-20 | accessdate=2008-09-12]

They struggled in their first season at this higher level, the top flight of the newly-renamed British Senior League (BSL), after many the top players decided to retire before the season started. To make matters worse, the head coach and several players walked out after only a couple of games. Cambridge's dismal season ended abruptly when they could not afford to play their final two home games. After winning just two of their ten games, they finished fourth out of the five teams which made up the North Conference. [cite web | url=http://www.britballnow.co.uk/History/Tables/1996TABLES.xls | format=XLS | title=1996 League Standings | publisher=Britball Now | date=2007-04-13 | accessdate=2008-09-12] They once again finished second from bottom the following year, (ahead of the Northants Storm who folded after just three games), [cite web | url=http://www.britballnow.co.uk/History/Tables/1997TABLES.xls | format=XLS | title=1997 League Standings | publisher=Britball Now | date=2005-12-20 | accessdate=2008-09-12] [cite web | url=http://www.britballnow.co.uk/History/Results/1997RESULTS.xls | format=XLS | title=1997 League Results | publisher=Britball Now | date=2005-12-20 | accessdate=2008-09-12] and once again in 1998. [cite web | url=http://www.britballnow.co.uk/History/Tables/1998TABLES.xls | format=XLS | title=1998 League Standings | publisher=Britball Now | date=2005-12-20 | accessdate=2008-09-12] The Cats finally folded prior to the start of the 1999 season.

Present-day Cats (2002 to present)

Three years later, the club was reformed under their present name of the Cambridgeshire Cats by Chris Wallis, and they entered the Division Two South of the BSL, where they qualified for the playoffs at the first attempt by finishing third out of nine teams, before losing to the Plymouth Admirals in the quarter-final. [cite web | url=http://www.britballnow.co.uk/History/Britball%20Teams/CambridgeshireCats.htm | title=Club History: Cambridgeshire Cats | accessdate=2008-09-12] [cite web | url=http://www.britballnow.co.uk/History/Tables/2002TABLES.xls | format=XLS | title=2002 League Standings | publisher=Britball Now | date=2005-12-20 | accessdate=2008-09-12] 2003 saw them perform even better, recording a perfect 10-0 regular season record and finishing top of the South East Conference. They were drawn at home to the Southern Sundevils in their quarter-final, and needed two periods of overtime before eventually beating them 9–6. However, they lost their semi-final at home to the Bristol Aztecs. [cite web | url=http://www.britballnow.co.uk/History/Tables/2003TABLES.xls | format=XLS | title=2003 League Standings | publisher=Britball Now | date=2005-12-20 | accessdate=2008-09-12]

Despite this disappointment, they were awarded promotion to the new Division 1A, where they finished third in their group and earned a wild-card playoff slot only to lose once again to the Aztecs, this time by a single point. [cite web | url=http://www.britballnow.co.uk/History/Tables/2004TABLES.xls | format=XLS | title=2004 League Standings | publisher=Britball Now | date=2005-12-20 | accessdate=2008-09-12] 2005 saw them struggle, winning two games and scoring just 40 points as they bottom of the South conference, resulting in them being relegated to Division Two. [cite web | url=http://www.britballnow.co.uk/History/Tables/2005TABLES.xls | format=XLS | title=2005 League Standings | publisher=Britball Now | date=2006-01-02 | accessdate=2008-09-12]

2006 saw them finish with a 5-4-1 record, [cite web | url=http://www.britballnow.co.uk/History/Tables/2006TABLES.xls | format=XLS | title=2006 League Standings | publisher=Britball Now | date=2006-12-20 | accessdate=2008-09-12] whilst the following season saw them qualify for the playoffs after finishing second in the South East conference before losing away to the South Wales Warriors in the quarter-final. [cite web | url=http://www.britballnow.co.uk/History/Tables/2007TABLES.xls | format=XLS | title=2007 League Standings | publisher=Britball Now | date=2007-11-17 | accessdate=2008-05-22]

In 2008, the Cats were moved into the Eastern Conference and recorded their strongest showing since 2003, finishing top and acheiving an automatic spot in the playoff quarter-finals by virtue of one of South Wales Warriors nine wins coming by way of forfeit. They met the Warriors at home and beat them 21&ndash12 to set up an away semi-final at the London Cobras, a team who had won their group with a perfect 10-0 record and conceded just nine points all season. The strength of their London opponents proved too much, with the Cobras winning 42–0.

enior team season records

Club staff

Roster

Coaching staff

*Head Coach / Offensive Co-Ordinator / Special Teams Coach: Richard Bice
*Line Coach / Special Teams Assistant: Marco Fasulo
*Defensive Co-Ordinator: Sean Gray
*Defensive Backs Coach: Vicente Gurrea-Mora
*Receivers Coach / Offensive Assistant: Tony Reveglia
*Youth Team Head Coach: Jonathan Smith

References

ee also

*British American Football League
*ARU Phantoms

External links

* [http://www.cambridgeshirecats.com/ Cambridgeshire Cats] Official Site