BRITISH UNIVERSITIES AMERICAN FOOTBALL LEAGUE OFFICIAL SITE

Bristol Barracuda

The Cuda were formed in March 2005, when founding members Charlie Wilson and Phil Fear meet to put in place the infrastructure of a University of Bristol American Football programme. Their planning was underpinned by a series of key principles including the further development of the sport in Bristol; the exploitation of untapped potential in the area; and ensuring that they avoided the dilution of existing teams wherever possible.

Once these principles had been established Phil and Charlie met with University of Bristol Alumni, Abdul Bah, Dave Sherwin and Kieran Balmer to put in place a Barracuda development plan – a development plan which was ultimately presented to the University of Bristol Athletic Union by Adrian Jetter and Anish Satija, and heralded the formal arrival of the Bristol Barracuda.

Recruitment at Fresh 2006 saw the Cuda sign 101 players and training begin in preparation for the team’s first fixture. On 18th February 2007 the Cuda played their first ever match, travelling to Cheltenham to play the Gloucestershire Gladiators at The Prince of Wales Stadium, Cheltenham. The Cuda put in an impressive display winning 30-0, in front of a crowd of 300 spectators.

A return fixture with the Gladiators on 4th March amidst atrocious weather conditions at the BAWA, saw Bristol grind out a 14-0 victory. BCAFL League team and 2001 College Bowl Champions, the Oxford University Cavaliers, were to be the Cuda’s final challenge for their associate season and a step up in class and competition. The Barracuda dug deep and punched in two fourth quarter scores to win 16-0 and preserve their unblemished record. On 17th August 2007, the Barracuda applied for membership of the newly formed British Universities American Football League (BUAFL) and became founder members, competing in the 2007-08 season.

The team played it’s first ever league match on 11th November 2007, running out 35-14 winners against Plymouth Blitz.

The University, founded as University College, Bristol, opened in October 1876 with two professors, five lecturers and 99 students. It was the first college in the country to admit men and women on an equal footing.

Thirty-two years later, after much hard work by a variety of dedicated individuals and generous financial support from the Wills and Fry families (who made their fortunes in tobacco and chocolate, respectively), the College was ready to petition King Edward VII for a charter that would give it full university status.

The King signed the charter in May 1909, and flags flew and churchbells rang across the city. The new University of Bristol opened in October 1909 with 288 undergraduates and some 400 other students. Henry Overton Wills became its first chancellor.

The University''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''s reputation grew steadily throughout the 1930s, helped in no small way by the appointment of Winston Churchill as its third Chancellor in 1929. It became known as an institution with formidable academic strengths and an unshakeable commitment to quality - characteristics that are just as apparent now.

Among it’s many academic achievements, the University numbers the following Nobel Laureates:

• Sir William Ramsay (1852–1916) Nobel Prize 1904
• Paul Dirac (1902–84) Nobel Prize in Physics 1933 (1/2 share)
• Cecil Frank Powell (1903–69) Nobel Prize in Physics 1950
• Hans Albrecht Bethe (1906–2005) Nobel Prize in Physics 1967
• Sir Nevill Francis Mott (1905–96) Nobel Prize in Physics 1977 (1/3 share)
• Harold Pinter 2005 Nobel Prize for Literature

Famous alumni of the University include: Tim Pigott-Smith, Sue Lawley OBE, Matt Lucas, David Walliams, James Blunt, Kyran Bracken MBE, Derren Brown and Alastair Stewart.