UEA Pirates
The UEA Pirates were formed in 1987 by Stewart Croucher. Starting off as an un-kitted team, the Pirates began with a record of 2 wins, 3 losses and a tie.
In 1989, Croucher invited Norwich Devils standout Warren Smart to lead the team through its transition to a fully kitted squad. 1989 saw the Pirates consolidate with a 4-4 record, before making a run at the national title in 1991, with a 7-1 record, Southern Conference crown, before falling to the Teesside Demons at College Bowl V.
In 1992 the Pirates recruited former Chelmsford Cherokee coach Robin Burton to become Head Coach. Coach Burton led the club to two record breaking seasons in 1995-6 and 1996-7. In 1995-6, Coach Burton steered Andy Ennis to a then record 22 touchdown passes in a 5-3 season, where 3 WRs were in the national Top 10 for receiving. Ennis followed that up with a 7-1 season and a Southeastern Divisional title and a famous victory against arch-rival Cambridge Pythons. A play-off defeat at the hands of Bath ended a College Bowl run.
Coach Burton also oversaw the beginnings of the preseason Old Boys game, started by a group of former players to provide the Pirates with a preseason tune-up.
Coach Burton returned to the USA in 2000, leaving Offensive Coordinator Neil Morgan to fill the void. Morgan led a return to the playoffs in 2000-01 and narrowly missed out on a playoff berth again in 2002-3. Coach Morgan stepped aside for Chris Hailstone.
Coach Hailstone led the team in 2003-4 to a narrow playoff defeat before becoming the first Pirates coach to lead them to back-to-back playoff berths. Coach Hailstone left midway through the 2005 season allowing Martyn Doust to complete the season with a 3-5 record. Coach Doust led the Pirates to a 5-3 record in BUAFL’s inaugural season.
South | W | L | T | PFor | PAgt | % |
Newcastle Raiders | 3 | 0 | 0 | 158 | 0 | 1.000 |
UT Cougars | 3 | 0 | 0 | 102 | 18 | 1.000 |
Durham Saints | 2 | 1 | 0 | 51 | 60 | 0.667 |
Northumbria Mustangs | 0 | 3 | 0 | 20 | 95 | 0.000 |
Sunderland Spartans | 0 | 3 | 0 | 12 | 102 | 0.000 |
North | ||||||
UWS Pyros | 4 | 0 | 0 | 94 | 22 | 1.000 |
Napier Mavericks | 2 | 2 | 0 | 54 | 142 | 0.500 |
Glasgow Tigers | 1 | 2 | 0 | 58 | 36 | 0.333 |
GCU Roughriders | 1 | 2 | 0 | 38 | 67 | 0.333 |
Stirling Clansmen | 1 | 4 | 0 | 58 | 103 | 0.200 |