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Norwich Devils

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Norwich Devils
Established1984
Based inNorwich, England
Home stadiumHell's Gate, Thorpe High School, Norwich
Head coachDrew Anderson
General managerLouie Saxton
LeagueBAFACL Division 1
DivisionSFC 1 East
League titles1 (1989)
Division titles6 (1989, 1996, 2002, 2007, 2022, 2023)
Website<http://www.norwichdevils.com/>
Current uniform
Helmet
Left arm Body Right arm
Trousers
Socks
Home
Helmet
Left arm Body Right arm
Trousers
Socks
Away

The Norwich Devils are a British American Football team based in Norwich, Norfolk.

Overview

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The Devils most recently fielded a team Division 1 East of the BAFA Community Leagues (BAFACL). The roster is mainly local players and they are currently on a recruitment campaign with the team having successfully completed its associate year.

The team was formed in 1984 and began league play in 1986. The Devils won their first, and to date only, National Championship later that decade in 1989, beating arch rivals the Ipswich Cardinals in the final by a score of 18–9. The Devils have made the playoffs 8 times since that national title and have won the National Division 2 Title twice since 2000, in 2002 & 2007.

The Norwich Devils Currently train and play their home games at Thorpe St Andrews High school in the east of Norwich. In Recent years they have also partaken in a preseason Game hosted at the RAF Lakenheath Air Force Base against Northants Knights known as Liberty Bowl.

Rivalries

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The Norwich Devils hold a hotly contested rivalry with Suffolk based Ipswich Cardinals with the games between these two always being fiercely contested games. This rivalry spans across any sport in which Norwich and Ipswich teams contest with these tow teams being no different with both teams always putting out their best to ensure bragging rights and in some cases division titles can be won for another year.

Norwich Devils Hall of Fame

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Name Year of Induction Notes
Tony Ryan 2008 Inducted for his long-standing services to the club as a player. Played a significant role in the Devils 1989 National Championship team and was still with the club for their first undefeated season in 2002.
Wayne Persinger 2008 Inducted for his services to the club as a coach and member of the management team. The club's first head coach who also established & ran the club's management structure.
Pete Wrigley 2007 Inducted for his services to the club as a player and a coach. An offensive lineman on the team's 1989 National Championship; the Devils head coach for 9 seasons, registering 5 playoff appearances in those 9 season including an undefeated 12–0 season in 2002 to take the National Division 2 Championship.

Senior Team Season records

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Season Division Wins Losses Ties PF PA Final Position Playoff Record
1986 British American Football League – Anglian Division 5 5 0 254 204 4 / 5
1987 Budweiser League Division One Eastern Conference 7 3 0 169 79 2 / 6
1988 Budweiser League Division One Eastern Conference 5 5 0 388 195 3 / 5
1989 British National Gridiron League Division 1 9 1 0 209 78 1 / 6 National Champions beating Ipswich Cardinals 18–9
Beat Harrogate Hawks 36–16 in Semi-final
1990 British National Gridiron League Division 1 2 8 0 66 270 6 / 6
1991 British National Gridiron League Division 1 0 10 0 84 321 5 / 5
1992 British National Gridiron League East Midlands Division 6 3 1 228 107 3 / 6
1993 British National Gridiron League Southeast Division 2 8 0 109 258 4 / 4
1994 BAFA Division 3 Midlands Conference 1 9 0 99 355 6 / 6
1995 BAFA Division 3 East Midlands Conference 5 5 0 137 191 4 / 5
1996 British Senior League Division 3 Southeast Conference 10 0 0 232 57 1 / 6 Quarter-finalists losing 48–25 to Tiger Bay Warriors
1997 British Senior League Division 1 Southeast & Midlands Conference 6 3 1 130 92 2 / 6 Quarter-finalists losing 20–0 to Nottingham Caesars
1998 British Senior League Division 1 Southeast Conference 7 3 0 133 178 2 / 6 Quarter-finalists losing 22–21 to Bristol Aztecs
1999 British Senior League Division 1 Eastern Conference 2 6 0 80 209 4 / 4
2000 British Senior League Division 2 Eastern Conference 6 2 0 230 89 2 / 5 Quarter-finalists losing 12–11 to Redditch Arrows
2001 British Senior League Division 2 South Conference 7 0 1 210 75 2 / 9 Division 2 runners up, losing final to Ipswich Cardinals 47–15
Beat Lancashire Wolverines 34–20 in Semi-final
Beat Yorkshire Rams 17–10 in Quarter final
2002 British Senior League Division 2 South Conference 9 0 0 271 38 1 / 9 Division 2 Champions beating Yorkshire Rams 17–14
Beat Plymouth Admirals 23–0 in Semi-final
Glasgow Tigers forfeited Quarter final
2003 British Senior League Division 1 South Conference 0 8 0 6 347 5 / 5
2004 British Senior League Division 1A South Conference 1 9 0 36 287 4 / 4
2005 BAFL Division 2 South East Conference 2 7 1 156 264 4 / 5
2006 BAFL Division 2 East Conference 7 2 1 210 124 2 / 4 Quarter-finalists losing 35–14 to Sussex Thunder
Beat Colchester Gladiators 32–14 in Wildcard Round
2007 BAFL Division 2 South East Conference 10 0 0 224 46 1 / 6 Division 2 Champions beating Dundee Hurricanes 26–12
Beat South Wales Warriors 43–28 in Semi-finals
Beat Cornish Sharks 26–18 in quarter-final
2008 BAFL Division 1 South Conference 1 8 1 104 241 6 / 6
2009 BAFL Division 1 South East Conference 0 9 1 84 417 6 / 6
2010 BAFL Division 2 East Conference 6 4 0 148 155 4 / 6
2018 BAFL SFC 2 East 5 3 0 191 188 3 / 6 Quarter-finalists losing 50-0 to London Blitz B
2019 BAFL SFC 2 East 6 1 1 129 77 2 / 6 Quarter-finalists losing 30-6 to Bournemouth Bobcats
2021 East Anglia 4 4 0 214 137 3/5
2022 BAFACL SFC 2 East 7 1 0 205 69 1/4 Quarter-finalists losing 32-6 to Bristol Apache
2023 BAFACL SFC 1 Central 7 3 0 302 150 1/6 South Play-off Finalists losing 28-6 to Hertfordshire Cheetahs

Beat Bournemouth Bobcats 30-7 in Semi-finals

2024 BAFACL SFC 1 East 0 8 0 32 290 8/8
All-Time Team Record 145 138 8 5070 5588 12–8

Award winners

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2010

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  • Team MVP – Nathan Evans (OL/DL)
  • Offensive MVP – Heith Johnson (QB)
  • Defensive MVP – Simon Harbottle (DB)
  • Most Improved Player – Ben Stockwell (DL)
  • Lineman of the Year – Stephen Charman (OL)
  • Rookie of the Year – Adam Whitbourn (TE)
  • Coaches Player of the Year – Wayne Diggines (DB)

2023

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  • Team MVP – Jason Lewis (DB)
  • Offensive MVP – Raymond Seymour (QB)
  • Defensive MVP – James Harrod (LB)
  • Special Teams MVP – Jason Lewis (DB)
  • Coaches Player of the Year – Tim Johnson (OL)
  • Players Player of the Year – Seth Shipley (LB)
  • Most Improved Player of the year – Wayne Diggines (DB)
  • Rookie of the Year – James Warne (DL)
  • Lineman of the Year – Mason Hodds
  • Darkness Award – Neil Skoyles (OL)
  • Richard Green Award – Mason Wilson ( Team Photographer)

Coaching Staff

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  • Head Coach —
  • Offensive Coordinator —
  • Defensive Coordinator —
  • Special Teams Coordinator —

References

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