Leeds Bobcats
Founded2008
Dissolved2021
LeagueBAFA National Leagues
DivisionAssociate
LocationLeeds, West Yorkshire
StadiumWest Leeds RUFC
ColoursGold Helmets
White, Navy & Gold Jerseys
White & Navy Pants
Head coachn/a
General managerN/a
Division titles2016, 2017
Playoff berths2016, 2017, 2019

The Leeds Bobcats were a British American football team based in Leeds, West Yorkshire who played in the BAFA National Leagues. The club was formed as the Bobcats in 2008 as a youth football team following ties with the Celina Bobcats from Texas. A Bobcats senior team began playing associate Football from 2011 onwards until being granted BAFA status in 2014 in order to debut in the 2015 season. The club has since grown from strength to strength from then onward making it to the playoffs in their second season.

Just before the start of the 2022 season, The Bobcats announced they had resigned their BAFANL spot, and would be demoting themselves to the BAFA Associate programme. Furthermore the club announced they were being absorbed into the programme of their local rivals the Yorkshire Rams and would be known as the Yorkshire Academy Rams thus becoming the Rams developmen team, however despite announcing their intention to operate, by 20 February 2023 the team had yet to begin operations.[1]

History

Early history

In 2008 members of the Leeds American Football team youth squad were invited to Texas by the Celina Bobcats, who were the Division Three All Star State Champions, following tuition and guidance to form their own team back in England, the Leeds Bobcats were born. In 2010, the Bobcats Youth team won its first trophy after defeating the Colchester Gladiators in the final of a 5 team tournament. Several members of the Bobcats juniors went on to represent Great Britain at youth level and in 2011 the majority of the team progressed to senior level and the Bobcats became a Senior associate team.[2]

Debut campaign

In 2014, the Bobcats were granted BAFA status in order to debut in the 2015 season. The club were entered into the BAFA NFC South 2 along with the Lincolnshire Bombers, Leicester Falcons, Sandwell Steelers, Humber Warhawks and the Peterborough Saxons. The Bobcats debuted in a 54-0 defeat by Sandwell and would only record two victories over Humber in their first season, although the club heavily improved from a poor start and came close to beating both Peterborough and Leicester.

Recent seasons

In 2017, former Running Back and Special Teams Coach, Miles Stanford replaced Paul Goodward as Head Coach after he vacated the position following a long and successful tenure.[3]

After promotion following the 2017 campaign, the Bobcats spent a single season in BAFA Division 1 North during 2018, culminating in relegation back to Division 2. Fergus O'Neil then took up Head Coaching duties in 2019, leading the Bobcats to BAFA Division 2 North Playoff Quarter Finals, where they were knocked out by Scottish side Clyde Valley Blackhawks.

For the 2020 season, highly experienced player and coach Chris Peel was appointed to the Head Coach position to lead the team in the BAFA NFC 2 East after re-alignment from the NFC 2 Central division.

League resignation and merger

Just before the start of the 2022 season, The Bobcats announced they had resigned their BAFANL spot, and would be demoting themselves to the BAFA Associate programme. Furthermore the club announced they were being absorbed into the programme of their local rivals the Yorkshire Rams, thus becoming the Rams development team.[4]

Home ground

The club is based at West Leeds RUFC, Blue Hill Lane, Leeds, LS12 4NZ.

Team records

Year Div Conf W L T PFor PAgt PApg %
2015 2 South 2 8 0 193 315 31.5 0.20
2016 2 West 9 1 0 368 131 13.1 0.90
2017 2 Central 10 0 0 437 111 11.1 1.00
2018 1 North 0 9 0 54 346 34.6 0.00
2019 2 Central 6 2 0 256 115 14.4 0.75
2019 2 East - - - - - - -

Fixtures and results

2015

Date H/A Teams Result W/L
05/04/15 A Sandwell Steelers v Leeds Bobcats 44-00 L
26/04/15 H Leeds Bobcats v Sandwell Steelers 06-57 L
03/05/15 A Humber Warhawks v Leeds Bobcats 16-52 W
17/05/15 H Leeds Bobcats v Lincolnshire Bombers 26-40 L
24/05/15 H Leeds Bobcats v Leicester Falcons 07-27 L
21/06/15 A Peterborough Saxons v Leeds Bobcats 40-13 L
28/06/15 H Leeds Bobcats v Peterborough Saxons 16-28 L
05/07/15 A Lincolnshire Bombers v Leeds Bobcats 27-15 L
19/07/15 A Leicester Falcons v Leeds Bobcats 36-13 L
02/08/15 H Leeds Bobcats v Humber Warhawks 46-00 W

2016

Date H/A Team Result W/L
10/04/16 A Chester Romans v Leeds Bobcats 25-34 W
17/04/16 A Halton Spartans v Leeds Bobcats 08-26 W
24/04/16 A Walney Terriers v Leeds Bobcats 06-26 W
22/05/16 H Leeds Bobcats v Crewe Railroaders 72-07 W
05/06/16 A Walney Terriers v Leeds Bobcats 00-40 W
19/06/16 H Leeds Bobcats v Crewe Railroaders 01-FF W
03/07/16 H Leeds Bobcats v Chester Romans 38-41 L
10/07/16 H Leeds Bobcats v Walney Terriers 42-03 W
24/07/16 H Leeds Bobcats v Halton Spartans 46-12 W
14/08/16 A Crewe Railroaders v Leeds Bobcats 29-44 W
21/08/16 H (P-QF) Leeds Bobcats v Shropshire Revolution 52-21 W
28/08/16 A (P-SF) Newcastle Vikings v Leeds Bobcats 51-14 L

2017

Date H/A Team Result W/L
30/04/17 A Northumberland Lightning v Leeds Bobcats 00-46 W
07/05/17 A Carlisle Sentinels v Leeds Bobcats 06-18 W
14/05/17 A Walney Terriers v Leeds Bobcats 00-32 W
21/05/17 A Knottingley Raiders v Leeds Bobcats 06-62 W
04/06/17 H Leeds Bobcats v Walney Terriers 62-12 W
11/06/17 A Morecambe Bay Storm v Leeds Bobcats 26-44 W
25/06/17 H Leeds Bobcats v Carlisle Sentinels 52-07 W
16/07/17 H Leeds Bobcats v Morecambe Bay Storm 66-08 W
30/07/17 H Leeds Bobcats v Knottingley Raiders 01-00 W
13/08/17 H Leeds Bobcats v Gateshead Senators 54-46 W
20/08/17 H (P-QF) Leeds Bobcats v Staffordshire Surge 52-08 W
27/08/17 H (P-SF) Leeds Bobcats v Glasgow Tigers 20-38 L

2018

Date H/A Team Result W/L
14/04/18 A Yorkshire Rams v Leeds Bobcats 31-0 L
06/05/18 A Glasgow Tigers v Leeds Bobcats 20-6 L
03/06/18 A Lancashire Wolverines v Leeds Bobcats 49-12 L
10/06/18 H Leeds Bobcats v Glasgow Tigers 16-20 L
17/06/18 H Leeds Bobcats v Lancashire Wolverines 0-58 L
01/07/18 H Leeds Bobcats v Gateshead Senators 20-28 L
08/07/18 A Northumberland Vikings v Leeds Bobcats 48-0 L
15/07/18 H Leeds Bobcats v Yorkshire Rams 0-67 L
22/07/18 H Leeds Bobcats v Northumberland Vikings NP-1 L
05/08/18 A Gateshead Senators v Leeds Bobcats 25-0 L

2019

Date H/A Team Result W/L
28/04/19 A Morecambe Bay Storm v Leeds Bobcats 12-42 W
19/05/19 A Halton Spartans v Leeds Bobcats 35-14 L
02/06/19 H Leeds Bobcats v Morecambe Bay Storm 44-12 W
09/06/19 H Leeds Bobcats v Furness Phantoms 66-0 W
16/06/19 H Leeds Bobcats v Knottingley Raiders 44-0 W
07/07/19 A Furness Phantoms v Leeds Bobcats FF-1 W
21/07/19 H Leeds Bobcats v Halton Spartans 6-36 L
28/07/19 A Knottingley Raiders v Leeds Bobcats 20-40 W
11/08/19 A (P-QF) Clyde Valley Blackhawks v Leeds Bobcats 26-8 L

2020

Date H/A Team Result W/L
12/04/20 A Knottingley Raiders v Leeds Bobcats -
07/06/20 H Leeds Bobcats v Lincolnshire Bombers -
14/06/20 A Doncaster Mustangs v Leeds Bobcats -
21/06/20 H Leeds Bobcats v Humber Warhawks -
05/07/20 H Leeds Bobcats v Knottingley Raiders -
19/07/20 A Lincolnshire Bombers v Leeds Bobcats -
26/07/20 H Leeds Bobcats v Doncaster Mustangs -
02/08/20 A Humber Warhawks v Leeds Bobcats -

References

  1. ^ https://www.facebook.com/yorkshireramsfootball/photos/a.215252241889094/4927920277288910/[user-generated source]
  2. ^ "Club History".
  3. ^ "Roster 2018".
  4. ^ https://www.facebook.com/yorkshireramsfootball/photos/a.215252241889094/4927920277288910/[user-generated source]

External links

American football in the United Kingdom
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