Yankee Style Razzmatazz

By Nigel Fisher, Scunthorpe Evening Telegraph

Saturday, April 27

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The first fully-kitted game of American Football to be played anywhere in Humberside will get under way at Ashby Ville, Scunthorpe tomorrow when Scunthorpe Steelers entertain Leigh Razorbacks in a pre-season friendly (2pm).

The Steelers are then planning to play a full season in the Amateur American Football Conference.

About 60 per cent of the players live in the Grimsby area, and the rest are from the Scunthorpe district.

The game will last up to three hours, as the clock is stopped at the end of each play.

Directing

Directing operations on the field will be Scunthorpe’s main quarterback Rob Creer (No. 11) who will be trying to throw forward passes to set up touchdowns.

The team’s extra point kicking will be done by Steve Rack (62), while the punter is Mel Lings (73).

Spectators are welcome – admission is free – and programmes will be available.

American Football developed from rugby.

The team in possession (the offense) is allowed four attempts to gain 10 yards. If they do so, they get four more attempts. And so it goes on until they fail.

Scoring is by way of a touchdown – like a rugby try, which counts six points; an extra point – the same as a rugby conversion – one point; or a field goal – like a rugby penalty – three points.

Safety

A team can also give away a safety – similar to a soccer own goal – when an offensive player is tackled inside his own end zone. That counts for two points.

The Steelers began life 15 months ago as Brigg Jets and have had to find £250 a man for kit.

The Razorbacks are a year old and have come on “leaps and bounds” since signing Ken Grey, a sergeant in the USAF, as coach. They play at Leigh Rugby League Ground.

Steelers re likely to line-up tomorrow as follows:

Offence: 11 Rob Creer, 18 Andy Brown, 34 Rick Clowes, 36 Rick Hatfield, 44 John Strachan, 57 Gary White, 80 Andrew Squire, 82 Simon Huxford, 85 Mike Key, 87 Pat Stiff; plus James Hirst and Wayne Brumby.

Defence: 27 Rick Nelson, 33 Shaun Whales, 45 Mike Nicholls, 47 Rob Ware, 52 Karl Carratt, 56 John Abbey, 58 Niall Cooney; plus Byron Pratt and Mark James.

Linemen: 61 Steve Hodgskin, 62 Steve Rack, 73 Mel Lings, 75 Steve Rogers, 77 George Jewitt, 79 Steve Hopkins.

Coach: Leland Sullivan, and American now living in Waltham and working at the Lindsey Oil Refinery.

 

Steelers Match Off

Scunthorpe Evening Telegraph

Friday, May 10

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South Humberside’s American Football team, the Scunthorpe Steelers, have had to call off their first league match of the season.

The Steelers were set to face Sheffield Sportsmen at Ashby Ville on Sunday afternoon in the Amateur American Football Conference.

But the Sportsmen have just heard they have been given £20,000 sponsorship and have decided to join another league, the British American Football Federation, with their new-found wealth.

Locomotive Derby, from Derby, are joining the AAFC in place of the Sportsmen, after finding life in yet another league, the American Football League, too expensive.

Steelers’ lineman Steve Rack said they were disappointed that the game on Sunday was off, but the side was now looking forward to their away fixture against Hull Liberators on May 19.

 

Steelers Crush Hull Kingston

Scunthorpe Evening Telegraph

Monday, May 20

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Scunthorpe Steelers – the area’s only American Football team – triumphed 49-0 at Kingston Liberators (Hull).

About half of the Steelers from the Grimsby district.

Rick Hatfield (3), Rick Clowes (3) and John Strachan scored the touchdowns.

Steve Racked added five extra points and ran in one effort.

Unfortunately Hull did not have the full kit and it was only possible to play a rugby-style game without the usual crunching tackles.

However, the Steelers’ next opponents, Locomotive Derby, have all the gear. The Steelers visit them on June 2.

 

Steelers Fixtures

Scunthorpe Evening Telegraph

Wednesday, June 12

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Scunthorpe Steelers – the area’s only American Football team – have announced a revised fixture list.

The Steelers have beaten Kingston Liberators 49-0 and 34-6, but lost 65-6 to Locomotive Derby.

Half the teams’ players come from the Grimsby area.

Fixtures

June

15  St Helens (home)

23  St Helens (away)

30  Derby (home)

July

7  Macclesfield (home)

14  Newark (home)

21  Leigh (home)

28  Leigh (away)

August

11  Newark (away)

25  Macclesfield (away)

 

Win For Steelers

Scunthorpe Evening Telegraph

Wednesday, June 19

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Scunthorpe Steelers beat St Helens Cardinals 37-0 at Ashby Ville in the Amateur American Football Conference.

The South Humberside outfit were without seven regulars due to injury and work commitments.

They opened the scoring towards the end of the first quarter when John Strachen barrelled through the line.

Although the Steelers were guilty of some poor blocking and tackling in the second quarter, they scored twice more through Rick Hatfield and Rob Creer to lead 18-0 at half-time.

Scunthorpe tightened up their play in the third quarter when Strachen added his second touchdown.

In the final quarter, with both teams beginning to tire, Creer completed the scoring for the home side to cap a man of the match performance.

 

Steelers Face Loco Men

Scunthorpe Evening Telegraph

Tuesday, June 27

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Scunthorpe Steelers will be hoping for better fortune on Sunday when they play Locomotive Derby in an Amateur American Football Conference match at Ashby Ville (3pm).

Last week Steelers lost 18-14 to St Helens Cardinals with two touchdowns being scored by John Strachan and Andrew Squire.

 

Steelers On The Rampage

Scunthorpe Evening Telegraph

Friday, July 12

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Scunthorpe Steelers record their biggest win so far in the American Football Conference with a 76-0 scoreline against Macclesfield Cobras.

John Strachan took man of the match honours with six touchdowns in the first half. He then added two more in the second half together with R. Creer, A. Squires and W. Brumby.

Scunthorpe’s offence and defence both played well against a lacklustre Macclesfield outfit, and they will be hoping to continue their good form in their next match ay Ashby Ville against Newark Vulcans.

 

Steelers Triumph

Scunthorpe Evening Telegraph

Wednesday, July 17

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Scunthorpe Steelers swamped Newark Vulcans 98-0 in the American Football League Conference.

There were touchdowns from Rick Hatfield (5), John Strachan (4), Andy Squires (2), Rick Clowes, Byron Pratt and Mick Nicholls.

There were also extra points scored by Steve Rack, who in addition kicked eight goals.

Scunthorpe entertain Leigh Razorbacks at Ashby Ville on Sunday (3pm) and must win to stand a chance of qualifying for the competition’s superbowl play-offs.

 

Steelers Aim For Repeat

Scunthorpe Evening Telegraph

Friday, July 19

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Scunthorpe Steelers will be full of confidence for their Amateur American Football Conference match against Leigh Razorbacks at Ashby Ville, Scunthorpe on Sunday (3pm).

Last week they thrashed Newark Vulcan 98-0 and are in third place on level points with Leigh which makes it a vital clash.

The Steelers contain several Grimsby area players and have made a promising start to their first taste of this peculiarly American sport.

 

Steelers’ Last-gasp Winner

Scunthorpe Evening Telegraph

Wednesday, July 24

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A last-minute touchdown earned Scunthorpe Steelers a 25-23 victory against Leigh Razorbacks in an American Football Conference match at Ashby Ville.

It came from man-of-the-match John Strachan, who also produced three earlier touchdowns in an evenly-balanced game.

The Steelers trailed 12-10 at half-time, but came storming back in the closing two quarters to keep alive their hopes of qualifying for the Superbowl play-offs later in the season, which may be held in Scunthorpe.

Scunthorpe make the return visit to Leigh this Sunday, but have now completed their home league programme.