The Rushmoor Knights American Football Club (formerly Southern Seminoles, Personal Assurance Knights/PA Knights, Delonghi Knights, Farnham Knights) are a British American football club based in Rushmoor, Hampshire. The Club has three teams; the Rushmoor Knights (20+), the Rushmoor Knights U19 (16 - 19) and the Rushmoor Knights U16 (14 - 16). The Knights play in the Premiership South of the British American Football Association National Leagues and were the Britbowl champions in 2004.
 | |
| Founded | 1985 |
|---|---|
| League | BAFA National Leagues |
| Division | Premiership South |
| Location | Farnborough, Rushmoor, Hampshire |
| Stadium | King George V playing fields |
| Colours | Red Helmets Grey and blue Jerseys Grey Pants |
| Head coach | Coach Benny |
| Championships | 2004 - National Champions |
| Division titles | 2000 - Division 1 Champions
2007 - Division 1 Champions 2015 - Division 1 Champions |
The team signed former Olympic sprinter Dwain Chambers in 2006[1]
Origins
edit
The team was founded as the Farnham Knights in 1985, under Head Coach Marc Salazar, who was an American service member, serving in the United States Air Force, at RAF Greenham Common. The team played their first friendly in 1985 as the Farnham Knights against the Thames Valley Chargers. The franchise joined the Budweiser League, Div 1, for the league's inaugural season in 1986 and went on to a successful 5 - 5 season. Their second season, 1987, saw the Knights complete their conference schedule undefeated to win their first Conference title.
During 1994 the Farnham Knights merged with the Hampshire Cavaliers and were renamed the Southern Seminoles. Personal Assurance stepped in during 1997 to sponsor the side which led to the return of the Knights moniker, the Personal Assurance Knights. In 2007, MH Football Shop took over the main sponsorship of the club, to rename them the Farnham MH Knights.
In 2008, a new main sponsor, Fast Lane, stepped in with a two-year deal. The team were then known as the Farnham Fast Lane Knights.
League Placing and Catchment
editAs the only club in the Blackwater Valley the Knights have drawn players from across Surrey and Hampshire, within 20 miles (32 km) are Woking, Guildford, Farnborough, Aldershot, Bracknell and Basingstoke.
All games were played at Farnham Rugby Club from 2013, the first season in the club's history that it has been based in the town of Farnham itself after only playing 1 game at Farnham Rugby Club's old ground in Wrecclesham.[2] They have since moved to King George V playing fields in Farnborough back in the borough of Rushmoor, leading to the re-naming.
Farnham Knights rebranded to the Rushmoor Knights ahead of the 2021 BAFANL season.
Honours
edit- Budweiser League Div 1 Southern League Champions 1986
- BSL Div 2 Conference Champions 1987
- BNGL National Bowl Runners-Up 1992
- National Passball Champions 1993
- BSL Div 2 Conference Champions 1994
- BYAFA Youth National Runner-up 1994 (1)
- BYAFA Youth National Champions 1996 (1)
- BSL Div 2 Conference Champions 1997
- BYAFA Youth National Runner-up 1997 (1)
- BYAFA Youth National Runner-up 1998 (1)
- BSL Div 2 National Champions 2000
- BSL Div 2 Conference Champions 2000
- BSL Div 1 National Championship Runners-Up 2002
- BYAFA Junior Kitted Champions 2004
- EFAF Cup Runners Up 2004[3]
- BSL Div 1 Southern Conference Champions 2004
- BAFL National Championship Winners 2004
- BAFL Div 1 Southern Conference Champions 2005[4]
- BAFL Div 1 National Championship Runners up 2005
- BAFL Div 1 National Championship Winners 2007
- BAFL Youth National Championship Runners up 2007 (1)
- BAFL Youth National Championship Winners 2009 (1)
- BAFANL Youth South West Conference Champions 2013
- BAFANL Juniors Southern Conference Champions 2014
- BAFANL Juniors National Championship Runners up 2014
- BAFANL Southern Football Conference (Division 1) Champions 2015
- BAFANL Oak Bowl SFC Division 1 Play Off Final - Winners 2015
(1) Prior to 2011, the term "Youth" was used for 16 to 19 year olds. Since 2011, Youth is for 14 to 17 year olds and Juniors is for 16 to 19 year olds.
Coaching Records
editMarc Salazar 1985-1988: 26 - 9; .743
References
edit- ^ "Sprinter Dwain Chambers plays for British Champion". European Football League.
- ^ farnhamknights.com Archived 2013-01-14 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ European Federation of American Football
- ^ British American Football League