Leeds_Bobcats
Leeds Bobcats
American Football team based in the United Kingdom
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.
| Founded | 2008 |
|---|---|
| Dissolved | 2021 |
| League | BAFA National Leagues |
| Division | Associate |
| Location | Leeds, West Yorkshire |
| Stadium | West Leeds RUFC |
| Colours | Gold Helmets White, Navy & Gold Jerseys White & Navy Pants |
| Head coach | n/a |
| General manager | N/a |
| Division titles | 2016, 2017 |
| Playoff berths | 2016, 2017, 2019 |
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]
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]
The club is based at West Leeds RUFC, Blue Hill Lane, Leeds, LS12 4NZ.
| 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 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
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 | - |