“Wanna bring the 80s back/That’s OK with me, that’s where they made me at”
IT was July 11, 1980 something and me and my big brother were watching an American football game somewhere in Cardiff.
Back in the 1980s it appeared everywhere in Britain had an American Football team and the Birmingham Bulls were one of the most successful sides in the country. But it wasn’t just the big cities that had clubs it seemed every provincial town and even small cities, like Hereford, had taken up gridiron.
Sadly by the early to mid 1990s the number of teams became fewer and fewer but in recent years ‘Britball’ has enjoyed a resurgence and there are now some 70 clubs in the British American Football Association’s (BAFA) National League with the Hereford Stampede one of the newest editions.
The Hereford Chargers were formed in 1985 and competed in various leagues until, like many others, folding in 1993 and it might have been thought that would be the end of American Football in Hereford especially with other teams in the West Midlands.
But the Stampede have revived the sport in the “Historic City of the Marches” (as per the road sign as you enter) and the club has had to work through an association process to show it is ready to enter the league.
The Stampede, which is a nod to Hereford’s famous racecourse, had been due to make their league debut, in Division Two (the third tier), last season but obviously the pandemic had other plans for 2020.
This year BAFA isn’t running its usual national league and bowl championships but has instead split teams of all abilities into 14 regional leagues and the Birmingham Bulls as well as the Stampede have been placed in the Severn Division where they will both, later this summer, face the South Wales Warriors.
However first up for the Stampede were one of Britain’s most successful – or as Americans would say, storied – clubs the Birmingham Bulls. Their history stretches all the way back to 1983 and though they competed for a few seasons as a ‘B’ side are one of just a handful of clubs to have fielded a side every year since they began playing in 1984.
In those years the Bulls have won four British championships, in 1986, 1988, 1991 and 1995, and been losing finalists on five occasions and also have a 1986 Eurobowl bronze medal.
But recent years haven’t been kind to the Bulls and other clubs have risen to dominate in the Midlands while the team from England’s second city have slumped all the way to Britball’s third and bottom tier meaning they and newcomers the Stampede are effectively of the same standing.
As I haven’t attended a live game since the South Wales Warriors won the Division Two (South) Championship, in London, on the very last day of August 2019 I was willing to make the 55 mile journey from Cardiff to see the Stampede’s debut and, for the first time in person, the mighty Birmingham Bulls senior side (having seen more than enough of their youth team in my own playing career).
Due to a change in my professional circumstances (that is I’ve got a new job) I’m also no longer making a similar round journey to work five days a week meaning miles on my car are longer such a concern.
The Stampede are playing their home games at Hereford Rugby Club, which is on a river bank, and tucked away down a narrow lane and past the arch of an impressive railway bridge over the river Wye and as you look across the pitch Hereford Cathedral is the backdrop.
The ground has a small terrace in front of the modern club house which offers an ‘executive box’ style view of the pitch from its windows. Sadly I couldn’t make use of the bar, despite the Stampede advertising for spectators to come and “grab a pint” and enjoy the game, as when I tried to buy a Coke I was told I needed to download an app and the bar staff couldn’t take cash “cos of Covid”.
I did ask if they were winding me up, as I had a face covering, but they were deadly serious – so anyone planning on attending a Stampede game remember to take your own drinks.
However the reason for my visit was to watch football and if you wanted touchdowns there were plenty of them with the Bulls finishing their first three possessions with a touchdown and a 28 point to nothing lead at the end of the first quarter.
The most impressive play however was a downfield pass on fourth down, when the Bulls looked like they would punt from midfield, and the Stampede defence only realised when it was too late as the receiver outjumped the return man come defensive back to haul in the pass and race inside the Stampede’s 10 yard line. From there it was a simple case of running in another score.
A number of injuries on both sides slowed the game down, and an ambulance was called for one Stampede player, but in the second quarter the home team finally showed they could be dangerous. A long kick return set up their most productive drive, which was helped by a penalty, and keeping the ball on the ground put them in position to run in their first touchdown in a competitive game from 15 yards on third down.
But at that point the Bulls were already up to 34 points and a blocked kicked meant the home side couldn’t add the extra point to their score.
Sensing half time couldn’t be much further away I took a walk, on the path the runs along the Wye and back to the city centre, to find a drink and finally make a small contribution to Hereford’s economy. The walk, and the search to find a shop open on a Sunday in Hereford, took half an hour and I got back to the ground during half time with the Bulls having added a further two touchdowns to lead 46-6 at the half.
My walk also gave me a chance to explore the railway bridge, which can be accessed by some steps next to the arch, with the former railway line (the one, I think, that once connected Hereford to Hay-on-Wye and Brecon – that place I’m no longer travelling to five days a week) now a footpath which also offers an impressive view of one half of the Stampede’s pitch.
Guy Spencer replaced Callum Harris at quarterback for the Bulls at the start of the second half but even with a short field to protect the Stampede defence held firm forcing the visitors to punt as the rain also became more persistent. But when a Spencer pouch kick pinned the Stampede close to their own goal line the Bulls D registered the first score of the second half by sacking Hereford’s QB behind his own goal line for a two point safety.
Spencer sneaked over for his own touchdown in the fourth quarter, with the two point conversion added, to take their total to 56 and it looked as if a long downfield run would lead to another score late on but instead it only led to another long injury delay during which the officials called the game with the final score Hereford Stampede 6 – Birmingham Bulls 56.
At the end of the 2019 season there was a lot to be positive about for British American Football but the following year was completely wiped out by the Covid pandemic with the adult season usually played from spring to summer and the autumn university season was another part of student life that simply didn’t happen in 2020.
Sunday’s heavy defeat to the Bulls wouldn’t have been what the Stampede wanted from their debut but they are now up and running and thankfully British American Football is as well.
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