OFFICIAL PROGRAM
VS LONDON WARRIORS
8th June 2014
www.colchestergladiators.com Message from the Chairman
Welcome one and all to Mill Road, where today the Colchester Gladiators take on the fearsome London Warriors. Following a disappointing performance against the Cambridgeshire Cats, the Gladiators are looking to bounce back, but face stiff opposition in the form of the reigning Premier Division Champions. The Warriors are a team with tremendous pedigree, many of their players are junior or youth graduates, and the team boasts terrific depth. It also reaps the benefit of having coaches with NFL experience, both in the US, and in the now defunct NFL Europe. They are current favourites to repeat their title in 2014, so this will be a terrific test for the Gladiators in a higher division.
This represents the first of three consecutive games for the senior Gladiators, and will no doubt be the most trying month of the year. Todays game precedes the visit of Berkshire Renegades next week, before the Gladiators hit the road again, visiting the former Premier Champions, the London Blitz. It’s this period where Head Coach Matt Roberts will really need to ensure his team are fit, healthy, and ready to go. It’s an exciting time to be part of the Gladiators, as we look towards the biggest games of the year.
Thoughts today are also with our Junior team, as Tim Rowe leads them down to Southampton to take on the Solent Thrashers. This long trip will prove an excellent yardstick to measure the team by - the Thrashers are a well organised unit who should pressure the young Gladiators. Very best of luck to them as they look to extend their record to 3-1.
Today we also welcome a very special guest, Jack Partridge, into the Gladiator family. Jack is an extraordinary young man, and someone the Club is delighted to support as he and his family look to recover from a life changing event. I hope you’ll all embrace him as one of our own as he prowls the sideline for us today.
So, it only remains for me to encourage to visit Liza, and enjoy our exceptional food and drink offer, pull up a chair, and enjoy what promises to be one of the hardest hitting games of the year!
GO GLADS!
-Tom Burridge
Program : Charles Greig || Photos : John Singer | Charles Greig Message from the Coach
Matt Roberts whose either out injured or retired massive impact from week 1. The unit Head Coach we’ve picked up real, genuine has some terrific experience in the Colchester Gladiators talent. With new faces such as form of players such as Dave Walton, Brandon Slieker at QB, Receivers like Sam Gennings and Raul Barclay Firstly, massive thanks to you all for Andi Xheka, Andy Clarke, Mitchell means on our day we’re capable to taking the time to read this games Freeman, Chris Chandler and Vic perform at a very high level. programme. Today represents a Williams, linemen like Tarek Al Baghal massive weekend for the club. Last all making massive impacts on The overall issue we have as a club is year a large driving force behind the Offence, combined with the the lack of numerical depth at times the goal to win the National League existing experience of players like and whilst it sounds like a cliché at was to have the chance to play the Chris Jackson, Curtis Bourke, Tom the higher level all mistakes really very best in the country and that’s Burridge and Phil Moreton at times are punished. Last game against the exactly what we’re facing today. we’ve shown real promise on the Cats was a classic example where The London Warriors represent the offensive side of the ball and I hope 1 missed tackle results in a massive best programme in the UK, with this weekend we can continue to break away score, and one error on outstanding coaches, players and improve both as individual players Kick Off led to them running the ball support they really are what all clubs and also as a unit and a team. back for 99 yards and a score! in the UK should aspire to be. Defensively it’s a similar story to the Myself and Coach Box have put This season has been a real struggle Offence in a lot of ways, with the targets, plans and goals in place at times for us, our injury list alone is sudden retirement of Defensive and whilst we understand the scale sombre reading, with us missing key captain and starting LB Mark of the task we will be finding victories players such as Casey Campbell, Gilbranch, combined with injuries in as many opportunities as possible Anders Bengston, Dan Johnson, Ryan to stand out DJ Demuren and Garry from making no procedural errors, no Vaughan, Joe Wilson, DJ Demuren, Shuttleworth the unit has taken a alignment errors, minimize turn overs Garry Shuttleworth all out of the massive blow over the last couple and penalties so no matter how picture, I would be lying if I said this of weeks, but fortunately new the game pans out we will be in a is how I wanted to face the National players such as Andre Auguste, Matt stronger, more experienced position Champions this weekend! Richardson and Brendan Bignell to face the Renegades next week. have been making both massive There are of course massive positives improvements and certainly in the Thanks again for joining us and hope to the season, for every player case of Brendan been making a you enjoy the game. Welcome to Jack Partridge
Today the Colchester Gladiators welcome situation remarkably well, and everyone has a very special guest. Jack Partridge just been so very kind and generous. Jack is a recently turned 12, but has already expe- huge fan of American football and follows rienced more than many other children the Colchester Gladiators. He is so excited of his age. On 5th February of this year, about going to his first live game today, Jack’s Dad had been working overtime, his with his auntie Hayley. Hopefully this will mum, a teaching assistant at a local school give him some time to enjoy being a young had left for work, his little sister Emily was at lad doing what he loves, and stop worrying school, as was Jack. Shortly after Jack left about things he shouldn’t really be having for school his neighbour’s house exploded, to think about at his age. thought to be a gas explosion. This entirely destroyed 2 homes and caused significant The Colchester Gladiators are delighted damage to his. They all escaped without to welcome Jack into the family, and are injury, only the Family cat was injured by de- proud to name Jack as an honorary cap- bris but is recovering well. They have been tain for the day. Jack will also be taking unable to return home since the incident. part on the thick of the action, acting as The family lost all of their possessions and ball boy on the Gladiators’ sideline. Jack lost all of his toys, clothes, and other personal belongings, some of which are irreplaceable. The family are in temporary accommodation whilst their home is rebuilt. Jack and his Sister Emily have dealt with this Roster For COLCHESTER GLADIATORS
Head Coach Matt Roberts Defensive Coordinator Luke Box Defensive Backs Nick Foxley Asst. Paul Lilley Asst. Liam Whiting
0 Andrew Clarke WR 49 Brendan Bignell LB 0 Chris Chandler WR 50 Andre Auguste DL 0 Alex Keatley DL 51 Phil Moreton OL 1 Brandon Slieker QB 54 David Walton DL 2 Sam Gennings DB 57 David Crane OL 7 Nathan Brown WR/K 58 Andi King OL 8 Victor Williams WR 64 Ian Digby LB 10 Anders Bengston RB 66 Tarek Al Baghal OL 11 Curtis Bourke QB 67 Tom Burridge OL 14 Alex Robinson DB 70 James Birch DL 15 Adam Levy QB 72 Joe Bunyan DL 19 Ash Latter WR 73 Alfie Sharman OL 20 Richard Weeks DB 75 Nigel Mann OL 21 Andi Hyka WR 76 Paul Brunsden OL 23 Joe Stickings DB 77 Paul Bovingdon OL 25 Chris Jackson RB 82 Oliver Ackland-Snow WR 27 Neil Owen WR 85 Mitchell Freeman WR 31 Lewis Henson LB 88 Mark Gilbranch LB 36 Raul Barclay DB 90 Sean Chadney DL 39 Josh Milgate LB 95 Charles Greig WR 45 Jake Hawkins LB 98 Matthew Richardson DL 48 David Kerr DB 99 Garry Shuttleworth DL Colchester Gladiators vs Cambridgeshire Cats Look Back
After the high of recording their first defence and Premier Division win last week over the East a Cats fumble, Kent Mavericks, the Colchester Gladiators’ they elected hopes were high that they could build to punt on on the momentum generated from their fourth down. historic win when they opened their The kick was home programme against the Cats from shanked Cambridgeshire. Unfortunately they were straight to Raul brought firmly back down to earth with a Barclay who bump as they struggled to generate much ended up with offence, and the Cats took advantage the simple of some sloppy tackling to run out task of running comfortable winners at Colchester Rugby a few yards Club on Sunday. untouched into the Cats The Cats received the ball to start the end zone for game and set a marker on the game’s a touchdown. first play with a 29 yard run for a first down. Unfortunately They completed the drive seven plays Nathan later when their running back scored from Brown’s extra a yard out. The extra point was good and point attempt the Cats led 7-0. was wide but the Cats lead The Gladiators threatened to get straight was just a back into the game with Chris Jackson single point at running for nine, five and ten yards on their 7-6. first three plays and when Curtis Bourke found last week’s hero Andy Clarke for a That was as 23 yard gain, the Gladiators had moved close as the possession to Cambridge just 22 yards out to the Cats 35. But after a fumble for a loss, hosts came though and from the ensuing and on the half’s final play, when faced Bourke threw his first interception of the kick off, the lead was back to seven with a fourth and goal from the one, their day to turn the ball over to the visitors. points when the Cats returned the ball QB found a receiver in the end zone, spectacularly all the way for a 94 yard who caught the ball for the score. The However, the Gladiators did get back into score. The point after was again good, extra point was tacked on to leave the it just four plays later when, after good making the score 13-6. Gladiators trailing 26-6 at the interval.
This was increased to 19-6 The start of the third quarter featured some as the quarter ended after sloppy lay from both sides and included the Gladiators were forced four turnovers on four consecutive to punt, and a good return plays. The Gladiators had back up QB took them to the Gladiators’ Brandon Sleiker in under centre to try to 27, setting up a 16 yard pass create a spark but had to punt away completion for the third their first possession. Three plays later Cambridge touchdown of they had the ball back when Ian Digby the opening period. The Pat recovered a fumble, but Slieker and his was no good but after just 15 Cats counterpart threw consecutive minutes of play, Colchester interceptions, with Sam Gennings claiming trailed 19-6. the ball back for the Gladiators. However, another home fumble gifted the Cats The Gladiators offence excellent field position with a first down continued to make life on the Gladiators 17 but great defence hard for itself with fumbles brought up a fourth down and the Cats and fumbled pitches but lined up for a field goal attempt. the defence was getting to grips with the Cats and The Cats head coach called for a fake but Raul Barclay picked off their the pass attempt fell incomplete to give American QB and a goal the Gladiators a temporary reprieve. line stand prevented any further scores until another self Starting their next drive on their own five, inflicted mistake opened up the Gladiators put together a 13 play an opportunity for the Cats to drive, helped by a roughing the passer extend their lead just before call to negate a Slieker interception, which half time. took them deep into the Cats half, but they again shot themselves in the foot with The Gladiators were due a fumbled pitch that resulted in an 11 yard to punt from their own 36 loss. They couldn’t make up the yardage but a fumbled snap gifted and the quarter ended scoreless with the Colchester Gladiators vs Cambridgeshire Cats Look Back
meant with defence and special teams us though and with some tough games struggling to handle the sheer athleticism coming up next month, we need to do a of a number of their players, we couldn’t better job there. put enough pressure on them early to really make a game of it. As always there “Special teams was a big disappointment are plenty of positives to take from the for me today, giving up that kick off return game, and continued improvement touchdown was very disappointing as we but ultimately we were miles off where work hard in this area every year. We gave we could have been and myself and up good field position all day and that just the coaches need to do a better job of won’t cut it in this league. We have a lot to understanding why that is and correct it work on before our next game but we will before our next, toughest run of games. look at the film as a team and make sure Four turnovers and putting the ball on the we prepare as well as we can.” floor hurt us today but credit to the Cats, they have some quality players and made The Gladiators’ next game is on Sunday Cats in possession, still up by 20. us pay. 8th June against the current premier champions, the London Warriors, at The game was sealed on the first play “On the positive side however, Brandon Colchester Rugby Club, 2.30pm kick off. of the fourth quarter when more poor Slieker played well when he came on in The Warriors team features TV personality tackling allowed a pass completion to go the second half and Chris Jackson ran Vernon Kay so a bumper crowd is all the way to the end zone for a 64 yard hard all day. expected. touchdown. The PAT was good and with the score now 33-6, the Gladiators were “After a slow start, the defence played Further information about the Club and playing for pride. well and two more interceptions from our contact details for all sections can be secondary shows what a good unit we found at www.colchestergladiators.com. The modern day Gladiators fight to the have there. Missed tackles again cost end and engineered their best drive of the day, travelling 85 yards in 11 plays. The drive started with a 36 yard completion from Slieker to Vic Williams and good running from Jackson, and another completion, this time to Ash Latter, took the ball to the Cambridge two. On fourth down, Jackson barged his way over the line for six points and a 33-12 score. The two point pass attempt was no good but the score appeared a little more respectable.
The Cats couldn’t move the ball and threw incomplete on fourth down to give Colchester the ball back, but another fumbled pitch was fortuitously recovered by Tom Burridge, but the 19 yard loss brought up third and 28. After an incomplete pass, a defensive penalty gifted the Gladiators a first down but with time running out, Slieker’s long pass attempts fell incomplete and time expired with the Gladiators counting the cost of all their mistakes.
Head Coach Matt Roberts was disappointed with the overall performance but was keen to pick out the positives to take forward and said: “Today was always going to be a tough one for us. With us missing starting linemen Paul Brunsden and Nigel Mann, and also rookie receiver Andi Xheka on offence, defensive captain Garry Shuttleworth and star middle linebacker Brendan Bignell we knew it would be and challenge. In reality offensively despite showing flashes of promise, silly mistakes and sloppy execution routinely killed drives and that League Table / Remaining Fixtures
Team Wins Losses Ties pct for against London Warriors 3 0 0 1.000 166 6 Bristol Aztecs 3 0 0 1.000 113 14 London Blitz 2 0 0 1.000 95 6 London Olympians 2 1 0 0.667 57 46 Cambridgeshire Cats 2 3 0 0.400 84 161 Colchester Gladiators 1 2 0 0.333 64 84 South Wales Warriors 1 3 0 0.250 20 114 East Kent Mavericks 1 3 0 0.250 73 140 Berkshire Renegades 1 4 0 0.200 32 133
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June 15, 2014 2:00 pm Colchester Colchester Gladiators – Berkshire Renegades
June 22, 2014 2:00 pm Finsbury Park Athletics Stadium London Blitz – Colchester Gladiators
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August 17, 2014 2:00 pm Beckenham, Greater London BR3 1NZ London Olympians – Colchester Gladiators
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Coaches Tony Allen Tim Palmer Matt Bruckner Marvin Allen Jeremy Simms James Church-Morley Ian Jaquet Aden Durde Gavin Collins Jeff Brown Errol Muhammed Andre Clark Jermaine Berchie Simon Buckett George Korischar Martyn Stewart Ben Abbott LB 37 Mark McGowan WR 82 Tom Aghedo DL 95 Daniel McMillan WR 80 Ken Agu LB 94 Paolo Memoli DL 91 Kane Alexander DL Stuart Milloy WR 86 Jerome Allen QB 7 Kyung-HoonMoon CB Mark Amedu WR Jamal Moore RB 36 Olaoluwa Balogun S 42 William Nchanjala RB 14 Ololade Balogun DL 54 Phil Newport WR 89 Jermaine Black-Marston CB 27 William Nicholson CB Thomas Bower OL 60 K.Martin Nzenga LB/DB 92 Jeff Brown DB Efe Obada DL 10 Alexander Brockhurst DB Samuel Obi CB 24 Taylor Burke WR 17 Emanuel Olagbaju RB 29 Joshua Clarke RB 23 Anthony Olawole RB 45 Adam Dowsett LB 53 Leslie Olwole-wilson CB Aden Durde LB Damilola Oyinlola DL 96 Jeffrey Elliott DB Jacob Price S 26 Francis Ezekiel OL 73 Michael Rupu DL Emeka Ezenwoye DL 99 Travain Russell CB 22 Ricard Gadzekpo OL 71 Moses Sangobiyi LB 47 Robert Gogerly TE 85 Djamal Salim DL 97 Daniel Gray OL 76 Jeremy Simms WR 1 Kieran Griffith DL 99 Ishmael Simms DB Daniel Gyimah RB 46 Marlon Smith S 47 Alex Haldane LB 4 Sio Stevens DL Scott Horne CB Nino Stylianou S 34 Leon Jackson CB 2 Azdine Tiamou DL 90 Romaine Jackson WR 13 Chris Townsend WR Ian Jacquet WR 8 Adeodatus Twumasi CB Nick Jacquet QB 16 Samuel Udoh LB 55 Alastair Jenkins DL 65 Sebastian Vilchez DB Jamal Johnson OL Dwayne Watson RB 48 Fabian Johnson-Sewell LB 44 Denapoli Williams QB/WR 15 Vernon Kay S 25 Robert Wolstenholme DB Kevin Keohane OL 56 Juma Woodhouse LB/DB 33 Faraz Khan OL Daniel Young CB 28 Maciej Kurek LB 51 Joshua Young-Hastings WR 89 Toby Landeryou TE 87 Mateusz Zebrowski WR Olaotan Lawal OL Alexander Daniel WR Ka Poh Ling LB 49 Bee Nic TE Matthew Luck OL 77 Scott-Grant Niall LB Daniel Mackenzie S 20 Steadman Andrew DL Agui-Albert Mansilla LB Ross Martin OL 75 Junior Gladiators 39 vs 0 Junior Cheetahs Look Back
The Colchester Gladiator Juniors finally had the opportunity to show a large home crowd what they are made of when they faced the Watford Cheetahs in their opening home game of this season’s campaign on Sunday. With a weaker squad than the coaching staff would have wanted, lots of forced changes during the week meant that some players would be playing out of position with minimum preparation.
Watford won the toss and elected to receive the ball first, from the opening kick-off the Gladiators pinned the opposition back inside their own 20 yard line from where the Cheetahs came out throwing the ball. Unfortunately for them the opening play and pass was intercepted by Andrew Cairns who returned the ball back to the 30 yard line, giving the Glad’s fantastic field position to start their opening drive. After a couple of first downs and the ball on the 7 yard line, Cairns barrelled into the end zone for the opening score. The extra point attempt was blocked so the Glad’s led 6-0.Glads vs Watford
Yet again, Colchester pinned back Watford on the ensuing kick off ensuring they would have to move the ball virtually the length of the field to score. Great team defence forced a poor snap from the visitors with the ball bouncing out the back of the end zone for the safety and a further 2 points to the home side.
The Cheetahs were restrained back inside their 20 yard line on the following kick off the Watford half but a fumble on the 15 Glad’s swept left and Joe Costanzo dived and strong defence forced Watford to punt. yard line was recovered by the Cheetah’s in for the score and his first touchdown in a A promising Colchester drive stalled at the and again they took over the ball. Growing Junior shirt after coming up from last season’s 6 yard line & again the trusty boot of Cairns in confidence, they gained a couple of first Youth programme. The extra point was again kicked the field goal on 4th down. Glad’s downs but on the next play the Cheetah’s kicked by Cairns. Glad’s 18-0 11-0 Quarterback found an open receiver for another first down only for Jack Greenland The start of the 2nd quarter saw the home to strip the ball away and return it back Poor tackling on the resulting kick off gave team starting with strong field position inside inside the 30 yard line. Just 3 plays later the Watford the ball inside the Colchester half for the first time in the match with the away team moving the ball down field inside the 20 yard line. The defence reacted with a blitz from Cairns and George Horan, sacking the Cheetahs quarterback for a huge loss back to the 28 yard marker. With nothing to lose the away team chanced their luck and ran a draw play on 4th down which was snuffed out for a loss by Mason Garrity giving the ball straight back to Colchester. On the very next series, Craig Hudson took the ball through the middle, some great blocking and running took him just outside the opponent’s 20 yard line for a massive 42 yard gain. A personal foul against Watford and tough running from Costanzo moved the ball to the 5 yard line where on 3rd down, Colchester’s Quarterback Sam Huxtable was forced wide by a missed block, scrambling towards the end zone the ball popped out on the 2 yard line but fortunately went out of bounds. With the ball on the 4 yard line, up stepped Cairns to convert another field goal. Glad’s 21-0
Another 4 and out from Watford gave Colchester the ball back, some strong Junior Gladiators 39 vs 0 Junior Watford Look Back
running & a couple of completed passes moved the ball inside the 20 but the Gladiators came up short, electing to attempt another field goal on 4th down which crept outside the upright. A penalty against the visitors on the field goal gave the Gladiator’s the ball back inside the red zone where Cairns went over from 8 yards out & the extra point was safely converted. Glad’s 28-0
The Gladiators defence then took over the game, pinning back Watford inside their own 10, forcing them to punt on 4th down, a poor snap saw the ball sail out of the end zone for another safety. Glad’s 30-0
Starting the 4th quarter Colchester drove down field, and on the 40 yard line the handoff from Huxtable to Costanzo opened up through some excellent blocking from the line which then saw him break numerous tackles on his way to the end zone for the play of the day. The extra point was blocked. Glads 36-0.
With the clock ticking down late in the quarter, the Gladiators added another field goal but then had to deal with a last ditch aerial assault from Watford as they tried to make a mark on the scoreboard. Tough defence soon eliminated this threat and with Colchester turning the ball over on downs, the final whistle was blown. The home side running out 39-0 winners and moving to a 2 & 1 record.
This weekend sees Colchester return to training in preparation for their long road trip to the Hampshire Thrashers on the South coast on June 8th and a welcome return to the team for Daniel Goshen, here for his summer break from Canada Prep School to see him play in the next two fixtures. A must win game for the Gladiators to make sure they have every chance to see play off football again this season.