In the second installment of a new collaboration between American Football International and Great Britain’s premiere American football site, Double Coverage, AFI presents a preview done by Double Coverage of the 2017 Premiership North conference. The conference kicked off last weekend with one game. The East Kilbride Pirates and Edinburgh Wolves played to a 26-26 tie.
BAFA National Leagues Preview | Premiership North
Tamworth Phoenix
After annihilating last season, Tamworth Phoenix will be back, cringey hashtags included, to finish what they started.
Proving to be the dominant force in the North after another year of successful recruiting to strengthen an already strong roster. Even after losing key players such as Will Hobbs, Nix still have a host of talent within their line-up. Players such as Will Stone and Jake Harbon, who made their first appearances on the GB Adult team, to help keep the defence strong. Deji Alli of the Blitz joins RBs Adam Hope and Elliott Walters to aid the already high flying offence.
Along with players, the Nix have added Birmingham Bulls Defensive Co-ordinator Alan Steel to their ranks to help build a strong future for the Nix. If I were a betting man, I would put my money on black (and orange).
Can anyone in the Premier North stop Tamworth Phoenix from claiming another conference crown? Image courtesy of Andy M Neale, aka Whizzyfingers
Merseyside Nighthawks
After a promising start to their Premiership career, Merseyside Nighthawks look to repeat and improve on last year’s success.
Spirits are high in the Nighthawks camp and with good reason, having made the playoffs in their first season will fill the team with confidence for the season ahead. Add to that the hard work of coaches such as HC Craig Pennington and OC Joe Black Merseyside have a lot to look forward too. With strong links to LJMU Fury and Liverpool Raptors the Nighthawks have plenty of young talent to dip into to bolster their ranks.
With the loss of RB Laurent Tshimanga it will be interesting to see if Daishawn Honoham and Alex Eager can have the same impact.
The Nighthawks adjusted well to life in the top tier in 2016 before coming undone by London Warriors. Image courtesy of facebook.com/merseysidenighthawks
East Kilbride Pirates
After suffering the loss of DB Rob Worboys the Pirates had a testing season. With the experience and talent of Iain Dick, Jamie McLaughlin and James McIntosh all retiring, the Pirates enter a little bit of a rebuild this season.
The team boasts a large number of rookies, six of whom have recently graduated from junior football. It will be interesting how the coaching staff at the Pirates deal with these young players. How these young bucks deal with the faster pace and physicality of the big boys will be interesting to see.
The Pirates will look to bounce back from a down year in 2016. Image courtesy of facebook.com/PiratesFootball