h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Does Jon Williams ring any bells?

Or am I confusing him with the composer of the Star Wars theme...

Must be Star Wars!!

Anyway, my man, will be finishing work soon, so must (got to look busy for the next half hour or so).

Been fun. Talk to you again.





(Extra one, forgot on last message!)

PatsFan...

Hi PatsFanUk - Nice to have you along

I was just about to berate you as a bandwagon jumper onner, but then you mentioned "The Event That Shall Not Be Named Among Pats Fans" ... so you've been there for the highs and lows not just the dodgy win by tuck rule

You've obviously read the forum page to get here, so you'll know about everything else that's on offer e.g. trivia quiz, predictions, outdated topic of the week etc.

Don't forget to sign up for your shirt number if you haven't done so already.

In truth, we're probably going to be a touch quiet over the next couple of months, but there's usually someone lurking around.

Good to make your acquaintance.

BBS

PS I'll set up a "How 'bout dem Pats" thread so you can keep us up to date on your worries for next season ...

Oooohh.. Lots of backlog to go through and reply to.

You guys think that the Claymores have the O's as a breeding ground for potential players? Well, up here north of the border they'veg ot the Pirates as their breeding ground. Stuart Hare from last year was a Pirate before getting the call up to the Claymores. There were even rumours that one of the more talented junior players around up here wanted to train and play with us at the Tigers instead of the Pirates, but were told by the Claymores that if he wanted to have a chance to get to play with the Claymores, he'd have to stick with the Pirates, even if he never got any playing time there, and he'd be a starter (most likely) at the Tigers.

Anyways, the Pirates are a good team, and they deserve to be at the top of Div 1. Same as the O's (whos official name is still the Olympians, as far as I know).

This year, we've also got another prospect from north of the border in Jeff Nicolson, who is currently affiliated with teh Edinburgh Wolves and played some friendlies with them last year. I also think that Jason Byworth can grow into the 'new Scoups' in a year or two, if he can stay healthy.

I'm going to the World Bowl, and I've already got my season tickets ordered and delivered, so I'll definitely be there. The travel up shouldn't have to be too bad for you guys from down south. Check availability and prices of flights from Stanstead to Prestwick with Ryanair. I just booked a return flight Prestwick - London - Malmo (Sweden) for just over £40. The Prestwick - Stanstead leg of that trip cost about £17 for the return trip. Of course, that was off-peak flights on a Wednesday and coming back on a Tuesday, but still. Worth checking out.
And if you do decide to come up here to watch it, I could most probably find an empty spot of floor or soemthing where you can crash, if you feel like it.

Enough ranting for now.

Sorry VRHG, I may have not stated it clearly... I wasn't saying the O's are a breeding gorund for Claymores, only that there is a perception in England, probably wrong, amongst players that if you don't play for the O's, you'll never get a look in with NFLE... Jason Byworth and Warren Keen are the current examples...

O's head coach, Riq Ayub, has links with NFLE and the Claymores through his position as head of the Coaches Assoc... players see this, quite naturally, as an important networking tool... if you play for Ayub and impress him, he'll put in a good word.

Having met and spoken to Ayub, I feel this perception is a little unfair... he'll put in a good word if he feels you deserve it, but not just because you play for him...

It is still the problem however, of the top English players playing for the O's because of this perception... I am fully aware of the good teams in Scotland and the talent they produce (is American Football becoming Scotlands new national past-time)... and I feel it is the Scottish teams that currently have the best chance of beating the O's...

Sorry VRHG, I may have not stated it clearly... I wasn't saying the O's are a breeding gorund for Claymores, only that there is a perception in England, probably wrong, amongst players that if you don't play for the O's, you'll never get a look in with NFLE... Jason Byworth and Warren Keen are the current examples...

O's head coach, Riq Ayub, has links with NFLE and the Claymores through his position as head of the Coaches Assoc... players see this, quite naturally, as an important networking tool... if you play for Ayub and impress him, he'll put in a good word.

Having met and spoken to Ayub, I feel this perception is a little unfair... he'll put in a good word if he feels you deserve it, but not just because you play for him...

It is still the problem however, of the top English players playing for the O's because of this perception... I am fully aware of the good teams in Scotland and the talent they produce (is American Football becoming Scotlands new national past-time)... and I feel it is the Scottish teams that currently have the best chance of beating the O's...

Hi BBS!

Seriously not a bandwagon jumper! Been through the wilderness years of us being very crap & all three SB appearences, especially SB36

So your a Raider!?... Tuck rules !! My brother is a die hard Raiders fan as well, after the Snow Game he found & bought a black T-Shirt on EBay which has the Raiders logo on the front and in very large print on the back "IT WAS A FUMBLE!"

I have to say thought that Vinatieri had balls of steel to make that game winning kick..

All the best.

P.S. - Thanks for not mentioning "The event that shall not be named among PatsFans"....I won't mention SB37 then...OOPS...

Morning TVRHOG!

I think that NFLE wants feeder teams from the BSL, so they have an constant source of new talent. It make sense to them to have contacts in the domestic game that will be there year after year. Unfortunately too many teams have come and gone over the years in Britball. This has now leveled out and most teams left are relatively 'secure', the only problem is attracting new young players.

The Claymores & Scottish Flag / Youth Leagues appear to be assisting with this in the North and the publicity of having a Pro team in Scotland can only help to attract the kids. Of course since the demise of the Monarchs (RIP) the same is not happening in England. The Capitals I believe are still going and 'feeding' unofficially the O's. I'm still under the illusion (?) that if there was a Pro team based in England, with the correct management & location, Britball would be much stronger & the game we all love would be more popular...

World bowl tickets - ordered on Friday & received on Saturday, (afer initially being told that single game ones were'nt on sale yet!), 'Silver' section £15 each, great service from the Claymores ticket office. We are flying up on Ryanair Stanstead to Prestwick (£57 for two) on the Sat AM, returning Sun PM. Should have plenty of time for some s.....

The game has started to get some good footing up here in Scotland again with two new teams starting up and entering the league this year. Earlier we've only had the Pirates and the Tigers (previously the Strathclyde Sheriffs), but there has been a few good Uni teams around up here as well (Strathclyde, Glasgow Uni, Stirling) and those players are also starting to set their eyes on the Senior league, and the Junior league seems to be growing steadily up north as well.

I have no doubt that Coach Ayub is fair when it comes to who to support when it comes to the Claymores try-outs, but what many people forget is that the try-outs for the Claymores are open to anyone who feels they can cut it, and it's Stephen McCusker and Coach Dahlquist who does the selection of the players at the try-outs.
I have no doubt, though, that having played for the Pirates or the O's or any other Div 1 play-off team will help a bit.

PatsFan, gimme a shout when you're heading this way and I'll meet up with you for a or or two.

TVRHOG.



or or two ??? I'll take you up on that offer, just to be socialable of course



I have to say thanks to all of you so far for being so friendly and welcoming. It's been fun so far. Quiet at work this week so I am able to post quite frequently. Bear with me when it's busy here though!

SB XX: As a Dolphins fan, I was incredibly disappointed to see the Pats beat us in the Conference Championships that year. The Phins were the *only* team to beat the Bears that year, so it would have set the table for a phenomenal Super Bowl.

But it was not to be, so I decided to enjoy the Pats getting their just desserts.

I tripped over this conversation by accident and it brought back many happy memories of the Channel 4 days.

In keeping with tradition I'm a Redskin fan as the first SB I saw (XVII) had John Riggins trampling over the Dolphins (oops) and that memory still lingers (who said nostalgia ain't what it used to be?).
I even made it down to Wembley when the 'skins played the 49ers in the American Bowl thing (can't remember the date as I didn't sober up til I got back home!)

I lost touch when Channel 5 took over as we can't get it at all in the part of Edinburgh where I live - but I just got a birthday present, the box for the digital freeview channels and five comes through beautifully!!!!
Roll on next season

Wildman - welcome

Things are a bit quiet around here at the moment - work commitments, lack of a proper season etc. But keep your eye in.

We've been waiting for a Reskins-fan so that we can have a proper pop at Snyder

Have u checked out the Claymores? TVRHoG is local to you, he seems to be a fan.

Wildman, welcome to the ranks. If you're looking for some football round about this time of year, I'd recommend the Claymores playing at Hampden park this coming Sunday and game that could be the beginning of a good Scottish rivalry, Edinburgh Wolves vs Glasgow Tigers, on Consecutive Saturdays where the teams play in Glasgow this weekend, and then have a rematch in Edinburgh next Saturday.

On another note, since you're a Redskins fan, and I'm a Cowboys fan, purely officially and for no other reason than tradition, I don't like you.

Don't worry! The feeling is extremely mutual .

The problem with the Claymores and me is that I work nightshift on the taxi and Saturday and Sunday are my best earning nights. (My last post was sent back of 3am when in for ). Since Claymores defected to Hampden the times work against me - and with working at night, no . Poor me .

Yes, that would in deed suck. I also feel that the Claymores 'defected' when they moved to Glasgow, even if that meant that it's easier for me to get to the games, with me living in Largs.
As I wrote in my article about the Claymores, alot of people still regard Murrayfield as the real home of the Claymores, even if they've been playing at Hampden for a couple of years now.

Anyhow, good to have you aboard the Football thread.