www.trinitythunderbolts.com

irishpacker

www.trinitythunderbolts.com

Offical Website of Dublin University American Football

... Thats right, Trinity has an American Football Team!

Randomness

Tom Brady................;)

Also cool website - I have no idea bout American Football but best of luck with that.

WOO THUNDERBOLTS ARE GO!!

Cantab.

Next they'll be looking to train on College Park.

godtabh

Cantab. wrote: »

Next they'll be looking to train on College Park.

Whats wrong with that?

orestes

Who are they going to play against? Do any other colleges have an american football team?

jimi_t

orestes wrote: »

Who are they going to play against? Do any other colleges have an american football team?

UCD, DCU, Dublin Rebels, couple of other intervarsity teams.

godtabh

Cantab. wrote: »

Next they'll be looking to train on College Park.

Whats wrong with that?

godtabh

Cantab. wrote: »

Next they'll be looking to train on College Park.

Whats wrong with that?

DaXiS

^ triple post ftw

But, what is wrong with training in college park anyway?

"Who are they going to play against? Do any other colleges have an american football team?"

..Thats not even an issue. Plenty of teams to play against.

irishpacker

There is an Irish American Football League. They dont advertise themselves very well it has to be said as all the funding goes into equipment etc. Go to www.iafl.info to learn about the league. Football is quite a popular sport across Europe especially in Germany, Nederlands and the scandinavian countries. Its actually the second most played sport in Sweden behind Soccer would you believe! The best irish teams play in Europe and against Div2/3 college teams from the states.

There are 13 teams currently in Ireland with 3 College teams (UL, DCU and Trinity) UCD are in the process of starting up a full kitted team. As you can imagine it is an extremely expensive sport to play and getting a team kitted out require a hell of alot of work as I well know!

The team was re-established last October 2007. American Football club seemed to be a major sport not catered for my the college, given that every other university has some sort of Football society or club. Posters were thrown up around college to test the waters and see if there was an interest and demand for a team, and the response was huge!

We have Americans and canadians who have played highschool football for years combined with irish football enthusiasts like myself, who have switched codes from Rugby to American Football.

The 2007/2008 season was all about learning the ropes as we were in the IAFL development league. Next season (2008/2009) we are moving up to the IAFL senior league. We will have a squad of around 60-70 players and I currently have 4 coaches confirmed. I'm spending the summer raising sponsorship so we can really expand our operations next year. Alot of people complained we didn't advertise ourselves well, but let me tell you its damn expensive to print posters in colour!!! :eek:

Anyway, I would invite anyone who has an interest in this great sport to give it a go! You dont need a rugby background to be good, the great thing about american football is that there is a role for every size and shape of player! We need the huge 6'6 20stone giants for the line, but we also need the 5'8 speed merchants! Also, if you're looking for a new sport or challenge, this would be ideal!

remeber to see our website at www.trinitythunderbolts.com


Someone mentioned college park. We train in Santry on the TCD grounds. Last season they wouldn't let us mark out our pitch on the rugby pitches in santry (mainly because we are a new club and we have to earn privilages such as) so we had to play our games using other Dublin american football clubs home grounds. They were a great help in fascilitating our games. DUCAC told me last year that, essentially, if we survive our first year we will be given permission to use santry grounds for our home games as well as training. We are not going to be training on college park for some time to come (maybe kicking practice or somthing but not normal training) I have asked that we would be allowed play some of our games on the college park rugby pitch and DUCAC seemed interested. So hopefully this year.

Dont worry you rugger heads, we wont ruin your pitch! The football season starts in March when the rugby season is finished. So we wont interfere with your games... but hopefully we will steal more of your players!

AlanSparrowhawk

fair play mate, best of luck with it. are you open to graduates or are you restricted to current students etc.? ducac can seem like a pack of ***** (which they kinda are) but good to see you're well able to deal with them. i know a few lads that play for the ul vikings and they're well sound so i hope it all works out for yous.

godtabh

irishpacker wrote: »

We are not going to be training on college park for some time to come (maybe kicking practice or somthing but not normal training) I have asked that we would be allowed play some of our games on the college park rugby pitch and DUCAC seemed interested. So hopefully this year.

No one should be allowed to train on college park. Do your training off campus and keep the pitches in a good state for actual games.

I could never understand why the rugby team train on college park. They make **** of it.

When I played for the soccer team we always had to train off the pitch in college park to keep it in good order.

irishpacker

kearnsr wrote: »

No one should be allowed to train on college park. Do your training off campus and keep the pitches in a good state for actual games.

I could never understand why the rugby team train on college park. They make **** of it.

When I played for the soccer team we always had to train off the pitch in college park to keep it in good order.

I agree with you totally. The rugby pitch in Trinity is one of the worst pitches I've ever played on. It is visably undulating and by January there is no grass left on it. Add to that the fact it has horrible drainage and is as hard as concrete, it is an awful pitch. I dont know what the groundsmen think they are doing, but they should shut the pitch down for a year, dig it up and relay a proper "flat" base layer. Part of the problem as you said, is that people are training on it every night of the week... no wonder its a mess. Incidently, the american football team are probably never going to get permission to train on the pitch as it is already over used, but we may get to play one or two games on it. We would love to play our home games on the pitch as it would give us invaluable exposior to the public and college.

All of this is a pity as the rugby pitch and cricket pitch/soccer pitches in trinity are an amazing resource. The location in the heart of the city is invaluable, not only for public exposior to your sport but also to the fact you dont have to drag your ass out to some sports centre beside the M50 every evening. I understand why the rugby teams train on it mid week as it is simply easier for everyone... except the pitch! I think one temporary solution would be to restrict the pitch to the Senior squad training or even just games. It is harsh, but for the benefit of the rugby pitch, teams, and the college I think it is worth it.

I'm sure this is something that the rugby team are constantly debating...

godtabh

One of the reasons why they train there during the winter is that its flood lit.

When the new library was being built the soccer team tried to get some flood lights included but didnt get very far.

College Park is one of the best pitches I've played on and I've played on a few league of Ireland pitches.

irishpacker

You think? I dont know about that. I've always felt it was a horrible pitch. Not only undulating all over the place, but it cuts up very easily. When you consider what the standard of a "good" pitch is these days, it really is joke.

Sorry are you talking about the rugby pitch or cricket pitch area? The cricket pitch area is excellent! Mainly because it is well maintained and no one trains on it every evening in studs!

It's an amazing location though, I love that side of it! I dont think there is an other pitch like it in ireland for scenery and atmosphere.

godtabh

College Park to me is the soccer pitches in front of the Pav