Player and team information
Over the recent years the Stallion's teams have always had good recruitment, and have had plenty of experienced players to help them to success. However times change, and it is time now to look to the future, and to the new players coming through.
Last season saw the departure of some popular names and faces in Stallion football history. Namely the departure of well respected head coach John Wyse left an almost impossible gap to fill.
Other names included the loss of Andy calvert, the Stallions premier running back in previous seasons, injury being the cause. This was the case also with long time veteran Will Slimming, an awesome linebacker who partnered well with fellow defensive lineman Ollie Turner. The Stallions Offensive 97/98 MVP Stuart Ross suffered a career ending injury during a senior league game.
Though despite the loss of such key returning players the team was able to build around a smaller group of returning players than first anticipated.
This benefited the Stallions in terms of new player influx and the drive to recruit more intensly than before, and to adopt new team management ideas.
Thankyou to all the players, coaching staff and of course the league for staying with us, and supporting us.
1999/2000 Season Reports
Score:- Staffs 28 - Hull 0
Report:-
The Stallions started the season the way they mean to go on, with a dominant show of strength against the Hull Sharks. With a new coaching staff and a revamped offence, the Stallions set out their stall early with a 65 yard touchdown run from their new found tail back Ziad Chourieri, the extra point was good which made the score 7 - 0.
Ziad or "Z" then scampered for his second score to make it 13 - 0, again the extra point was good, Stallions 14 - 0 up.
There was a quick exchange of possessions in the first half but Staffs maintained their dominance into the second half. The next score came from rookie punt returner Chris Richardson who took the ball back "prime time style" to make it 20 - 0, the extra point was wide, and the Stallions were sensing victory.
Hull seemed to have an urgency wake up and came out passing after their running attack was being pushed back by the stallions D. The defence of the Stallions was ultra tough, stopping most things that came their way.
The final TD came from do it all star Marlon Short, who led the team in tackles (9 solos, 5 assists), and finished off an impressive day with a 1 yard TD rumble and a two point conversion scramble to leave the Stallions easy 28 - 0 victors.
Next week the Stallions face a stronger competition with the arrival of Nottingham to the Staffordshire house of pain.
Score:- Staffordshire 6 - Nottingham 34
Report:-
Notingham came to Staffs with a full head of steam after losing to leicester the previous week. The first half was all nottingham who managed to to rack up 34 points against a depleted staffs team as injuries to four key players sent moral to the ground and the game to the visitors. Marlon Short powered in in the fourth quarter but it was too little too late.....nuff said.
Score:- Staffs 8 - Derby 2
Report:-
The Staffordshire Stallions dug out a well earned win over the most unpredictable team in the league. After taking Loughborough to overtime and losing, and then narrowly losing to nottingham the week before, Derby were hungry for a victory to kick start their season.
After a poor start on offence by the Stallions in the first drive of the game, Derby forced a safety giving them a two point lead which carried until the second quarter. Suddenly the Stallions offence ignited with receiver Tim Smith catching a pass on the staffs own 5 yard line, and then a consecutive catch by smith taking him 65 yards for the score. Smith also added the two point conversion on his third catch of that drive. In a grizzly battle by the defence, the Stallions came out on top to dominate the Derby offence and eventually staffs were able to run the clock out to take a well deserved away victory.
Staffs are now unbeaten away from home but are looking to turn that around next week with their first home win against Teeside.
Score:- Staffs 20 - Teeside 6
Report:-
The Stallions came into this game looking for their first home win of the season against a depleted Teeside squad. Things couldn't have started better when the first play from offence by the Stallions went for a TD. Scored by there enigmatic running back Ziad Chouriehi, with the two point coming from Marlon Short to make it 8-0. In a dramitic first minute Teeside then scored a TD on their first play on offence, their two point conversion failing to leave the score at 8-6. The Stallions next score came from a safety when Teesides QB was sacked in the endzone by Marlon Short. A quick change of possession meant that Staffs had to get the ball back. This was achieved when the Stallions recovered a Teeside fumble, and took the ball back. The Stallions then threw one of few passes due to the conditions 26yards for the score, straight to the hands of Chouriehi oncemore, again Marlon Short added the two points to make it 18-6 at half time. The second half was played at the Stallion desired pace with clock control, and the final score came from a Geoff Caddy Safety to round the score up at 20-6 in the Stallions favour. So the Stallions season rolls on with one more game before the Christmas break, a tough away match at Bristol. The Stallions will be looking to go into the break with a 4 and 1 record for the new year.
Score:- Staffordshire 16 – Aberystwyth 12
Report:-
The Stallions came into this game after a long break away from the field. The first quarter saw Staffs Quarterback James Kilbane come out passing. Aberystwyth halted the Stallions who were forced to punt. Then came taranaus quarterback show. Staying mobile Aber’s QB picked apart the stallions secondary and exploited gaps in the field with their GB tight End making good yardage for them. However their offence stalled too and they were forced to punt. A few changes in possession took place until Staffordshire’s QB was intercepted by John Underwood, on which Aber gained possession and scored with a 22 yard pass completion. The extra point failed. Aber scored again in the first half with another pass completion to leave a question mark over the Stallion secondary. The beginning of the second half saw the Stallions tested again as a second interception by Aber put pressure on the Staffs Defence to stop a fired up Aber team. After a few adjustments, the secondary was altered and the pass rush was working. On a crucial 4th and 10 Kilbane soaked up the pass rush and calmly launched a pass to rookie WR James Drake for an eighteen yard gain and Drakes first catch of the season. The Stallions went to their ground game and ran the ball in from 12 yard line. Marlon Short with the Touchdown and the two point conversion. The Stallions were now losing 12 – 8 but it was clear which team had the impetus, and the ability to score. A superb stand by the Stallions saw Aberystwyth pressured again, and then the sacks came. A fumble gave staffs the ball back in good field position. The Stallions again putting the ball in the capable hands of Marlon Short…..TOUCHDOWN! The stallions took the lead for the first time that day. The extra point was no good. 14 – 12 the score but still enough time on the clock for Aber to reply. James Mapson batted a crucial pass down, and again the Stallions pass rush did it’s job finally sacking the Aber QB in their own endzone for the final points of the game. Final score in the nerves of steel bowl Staffordshire 16 – Aberystwyth 12. Offensive MVP Marlon Short (FB). Defensive MVP Geoff Caddy (DE), and team MVP was Chris Ellis(LB/OL). ……………WHEW!
Score:- Staffordshire 6 - Loughborough 41
Score:- Staffordshire 6 - Leicester 35
Score:- Staffordshire 1 - Bristol 0
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