History
For the 1992 season, the Pirates recruited former Chelmsford Cherokee coach, Robin Burton to become Head Coach. Coach Burton led the club to a 5-3 record his first season in charge, culminating in two record breaking seasons in 1995-6 and 1996-7. In 1995-6, Coach Burton steered Andy Ennis to a then record 22 touchdown passes in a 5-3 season, where 3 WRs were in the national Top 10 for receiving. Ennis followed that up with a 7-1 season and a Southeastern Divisional title and a famous come-from-behind victory against arch-rival Cambridge Pythons. A play-off defeat at the hands of Bath prematurely ended a College Bowl run. In addition to garnering Southern Conference Coach of the Year honours, Coach Burton also oversaw the beginnings of the preseason Old Boys game, started by a group of former players to provide the Pirates with a preseason tune-up.
Coach Burton returned to the USA in 2000, leaving Offensive Coordinator Neil Morgan to fill the void. Morgan led a return to the playoffs in 2000-01 and narrowly missed out on a playoff berth again in 2002-3. Coach Morgan stepped aside and Chris Hailstone stepped into the breach.
Coach Hailstone led a team famed for a ferocious defense and punishing running game in 2003-4 to a narrow playoff defeat at the hands of the Cardiff Cobras before becoming the first Pirates coach to lead his team to back-to-back playoff berths. Coach Hailstone stepped aside midway through the season in 2005 due to a change in his work situation, allowing Martyn Doust to complete the season with a 3-5 record. A season of consolidation followed in BCAFL’s final season in 2006-7 before Coach Doust led the Pirates to a 5-3 record in BUAFL’s inaugural season.
2008-2009 was an extremely successful season for the pirates. Recently returned defensive back, turned quarter back Martin Ray led a dominating offence, which scored the 7th most points in the league. The Pirates 6-2 record led to the playoffs, which they dropped out of following a loss to the Southampton Stags in the first round. The end of the season saw the untimely death of beloved Head Coach Martyn Doust. Affectionately known as Dousty by friends, players and coaches he is sorely missed.
Dousty’s passing resulted in defensive coordinator Bobby Kerr stepping up to the Head Coaches position. Kerr lead the team to a 3-5 record in the 2009/2010 season; a record which doesn’t reflect the tightness of a number of games – including a loss to the Brighton Tsunami which was won with a field goal with just thirty seconds left on the game clock. The end of the 2010 season saw the departure of offensive co-ordinator Lucien Giordano, who had led a potent Pirates offense for the last three years. Filling his space in time for the 2010/2011 season is Coach Nick Rockell, Ex-Head Coach of the London Blitz and the Norwich Devils, and current head of British senior league American football.