Rushmoor Knights Explained

Rushmoor Knights
Location:Farnborough, Rushmoor, Hampshire
Stadium:King George V playing fields
League:BAFA National Leagues
Division:Premiership South
League Champs:One (2004)
Div Champs:Three (2000, 2007, 2015)
Coach:Coach Paul "Benny" Wakeford
Colours:Scarlet Red, Columbia Blue, Grey, White
H Pattern H:_af
H Pattern B:_af_whitenumbers
H Pattern S:_af
H Helmet:FF2400
H Leftarm:808080
H Body:808080
H Rightarm:808080
H Pants:808080
H Socks:FF2400
H Title:Home kit
T Pattern H:_af
T Pattern S:_af
T Helmet:FF2400
T Leftarm:B9D9EB
T Body:414042
T Rightarm:B9D9EB
T Pants:414042
T Socks:B9D9EB
T Title:Alternate kit

The Rushmoor Knights American Football Club (formerly Southern Seminoles, Personal Assurance Knights/PA Knights, Delonghi Knights, Farnham Knights) are a British American football club based in Rushmoor, Hampshire. The Club has three teams; the Rushmoor Knights (20+), the Rushmoor Knights U19 (16 - 19) and the Rushmoor Knights U16 (14 - 16). The Knights play in the Premiership South of the British American Football Association National Leagues and were the Britbowl champions in 2004.

Origins

The team was founded as the Farnham Knights in 1985, under Head Coach Marc Salazar, who was an American service member, serving in the United States Air Force, at RAF Greenham Common. The team played their first friendly in 1985 as the Farnham Knights against the Thames Valley Chargers. The franchise joined the Budweiser League, Div 1, for the league's inaugural season in 1986 and went on to a successful 5 - 5 season. Their second season, 1987, saw the Knights complete their conference schedule undefeated to win their first Conference title.

During 1994 the Farnham Knights merged with the Hampshire Cavaliers and were renamed the Southern Seminoles. Personal Assurance stepped in during 1997 to sponsor the side which led to the return of the Knights moniker, the Personal Assurance Knights. In 2007, MH Football Shop took over the main sponsorship of the club, to rename them the Farnham MH Knights.

In 2008, a new main sponsor, Fast Lane, stepped in with a two-year deal. The team were then known as the Farnham Fast Lane Knights.

League placing and catchment

As the only club in the Blackwater Valley the Knights have drawn players from across Surrey and Hampshire, within are Woking, Guildford, Farnborough, Aldershot, Bracknell and Basingstoke. All games were played at Farnham Rugby Club from 2013, the first season in the club's history that it has been based in the town of Farnham itself after only playing 1 game at Farnham Rugby Club's old ground in Wrecclesham.[1] They have since moved to King George V playing fields in Farnborough back in the borough of Rushmoor, leading to the re-naming.

Farnham Knights rebranded to the Rushmoor Knights ahead of the 2021 BAFANL season.

Honours

(1) Prior to 2011, the term "Youth" was used for 16 to 19 year olds. Since 2011, Youth is for 14 to 17 year olds and Juniors is for 16 to 19 year olds.

Season-by-season

SeasonLeagueRegular seasonPostseason
WonLostTiesWin %FinishWonLostWin %Result
2019Premier League190.100- 00.000Relegated to Divsion 1 for the 2020 Season.
2020Division 1000.000- 00.000Season cancelled due to COVID-19.
2021Division 1440.5002nd 11.500Lost to Solent Thrashers in Division 1 Championship 34-14.
2022Division 1820.8003rd 01.000Lost to Hertfordshire Cheetahs in Divisional Round 21-12.
2023Division 1640.6005th 01.000Lost to London Olympians in Wildcard Round 24-21.
2024Division 18001.0002nd 21.667Lost to Nottingham Caesars in Division 1 Championship 49-9. Promoted to Premier League for the 2025 Season.
Total2610034

Coaching records

Name Years Wins Losses Ties Win % Playoff Wins Playoff Losses Playoff Win %
Marc Salazar 1985–1988 26 9 0 .743 0 1 .000
Frank Snyder 1989 7 3 0 .700 0 1 .000
Mike Hassett 1990 3 6 1 .350 0 0 .000
John Archer 1991 7 3 0 .700 1 1 .500
Richard Foster 1992 6 2 0 .750 1 1 .500
Phil Maltby 1994–1995 11 6 2 .632 0 1 .000
Steve Rains 1996–2007, 2014-2016 87 33 3 .656 11 6 .710
Ian Ellis 2008-2011 14 22 0 .389 0 2 .000
Shaun Gray 2013 4 6 0 .4 0 0 .000
Paul Wakeford 2020–2024 26 10 0 .786 3 4 .428

Rushmoor Knights Hall of Fame

The Rushmoor Knights honor their most influential players, coaches, and contributors through their Hall of Fame.

Name Time at Rushmoor Position Inducted
Non-Playing
John Burrow 2016
David Ferebee 2016
Roger Hart 2016
Clive Jacobs 2016
Tango Lockwood 2016
Terry Milward 2016
Marc Salazar 2016
Frank Snyder 2016
Andy Soltysiak 2016
Linda Soltysiak 2016
Steve Rains 2016
Youth/Junior
Graham Jessett 2016
Christine Reeves 2016
John Williams Snr 2016
Players
Phil Alexander 2016
Adedayo Ashaye 2016
Bill Baker 2016
Paul Biscombe 2016
Dave Carpenter 1992-PresentOL2016
Jay Cashman 2016
Harvey Culver 2016
Mick Clancy 2016
Gary Edwards 2016
Kingsley Ejiogu 2016
Peter Fields 2016
Alan Finlay 2016
Rich Foster 2016
Gareth Davies 2016
Steve Harrison 2016
Ashley Heath 2016
Adam Heirons 2016
Stephen Hollingdale 2016
Troy Lee 2016
Kenny Lettman 2016
Jez McLees 2016
Chris McIver 2016
Peter Oliver 2016
Michael Reeves 2016
Duncan Reynolds 2016
Cameron Saylor 2016
Paul Setterfield 2016
Joe StLouis 2016
Tony Stitt 2016
Keith Theobald 2016
Stuart Timms 2016
Paul Wakeford 2016
Paul Westwood 2016
Stephen Whittaker 2016
Jon Williams Jnr 2016
Jon Wyse 2003-2004, 2007RB2016

Notable Players

Olympic sprinter Dwain Chambers, 2006. [4]

Notes and References

  1. http://www.farnhamknights.com/location.html farnhamknights.com
  2. http://www.efaf.de/ European Federation of American Football
  3. http://gridironuk.co.uk/ British American Football League
  4. Web site: Sprinter Dwain Chambers plays for British Champion. European Football League.