| Yorkshire Rams | |
| League: | BAFA National Leagues |
| Division: | NFC 1 North |
| Stadium: | South Leeds Stadium |
| Location: | Leeds, West Yorkshire |
| Colours: | Black Helmets Black Jerseys Black Pants |
| Coach: | Dorian Deiwiks |
| Gm: | Stewart 'Pid' Hegarty |
The Yorkshire Academy Rams (previously the Yorkshire Rams) are an English American football club, based in Leeds, West Yorkshire. They are currently playing in BAFANL NFC 1 North.[1]
The club was founded in 1986 as the Wakefield Wasps and moved[2] to Huddersfield in 1987 to be based at the Rugby union football club ground, in the Waterloo area. Shortly after they moved to the Fartown Rugby league ground. The club were then renamed to the Huddersfield Rams.
In 1990 the club again moved home to the Leeds road Hockey pitch, in Huddersfield. This venue was short-lived, as 1991 saw a major reorganisation of the club, both to a new and more permanent home at the Dalton based Amateur rugby league football club ground in Moldgreen, also in Huddersfield. In view of the increase of the size of the club's recruiting area this reorganisation also saw the change of the club's name to the Yorkshire Rams.
In 1996 the club moved to more luxurious conditions at the Lawrence Batley Sports Centre at Salendine Nook in Huddersfield. The following year, they moved both venue and home town to the Walton Sports & Social club in Wakefield, The following year due to Health and safety rules the club again moved home to the Westgate Redoubt ARLFC, in Wakefield
After a good season and some sponsorship, in 2004, the Rams found themselves moving to the Rams Stadium, home of the Dewsbury Rams in Kirklees. The club ground was renamed in 2005 to the Tetley Stadium. Again the following year, 2006, saw another move of club venue to the Milnthorpe Green home of Sandal RUFC in Wakefield.
For two years the Rams played their home fixtures at South Leeds Stadium, where they enjoyed an unbeaten record before moving to Leeds Corinthians RUFC.
In 2016, the Rams returned to South Leeds Stadium for the second time.
The Yorkshire Rams currently play their home games at South Leeds Stadium.
Saw the Rams improve on their 2007 record (6–4) to a 7–2–1 record while also reaching the Semi Final of the Division 1 playoffs, only to lose to Sussex Thunder.
Had a lot of new recruits join the team, together the team compiled a 5–4–1 record.The team had their destiny in their own hands going into the final game of the season at Dundee, Knowing that a win would Guarantee them a place in the playoffs, however they eventually lost the game ending their season.
The Rams tried to build on 2009's success and recorded an impressive 7–3–0 record. The Yorkshire Rams shut out Gateshead Senators and Merseyside Nighthawks in impressive displays, but ultimately an increasing amount of injuries would take their toll, as the Rams narrowly lost to the Ipswich Cardinals in the Playoffs prematurely ending an outstanding season.
| Game Date | Home team | Away team | Score | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 May 2011 | Yorkshire Rams | Gateshead Senators | 17–6 | Rams WIN |
| 15 May 2011 | Yorkshire Rams | East Kilbride Pirates | 6–13 | Rams LOSE |
| 22 May 2011 | Doncaster Mustangs | Yorkshire Rams | 13–14 | Rams WIN |
| 5 June 2011 | Yorkshire Rams | Merseyside Nighthawks | 36–7 | Rams WIN |
| 12 June 2011 | Yorkshire Rams | Manchester Titans | 49–8 | Rams WIN |
| 19 June 2011 | Manchester Titans | Yorkshire Rams | 12–29 | Rams WIN |
| 10 July 2011 | Gateshead Senators | Yorkshire Rams | 0–12 | Rams WIN |
| 17 July 2011 | East Kilbride Pirates | Yorkshire Rams | 35–6 | Rams LOSE |
| 31 July 2011 | Yorkshire Rams | Doncaster Mustangs | 26–36 | Rams LOSE |
| 14 August 2011 | Merseyside Nighthawks | Yorkshire Rams | 13–47 | Rams WIN |
The Yorkshire Rams drew their old rivals the East Kilbride Pirates in the Quarter Finals of the Division 1 Playoffs. Yorkshire had to travel up to Scotland and could have ended the game early on through default, as East Kilbride failed to have an ambulance present when the game kicked off which resulted in the game being stopped early in the first quarter. Yorkshire however waited 45 minutes for the ambulance to arrive in the name of sportsmanship. Throughout the game both teams led however it was Yorkshire who had edged ahead going into the last quarter by 14–12. East Kilbride, as they did twice in the season, found an extra gear and pulled ahead of the Yorkshire side by 14–26. The Yorkshire Rams ended their season on a high losing to the eventual Division 1 Champions; East Kilbride Pirates.
Although the Yorkshire Rams were defeated in the Quarter Final of the playoffs their national ranking made them eligible for inclusion into the newly formed Northern Premiership. 2012 will see the Yorkshire Rams compete in the top flight of American Football in the UK along with the East Kilbride Pirates, Doncaster Mustangs, the Birmingham Bulls, Leicester Falcons and the Tamworth Phoenix
| Game Date | Home team | Away team | Score | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 29 April 2012 | Leicester Falcons | Yorkshire Rams | 0–0 | Rams TIE |
| 6 May 2012 | Birmingham Bulls | Yorkshire Rams | 6–6 | Rams TIE |
| 13 May 2012 | Yorkshire Rams | Tamworth Phoenix | 18–27 | Rams LOSE |
| 27 May 2012 | Doncaster Mustangs | Yorkshire Rams | 6–6 | Rams TIE |
| 2 June 2012 | Yorkshire Rams | Birmingham Bulls | 29–12 | Rams WIN |
| 9 June 2012 | Yorkshire Rams | East Kilbride Pirates | 0–13 | Rams LOSE |
| 1 July 2012 | Yorkshire Rams | Doncaster Mustangs | 0–34 | Rams LOSE |
| 8 July 2012 | Tamworth Phoenix | Yorkshire Rams | 18–0 | Rams LOSE |
| 22 July 2012 | Yorkshire Rams | Leicester Falcons | C – C | CANCELLED |
| 28 July 2012 | East Kilbride Pirates | Yorkshire Rams | 26–7 | Rams LOSE |
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Yorkshire Academy Rams
After parting ways with HC David Pawson, the Rams underwent a merger with Leeds University to form The Yorkshire Academy of American Football. This ongoing alignment helps create a player pathway from grassroots to adult contact disciplines. As part of the merger The Rams with be sporting purple horns during the 2019 season and have adopted the academy as part of the team name as well as a logo redesign.