World Footy News

Over the last 15 years, a few clubs have existed in the area Londoners call 'up north' - the Liverpool Blues in the early 90s, then the St Helens (aka Northwestern) Miners and Doncaster Saints more recently. 2006 will be fourth time lucky for the region, with a crew training in Manchester. They may not be the only debutants in the BARFL this year - with an insider tip that there are groups close to startup in a few other British cities.

Like a lot of international clubs, Manchester started in a pub late in September, where Aussies and interested locals had come together to watch the AFL grand final. Scott Emmett, an Australian who had been living in Manchester for 9 months, met Englishman Andy Weaver who had lived in Melbourne for 3 years back in the 90s and fallen in love with footy. The two decided the time was ripe for a club in England's second largest city.

Emmett says, "I'm 23, originally from Stanhope in northern Victoria (Kyabram DFL) and played footy there all the way through Under 12s, Under 14s, Under 18s and 2nds before coming over here and although I've never been that great, I love the game and was keen to get back into it. We both already knew the BARFL existed but I guess it was one of those things that after a few beers sounds like a good idea.

"We've been training since December last year and are currently training every Sunday. So far it's just been myself and Andy running the show but we are having an inaugural general meeting next week where we hope to elect a committee to share the workload. We have set up a website too.

"We've had a few ideas for a nickname/colours, but we are keeping our options open for the moment as we will probably write away to a few Australian clubs looking to strike up some sort of partnership. Hopefully we can get some strips donated or something (I know St Helens did this with Southport in the QAFL) and that could make our mind up for us. If we cant, Mosquitos and Meercats have been suggested though Im not sure if they were joking or not!

"At the moment we have had around 30 along all up but the most we have had at one training is 19 (and we had a 9 a side scratch match). I would be hoping to have a committed squad of at least twenty - a mix of around eight to ten Aussies and twelve or more Europeans would be ideal. At the moment the mix is around half aussie, half others. Most of the others are Irish and British, although we do have a German and a South African. However, we want to get more Brits and Irish involved".

Emmett and Weaver have been recruiting in a few different ways. "First of all we put posters up in local pubs and gyms. We also advertised on the Gumtree.com (Aussie expat mag) website. We also got a feature article in a local newspaper and word of mouth has got us a couple of players too. At the moment we are looking at developing links with a local Gaelic football club, as well as a local rugby club (with whom we are also negotiating the use of facilities)".

The Manchester happenings have also attracted some ex-St Helens Miners players ready to have a kick again after their club folded mid-season a few years ago. Every week so far at least one ex-Miner has made it to training, with about four or five having come along all up so far. Emmett hopes they'll get some ex-Doncaster Saints too - they only learnt last week that Doncaster had had a team, but are now hoping to get in touch soon.

This year's BARFL regional league is still in planning, with a meeting this Sunday hoping to flesh out some firm details. According to Emmett though, there has been interest out of Durham, Thanet (between London and Dover), Liverpool, Cambridge and Oxford - the first two being the most likely.

"It is looking like there probably won't be enough interest for a team this year out of Liverpool, Cambridge and Oxford. But all it takes is one or two committed people based in a town to change this. I think any decent sized city in the UK (Newcastle, Leeds, Liverpool, Birmingham, Cardiff etc) could support a team if there are local-based people willing to put in a bit of time".

Hopefully the next week or two will yield more information in what could be the start of a huge year for footy in Britain, with at least one potential new club, two English sides to tour France and a way forward on junior development. Watch this space for updates.