World Footy News

The AFL Britain have a new committee coordinating the regional English clubs north of London, with Karl Haigh from the Huddersfield Rams recently appointed president of the newly-formed AFL Britain North.

This committee includes all clubs from both the Central & North West and North East leagues, after the 2010 season saw the North East league struggle for numbers and come close to collapsing. New secretary of the AFL Britain North is Great Britain Bulldogs and England Dragonslayers rep Alistair Dellooze.

2011 will be a big year for English footy, with not only preparations for the Bulldogs' International Cup campaign, but also the European Legion vs AFL/AIS match in London, and the first London vs Country match scheduled to be held in Worksop.

LEFT: The Huddersfield Rams in 2010

In spite of a tough 2010 season, which saw a number clubs in the North East division collapse, Haigh says the remainder were keen to avoid amalgamation.

"The guys in the North East are still in a fragile position and really need to concentrate on rebuilding their division. They have set 2012 as their goal to be back on their feet and be the force they were in previous seasons. They were very grateful for the help offered by the CNW Division and want to be involved in a representative way, the guys want to send down a North East Allstar team to compete aginst the bye team in the CNW Division, possibly 2 or 4 times in the season. This will not go towards any league points or effect either team's divisional structure in any way, just simply on a social basis."

Haigh is currently coaching in local schools and also coaching the Rams' new junior section. A number of teams have been created and inter-school matches held.

Haigh says "Rick Shrowder is doing a great job doing the same up in the North East and we are working together developing a project called Global Community Sports."

"Off the back of this, my work has been recognised and I have been approached by AFL comissioners and SARFL and ARFLI presidents Douglas Hunter and Ciaran O'Hara to help assist in the AFL/AIS vs European Legion game, to be held in London in April. This is a real honour, as grass roots is the key to any sport's future. The Rams have a couple of good contenders who will hopefully make the Leigion squad if selected in April, which I obviously have a personal interest in."

All clubs have been asked to nominate under 23 players for the Legion, with Haigh saying "this is the first step for all potential athletes who want to make it in the AFL in Australia. It is also a great build up to the World 18 which Lewis Brackstone managed to achieve in 2010. We all know of Lewis and are proud of him, hopefully we can get one of our rising stars to this level, then hopefully a scholarship as the step after that."

Haigh is the current England Dragonslayers captain, having held the position since the two matches played against Scotland last November, and is also head co-ordinator for the team, sourcing sponsorship and co-ordinating all the Internationals north of London for England and Great Britain.

"England are currently sponsored by Xblades, who are also making the kit for the European Legion. Xblades are now the big name in Aussie Rules football throughout the UK and Europe," Haigh says.

Also currently under discussion is the name AFL Britain, with suggestions that it could become AFL England. This would reflect the reality that the Welsh ARFL and Scottish ARFL are both independent members of the AFL Europe, and run their local competitions separate from the English leagues. Haigh says that this will not be discussed until after the International Cup, but he sees it as highly likely that the name change could happen as early as 2012.