Sheffield Giants vs Chester Romans | Gameday Programme | 28th April 2024

Game day VS

SUNDAY 28TH APRIL

Words from the head coach

Matt Flynn

Welcome back to Norton for what I expect to be a thrilling showcase of football at what has become a genuine home for the Sheffield Giants now.

Despite it still being April we’re already about to play our third game so it feels like preseason was years ago and yet it was only four weeks ago that we were rounding things out with a scrimmage against Nottingham to prepare ourselves for what was to come. Despite it already feeling distant, it would be remiss of me not to call out the excellent work that was done in that period. From the big OTA that we kicked things off to with over 100 in attendance, to The Forge event that started a really impressive Giants Gym initiative that’s still going strong today, to that scrimmage that allowed us to get into real contact football after all the hard hours of indies drills and installs.

With that positive, I also have to recognise that so far things haven’t gone as we’d have liked. Whilst last weeks agonising loss at the death to the Alphas was a real stinger that was hard to take mentally, we can take many positives about how we turned ourselves around from the week before through sheer hard work by all involved. We got caught with our pants down against Humber and lost a game we shouldn’t have, but ultimately we come into today with two Ls on the board and a shortened season that puts us under pressure now.

But we aren’t a negative Team. Those losses happened and we have to accept that, but this Team is accountable and has reacted to those set backs exactly as Sheffield would expect – with hard graft, and a commitment to be better.

And now we face Chester. Last year’s games were somewhat of a rollercoaster, to say the least. But what we can be sure of is that the Romans will come to Norton looking to prove a point and get themselves to two wins on the season. But to do that they’ll have to go through us. At home. With Sheffield backing us. I know which horse I’m backing.

April 14 th

Kick off 2pm

HUMBER WARHAWKS

schedule

April 21 st

Kick off 2pm

APRIL 28 th

Kick off 2pm

chester romans

may 26 th

Kick off 2pm

chester romans

june 23 rd

Kick off 2pm

may 19 th

Kick off 2pm

HUMBER WARHAWKS

yorkshire rams

june 02 th

Kick off 2pm

yorkshrie rams

july 21 st

Kick off 2pm

Scunthorpe

Alphas

Scunthorpe

Alphas

sheffield giants - 27

Scunthorpe Alphas - 31

Game Report

In what was the second game in two weeks, and two of a three week stretch, the Sheffield Giants followed up the close 07-14 loss at the Humber Warhawks with another away game, this time against last year’s play-off quarter finalists, the Scunthorpe Alphas.

Having won the toss, the Giants offence took to the field first but were stifled by the Alphas D. Punts were traded back and forth through the first quarter, until #17 for Scunthorpe ran the ball into the end zone following a pop-pass on a jet motion. The PAT was no good, but following a turnover on downs for the Giants after a promising drive, the Alphas stretched their lead to 9-0 with a Field Goal.

Despite the setback, the Giants’ heads did not drop and they came out absolutely roaring. Three consecutive touchdown drives followed, to leave the Alphas absolutely reeling.

First, #81 Dan Padley ran the ball up the middle for the score (PAT good from #46 Robbie Vandamme), then Padley was at it again this time to the outside (2 point conversion attempt no good) and finally, following a Kick Off recovery from #1 Peter Parkinson, last years Player of the Year #3 Barron Abrahams skipped into the end zone (PAT good again from Vandamme) to take the score to 09-20 at the half time whistle.

The Scunthorpe offence start the second half, but immediately gave the ball back to the Giants with good field position following punt pressure from the defence. This allowed the offence to pick up where they left off, with that man Abrahams going 30 yards on the ground for another TD, with the successful PAT from Vandamme taking the score to 09-27.

The Alphas response didn’t come immediately, with the next drive resulting in an interception for Parkinson, ultimately ending in a missed Field Goal from the Giants, to keep the score as it was. From here, momentum started to shift with the Alphas ending a long drive with a wedge and a PAT to take the game to 16-27.

The Giants offence suddenly looked tired and struggled to move the ball, with Scunthorpe pulling a further 7 points back following a 50 yard pass to #17 and the PAT to go with it.

Punts were traded as time ticked away, but Scunthorpe drove the ball in the last minutes of the game and nicked the win in the dying seconds with another touchdown pass, followed by the surprise 2-point conversion to give them the 4-point advantage and, ultimately, the 31-27 victory.

Whilst the game eventually went the way of the Alphas, the quality of the Giants was there for all to see and the upcoming match against the Romans provides a great opportunity to put that first W on the board.

Luke Spooner

adult player roster

PLAYER spotlight

Ahmet Karlik - centre

How did you first get into football then Ahmet?

One of my friends from back home was already playing at the North East Academy of American Football and said they needed linemen. I turned up and I’ve been hooked ever since.

And what brought you to the Giants?

Having played and coached with Coach Flynn at university level I knew the kind of culture he was bringing into the club. Being part of this was something I couldn’t turn down.

club survive?” to the stage we are now is unbelievable and that’s only just the start!

What has been your highlight as a Giant, so far? Any season.

My highlight is always the next session, I genuinely can’t get enough of football, every week there’s something that just works, a play, a drill. Anything. It just confirms I’m where I need to be.

Playing at Giants has also allowed me to work with my old positional coach from NEAAFl, Coach Monaghan.

How does playing for the Giants compare to the university level?

The main difference for me is the speed and the strength of the players, it’s grown man strength. It certainly is a step up, and has taken some adjusting to but it’s a crucial step for anyone wanting to develop. And what do you like about the Giants this year?

What I like most has to be the culture that’s been instilled in the club during the rebuild over the last two years. It’s one that makes all players feel welcomed and part of the journey from the day they arrive.

I also had the pleasure of joining the committee this year [as Player Liaison Officer] and that has really shown me the drive at the Team - you get a lot more of a view of the behind the scenes of the Team.

Being one year removed from “would the

I’ve got a couple of specific highlights though. Chester at home last year, bouncing back after a woeful performance away from home, to a clinic in how to run the ball on the way to a great win. #103. Then being named Team Captain this year - as someone who’s not typically a loud voice, being recognised and asked to lead for what I bring to the table in a “do as I do” rather than “do as I say” is a real showing that I’m doing the right things.

You mentioned Coach Monaghan, how is it working with Oli again?

Working with coach Monaghan has been great, he has really recaptured a love of the game with how passionate and detail oriented he is. He coached me when I first started playing in 2017 at youth level, and then to be able to continue to learn under a GB staff member is great not only for my game but the nuances when it comes to coaching too.

And how do you find Coach Lilley’s offence?

Working with Coach Lilley is really good, he was another familiar face coming to Giants last year as I’d faced up against him a fair few times at university level.

Coach Lilley takes on a lot of feedback from both coaches and players to gather a complete picture as opposed to taking the first idea. A lot of emphasis is on reading and reacting to what we’ve seen on previous drives in games so we can effectively change calls to beat the D. You also coached at Hallam last season. How has that changed your view on the game?

Tell us something about you that fans of the Giants won’t know.

I’m moving out to Australia after the BAFA season and will be playing out there next year.

Coaching has allowed me to understand the reason behind doing something, you have to have a deep knowledge to be able to articulate it correctly to new players. I understand you’re also involved in the Women’s Flag game?

Yes, I’ve been coaching the women’s flag team at Sheffield Hallam University for the past three years. It was another way for me to get more involved in football, the ability to develop myself as a coach with it being slightly less pressure has also been very beneficial.

It’s been a tough start to the season. What are your thoughts on the Chester game? Having played Chester twice now, going back to last season, I know it’s going to be a physical matchup, both teams however had a fair few personal shifts around so it’s going to be interesting. With it being our first game at Fortress Norton this year I know we have a lot to live up to.

What do you get up to when you’re not training or playing with the Giants?

Anything I can do out in nature, there’s just a level of peace you can’t get anywhere else.

player info

Name: Ahmet Karlik

Position: Centre

Number: 67

University/College Team: Sheffield Hallam

University Warriors

Years Playing: 7

Giants Playing Debut: Debut: 2013 versus Northants Knights

Favourite NFL Team: Pittsburgh Steelers

COACHES & STAFF

Head Coach

FLYNN, Matt Head Coach

Coordinator

LILLEY, Adam

MARSDEN, Anthony

ROWLEY, Dave

Offensive Coordinator

Defensive Coordinator Special Teams Coordinator

Adult Team Committee

MOXON, Tom

MCCALLUM, Zoe

FLYNN, Matt

BERRY, Adam

ROBERTS, Darren

Team Ambassador

Team Manager

Head Coach

Partnership & Facilities Manager

Marketing & Comms

Positional Coach

HARDY, Jacob

MONAGHAN, Oli

TANNER, James

HERBERT, Chris

JOHNSON, Ellie

CARVALHO, Fernando

CALVERT, Sam

Assistant Coach

EVANS, Harvey

MORRIS, Summer

MCWHIR, Aaron

SHERRIDAN, Matthew

GUINNESS, Mikey

HIRD, Shuan

BURKE, Kieran

Staff

MOON, Dominic

DYSON, Jack

TIDSWELL, Dave

THOMSON, Scott

Quarterbacks

Offensive Line

Running Backs

Wide Receivers

Defensive Line

Defensive Line

Defensive Backs

Offence

Wide Receiver Linebackers & Special Teams

Defensive Backs

Defensive Backs

Special Teams

Strength & Conditioning

Head Physio

Team Statistician

Team Photographer

Team Photographer

RUDD, Chloe

MULAY, Shubhankar

GIAGMOUROGLOU, Eleni

ROBERTSON, Will

BOWMAN, Lewis

GORMLEY, Shannon

KARLIK, Ahmet

FLYNN, Verity

HIRD, Shaun

DRINKWATER, Jamie

EVANS, Harvey

Manager

Digtial & Media Manager

Equipment & Kit Manager

Gameday Manager

Recruitment Officer

Grants Officer

Welfare Officer

Player Liaison

Charity & Community Officer

Social Officer

Fan Engagement

Placement Student

Coach spotlight

Jacob Hardy - Quarterbacks coach

Let’s start at the beginning. How did football find you?

I first experienced football when I went to a Wembley game between the Buccaneers and the Patriots. I enjoyed watching the game and the atmosphere around it which got me looking into it. I spent a bit of time at school just throwing a ball around with some friends in the park. I then went to university and went to one of the give it a go / try out sessions for the Sheffield Sabres. I seemed to do well enough to get invited back to compete for playing quarterback and the love for the sport has just built from there.

And what attracted you to coaching football?

Part of it was just enjoying the game and tactics behind it so much which made a change from player to coach the natural next step. The other parts are the give and take you get with being a coach and as well as getting to see players improve and also learning new aspects of the game.

What brought you to the Giants?

It helped knowing some of the coaching staff from university and being welcomed onto the team by the other coaches with a good set up. It was also another challenge in terms of coaching adult ball compared to university.

What do you like about the Giants this year?

There are lots of things to like. I think the culture and intensity is starting to build year on year. From a university point of view this has felt one of the most cohesive teams with a multitude of Sabres and Hallam players contributing and working together as well as players from all over the region. The team aspect has been a big part of this year so far.

What has been your highlight as a Giant, so far?

I think from a playing point of view it was having to step in to play a game at quarterback against the Sandwell Steelers [42-0 and 55-6 victories] and being able to still throw for multiple touchdowns and play the game.

How is this season going for you personally?

It’s a totally new Qb room this year and has been good to try and build on the talent of these players with them all bringing different skill sets to the field. It’s been great to build on last season’s offence and add some new wrinkles that hopefully will pay off on gameday.

And what’s it like working with Coach Lilley?

I have known Lilley for a long time starting out as playing for him at the Sabres, to playing together at adult level, to coaching with him at both university and adult level, so I must get along with him! I think there

is an understanding and trust there which helps to build that coaching relationship and makes it a pleasure to work with him.

You do seem to be a coaching pair! How does coaching for the Giants compare to university?

The basics are very similar but the difference tends to be that for the Giants there tends to be a larger amount of experienced players with a few seasons under their belts. From a coaching perspective it allows me to focus on some more advanced skills whilst building on the foundation they already have. Plus having those experienced players helps with bringing on the new players to the team to pass on their knowledge.

You’ve also been involved with Giants Flag. Tell us about that.

I got to play some flag football last season with the Giants and it was a really fun experience. It was a bit of a shock how fast paced it was but the team was great and made for an awesome environment. This year they’ve combined the Sheffield clubs and look to be doing really wellwould definitely recommend people to get involved with it especially as it is soon to be an Olympic sport!

Looking ahead, what are your thoughts on the Chester game?

After last season Chester is always going to be an intense and hard fought game. The last 2 games the offence has been building and gaining in confidence and I hope this continues over into this game. As a whole team I think the passion will be there for it and should lead to a good game of football.

What do you get up to when you’re not training or playing with the Giants?

I have a busy job outside of Giants but you don’t want to hear about that, otherwise I’m trying to build up some fitness and get back into running taking advantage of being able to get into the Peak District. Then spending what time I can with my friends and family.

Tell us something about you that fans of the Giants won’t know.

That my first name is not actually Jacob! But, like everyone in my family, I’m called by my second name.

coach info

Name: Jacob Hardy

Favourite NFL Team: Tampa Bay Buccaneers

COACHING:

Role/Unit: Quarterbacks

Previous Clubs: University of Sheffield Sabres (Quarterbacks, OC)

Years Coaching: 8 (10 seasons)

Giants Coaching Debut: 2022 v Manchester Titans

PLAYING:

Position: Quarterback

Number: 7 / 14

Clubs: University of Sheffield Sabres

Years Playing: 6 (9 seasons)

Giants Playing Debut: 2017 v Edinburgh Wolves

GIANTS IN THE COMMUNITY

Much like with the football itself, there is no real off-season when it comes to the Giants supporting their local community. The Team have already been carrying out activities, with a number of events being planned with partners across the region.

During pre-season OTAs, a number of the Team met up for what has fast become a favorite event, and helped out in the Hillsborough area with a littler pick. Our Community & Charity Officer Verity Flynn said “It’s always such a shame that there’s a need for cleaning up our streets and parks, but it’s a pleasure to help out in doing it and we’re never short of volunteers for events like this, even if it does always seem to rain on us!”.

Verity has a number of events planned, with the next due to take place before our next home game, but also wanted to draw attention to how we finished 2023, saying “Whilst this is a new season and we have a new target to achieve in helping the community in even bigger & better ways, I’d really like to thank Iago for being an ever-present in 2023 and really being the driving force behind the great work the Team managed to achieve alongside the successful season on the field. It was a great pleasure to see him win the Giant in the Community Award at our 2023 Awards Night and it was thoroughly deserved”.

Around the club Academy

The Sheffield Giants American Football Academy has a place for everyone to enjoy the sport; from age 7 to 19, any gender, any size, and any ability.

The Academy offers both contact and noncontact versions of the sport in inclusive, supportive, and most importantly fun teams. All of these are run by experienced and committed coaches every Saturday morning at our Mosborough Training Ground (S20 5AQ). sheffieldgiantsacademy sheffieldgiantsadultflag @

ADULT FLAG

The Sheffield Giants Adult Flag teams allow adults to play non-contact football in Sheffield. There’s no previous experience or talent required to join the Women’s or Mixed teams, who compete in tournaments / leagues against teams based all across the UK.

The Giants Mixed Flag Team has already begun their preparations for the 2023 season, training every Sunday at Hillsborough College, but it’s not too late to get involved. The Giants Women’s Flag Team begins their training later in the year and practices at the Mosborough Training Ground.