Good luck to the 45 players, and their coaches and support staff, who are travelling to Bologna today to take part in the Group B tournament of the IFAF 2022 European U19 Championships from 6-10 July.
The tournament, which gets underway tomorrow, sees our young Lions compete against Italy, Finland and Spain in a battle for the Group B crown and a chance to earn a promotion to Group A.
Games will be held in the C.S Cavina Stadium in Bologna, capital city of the Emilia-Romagna region of Northern Italy. Live stream links will be shared ahead of each of GB’s games – keep an eye on our social media channels for updates.
”“I am extremely proud to lead this talented group of young athletes into GB's first International U19 tournament since 2015. The players and staff have shown great resilience to even get to this stage and it is to their credit that we travel to Bologna with a squad ready to compete with some of the finest nations in European U19 football. This is an invaluable steppingstone in the re-building of the programme, and while we know that we enter this tournament as underdogs, I also know that our guys will compete for every second of every game and give 100%. Whatever the outcome, this tournament is just the beginning for us. I can't wait to get out there and get going. Go Lions!”
GB U19 Head Coach Scott Rowe
Schedule
Wednesday 6 July
Finland vs Great Britain – kickoff 15:00 CET
Italy vs Spain – kickoff 21:00 CET
Thursday 7 and Friday 8 July
Recovery / training days
Saturday 9 July
3rd/4th place final – kickoff 15:00 CET
1st/2nd place final – kickoff 21:00 CET
Followed by Award Ceremony
Sunday 10 July
Departure Day
”Good luck to our Lions and their coaches, all of whom have shown a huge amount of energy, enthusiasm and determination to earn the opportunity to represent us on the international stage. I’d also like to thank the efforts of all the parents, guardians and family members who’s good will and support has made this trip possible for our young athletes. This will be a tremendous learning experience for our young athletes, as well as a chance to learn compete alongside players from across the UK and Europe and create memories and friendships that will last a lifetime.”
BAFA CEO Pete Ackerley
Roster
| Jersey* | Name | Pos. | Club Team |
| 2 | Jerome Darko | DB | Tamworth Phoenix |
| 3 | Josh Allsebrook | QB | Tamworth Phoenix |
| 4 | Logan Irvine | WR | SGS Pride |
| 5 | Nelson Hamilton | DB | Tamworth Phoenix |
| 6 | Harry Buckland | WR | SGS Pride |
| 7 | Vinnie Maxfield | DB | NFL Academy |
| 9 | Feranmi Okunlola | LB | Bristol Aztecs |
| 10 | Bailey Man | QB | Kent Exiles |
| 11 | James Aubrey-Williams | LB | Gateshead Senators |
| 12 | Sebastian Harris | WR | London Warriors |
| 13 | Noah Beddow | WR | Tamworth Phoenix |
| 14 | Charles Chemali | WR | Wembley Stallions |
| 15 | Louis Anderson | WR | Sheffield Giants |
| 16 | Alfie Birks | QB | Bournemouth University |
| 17 | Miles Butt | LB | SGS Pride |
| 19 | Callum Twine | DB | SGS Pride |
| 21 | Callum Grant | DB | Solent Seahawks |
| 22 | Matthew Knox | DB | North East Giants |
| 23 | Merdan Dogan | DB | London Blitz |
| 24 | Sam Geddes | RB | Gateshead Senators |
| 25 | Lewis Munt | RB | University of Bath |
| 26 | Joe Parton | DB | Nottingham Trent University |
| 27 | Chris Gbenla | RB | London Blitz |
| 30 | Freddie Burton | DB | Loughborough University |
| 32 | Jake Horne | LB | South East Legion |
| 34 | Joe Gallagher | LB | SGS Pride |
| 44 | Joe Blythe | RB | Leeds Beckett University |
| 45 | Jack Redhead | LB | Tamworth Phoenix |
| 52 | Fraser Holden | LB | University of Nottingham |
| 54 | Alfie Keery | OL | SGS Pride |
| 56 | Ryan Howard | LB | University of Liverpool |
| 59 | Max Kidd | DL | Swindon Storm |
| 60 | George Fear | OL | Leeds Beckett University |
| 61 | Kieran Park | DL | Gateshead Senators |
| 62 | Sam Stokoe | OL | Hertfordshire Cheetahs |
| 64 | George Owen-Thomas | OL | NFL Academy |
| 66 | Toby Spalinger | OL | NFL Academy |
| 67 | Aaron Villalta | OL | Kent Exiles |
| 68 | Amrit Chatha | DL | UWE Bullets |
| 72 | Cameron Dwyer | OL | SGS Pride |
| 74 | Matthew Allen | OL | South East Legion |
| 76 | Chidubem Abazie | OL | Leicester Longhorns |
| 84 | Jude Scott | WR | Leeds Beckett University |
| 92 | Jake Pearman | DL | Essex Spartans |
| 99 | Elvis Webster | DL | Bristol Aztecs |
Please note, these are roster numbers for GB’s blue jerseys, and will differ if the team are wearing white.
| Scott Rowe | Head Coach |
| Andy Scott | OC |
| Martin Hume | CO-DC/DL |
| Jack Watson | CO-DC |
| John Moore | Quality Control |
| Jonathan Chilton | RBs |
| Clive Palumbo | WRs |
| Pete Jones | OL |
| Mike Ripley | LB |
| Jon Holloway | Corners |
| Keith Johnson | Safeties |
| Ben Read | Assistant |
| Taran Chatha | Assistant |
| Ravnit Chatha | TM |
| Sarah Cassidy | Physio |
| Bev Analuwa | Physio |
| Calum McClenaghan | Photographer |
