The British American Football Hall of Fame are delighted to announce the inductees for the Class of 2025, celebrating the rich heritage of excellence within the British game.
Ahead of the class inductions, BAFA Heritage Lead Dave Tidswell shared the excitement of the Hall of Fame Committee in welcoming its latest inductees.
“As the heritage of the Hall evolves, we’re delighted that this year we are recognising pioneering contributors from both the Flag and Women’s Contact communities,” Tidswell said.
Tony Allen
Tony Allen is widely recognised as one of the most influential figures in British American football, with over 35 years’ experience in coaching and player development. He started his football journey in the eighties as a linebacker with the London Ravens winning multiple British Championships.
When he finished playing, he moved into coaching, spending time with the London Olympians before setting up the London Warriors Urban American Football Programme, initially as a junior team. Since 2005 he has overseen 19 national championship wins across their numerous teams, including seven senior Britbowls.
He was also the founding Head Coach of the NFL Academy in London where he pioneered a model that blends elite football training with academic achievement and personal growth, creating pathways for young British athletes to access opportunities in both the US college system and the NFL. A former Director of International Player Development at NFL International, he has helped hundreds of young people unlock their potential both on and off the field.
Matt Coppinger
Over his twenty-five-year involvement in Britball Matt excelled as a player, coach and Administrator. He won six National Championships as a player, coach and club founder across Youth, University and Senior football. As a running back with the London Olympians Matt won three national championships between 2003 and 2007.
Matt started his Britball career winning a Youth National Championship as a linebacker with the Southend Sabres in 1992, and then won two National Championships as a coach, club founder and administrator with the University of Hertfordshire Hurricanes between 1993 and 1999. During his senior career Matt played in over one hundred and eighty games suiting up for the Southend Sabres, Southern Sundevils, London Olympians, Oxford Saints and Berkshire Renegades. He was a university All-Star from 1994 to 1996, the British universities Defensive Player of the Year in 1995, the British Universities MVP in 1996 and a GB Bulldog in 1995 and 1996.
Matt has coached in over 124 games with an overall .710 winning record. Between 1996 and 2016 he called the plays for the Hertfordshire Hurricanes, Greenwich Mariners, London Olympians, Oxford Saints and Reading Knights. As a Head Coach he has a .593 winning record.
Paul Roberts
Initially playing at wide receiver, he became a cornerstone of the fearsome Birmingham Bulls defence of the eighties and nineties. He had the size of a linebacker but the speed and ball hawking ability to be one of the best cornerbacks in the country.
Known for his elite man coverage skills he was one of the hardest hitters in the game, receivers would think twice before going up for the ball. A four-time National Champion with the Bulls and a two-time European Champion with the GB Lions, he was also an excellent kick returner. After he finished playing, he gravitated into coaching and is still active developing the next generation of Bulls players.
Martin Gwilliam
Instrumental in laying the foundations for British Flag American Football, his first steps were as a player for the Leicester Eagles in the 1990s, where he developed and managed their successful adult and youth teams.
At a national level Martin was a key figure in the early years of flag before it had any support from BAFA. He was the conduit that helped to organise the first games of 9-on-9 flag in England in 1996 and 1997.
In 1998 he became BAFA commissioner for the adult Flag league, putting in place a sustainable structure that would help drive the participation and popularity of the format. Always happy to encourage and support the development of Flag Football, today’s teams owe him a massive debt of gratitude.
Adam Hope
A player who displayed continued excellence across the different tiers of British American Football. He started his journey as a stand-out athlete with the Sheffield Tomahawks junior team, before he came to prominence with the University of Loughborough Aces where he helped get them to the National final in 2010 and was crowned league offensive MVP in 2011 for his performances as an elite level running back.
He was dedicated to his craft and followed a strict strength and conditioning programme which allowed him to continue his rise when moving to the adult leagues. He was the feature back for the Tamworth Phoenix, but he was also a willing blocker and pass catcher out of the backfield, helping them secure the Britbowl title in 2017 when they beat the London Blitz. He was a regular for the GB Lions, where he led the ground attack for a number of years.
Beverley Hepworth
A pioneer within Women’s contact football who captained the GB Lions team in their first encounters in 2013 and 2014, both wins against Sweden.
An elite athlete who controlled the defensive backfield shutting down opposing passing attacks. She was a founder member of the Teesside Steelers, where she was both the Head Coach and Team Manager. With her leadership and passion she helped put the foundations in place for Women’s contact football to go on to have the success that it has achieved.
Jamie Charles
A combination of an immovable object and irresistible force in one individual, Jamie began his American football journey in 2008 in the university league, helping establish the Edinburgh Napier Knights (formerly Mavericks) after the single institution rule came into force.
Concurrently, Jamie played for the Dundee Hurricanes and earned a spot on the Northern All Stars team, which opened the door to Team GB trials. Jamie’s international career started with the GB Lions in Amiens, France, and spanned multiple European tournaments, including contests in Italy, Germany, and the UK, where he claimed a Group B gold medal. He captained Team GB in his final game against Sweden.
Domestically, Jamie played for the East Kilbride Pirates, winning a Division One title and competed in the Premiership, before moving south and joining the London Blitz where he reached four Britbowls and a European Cup final. While living in Bristol, he trained with the Aztecs and coached the UWE Bullets for three seasons, serving as Defensive Line Coach, Special Teams Coordinator, and Offensive Coordinator.
Damian Anderson
Achieved excellence as both a player and a coach. A physically imposing presence at Middle Linebacker he could dominate a game and shut down an offence.
As a player he was an eight-time British Champion with the Olympians and attended the NFL Europe training camps. He also captained the GB Lions European ‘B’ group championship winning side in 2004. After he finished playing, in 2006 he joined the London Blitz as their defensive co-ordinator and linebackers coach where his 3-4 defence was instrumental in them reaching ten consecutive Britbowls, five of which they won, along with an EFAF Cup title in 2011. He ultimately became the Head Coach of the Blitz adult contact programme and the GB Lions under nineteen side.