Season 2007 looms into view!
19th February 2007

WIth only 1 month to go before the Sussex Thunder get their 2007 BAFL 1 campaign underway, preparations for the new season are gathering pace.

This coming Sunday (25th) sees the first live action of the pre-season when the Thunder welcome the Andover Thrashers to Bewbush to partcipate in a controlled scrimmage. The following weekend, the Thunder hold their annual Training Camp at Ardingly College. Camp is always a highlight in the Thunder calendar, with players and coaches living and breathing football for 3 whole days.

The season proper gets underway on April 29th with a case of deja-vu... The Thunder will re-visit the scene of their 2006
Semi-Final defeat, looking for revenge on the Oxford Saints, who went on to take the Div 2 crown after overcoming the Thunder in September.

The Thunder have made giant strides forward this off-season, make sure you keep checking back to sussex-thunder.co.uk regularly for all the pre-season news, including some possible exciting new signings...

Midweek Training
21st February 2007

Training will take place on Tuesday 27th February at Oriel High School in Crawley, starting at 8pm until 10pm. The address is:

Oriel High School
Maidenbower Lane
Maidenbower
Crawley

Directions from the M23:

- Leave at junction 10a southbound (there is no northbound exit).
- Turn right at the roundabout and continue past the Europa hotel (on right hand side) and continue straight over the roundabout, passing Audi garage on right hand side.
- Continue to next roundabout and enter Maidenbower first exit on left.
- Continue straight over next 2 roundabouts
- Highschool is first on left

Directions from Three Bridges Station:

- With station on right, stay in far right lane and continue under railway bridge
- Take first right hand turn immediately once under bridge at traffic lights
- Continue straight (past 3 give way traffic calming) onto roundabout
- Take 3rd exit on right
- Highschool is first on left

Thunder Strikes Deal with U.S. Sponsor!
13th February 2007

The Sussex Thunder is delighted to announce that, for their upcoming 2007 BAFL 1 campaign, they have secured the backing of Award Decals, Inc. The Kansas City-based company, which has been established for 25 years, has agreed to partner the Thunder as part of their expansion into the UK and Europe.

Award Decals designs, manufactures and supplies products for both the sports and consumer market, providing decals for sports teams or business purposes. They can provide helmet decals, striping, numbers, locker nameplates, magnets, car & window decals made to your own artwork or designed by their own in-house design studio.

The company's European agent Abigail Dogruoz, who is based in the UK, said: "We are pleased to confirm our link up with the Sussex Thunder to coincide with Award Decals launch into the UK & European marketplace. Football here is rapidly on the rise and attracting a lot of interest stateside. The Thunder is a rapidly growing organisation with a good reputation, whom we are more than pleased to be associated with".

Thunder chairman Tony Miller said: "This news is a great boost for the club and shows we are heading in the right direction. Hopefully this will be a long & fruitful relationship for both organisations."

Award Decals, Inc. can be contacted in the UK on 020 7993 6736 or by e-mail on abby@awarddecals.com . All of their products can be viewed online at www.awarddecals.com .

Rookie Recognition for Big Ben!
7th February 2007

Thunder offensive tackle, Ben Basson, was recognised yesterday by BAFL for his extraordinary rookie season in 2006. Ben was one of the runners-up for the prestigious BAFL Rookie of the Year award. Ben joined the Thunder in February last year and after just one session it was obvious to the coaching staff he was more than capable of stepping straight into the senior team.

Ben has impressed at probably the most difficult position on the offensive line, left tackle and did not concede a single sack in 2006. The recognition from BAFL can be added to the Lineman of the Year award Ben received from the Thunder in 2006.

Congratulations Ben!

The New Season Starts Here
23rd January 2007

The waiting is finally over. The Sussex Thunder gets their 2007 campaign underway in earnest with their traditional annual Rookie Day on Sunday Feb 4th at Bewbush Leisure Centre in Crawley. This is the day for new players to come and try out the sport, learn the basics and meet with their new team-mates. The day also marks the return to training for the senior, youth and junior squads as they prepare for the upcoming season.

The 2007 season could prove to be the most exciting yet, with the senior squad promoted to the 2nd tier of the BAFL where they will face off against traditional league heavyweights such as the Farnham MH (formerly PA) Knights and Ipswich Cardinals, not to mention the renewing of old rivalries with local foe the Kent Exiles.

The day kicks off promptly at 10am. New players hoping to join should ensure that they bring photocopies of photo ID and birth certificate, as well as 2 passport -sized photographs for league registration.

The players and coaching staff are raring to go. Don't be late!

Thunder Celebrate Great 2006
23rd January 2007

The Sussex Thunder celebrated a successful 2006 campaign with an evening of glitz and glamour at the Europa Hotel in Crawley. Players, coaches and staff of the club gathered with loved ones to recognise the season's outstanding performers and to enjoy a night of entertainment and good food and wine. A slap-up 3 course dinner was followed by speeches from Club Chairman Tony Miller and Head Coach Warren Smart, both of whom spoke in glowing terms of the progress made by the Thunder's young team in 2006 and the exciting prospect of making the step up to Division 1 in 2007 .

Chairman Miller then hosted the main event of the evening, where the club awarded trophies to the players who stood out in a season of many exceptional team and individual performances. Wide Receiver Chris Jones was the night's major winner, scooping 2 awards including the prestigious Players' Player of the Year award, which is voted for by fellow team-mates. On the back of his Thunder regular season record mark of 51 receptions in 2006, Jones also deservedly collected the Offensive MVP award. Quarterback Paul Robinson, who threw for 21 touchdowns, almost 1,500 yards and only 4 interceptions in 2006, took home the Team MVP award. Linebacker Chris Percival won Defensive MVP following a great all-round season.

A full list of all the award winners and their notable achievements :

Players' Player: WR Chris Jones
Led Division 2 with a team record 51 receptions , 677 yards receiving at an average of 13.3 yards per catch, 8 TDs

Team MVP: QB Paul Robinson
118 of 206 attempts, 1,464 yards passing, 21 passing TDs, 4 INTs, passer rating 106.9

Offensive MVP: WR Chris Jones

Defensive MVP: LB Chris Percival
45 tackles, 21 solo, 1 sack, 8 QB hurries, 3 tackles for a loss, 1 INT

Special Teams MVP: KR/PR/LS Eber Kington
17 punt returns at an average of 24.8 yards per return, 2 return TDs including a team record 92 - yard TD return

Lineman of the Year: OT Ben Basson
18 year-old rookie who dominated at the most difficult position on the offensive line, left tackle, and did not concede a single sack all year

Rookie of the Year: OG James Wright
New to the sport at age of 31, but made the left guard spot his own in 2006

Most Improved Player: LB Simon Pinchin
Led the team in tackles with 53, 23 solo, 3 sacks, 3 forced fumbles and 5 tackles for a loss

Spirit of Thunder: DE/OL Kester Longhurst
Invaluable as he worked tirelessly on either line as required by the team

Chairman Miller and Head Coach Smart also presented gestures of thanks to the ladies of the Thunder who put in the hard work on the sidelines: Jan Pester (Club Secretary and game day statistician), Gemma Kearsey, Karen Evans and Anne Pinchin (club first - aiders).

Following the conclusion of the serious business, Paul Robinson and Paul McIntosh hosted an " Audience with the Captains " with a slightly light-hearted look at the 2006 campaign. The evening concluded with Mike "Hollywood" Ashby on the wheels of steel. With spirits high the members of the Thunder family could let their hair down and begin looking forward to the new challenges ahead in 2007.

James Wright	Simon Pinchin	Kester Longhurst	Ben Basson	Eber Kington
Chris Percival	Chris Jones	Paul Robinson	Warren Smart	Ladies of Thunder