2012 Haggis Cup Champions
One of our gun recruits, Max, plying his trade.
Congratulations to all the Bloods players for winning the 2012 Haggis Cup in our home city, out at the Peffermill Uni Sports Grounds.
Full details available on the SARFL website, report and results. Also another write up by Little Pommy Girl is worth a read.
Photo's from the day can be viewed on the website of Duncolm Sports Photography.
2011 Presentation Dinner
The annual presentation dinner was held the following Saturday night after the Grand Final, at Imans Indian Restaurant. They put on an awesome feed for us all to enjoy. It was another great night celebrating the success of another premiership season.
Congratulations to Johnny ''Daffy'' McGill for winning the golden boot award for the leading goal scorer, with 17 goals for the season.
Congratulations to Todd Costello for winning the Richard Prentice Player's Player trophy. it was a great effort considering it was his first season of playing Aussie Rules.
Awards were also presented to Tom Exton for representing the Bloods in the Europe Team and making the World Team. Angus "Gubby" Mackintosh was also presented with an award for representing the team in Europe. Sadly both lads were unable to make the Presentation Dinner.
However, the evening was also the end of an era with it being the final official Edinburgh Bloods occasion for Scott "Cavie" Kelly. A stalwart of the team, Cavie will be missed greatly now he has returned to Australia, but he will surely be cheering us on when the season begins again next year!
The evening also took a strange turn when the hard-fought for SARFL Cup was somehow lost between Leith Walk and Charlotte Square...thanks to Edinburgh City Cleansing department for their detective work and returning the Cup to its rightful address.
Congratulations to Johnny ''Daffy'' McGill for winning the golden boot award for the leading goal scorer, with 17 goals for the season.
Congratulations to Todd Costello for winning the Richard Prentice Player's Player trophy. it was a great effort considering it was his first season of playing Aussie Rules.
Awards were also presented to Tom Exton for representing the Bloods in the Europe Team and making the World Team. Angus "Gubby" Mackintosh was also presented with an award for representing the team in Europe. Sadly both lads were unable to make the Presentation Dinner.
However, the evening was also the end of an era with it being the final official Edinburgh Bloods occasion for Scott "Cavie" Kelly. A stalwart of the team, Cavie will be missed greatly now he has returned to Australia, but he will surely be cheering us on when the season begins again next year!
The evening also took a strange turn when the hard-fought for SARFL Cup was somehow lost between Leith Walk and Charlotte Square...thanks to Edinburgh City Cleansing department for their detective work and returning the Cup to its rightful address.
Bloods thrash toothless Sharks to win the Granny
The Bloods were relentless in their pursuit of glory today at Duddingston, running out 130 - 15 winners in the SARFL Grand Final. An electric start saw the Bloods overrun the Sharks, taking a 5 goal lead in the 1st quarter. Even into the wind in the 2nd quarter, the Sharks had no answer to the passion and superior fitness and skills of the Edinburgh charges, who added a further 3 goals. A 9 goal 3rd quarter salvo sealed the game as a contest with a quarter to spare. In the final quarter the Bloods finally slowed enough to let the visitors actually score a goal or two but by then the hard work had been done. Congratulations to coach Alan 'Sparro' McSparron for keeping the flag where it belongs for another season.
Scorers - McGill (3 goals), Petherick (3), Roberts (3), Costello (2), Fleming (2), Marshall (2), Hull (1),Keogh (1), McSparron (1), Mortensen (1), Vahey (1)
Scorers - McGill (3 goals), Petherick (3), Roberts (3), Costello (2), Fleming (2), Marshall (2), Hull (1),Keogh (1), McSparron (1), Mortensen (1), Vahey (1)
Bloods take on Sharks in the Granny
The Old Town Bloods will be looking to retain their flag at Duddingston on Saturday when they host their longterm rivals from the west, the Glasgow Sharks. The Bloods have home field advantage having won the normal season at a canter but they will have to be on top form for the Grand Final. Preparations have been good and coach Sparro has his charges ready and raring to go. The forecast is for rain and light winds which makes a change from previous seasons finals when the wind has played a huge factor but hopefully this year it won't be an issue. Ball up is at 2pm at Cavalry Park, Duddingston so get there in plenty time to cheer on the Bloods!
Bloods thrash Dingoes
The Bloods entertained our friends from the north of Scotland at Duddingston on Saturday 21st May. The weather was kind in the fact there was no rain but there was a very strong wind whistling down the pitch. The Bloods dominated throughout against an understrength Dingoes. The visitors only managed 2 goals and 4 behinds and despite some great tackles and resolute defending were unable to stop the Bloods running over the top of them. The Bloods top scorers were Andrew Presly (4 goals), Dean Roberts (3 goals, 3 behinds) Travis Marshall (3 goals, 1 behind) Adrian Vahey (3 goals, 2 behinds) and Best On Ground Todd Costello (3 goals, 3 behinds). Final score 23.21.159 to 2.4.16
How God's Game Came To Scotland
Here is an article from the Full Points Footy website that charts how the illustrious Edinburgh Bloods came to be, in the guise of the Edinburgh Puffins. It shows how not only Edinburgh got off the ground but how they were intrepid travellers for games even in the early days. It also talks about the start of our rivarly with the Glasgow Sharks and the founding of SARFL. We all owe alot to Richard Prentice and his Edinburgh Puffins. To read the article click here.
Bloods exact quickfire revenge on toothless Sharks
The Bloods only had to wait a week to get their revenge for the Haggis Cup defeat at the hands of arch-rivals the Glasgow Sharks. On a very sunny but blustery day the Bloods weathered the early Sharks pressure when the visitors had the wind advantage in the first quarter. The 20-8 quarter time lead for the Sharks should have given them hope for the rest of the game but they were only to score one more goal and a behind for the rest of the game and failed to register a point in the second half. An absolutely storming 3rd quarter, into the wind, by the Bloods blew the sharks away and they never recovered. The Final score was 14.14.98 for the Bloods and 4.3.27 for the Sharks. There were doubles for Travis Marshall, Shane Faulkner, Shandon Harris-Hogan and Kayne Sheehan.There were some outstanding individual performances from the Bloods but it was the unbreakable team spirit that shone through with the whole squad and backroom team of runners, physios and supporters all playing their part in the crucuial victory in the opening SARFL fixture. Next up are the Dingoes on May 7th.
Bloods lose to Sharks in Haggis Cup Semi
The Haggis Cup hoodoo struck the Bloods again this year, losing out to a last second winning goal from Glasgow Sharks hero Adam Jack in the semi-final. Up to that point the day had been going great for the Scottish Champions, having cruised through a tough group as winners. In the first game the Bloods beat last years' finalists Huddersfield Rams 42-19 with Kayne Sheehan leading the way with 3 goals. It was a lesson in sharp shooting from the Bloods with all their 42 points coming from goals, with no behinds. Next up the Bloods thrashed Swedish Champions, the Solna Axemen, 47-8. This time it was Bloods top scorer for the day Travis Marshall that bagged 3 goals. In the final group game the Bloods crushed the defending Champions Dublin Demons 54-7 to take them into a semi-final against the Sharks who were runners' up in the other group. In a tight match the Bloods led at the half but the Sharks came back into it in the second and but the hosts were still trailing by a point before Jack struck on the hooter to take the Sharks through to the Final. In the Final the Sharks triumphed over Wimbledon to take the Haggis Cup. The Bloods have an opportunity to exact a quickfire revenge with the two facing off in the SARFL league match at Duddingston this Saturday.
Bloods gearing up for the Haggis Cup
The Bloods have had large numbers at training and have been putting in extra fitness sessions in an attempt to hit the ground running as their season gets underway in Glasgow on April 9th with the Haggis Cup. The Haggis Cup is an annual invitational tournament that is held in Glasgow early in the season and is getting bigger every year. This season has attracted a stellar line-up with teams coming from Italy, Sweden, Ireland, England as well as the three Scottish Clubs. The Bloods have been handed a tough draw, lining up against the Haggis Cup holders Dublin Demons, last years runners up Huddersfield Rams and Solna Axemen, the Swedish Champions who are making their Haggis Cup debut. The tournament is being held at Scotstoun Stadium (72 Danes Drive, Glasgow, G14 9HU) and the first games start at 10.30am. Aftermatch festivities will be at Walkabout Glasgow. The Bloods would love to see as many of their fans along to cheer them on. Come on the Bloods!
Great turnout as Bloods return to training
There were 22 potential Bloods on show at the first training session of the 2011 season including 7 new faces. It was a little chilly and muddy underfoot on the Meadows but skipper Sparrow put the boys through their paces for a couple of hours and the initial signs were encouraging with a few new Irish recruits and a couple more experienced Aussies who'll hopefully be around when the SARFL fixtures start. Training will continue on Saturdays from 12pm and will start on Wednesdays at 6pm once the nights are light enough.
Young Bloods representing Europe
With the AFL-AIS Academy team touring Europe in 2011, AFL Europe have been scouting the continent for U-23 talent and Edinburgh are delighted that a couple of their Young Bloods have been selected in the 24 man squad. The game is being played in London on April 23rd (click here for details) and Angus 'Gubby' MacIntosh and Tom Exton will be lining up against the Aussies.
Bloods AGM
The Bloods held their AGM at Malone's on Saturday 22nd January. It was a helpful meeting, with office bearers elected for the first time and plans put in place for the SARFL season ahead, further friendly fixtures, sponsorship and fundraising options. Alan 'Sparro' McSparron was elected the first President of the Edinburgh Old Town Bloods, with Brendan 'Ferris' Fleming becoming Secretary and Colm 'Tetris' Sweeney the Treasurer. Further meetings throughout the season are planned and everyone is welcome to attend.
Everyone a winner at Bloods end of season dinner
To celebrate another wonderful championship winning season, the Bloods went to Imans in Tollcross to raise a glass or fifteen to those who had starred. Thanks to Al Beaton for organising the great food and Sparro for getting all the prizes sorted. The top goal scorer went to Shane Faulkner in his debut season of AFL in which he also represented his adopted country. The best non-Aussie Bloods player went to Shane's compatriot Adrian Vahey who was also in his first year of AFL. The Bloods, Players' Players of the Year was won jointly by skipper Alan 'Sparro' McSparron and Travis 'Lenny' Marshall. Here's to a great season and let's hope for more of the same next year.