Britball: We Meet Norwich Devils' Stuart Theobald
By Peter Mann
Norfolk, England, and at Hell’s Gate, will see Stuart Theobald kick-start his second run as Head Coach of the Norwich Devils, against the London Blitz, as they look to go one better than they did last season.
In winning the BAFA (British American Football Association) Division One Central title, with a 7-3 record, the Devils faced the Bournemouth Bobcats in the national quarter-finals, claiming a 30-7 success to set up a date with destiny.
That date with destiny was a Southern Championship collision with the Hertfordshire Cheetahs in what, despite all they’d accomplished prior, was perhaps one game too far, the Cheetahs earning promotion to the 2024 Premiership South Division with a 28-6 success of their own.
Now though, they are ready, despite the usual changes in personnel the off-season brings, to go again, with a regular season schedule that’ll see them face that of the Blitz alongside East Kent Mavericks, Kent Exiles, and London Olympians, between mid-April and late-June, this time in the SFC1 East Division.
Looking ahead to the new season, Devils Head Coach, Stuart Theobald, himself a staunch follower of the Nebraska Cornhuskers, said: “Football-wise, we are in a rebuild phase here, so yes, there’s been a high turnover of players.
“Last season, we had a very good side, some excellent talent, and they put on a very good run.
“Hertfordshire though, they are a very good, tough side; however, we were pleased with what we achieved and I’m sure we’d have bitten hands off if we were told that was how our season would pan out, at the start of it all.
“We were the new team last season, in what was a tough, tight division, and most of those games could have really gone either way.
“Personally though, I love challenges, and the regular realignments, for me, is something I like, and you just have to take what you get in this game.”
A former player himself, Theobald has a long and storied history with the Devils, moving into coaching therefore was something of a natural progression.
A seven-year gap (2011-18) without the sport in Norwich only served to create more interest there; since their return last season Divisional title success was their second in two years. Winning the SFC2 East the previous campaign.
A couple of rebuilds later and, back-to-back divisional successes have the Devils roaring again, it now being some thirty-five since they lifted their first piece of silverware – 1989 would see them win the National Championship, 18-9 against the Ipswich Cardinals having posted a 9-1 record in the British National Gridiron League Division One.
Having played for the Devils back in their formative days, Theobald added: “I returned to the club five years ago now, having been here during the eighties.
“When I came back though, I played as a guard before moving into coaching, however, the pandemic threw a spanner in the works, although it gave me the opportunity to increase my contacts.
“This though, it’ll be my second spell as HC, and I was 7-2 and made the play-offs last time around.
“I was unable to commit here though due to my work schedule at the time, changes at the club though meant my stepping back into the breach.”
With the majority, if not all clubs across the BAFA spectrum, making changes ahead of the upcoming, 2024 season, Theobald and the Devils are well aware of the challenges presented, and how tough their opponents will be if they are to make the play-offs again.
“At every level, from the Premiership right the way down to Division Two, it’s tough to be a part of,” admitted Theobald.
“Whether that’s media coverage, travel, anything really, it all eats into your funding and it quickly becomes a balancing act and, although you have to respect it, you also have to take what you can get as well.
“As for this season, now, and opening against the Blitz; we’ve played them a few times and they are a powerful outfit so we know it’ll be a tough ask.
“It’s going to be a fast learning curve for our players who’ll have to step up, but we’re all looking forward to the challenge.
“We always want more, and other clubs will be the same, but we’ll do the best that we can and hopefully get some rub of the green along the way to at least maintain Division One football moving forward.”
Playing at “Hell’s Gate” Thorpe St. Andrew High School (NR7 OUL), the Devils’ schedule for the 2024 season sees the following – London Blitz B (14 April, H), London Olympians (21 April, H), Kent Exiles (5 May, A), London Olympians (12 May, A), London Blitz B (19 May, A), Kent Exiles (2 June, H), East Kent Mavericks (9 June, A), East Kent Mavericks (23 June, H).
PETER MANN
NFL ANALYST
PETER IS A LIFELONG SPORTS FAN, JOURNALIST AND AUTHOR BASED IN COUNTY DURHAM. HE HAS FOLLOWED THE NFL AND THE RAIDERS SINCE THE 1980s, AND LOVES BOTH SPORTS AND FAMILY HISTORY. PETER HAS A DEGREE IN SPORT & EXERCISE PSYCHOLOGY, AND CAN BE FOUND ON TWITTER @petermannwriter