The Belfast Bulls were an American football

American football

American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...

 team based in Belfast

Belfast

Belfast is the capital of and largest city in Northern Ireland. By population, it is the 14th biggest city in the United Kingdom and second biggest on the island of Ireland . It is the seat of the devolved government and legislative Northern Ireland Assembly...

, Northern Ireland

Northern Ireland

Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...

. The team closed down operations in 2008 due to financial problems.

Overview

Coached by HC Rod Thompson, the team was founded in 2002. The Belfast Bulls were formed late in 2002 by Chris Mitchell but in 2007 the team is now led by the combined experience of Head Coach Rod Thompson, Defensive Coaches Mark Helferty and Marty McKeever, Offensive Coaches Paul Orr and John Savage.

Momentum was built as the Bulls won their first 4 matches and established the club as a legitimate future contender for the Shamrock Bowl title - the biggest prize in the IAFL. Although playing 8-a-side rules for the first season, it was clear that their talent and drive were a great base to improve on and achieve playing in the 11-a-side league.

The team's rookie season was 2004 where they progressed to the playoffs and were one game away from appearing in the Bowl. 2005 saw the Bulls step up another gear, becoming League Champions and Shamrock Bowl finalists, narrowly missing out in one of the closest fought games in Bowl history, 2006 had a re-build year and narrowly missed the play-offs.

In 2008, after funding difficulties, the team was forced to fold.

2006

They competed well in 2006, despite losing some experienced players to various circumstances. They narrowly lost in Shamrock Bowl

Shamrock Bowl

The ‘’’Shamrock Bowl’’’ is the championship game of the Irish American Football League , the highest level of professional American football in Ireland, culminating a season that begins in March of the current calendar season. The Shamrock Bowl uses Roman numerals to identify each game, rather than...

 final of 2005.

2006 Player Awards

• Most Valuable Player - Mike Calo
• Offensive Player Of The Year - Charlie Campalani
• Defensive Player Of The Year - Mark Helferty
• Rookie Of The Year - Tim Jebb, Connor Leckey
• Most Improved Player - Andy Black

Season-by-season records

|-
| colspan="6" align="center" | IAFL
|-
|2004 || 5 || 3 || 0 || 3rd IAFL|| Beaten Semi-Finalists
|-
|2005 || 7 || 1 || 0 || IAFL League Champions|| Beaten Shamrock Bowl

Shamrock Bowl

The ‘’’Shamrock Bowl’’’ is the championship game of the Irish American Football League , the highest level of professional American football in Ireland, culminating a season that begins in March of the current calendar season. The Shamrock Bowl uses Roman numerals to identify each game, rather than...

 Finalists
|-
|2006 || 3 || 5 || 0 || 6th IAFL || --
|-
|2007 || 4 || 3 || 1 || IAFL North Champions || Beaten Semi-Finalists
|-
!Totals || 19 || 12 || 1
|colspan="2"| (2004–2007, excluding playoffs)
* = Current Standing

Current Staff

• Head Coach - Rod Thompson
• Offensive Coordinator - Rod Thompson
• Defensive Coordinator - Chris Millar
• Offensive Line- Paul Orr
• Defensive Backs- Mike Scott
• Wide Receivers- Mark Helferty

2006 Roster

Quarterbacks Mike Calo TJ Reynolds Halfbacks Chris Carson Chris Carson Chris Carson is an American pianist and composer native to San Antonio, Texas. Growing up in Houston, Texas, he attended High School for the Performing and Visual Arts and studied with Timothy Hester, a Juilliard graduate. Other teachers have included Abbey Simon, Ludmilla Lifson, and Victor... Niall McHugh Fullbacks Gareth Millar Tom Tom Tom or TOM may refer to:*Tom , a diminutive of Thomas or Tomás - Surname :* Michael Tom , American sculptor* Nicholle Tom , American actress- Given name :... Receivers Gary McIlkerney Bjorn Blythe Nick Crawford Tight Ends John Savage John Savage John Savage may refer to:* John Savage, 2nd Earl Rivers * John F. Savage Hall, the basketball arena for the University of Toledo* John Savage , actor* John Savage , baseball head coach...		Tackles Andy Black Conor Leckey Adam Cantley Chris Cantley Guards Alva Blanton Marty Corrigan Paddy Begley Centers Niall Barr Defensive line William Hart William Hart William Hart may refer to:In arts and entertainment:* William Hart , English Caroline actor* William Hart , Scottish-American painter* William Matthew Hart , British lithographer and bird artist... DT Matt McGrath DT Niall Barr DT Daniel Moon DE Craig McClintock DE Phil Gunning DE		Linebackers Stephen Coulter Stephen Coulter Stephen Coulter is an English novelist, journalist, and, as James Mayo, the author of several spy and adventure thrillers.His series character Charles Hood, a James Bond clone, is an art-loving British spy. Coulter was also friends with Bond creator Ian Fleming... Willy Hart Niall McHugh Chris Carson Chris Carson Chris Carson is an American pianist and composer native to San Antonio, Texas. Growing up in Houston, Texas, he attended High School for the Performing and Visual Arts and studied with Timothy Hester, a Juilliard graduate. Other teachers have included Abbey Simon, Ludmilla Lifson, and Victor... Defensive backs Duncan Duncan Duncan, originally a Scottish name, may also refer to:- Fiction :* King Duncan, a character in William Shakespeare's play Macbeth* Duncan , a locomotive character in The Railway Series children's books by the Rev. W... CB Tim Jebb CB John Ross CB Chris McWilliams S Mike Scott S Dee Lorimer S Chris Annette  CB

2007 Roster

Quarterbacks Mike Calo Colm Davis Adam McMaster Halfbacks Garth Tucker Charlie Campalani Fullbacks Gary Boyle Richard Smith Receivers Gary McIlkerney Ed McDonnell Phil Annette Bjorn Blythe John Ross Conor Clarke		Tight Ends John Savage Phil Gunning Offensive Line Andy Black T Conor Leckey T Marty Corrigan T / G Niall Barr G Aiden McKeegan G Gareth Millar C Defensive line Matt McGrath DT David Orr DT Rab Newman DE Willy Hart DE Daniel Moon DE		Linebackers Mark Helferty Craig McClintock Alva Blanton Timo Oates Chris McCaughan Duncan McCaughan Chris McWilliams Defensive backs Tim Jebb CB Chris Annette CB Neil McDonnell CB Barry Blakely CB Paul White S Mike Scott S Dee Lorimer S Gary Faulkner S

2008 Roster

Quarterbacks Mike Calo T.J. Reynolds Halfbacks Tom Fraser Tom Fraser Tom Fraser PC was a Labour Member of Parliament for the Hamilton constituency between 1943 and 1967.He was Minister of Transport from October 16, 1964 until December 23, 1965... Chris Carson Chris Carson Chris Carson is an American pianist and composer native to San Antonio, Texas. Growing up in Houston, Texas, he attended High School for the Performing and Visual Arts and studied with Timothy Hester, a Juilliard graduate. Other teachers have included Abbey Simon, Ludmilla Lifson, and Victor... Nail McHugh Fullbacks Tom Fraser Tom Fraser Tom Fraser PC was a Labour Member of Parliament for the Hamilton constituency between 1943 and 1967.He was Minister of Transport from October 16, 1964 until December 23, 1965... Receivers Gary McIlkerney Ed McDonnell JB Bjorn Blythe Chris Muir Chris Muir Chris Muir is a U.S. cartoonist who draws the daily web comic Day by Day. Prior to that, he drew a single-panel comic called Altered States for about 5 years for Florida Today ....		Tight Ends John Savage Declan Kidd Offensive Line Andy Black T Conor Leckey T Paddy Begley G Niall Barr C Chris Cantely G Adam Cantley G/T Defensive line Matt McGrath DT Willy Hart DE Daniel Moon DE Aaron McNaughton DE George Brand DE		Linebackers Craig McClintock Damien McCaul Damien McCaul Damien McCaul is a Gaelic footballer with the Donaghmore GAA club and the Tyrone senior team. He plays as a corner-back.-Career:McCaul made the breakthrough into the Tyrone team in the 2007 McKenna Cup pre-season competition and was soon embroiled in controversy. It was claimed he should not have... Chris McCaughan Duncan McCaughan Chris McWilliams Martin O'Neill Martin O'Neill Martin Hugh Michael O'Neill, OBE, is a Northern Irish football manager and former player.Until resigning the post on 9 August 2010, he was manager of Aston Villa. Starting his career in his native Northern Ireland, O'Neill moved to England where he spent most of his playing career with Nottingham... Defensive backs Tim Jebb CB John Ross CB Killian Poland CB Mike Scott S Dee Lorimer S Ryan Deehan S

External links

• Belfast Bulls official web site
• Belfast Bulls forums
• IAFL League site
• Irish American Football Scene Forums

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