Following their defeat to the old-boys team at Bullet bowl II, the Bristol Bullets held their annual awards ceremony to reward its players and celebrate the team's on the field success over the 2004-2005 BCAFL season. With four players nominated in each of the ten categories the awards are considered to be a big part of the team's season. Much of the pre-award debate was centred on the much coveted overall MVP trophy. Would the award go to second year tight-end Chris Taylor or newly converted linebacker Tom Slater. The first award of the night was for the rookie of the year. This went to Chris 'Roy Farmer' Bell, who in first season as a Bullet under the tutelage of his coach, former Bullet D-lineman achieved the amazing feat of reaching the BCAFL southern all-stars team in his first season. The O-Lineman of the year was awarded to Chris O'Driscoll who managed to win the award to cap of a brilliant final season on the Bullets dominant O-line. Chris and the rest of his O-line colleagues were part of the reason that Bullets Running Back corps amassed an astonishing 2000 yards plus on the ground. Bullets leading rusher Anthony 'Bobby' Amissah offered his thanks to his team-mates on the line as he collected his award for Impact player. Bobby rushed 700 yards averaging 7.6 yards per carry, in his first season in the Bullet backfield. Later in the evening the work of the O-linemen and their coach Pete Jones was further acknowledged, as second year quarter back Kirk Dunn received the most Improved player trophy. During the season Kirk shared game time with last seasons QB, James 'Jimmy C' Carter. Following stints over the season at both QB and linebacker, Jimmy earned the respect and recognition of both his team-mates as well as coaches. He went on to pick up both the Players' player and coaches' player of the year awards. The D-lineman of the year was awarded to veteran Defensive End Kieran Balmer. The former Cobra managed to get his name in the Bullets record books in his first season after leaving the Bullets nemeses, Cardiff. The main part of the awards evening was the presentation of the four MVP trophies. The special teams' award was the first to be handed out. This was won by the GOAT aka Chris Taylor. Chris was the first to let everyone know that he deserved the award, for his brilliant kicking and punting during the Bullets season. The award for Defensive MVP was given to second year corner back James Bews. The Bryan Adams double managed a Bullets record of eight interceptions during the season, following a summer playing with the Bristol Aztecs youth team. The winner of the offensive MVP trophy was no real surprise. In a move away from the Bullet tradition of not rewarding more than one MVP trophy to a player, Tight end and holder of numerous Bullet records was given to Chris Taylor. The final award of the evening the Overall MVP trophy was given to Tom Slater. This was the perfect end to Tom's final season as a Bullet. During which he made an almost effortless transition from cornerback to Linebacker, leading the team in tackling, as well as dominating games from his new position. Tom also led the bullets in both kick return and punt return, scoring a touchdown during the Bullets encounter with the KCU falcons at BAWA. The evening was capped of in superb fashion as all of the 2004/2005 bullets were all presented with trophies to mark their historic success.
The final announcements of the evening were that of the new captains for the 2005/2006 Bullets. Chris Bell, Kieran Balmer and Derek Fox were named defensive captains along with Kirk Dunn and Rob Hardy as offensive captains.

• Overall MVP - Tom Slater - DB/LB
• Offensive MVP - Chris Taylor - TE
• Defensive MVP - James Bews - CB
• ST MVP - Chris Taylor - K/P
• Offensive Line - Chris O'Driscoll - C
• Defensive Line - K.Balmer - DE
• Rookie - Chris "Farmer" Bell - DL
• Impact Player - Anthony "Bobby" Amissah - RB
• Most Improved - Kirk Dunn - QB
• Players Player & Coaches Player - James "Jimmy C" Carter - QB/LB

This would normally be the end of this article but the Bullets are proud to announce that the University of West England awarded the Bristol Bullets 2004/5 squad their most improved club for this academic year. This is the first time the Bullets have won this award and are very proud considering the journey the club has taken. Head Coach Matt Dyke commented 'This award means a lot to me personally as I am continuing a journey that my Head Coach and mentor Steve Jones started. I am proud to have not let him down and every year I will continue to lead this team as he showed me, by 'Holding the Rope'. Without Steve I would be nothing in football, for the honour of being able to learn from him I am grateful. This is an ongoing journey and let's hope we can follow this up with a solid second playoff run in a row.' The Bullets would like to thank the UWE SU for their continued support throughout the season and they are a solid base for us to continue to compete at the highest level.

Coming off of a history making season the Bullets are as always looking to improve for the upcoming campaign. The Bullets are organising a pre-season camp where the returning Bullets will hope to form a bond that can never be broken. 11 Brothers are hard to beat. Already the Bullets have 30 returning players including 18 starters! This will put the Bullets in a very strong position to be able to aim at another play-off run. This of course is a long way off, but with additions to the coaching staff, Bullets Head Coach Matt Dyke commented 'I understand that as defending divisional champions our schedule will be a little harder this season, but I truly believe that if the players put in the time and bring the right attitude to training there is no reason why we should not aim for the play-offs.' The Bullets have already added a few new and a face old faces to their 2005/06 roster. The Bullets are pleased to have GB Youth WR and Bristol Aztec Youth WR/QB Adam Stenlake on board for the next 3 years. He is a big target with magical hands. He has proven at Youth that he is a step above the rest. The Aztec/Bullets player relationship gets stronger and stronger every year with Youth players like Will Parkhouse and Eugene Agidee joining the Bullets this season, and graduating/current Bullets playing some good level senior ball. The Bullets also acquire Cardiff Cobra Matt Dunford, and Plymouth Blitz Rick Walker. Both bring with them intensity and a great passion for the game. This will put the Bullets squad at a massive 35 before they even recruit. This will be an 'interesting' season. It will be one hell of a ride!

The Bullets are very happy to announce Tim Stone as their new Defensive Co-ordinator. Unfortunately due to work commitments Pete Eastwood had no choice but to step down as Bullets DC after last years record breaking season. He passes on his best wishes to the team and Tim, and hopes that we can take that final step and be seen as a real contender for the Bowl. Tim has a wealth of knowledge and will not only be able to teach new and experience players how to cause the Tim Stone 'Storm' but will also be able to help develop a full young defensive coaching staff. He is taking control of Lee 'Tank' Richards (D-Line), Paul 'Tigger' Dolan (LB's), and Matt 'Weeble' Crudgington (DB's). All are ex-bullets themselves, and are developing into very good positional coaches. Tim commented 'It's with great pleasure I return to the Bullets as Defensive Coordinator this season. There is no doubt going to be a lot of hard work ahead for myself, the coaching staff, and the players, However, I am very much looking forward to the challenge of turning Bristol football into even more of a success.' Tim has played at all levels and been extremely successful. This is shown by his selection in the Wildcats all-star team and the GB Bulldogs squad at University level and the England National Team at Senior level. Along with this he has coached for Cardiff Cobras for three years and in 2002 was the Bullet DC. He will also be able to support players and coach's looking to get into a higher level as he has not only played at that level but also coached. Tim coached the Southern Wildcats D-Line for two seasons and has also coached for the GB Bulldogs. All this experience and heart will only strengthen an already strong Bullet's coaching staff.

For most of us the season finished with the disappointment of defeat in Birmingham, but for others there was the chance to go on and try out for the Southern Wildcats. Trials were based in Oxford, and a good number of Bullets turned out, along with a huge number of players from other Southern teams, and often found themselves under the direction of the numerous Bullets Coaches who had been invited to join the Wildcats staff. Matt Dyke ran the Wide Receivers, Lee Richards the Defensive Line, and Matt Crudgington the Defensive Backs. Regardless of selection, the great benefit of the trials day was the extended period of drills and exercises which expanded out players' knowledge base, and gave them ideas of how to improve their game when they return to the Bullets. More Bullets players were selected for the squad than from any other team, with the following chosen:

• Rob Hardy - OL
• Chris Taylor - TE
• Dave Sherwin - RB
• Kirk Dunn - WR
• Chris Bell - DL
• Kieran Balmer - DL (Captain)
• Adam Sparrow - DB
• Tom Slater - DB

This represented a hugely successful day, and will give the Bullets a substantial boost next season, given the extra training these players received in preparation for the game. In the match itself, Chris Taylor was without any doubt the standout player for the Wildcats with three touchdown receptions, making him QB Ted Baynham's go-to receiver. Rob Hardy was in for the majority of offensive downs as was Dave Sherwin, largely as FB. On defence, Tom Slater was extremely unlucky to suffer a serious cruciate ligament injury early in the game, and the Wildcats missed his extraordinary coverage skills, losing narrowly 28-25 to the Northern Cougars, despite the best efforts of the other Bullets representatives. Despite the result, this was a crucial learning experience for many of our players, and the Bullets will reap the rewards in the coming season. With the exception of Kirk who had sadly had to withdraw, all the Wildcats, augmented by Joe Coogan (OL) and outstanding RB Anthony Amissah, travelled to the Great Britain Bulldogs trials in Derby on 7th May. With matches scheduled against both Canada and Team USA, this was one programme in which all players wanted to be involved, and the Bullets had high hopes of continuing their impressive representative record. The trials day opened with an NFL-style combine, including a 40-yard dash. It came as no surprise to any of the Bullets that the fastest time of the day was recorded by Amissah, whose all-round performance on the day was enough to secure him selection, along with Rob, Tom and Dave. After his standout performance for Wildcats, there was enormous surprise at the non-selection of Chris Taylor, whilst Kieran, as a 2004 Bulldog was also unlucky to miss out. Sadly, Tom's injury prevented him from taking up his place, whilst Anthony was also forced to withdraw. With Rob selected to the Great Britain Lions squad, Dave remained our only representative. Against all expectations, the team recorded a victory against Canada - the first GB representative side to beat the false Americans. The game against USA is to follow, and hopes are high for another upset!

 

The Bristol Bullets 2004/5 season opener was against the Warwick Wolves, this was going to be a tough opening challenge for the Bullets after losing many of their first string players from last season. The Wolves turned out to be the hungrier of the two teams after both sides traded scores; in a down to the wire game which ended 20-26 in favour of the Wolves. The Bullets then met local rivals the Cardiff Cobras in their first divisional match of the season. Both teams were coming off unexpected opening week losses and looking to get their seasons out of the starting blocks. It was the Bullets that took first blood with a 19-12 win. The Bullets now faced rising stars the 2 & 0 Brighton Tsunami in Brighton. The Bullets came out firing on all cylinders. After stoppage due to injury in the third quarter the game restarted in almost pitch black conditions the refs finally saw sense and the game was stopped 20-8 in the Bullets favour. The Bullets then came up against their local rivals the Bath Killer Bees with a winning streak and plenty of confidence the game itself was set to be an early indicator of the division champion. After early scores the Bullets seemed invincible. They could not have been more wrong! Bath used the forth quarter to not only pulled themselves back into the game but take the lead by 3 points; 34-31. The Bullets learnt from this loss faced more divisional competition from the Plymouth Blitz the next week winning 16-14 in a close game that Plymouth never felt like they were going to win, but still managed to stay close enough to make the score line and the finish very tense. Coming off a much needed break over Christmas the bullets came back refreshed and ready to play. The Bullets began 2005 with a record making 64-0 win over the KCU Falcons. After this record win the Bullets created club history for the second time in as many weeks in beating Cardiff in their house for the first time in the clubs history, 6-13. Due to a shock win by Plymouth over Bath the week before it meant that either Plymouth or Bristol could not only go to the play-offs with a win but they had a chance to win the division. All therefore was to play for and the Blitz were playing for keeps; the Bullets had to stage a comeback in the second half. The Bullets found themselves 8-0 down with only 4 minutes left in the game. The Bullets offense magaged to move the ball by using every trick in the book. This ended in 6 points as the two point conversion failed. This seemed like the end of the game but the Bullets D held strong and gave the offense one last shot. They took their chance and drove down the pitch to win the game 12-8. After the game they learned that Bath had lost and therefore this win meant that Bristol have not only made the play offs but are crowned SOUTH WEST DIVISIONAL CHAMPIONS!! The Bullets reached the post season for the second time in club history The draw meant that Bristol faced their local and divisional rivals in the first round and again for the first time in club history won their first playoff game in a close encounter, 22-19. They now faced a very strong Birmingham. The game was at Birmingham and the eventual college bowl champions were too much for the Bullets winning 38-8. A truly record breaking year for the bullets getting closer than ever before to the ultimate goal of the college bowl. Along the way the 2004/05 Bullets have shown true determination, an unbreakable team spirit and heart.

To some, the BCAFL offseason would spell the end of football for six months, a time to relax and enjoy Sundays away from the gridiron. To others it would signal the beginning of the BAFL. This year six Bullets joined the Bristol Aztecs Senior team to attempt to help them to a third consecutive Britbowl, while another three joined the Aztecs Youth team as players, and several more as coaches. Bullets Offensive Lineman and Captain Rob Hardy, Defensive Captain Chris Bell, Adam Sparrow, Graeme Einfelds, 2004 Bullets MVP Tom Slater and John Smith are all members of the 2005 playoff bound Bristol Aztec team that compete in the national Div 1A league. While Hardy, Einfelds and Smith continue their involvement with the Aztecs following on from the successful Southern Conference Youth championship of last year, Slater switches from the South Wales Warriors senior team, and the remaining Bullets are new to senior ball. 'Dangerous' Dave Egbosimba, Dan Hird and KC all join the Aztecs Youth set-up, and are playing big roles in the team that is due to host the south west semi finals against the London O's youth team on Sunday August 28th at Bawa. The link between the clubs is becoming stronger and stronger which each year. The Bullets are very grateful for the support shown by the Aztec's and are proud to be one third of the Bristol Football Family.

Current Bullet and former GB Youth player Rob Hardy travelled to Malmo Sweden with Bullet legends Charlie Wilson, Brendan Cunnane, and former Head Coach Albert Lambert Jnr and the GB Lions to compete with the best players Europe has to offer in Group A of the European Championships. Wilson played a prominent role in the Championships, starting at right tackle for both of the GB Lions games against Germany and Finland along with Cunnane at starting outside Linebacker. Hardy gained some valuable experience from a daunting yet exciting challenge as one of the youngest players on the GB squad. Unfortunately the powerhouses of European football proved to be too strong for the Lions who lost the first game to the Germans 34-0, and the second to the Fins 34-12.