References
[1] Anon. (1983) “Shoot-out at Rifle Park”, Belfast Telegraph. Wednesday, August 17, 1983. pg. 34 [Past editions of the Irish Newspaper Archive are available to view online at: https://www.irishnewsarchive.com/ ]
Season: 1983
Redskins
Results
REPORT
An All-American Evening at Rifle Park, Banbridge, Co. Down on Friday Evening, the 19th August, 1983, was to have included an American Football game between two teams of specially-trained Rugby players. The “Redskins” versus “Yankees” was to be the highlight of the evening which also had all the razzamatazz of cheerleaders and bands.
The match, if it actually went ahead, would push back the history of Irish American Football a further year. As it Currently stands the Dublin Celts are the first ever Irish American Football Team, founded in 1984, and the first ever match between two Irish teams (A Flag Football match) took place in Omagh, Co. Tyrone, in 1985, between the Tyrone Tornadoes and Coleraine Chieftains.
It is unlikely the teams were kitted, so it may have been something similar to Ohio League American Football in the USA in the early 20th Century, which would have looked more like Rugby Union or Rugby League than the modern game of American Football.
REFERENCES
[1] Anon. (1983) “Shoot-out at Rifle Park”, Belfast Telegraph. Wednesday, August 17, 1983. pg. 34 [Past editions of the Irish Newspaper Archive are available to view online at: https://www.irishnewsarchive.com/ ]
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Thanks to David Turner (Belfast Blitzers) and Anton “Pippo” O’Grady.
ABOUT THIS DOCUMENT
Researched, compiled and written by Enda Mulcahy for the
Eirball | Irish North American and World Sports Archive
Last Updated: 3 January 2022
(c) Copyright Enda Mulcahy and Eirball 2020-2022
You may quote this document in part provided that proper acknowledgement is given to the authors. All Rights Reserved. The Logos and Photos used in this article remain the property of the organisations and individuals which own the copyright and are used here for educational and information purposes only.
All-American Friendlies 1983
References
[1] Anon. (1983) “Shoot-out at Rifle Park”, Belfast Telegraph. Wednesday, August 17, 1983. pg. 34 [Past editions of the Irish Newspaper Archive are available to view online at: https://www.irishnewsarchive.com/ ]
Damien McHugh
Games
28 June 1987 – Craigavon Cowboys 0 Belfast Blitzers 22 – Damien McHugh scored the third touchdown of the game from 15 yards out as the Blitzers won for the sixth time in a row, continuing their record ofbeing the only team in Britain and Ireland that had yet to concede a point. [1-2]
15 May 1988 – Damien McHugh scored two touchdowns as Belfast Blitzers defeated Antrim Bulldogs 39-2 in a friendly. [3]
References
[1] Belfast Blitzers Facebook Page (2019) Post, August 12, 2019 at 1:31 PM [Internet] Available from: https://www.facebook.com/belfastblitzers/posts/2244208692356940?notif_id=1565921781157641¬if_t=comment_mention [Accessed 17 August 2019]
[2] Anon. (1987) “Big Blitz” Belfast Telegraph. Monday, June 29, 1987. Pg. 16. Past Editions of the Belfast Telegraph are Available to view on the Internet at the Irish Newspaper Archive at: https://www.irishnewsarchive.com/ [Accessed 8 December 2021]
[3] Anon. (1988) Antrim fall Belfast Telegraph. Tuesday, May 17, 1988, pg. 17 [Internet] Original Article Available from: https://www.irishnewsarchive.com/ [Accessed 13 January 2022]
Redskins vs Yankees
An All-American Evening at Rifle Park, Banbridge, Co. Down on Friday Evening, the 19th August, 1983, was to have included an American Football game between two teams of specially-trained Rugby players. The “Redskins” versus “Yankees” was to be the highlight of the evening which also had all the razzamatazz of cheerleaders and bands.
References
[1] Anon. (1983) “Shoot-out at Rifle Park”, Belfast Telegraph. Wednesday, August 17, 1983. pg. 34 [Past editions of the Irish Newspaper Archive are available to view online at: https://www.irishnewsarchive.com/ ]
Redskins vs Yankees vs Redskins vs Yankees