Ladies and gentlemen, fans, and supporters—today marks a monumental shift for our team. After 15 years with the logo we’ve all come to know and love, we’re standing at a new chapter. As we align forces with the BU Bobcats American football team, it’s more than just a partnership; it’s the beginning of a new era—one that reflects the evolution of our shared passion for the game, the community, and the future.
The new logo you see today symbolizes the strength of this collaboration. It combines the bold spirit of our team and our traditions with the youthful energy of the university. This isn’t just about consolidating two teams—it’s about bringing together generations of athletes, coaches, and fans who’ve poured their heart and soul into the sport. This new design is a tribute to that legacy while embracing the promise of tomorrow.
When we first launched our original logo, it was a representation of our ambition and determination. Now, 15 years later, we are evolving with the times. The new emblem is built on a foundation of tradition, but it speaks to where we’re going. It stands as a symbol of unity, strength, and the powerful bond between our senior team and the university community.
Change can be hard, but it’s also necessary for growth. This new logo doesn’t erase our past; it celebrates it. It’s a mark of the shared commitment to excellence we have, and it’s a reminder that while we honor where we’ve been, we’re also looking ahead—together.
As we move forward into this exciting partnership, we do so with one clear message: this is just the beginning. With the support of the community, the strength of our senior athletes and the energy of our student-athletes, we’re stronger than ever before. Our team and the university are now more than just partners; we’re one unified force ready to make an impact on the field, in our town, and in the hearts of our fans and families.
So, take a good look at this new logo, because it’s not just a symbol. It’s the future. And the future is bright.
The Bournemouth Bobcats are excited to annouce our new Chairman Luke Clark.
Luke was previously the Chairman of the Hertfordshire Cheetahs, where between 2013-2016 developed the programme into a formidable force across all formats of the British game.
The Bournemouth Bobcats are excited to annouce Steve Rains as our new Head Coach.
Steve has been coaching American football in the U.K. since 1985 when he started as an assistant at the Wight Rhinos. Since then Steve has coached with the Farnham Knights, Southern Seminoles, Doncaster Mustangs and Solent Thrashers senior teams as well as universities.
In his time he has won 5 National Championships and several university accolades, most recently the Southern Division 2 Championship and a Division 1 Divisional Championship with the Bournemouth University Bobcats.
Our General Manager, Keith Barnes, is stepping down from his role to focus on his family.
‘Over the last 10 years I have at the absolute honour of being General Manager of this amazing club. In that time, I have seen us, under the football leadership of Simon McLean, move from a bottom of division two team to a solid division one team with a first ever Division One play-off win on the road. I have worked with many coaches and players, and I am thankful for everything they have done in shaping this club and helping to secure a strong future. We have seen many fields, and I am so happy that we have found a permanent home at Iford with the East Dorset Dockers. I worked with the team to bring in new uniforms, sponsorships, business partners, established coaching growth and installed an identity that has seen players number increase with many willing to travel from across the country to be a part of the project. When I joined the club as a player, I was immediately welcomed by Tim Iles and felt a part of something great. When I had the opportunity during my first season to join the management team, I wanted to make the welcome I had a part of the identity of the club and worked with the team to install a vision and ethos around the word ‘family’. As a team, we focused on bettering each other and choosing to focus on standing up for the player next to you both on and off the field, creating the #BobcatFamily. I have made the decision to take a step back from overseeing the club to focus on my own mini-ballers, Caleb and Theo, who are a part of the South Coast Spitfires under 11’s flag programme. Taking them to training each Saturday and watching them compete at weekends over the summer will be my project, meaning I cannot give 100% to my Bobcat family (although I’ll still be padding up each week as football is life!) Thank you to everyone connected to the club who believed in me, allowed be to unconventional and followed both on and off the field. Thank you to the ‘Brain Trust’, Simon, Jason, David, Davy, Sam and Craig.
We are excited to announce a new partnership with the Poole Dolphins.
The move will mean that both clubs can combine their efforts to create a programme that delivers high quality American Football for all ages 13+.
The Dolphins were established locally in 2018 for boys and girls aged 13 to 16. They have since grown adding an under 19s team and have over registered 40 players.
We are delighted to be adding Poole into our extended family. Welcome Dolphins!
It is with a heavy heart that we announce the retirement of head coach Simon McLean.
Simon has spent 14 years with the team, with the last 10 at the helm.
From Simon:
‘After much consideration and discussion with my family, I have come to the difficult decision to step down from my position of Head Coach of the Bournemouth Bobcats. It was a very difficult decision to make as the Bobcats have been a big part of my life for the last 14 years.
In my time with the team, I have been a player, Co-ordinator and for the last decade the HC. During my time, I have worked with some exceptional coaches and truly inspirational players. We have gone from a middle of the pack Division 2 team to a competitive Division 1 team. We have beaten every Division 1 team we played at least once and haven’t had a losing season in the division. But I feel I have taken the team as far as I can and now it’s time to hand the reins over to someone else who can lead the team and push them onto new heights.
I would just like to thank my family for putting up with my football life, my coaching staff for these last 10 years and each and every player that has played for me. You all made the journey worthwhile and it wouldn’t have been the same without you. Not only did we win a lot of football games, hopefully you all had fun and felt part of the Bobcats family.
Thank you to all of our opponents over the years, I learnt a lot seeing how other coaches operated and it was a pleasure to compete with you.
My last thank you is for our General Manager and my friend Keith Barnes, without you there would be no Bobcats.
I wish the team all of the success it deserves in the future and will be watching every home game as a fan of the team.’
The team will forever be grateful to Simon for his leadership, compassion, and friendship!
If you have a message for Simon, please comment below. We are looking forward to having him as our number one fan on game days!
It is with great sadness that the British American Football Association has announced today that they have decided to cancel the 2020 contact football season in light of the Covid-19 Pandemic.
Although we are sadden by the decision we feel it is the right decision to make at this time. As currently the situation our country is facing is bigger than football.
We hope that all of our coaches, players and supporters continue to stay safe throughout this difficult time. Continue to reach out to family members and friends a like via the safest methods possible, as staying together through this will help us all to become stronger.
Bobcat Football is not gone; just on hold until 2021, where we will be going full steam into Division 1 football and we hope to see everyone of our followers there with us.
Game 9 in the Bournemouth Bobcats season, found the Bobcats featuring in their first ever play-off game since reforming 10 years ago. Finishing in at the number 5 seed the Bobcats took the long travel to the number 4 seed the Norwich Devils. Both sides having never faced each other before neither team knew what to expect of each other.
The Bobcats started with the ball, a drive that started with a few nerves soon settled after QB #1 Macdonald found WR #8 Mancera for a big 25 yard gain. The drive continued methodically towards the Devils end zone backed by some strong runs from RB #26 Baker and well taken receptions via the hands of Mancera.
The Bobcats inched closer to the Devils end zone but were unable to find the play to make their way in. Having to settle for a field goal WR/K #15 Bundy stepped up and put a 14 yard kick straight through the upright to have the Bobcats up 0-3 early in the game.
The Devils starting with the ball on their 25 yard line opted for a long bomb over the top to their top receiver. S #20 Chandler broke up the play with some excellent coverage. The Bobcats defence kept up the high intensity forcing the QB out of the pocket and breaking up the long passes. The Devils opted to punt but rather than kick the ball the punter took off and took the punt return team by surprise gaining a first down reviving the Devils chances.
The Devils this time opted to go to the run game but were thwarted by the Bobcats defensive line. Again 3 and out the Devils to punt again, they again tried the fake punt and run. Only to be met by the oncoming steam train that is LB #9 Isaacs who smashed the punter and put a stop to the trick play!
The Bobcats came out on offence but only managed a very short drive, a throw by Madonald intercepted by a waiting Devils LB who returned the ball for only a short gain. The Devils back on the ball, the Bobcats defence continuing to swarm to the ball well forced the Devils into yet another 3 and out. The punter opting to actually punt this time gave S #24 Burn the chance at a decent 15 yard return.
The Bobcats looking to get the first touchdown of the game set off with some good running via Baker and RB #13 Barnes. After acquiring a 1st down the Bobcats decided to attack the Devils secondary and a 25 yard pass from Macdonald to WR #10 Edwards gave the Bobcats their first touchdown of the game. The extra point good from Bundy the score 0-10 to the Bobcats.
The Devils receiving the kick off and a team that love a bit of tricky decided to reverse the ball on the ensuing kick off. Only fooling one player (Myself….) the rest of the Bobcat kick off team were wise to it stopping the runner on about the 35 yard line.
This next Devils possession short lived the Bobcats defence forcing a 3 and out after a few failed short passes. The Bobcats started this drive with a big pass in triple coverage to WR #89 Griffith, the drive continued to go well as the Bobcats moved down the field behind some impressive running by Baker.
Unable to get their way into the end zone after a few big run stops by the Devils defence, the Bobcats opted for a short field goal. Unfortunately the kick from Bundy was wide right and the Bobcats ended the drive with no points.
Norwich continued to fight hard for yards on offence and put together a good drive via a series of well executed screen plays. Making it past the Bobcats half way line but ultimately being held by the Bobcats on a 3rd down due to some excellent pass coverage from DB’s #94 Badcock and #17 Dimuna.
The Bobcat offence with the ball back and hungry to get on the score board again set off with a quickened pace. Some big runs from RB #31 Covi using his pace to break out for a few first downs. After a great few runs Covi had to leave the game due to a season ending shoulder injury. The Bobcats unable to get down the field in time as the clock ran out on the first half.
HT 0-10 to the Bobcats
The Devils got off to a good start for the second half. Their offence started to find a rhythm behind some large runs by their number 33. Marching down the field towards the Bobcats end zone looking likely to score. Up popped S #24 Burn who stripped the ball out of the ball carriers hand and recovering the fumble himself, getting the ball back for the offence.
The offence started fast with a few quick strikes to Mancera for a pair of well worked receptions. Then followed up with the 1-2 punch of hard running from Baker and Isaacs. A massive 26 yard sweeping run by Isaacs which was called short of the goal line by the official set up the next Bobcats touchdown. On the 1 yard line the Bobcats rammed the ball home via the heavy work of Macdonald, the PAT blocked the score early in the 3rd quarter 0-16.
The defence on the field keeping up the high intensity intent to not allow the Devils a sniff of the momentum. When a muffed hand off between QB and RB gifted the Bobcats with the ball, a defensive line man managing to recover the ball (Sorry can’t remember who it was but good hustle man!!!)
The Bobcats looking to put the game further out of the Devils reach capitalised on the short field. A few big runs from Baker skipping tackles reversing field and running over Devils defenders found him stopped just shy of the Devils end zone. Opting to smash the ball home again, Macdonald plowed his way through the Devils defensive line for another 1 yard touchdown run, the PAT good the score 0-23.
The Bobcats defence continued to cause the Devils issues and stopped the offences chances with another 3 and out. The Bobcats didn’t fair so well on this drive only managing the one 1st down but ultimately falling short on a long 3rd down run. On the punt a poor snap to punter #61 Tarr found him receiving a hard hit just before getting the ball off resulting in a short kick and not much field for the Devils to work with.
Norwich looking to take advantage of starting at the half way line tried to get a good drive going. Struggling to find yards both in the air and on the ground, they were faced with a big 3rd down. Where they were given a stroke of luck from a questionable pass interference call giving them 15 yards and a 1st down.
In the red zone and staring at the Bobcats end zone the Devils crept closer off the back of a strong run on 1st down. An excellent stop by LB #54 Cameron on the goal line up ending the large Devils running back.
When the drive of controversy continued, an athletic effort by the Devils QB found him scrambling out towards the right hand pylon. As he dived for the end zone with the ball extended in one hand the ball came loose just before hitting the pylon. One official gave touchdown all the others claim fumble……after a delay with some intense discussion the Devils were awarded the touchdown!
Unable to convert the 2-point conversion the score was now poised at 6-23. The Bobcats offence back with the ball looked to put the game out of reach, but were unable to find a 1st down on 3 short runs.
The punt to follow by Tarr fell short but a moment of madness from a Devils player who felt his inner Ronaldo take hold and he decided to control the bouncing ball with his foot. This caused a favourable bounce for Griffith and LB #12 Tanky to fall on the ball recovering it back for the offence.
The Bobcats given a free life now looked to run down the clock and put the game to bed. A long draining drive is what they produced off the feet of Baker and Isaacs the Bobcats marched down the field. Exceptional blocking from the offensive line and Barnes cleared craters for the pair of runners to run through. Unfortunately the Bobcats were unable to finish the drive opting to go for it on a 4th down and coming up short of the end zone!
Devils camped deep in their own half struck out yet another 3 and out due to some hard hitting from the Bobcats defence. When utility man Burn returned the punt a whooping 45 yards only to be tackled by the very last Devil on about the 9 yard line.
The Bobcat offence this time not wanting to waste such a great opportunity got to action fast. With a quick pass from Macdonald to WR #10 Edwards who capped a solid performance with a touchdown. The PAT from Bundy good the score now 6-30 to the visitors.
Credit to the Devils the game deep into the 4th quarter but they never gave up continuing to run hard on offence. Ultimately the game was put to bed off the back of a Bobcats interception off a long Devils pass.
The Bobcats assumed victory formation and took a knee, jubilation from the Bobcats sideline after a confident victory and they turned their attention to the Semi Finals against the number one seed the unbeaten Essex Spartans!!
So your Roxy’s Bistro Bar MVP’s are:
Offensive MVP – RB Keith Barnes Defensive MVP – S Robert Chandler
Bournemouth Bobcats 
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