Raptors seek fresh faces for their new season
Renfrewshire Raptors are looking for more players to join the pack as they prepare to roar their way into next season.
The only flag American football side in Renfrewshire, the Raptors are bidding to bolster their ranks following their most successful season to date.
For those that have every fancied trying their hand at the sport, or just want to know what the simplified five-a-side version of American football is all about, then the Raptors are offering the chance to head down and have a go.
The club have confirmed that their annual trial/try-out day will take place at Renfrew Leisure Centre next month.
Open to anyone over the age of 17, the taster session is now confirmed for Sunday, September 8, between 11am and 1pm.
New players can expect to be taken through drills and games along with current players.
Raptors head coach Mark Peberdy told Express Sport: “Last year was the first season we really made a push for a recruitment drive. It is arguably the best thing that we did during the whole rebrand and transitional period of last summer.
“We managed to unearth some real talent through the two tryouts we had last season, guys who didn’t even know the next thing about American football, who helped us make a real push for the playoffs.
“You really don’t need to know anything about the sport to be good at it - we are all about developing players and improving the squad.
“The club is only going in one direction and that is forward. It is an exciting time for the Raptors and we would encourage anyone with the slightest interest in getting involved to come down to Renfrew and give it a go. You never know, you might love it.”
Raptors finished last season in superb form as they defeated both already promoted sides, the Glasgow Killerbees and Midlothian Sabres, in the final HNC gameday of the season.
The win over Glasgow was a particular highlight, with the league champions dropping to just two defeats over the entire campaign.
However, the club’s 8-7 record fell just one win short of making the end- of-season playoffs in Sheffield.
And Peberdy has his eyes on going one step further this season.
He added: “We have certainly got the talent to be even more successful this season.
“We came up one score short in the majority of games we lost last season, and we were unlucky with a few calls that didn’t go our way.
“But next season is different. I believe we are a better team now and we have a real chance to make a push for top spot.”