BRITISH UNIVERSITIES AMERICAN FOOTBALL LEAGUE OFFICIAL SITE

Kent Falcons

In 1995 Jon Newman, who had links with the Invicta Eagles BAFL League team, had success in convincing the Sports Federation of the value of a university team, and the resultant financial support cleared the way for the development of the Falcons.

The team was initially formed in January 1996 after a poster campaign to recruit players, and the next month a committee was formed, led by Newman. The 2000-2001 Season saw the arrival of more rookie talent, and despite the seemingly poor record, future victories next season were assured with fresh organisation and renewed training.

Under the now head coach Jon Newman, the Falcons put together a winning season for the first time during the 2002/03 year. This included memorable victories over the Southampton Stags, a Falcons’ record-breaking 50 - 0 win over the Essex Blades, and a win against the UEA Pirates which sent the Falcons into the play offs for the first time, finishing with an impressive 6 and 2 record.

The 2003/04 season was a rather up and down year, heavy losses mixed with large wins made the Falcons a rather mediocre package.

A new season, a new kit, 2004/05 saw the introduction of the white jersey home strip. 2005/06 saw a massive loss against the Southampton Stags and a great win over Reading Knights, making the season an average one at 3/5.

In 2006/2007 we inducted our new field which we still play on today, Keynes Field. The Falcons had a double header that year, playing Hertfordshire on a Saturday and Warwick on Sunday. Last season 2007/08 was very turbulent. We had some new coaching staff which proved vital to our game. This year we are sincerely hoping for amazing victories and to reach the playoffs once again.

The University was granted its Royal Charter on January 4, 1965 and the first students arrived in the October of that year. On March 30, 1966 Princess Marina, Duchess of Kent was formally installed as the first Chancellor.

The University of Kent at Canterbury was envisaged as being a Collegiate establishment, with most students living in one of the colleges on campus, and as specialising in inter-disciplinary studies in all fields.

The university grew at a rapid rate throughout the 1960s, with three colleges and many other buildings on campus being completed by the end of the decade.

In the 2000s the university entered a collaboration with the University of Greenwich, Mid Kent College and Canterbury Christ Church University to deliver university provision in the Medway area. This led to the development of the University of Kent at Medway, opened from 2001. Initially based at Mid Kent College, a new joint campus opened in 2004. As a consequence of the expansion outside of Canterbury the university''''''''''''''''s name was formally changed to the University of Kent on 1 April 2003.

In 2007 the university was rebranded with a new logo and website. The logo was chosen following consultation with existing university students and those in sixth forms across the country.

Key achievements of the university include becoming the largest and most renowned European University in the UK. The student population at the University of Kent has the highest percentage of foreign and mature students in the country, as the ‘UK’s European University’.

Notable alumni of the University of Kent include Tom Wilkinson OBE - actor, Oscar nominee; Michael Baigent - author; Valerie Bloom - poet; Robert Wade - screenwriter; Patrick Wright - journalist and author; Sir David Akers-Jones - Former acting Governor of Hong Kong, 1986/87; Alan Davies - English Comedian and Actor; David Fulton - Cricketer, former captain of Kent CCC; and Sir Hugh Orde OBE - Chief Constable of Northern Ireland and George Riginos II, a member of the Greek Royal Family.