The History of American Football
at Edinburgh Napier University

American Football has been played at Edinburgh Napier University since 2003 when a group of students and coaches drawn from the local senior team, the Edinburgh Wolves, set up what was then known as the Edinburgh Timberwolves.

The Timberwolves were a team drawn from two principle universities - Edinburgh and Napier, and began their inaugural season in the University American Football League with a 2-6 season under Head Coach David Glendinning.

The second season for the Timberwolves saw Head Coaching duties shared between another pair of Wolves coaches; Mark Bramwell & Campbell Lewis, and this pairing oversaw an improvement in results to 4 wins and 4 losses.

Season 2005/06 proved to be the most challenging season for the team as poor player numbers saw the latest Head Coach, David Molloy, resign and the season falling incomplete.

The Timberwolves were awarded a 3-5 record for the year but would face starting the following season under league probation for failing to fulfil all of its fixtures.

The start of 2006/07 season saw the team reborn as the Napier University Mavericks under team president Dan Cameron. Cameron was faced with the additional problem of the breakdown of the partnership agreement with the Wolves senior team who had previously supplied equipment and staff to the club.

At this time, another senior team the Dundee Hurricanes stepped in, and the teams Head Coach for the following 3 seasons Stu Adams would lead the ‘Mav’s’ to 3-5, 3-4-1, and 3-5 records.

As the team grew it became clear that it was preferential for both Universities to support their own teams, and so the Edinburgh University Predators were formed in time for season 2009/10 and would see both coaches Cameron & Adams swap allegiances to the other side of the city.

Incoming president Jamie Charles then re-opened links to the Edinburgh Wolves and asked Wolves Head Coach Don Edmonston to take charge. The Mav’s struggled throughout this season through player numbers and injuries and after starting well limped to a 1-6-1 record. However most of the success story of this season was happening off the field.

A new Napier team was ready to be launched for the start of 2010-11. Wolves Assistant Head Coach Pete Laird, a previous College Bowl winner, and a 6 time Scottish Division Champion with 2 university clubs, was asked by Coach Edmonston to take the reins. This latest reincarnation saw the team reborn as the Edinburgh Napier Knights American Football Club.

The team plays in the British Universities American Football League. Established in 2007 as the successor to the BCAFL, it is the largest university competition for American football in Europe.

Student American Football has been played in the UK since 1985 and there are now over 62 competing universities throughout the UK.    
    

Season 2010-11 has started well for the Knights with a first ever victory over close city rivals the Edinburgh University Predators 20-6 in the Varsity Bowl offsetting a loss to Glasgow University. The Scottish weather has heavily affected the schedule and the Knights now face a testing schedule of 6 games in a row to try and establish themselves in the Border Conference.

Team Record