Manchester Spartans

BasedTameside Leisure Park, Hyde & Salford RLFC (also played at Hyde United FC, Ewan Fields, Hyde)
Colours
Black/Red/White 
Honours
British champions 1989, 1990. Eurobowl IV champions 1990. Conference champions 1985, 1986, 1988, 1989, 1990

Career Record

Senior Kitted

1992 NDMA Division One Northern Conference 7-3-0* 
1991 NDMA First Division Northern Conference 2-8-0
1990 NDMA Northern Conference 9-1-0* 
1989 Budweiser League Northern Conference 9-1-0* 
1988 Budweiser League National Division Northern Conference 14-0-0* 
1987 Budweiser League National Division Northern Conference 2-8-0
1986 BAFL National League Pennine Conference 10-0-2* 
1985 AFL Northern Division 10-2-0*
1984 Merit Table 4-7-0

Youth Kitted

1994 BYAFA Northern Division 0-3-0
1993 BYAFA Northern Division 3-4-0
1992 BYAFA Northern Conference 3-5-0* Lost 54-0 to Birmingham Bulls in first round of playoffs
1991 did not compete
1990 did not compete
1989 NDMA Youth Kitted League 2-4-0

Team history: 

The second oldest team in Britain. Began as the Northwich Spartans in 1983 and came to Manchester a year later. One of the most dominant teams in the North with several conference championships. Slipped up in 1987, but had the wherewithal to turn the situation around immediately. In 1988 won more games than any other team in one season (15), but fell in the semi-finals of the playoffs. In 1989 (coached by Terry Smith - who also coached GB at the time), they won the 1989 Budweiser title where they defeated Birmingham Bulls 21-14. The Spartans were an excellent team. Under former Atlanta Falcon starter Roy Harris, the defense produced youngsters the calibre of LB's Martin Owen and Howard Cooper and linemen Rick Hughes, Keith Marsh and Warren Billingham. In front of QB Hazen Choates was an offensive line with few peers. As a result entered the Eurobowl championship in 1990, where they defeated the Dublin Celts in the first round, and then triumphed 34-22 in the final against Legnano Frogs of Italy. Won the British championship for a second time in 1990 with a 27-25 win against Northants Storm. Had a mass player defection in 1991 (Mike Taylor and Les Jackson to New York Knights, Paul Bailey to Birmingham Bulls, Dave Samuels to Olympians, Allan Brown and John Parker to Nottingham Hoods, Tiggy Bell to Leeds Cougars) and they also adopted an All British policy which saw Hazen Choates and Roy Harris missing. Signed a sponsorship with Granada worth over £10,000 in 1991.

Entered the NDMA in 1993, but quit in May to concentrate on the Football League of Europe. Reformed as the GB Spartans and took part in the Football League of Europe instead.

Head Coaches

1988-1990 - Terry Smith
1991 - Nigel Dias
1992 - Terry Smith
1993 - Terry Smith

Imports

1989-1990 - Hazen Choates, Roy Harris
1991 - Terry Smith
1992 - Lorenzo Walker, Mark Nelson, Terry Smith

Internationals

1990 - LB John Parker
1990 - Les Jackson, Dave Samuels
1990 - Paul Bailey
1990 - Allan Brown
1991 - Mike Astle

Game notes

18th July 1992 - Walker ran for 320 yards vs Gateshead Senators
11th July 1992 - Lorenzo Walker ran for 198 yards on 27 carriers vs Leeds Cougars
21st June 1992 - Lorenzo Walker ran for 238 yards and 3 TDs vs Nottingham Hoods
15th June 1991 - Terry Robinson ran for 216 yards on 27 carries vs Gateshead

1992 Season - NDMA Division One

10th May – Leeds Cougars 24-47 Manchester Spartans
17th May – Leicester Panthers 43-16 Manchester Spartans
24th May – Manchester Spartans 30-20 Blackpool Falcons
31st May – Manchester Spartans 54-0 Blackpool Falcons
7th June – Manchester Spartans 38-15 Gateshead Senators
13th June – Nottingham Hoods 40-28 Manchester Spartans
20th June – Manchester Spartans 30-21 Nottingham Hoods
27th June – Leicester Panthers 25-14 Manchester Spartans
11th July – Manchester Spartans 35-7 Leeds Cougars
18th July – Gateshead Senators 7-35 Manchester Spartans

Quarter-Final

25th July – Manchester Spartans 0-49 London Olympians

1991 Season - NDMA Division One

21st April – Manchester Spartans 0-28 Leicester Panthers
28th April – Blackpool Falcons 36-13 Manchester Spartans
5th May – Leeds Cougars 20-7 Manchester Spartans
12th May – Manchester Spartans 6-66 Birmingham Bulls
19th May – Birmingham Bulls 52-6 Manchester Spartans
26th May – Manchester Spartans 18-52 Northants Storm
9th June – Glasgow Lions 22-14 Manchester Spartans
16th June – Gateshead Senators 12-43 Manchester Spartans
30th June – Manchester Spartans 12-54 Nottingham Hoods
7th July – Manchester Spartans 32-12 Blackpool Falcons

1990 Season - NDMA National

29th April – Manchester Spartans 48-27 Fylde Falcons
6th May – Nottingham Hoods 14-43 Manchester Spartans
13th May – Manchester Spartans 34-20 Birmingham Bulls
20th May – London Olympians 28-42 Manchester Spartans
3rd June – Leeds Cougars 17-28 Manchester Spartans
10th June – Manchester Spartans 1-0 Manchester Allstar
17th June – Manchester Spartans 66-0 London Ravens
24th June – Manchester Spartans 48-6 Gateshead Senators
1st July – Leicester Panthers 19-24 Manchester Spartans
8th July – Glasgow Lions 1-0 Manchester Spartans

Quarter-Final

15th July – Manchester Spartans 46-35 Leeds Cougars

Semi-Final

22nd July – Glasgow Lions 29-43 Manchester Spartans

Coke Bowl I

4th August – Manchester Spartans 27-25 Northants Storm

1989 Season - Budweiser League National Conference

16th April – Gateshead Senators 14-42 Manchester Spartans
23rd April – Glasgow Lions 17-20 Manchester Spartans
30th April – Manchester Allstars 7-36 Manchester Spartans
14th May – Manchester Spartans 28-20 Glasgow Lions
21st May – Fylde Falcons 22-44 Manchester Spartans
28th May – Manchester Spartans 28-20 Fylde Falcons
4th June – Manchester Spartans 47-20 Manchester Allstars
18th June – Leicester Panthers 0-14 Manchester Spartans
25th June – Manchester Spartans 54-2 Gateshead Senators
9th July – Manchester Spartans 22-55 Birmingham Bulls

Quarter-Final

Manchester Spartans 34-16 London Ravens

Semi-Final

London Olympians 21-41 Manchester Spartans

Bud Bowl IV

Manchester Spartans 21-14 Birmingham Bulls

1988 Season - Budweiser League National Conference

17th April – Fylde Falcons 40-46 Manchester Spartans
24th April – Leeds Cougars 0-21 Manchester Spartans
1st May – Manchester Spartans 31-21 Leeds Cougars
8th May – Manchester Spartans 26-8 Glasgow Lions
15th May – Thames Valley Chargers 16-19 Manchester Spartans
29th May – Manchester Allstars 11-54 Manchester Spartans
5th June – Manchester Spartans 34-13 Northants Storm
12th June – Manchester Spartans 48-21 Bournemouth Bobcats
19th June – Glasgow Lions 50-59 Manchester Spartans
26th June – Chelmsford Cherokee 13-36 Manchester Spartans
10th July – Manchester Spartans 40-6 Manchester Allstars
17th July – Manchester Spartans 32-7 Leicester Panthers
24th July – Manchester Spartans 20-14 Fylde Falcons
31st July – Manchester Spartans 35-22 Nottingham Hoods

Quarter-Final

14th August – Manchester Spartans 37-12 Glasgow Lions

Semi-Final

21st August – Manchester Spartans 7-43 London Olympians

1987 Season - Budweiser League National Conference

26th April – Manchester Allstars 34-6 Manchester Spartans
10th May – Manchester Spartans 41-13 Cardiff Tigers
17th May – Manchester Spartans 27-26 Fylde Falcons
24th May – Newcastle Senators 28-27 Manchester Spartans
31st May – Manchester Spartans 0-20 Glasgow Lions
14th June – Glasgow Lions 20-0 Manchester Spartans
21st June – Manchester Spartans 30-34 Newcastle Senators
5th July – Chelmsford Cherokee 36-0 Manchester Spartans
12th July – Fylde Falcons 60-0 Manchester Spartans
26th July – Manchester Spartans 6-59 Manchester Allstars

1986 Season - BAFL National Conference

27th April – Manchester Spartans 43-8 Leeds Cougars
4th May – Edinburgh Blue Eagles 14-28 Manchester Spartans
11th May – Manchester Spartans 27-8 Mansfield Express
18th May – Manchester Spartans 19-0 Edinburgh Blue Eagles
1st June – Manchester Spartans 31-6 Glasgow Lions
22nd June – Manchester Spartans 44-0 Mansfield Express
29th June – Manchester Spartans 37-12 Manchester Allstars
6th July – Tyneside Trojans 6-13 Manchester Spartans
13th July – Manchester Spartans 41-18 Tyneside Trojans
20th July – Leeds Cougars 28-28 Manchester Spartans
27th July – Glasgow Lions 9-9 Manchester Spartans
2nd August – Manchester Allstars 20-21 Manchester Spartans

Quarter-Final

17th August – Manchester Spartans 52-28 Luton Flyers

Semi-Final

31st August – Manchester Spartans 7-35 Birmingham Bulls

1985 Season - AFL Northern Conference

Known results

30th June – Glasgow Diamonds 8-44 Manchester Spartans
7th July – Manchester Spartans 39-6 Tyneside Trojans
14th July – Manchester Spartans 36-34 Leeds Cougars
21st July – Tyneside Trojans 7-58 Manchester Spartans
28th July – Manchester Spartans 20-26 Manchester Allstars (OT)

1984 Season

No results known

1983 Season - played as the Northwich Spartans

September 1983 - Northwich Spartans 0-28 London Ravens 
October 1983 - London Ravens 48-0 Northwich Spartans

© BritballNow 2014