1989 Transatlantic Challenge – Game 1
The G.B. Crusaders and the Transatlantic Challenge Cup Game were founded following a youth football clinic held in Sheffield in June, where Gregg Thelen, John LaFleur (both Americans playing for the Leeds Cougars), and another coach were involved in delivering a one-day camp. Impressed by the clear focus on teaching fundamentals, Tony Owen approached one of the coaches after the event and proposed the idea of returning in August to run a week-long residential camp. The goal was to identify and develop the top 16- to 19-year-old players in BYAFA, narrowing a group of around 100 down to 65 who would represent the UK in international competition. The camp featured two practices a day, nightly chalk talks, and concluded with an intra-squad scrimmage. This initiative led directly to the formation of the G.B. Crusaders and the creation of the very first Transatlantic Challenge Cup Game, which took place in November 1989 when a high school team from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, travelled to the UK to compete. <Norm Killion 2007>
Match Details
| Teams | GB Crusaders Vs Team USA (Milwaukee) |
|---|---|
| Final Score | 8 – 28 |
| Date | 4th November 1989 |
| Location | Derby, UK |
| Head Coach (GB) | Norm Killion (during the training) Bill Hartley on Gameday |
| Head Coach (Opponents) | Norm Killion |
| Video | See Below |
| Photo Gallery | |
| Team Rosters | See below |
| Players Name | Pos | Team |
| M Ager | ||
| M Astle | ||
| C Ball | ||
| H Barclay | ||
| R Beer | ||
| S Benton | ||
| S Bosley | ||
| P Bowen | ||
| J Bowen | ||
| R Brookes | ||
| D Carter | ||
| C Clarkson | ||
| A Cocksburn | ||
| G Crease | ||
| M Crossley | ||
| D Dart | ||
| M Davies | ||
| M Dunne | ||
| J Edley | ||
| K Fenwick | ||
| D Fowler | ||
| M Gomez | ||
| P Goodward | ||
| A Hague | ||
| A Gosling | ||
| S Halsall | ||
| J Hartley | ||
| A Hashim | ||
| A Hukim | ||
| G Hume | ||
| G Johnson | ||
| J Keene | ||
| M Kilpatrick | ||
| T Kimmins | ||
| E Lawson | ||
| D McLuckie | ||
| S McCusker | ||
| E Underwood | ||
| S Martin | ||
| G Morgan | ||
| M Nolan | ||
| P Owen | ||
| M Pollard | ||
| N Ramsey | ||
| J Reid | ||
| B Sanderson | ||
| S Shaw | ||
| J Snowden | ||
| P Speight | ||
| M Steel | ||
| R Store | ||
| D Sweeney | ||
| M Thompson | ||
| M Wardrop | ||
| L Warmsley | ||
| M Welbourne | ||
| S Weston | ||
| D Winter | ||
| S Whybrow | ||
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