Camp Roughneck

This weekend sees the Roughnecks return to Fordell Firs for our second annual training camp ahead of the 2020 British American Football Association Nation League (BAFANL) season.

The troops will travel south tomorrow evening for four training sessions across the weekend including a scrimmage session with the Dumfries Hunters on the Sunday afternoon. Last year’s camp saw 4am wake up calls and swamp runs, and it’s with the promise of kinder wake up calls that the playing staff return this weekend!

Gamu during a kick-off return against the Dumfries side

Camp is one of, defensive captain, Gamu Mukuredzi’s favourite parts of the season since it’s a weekend entirely composed of football, both on the field and in classroom sessions:
“It’s a great chance for both rookies and vets to really show off their abilities and work together to become better individually and improve as a team. I know I have some things I’d like to work on and this time won’t be taken for granted!”

Offensive captain Scott Gillies missed last season’s camp having rejoined the team towards the end of last season and he is particularly looking forward to the weekend away:
”Personally for me I’ve been looking forward to preseason and especially camp. [I] Can’t think of anything better than time away with my brothers doing what I love most. It will give the team a big opportunity to bond and really come together for what will be our toughest season yet”

Gillies joins the touchdown celebrations during a previous encounter with the Hunters

Both captains are looking forward to the double sessions on Saturday and Sunday, with Gamu particularly enjoying the intensity of the sessions as offence come against defence with new play scripts, blitzes and coverages being implemented throughout the weekend.

”I think this is a great opportunity for myself really embrace the roll of a being a leader” said first year captain Gamu, “and [also] pushing myself to that next level and earning the trust and respect of my fellow teammates”

It’s not all action however, with scheduled downtime set to include the traditional rookie show, and no doubt repeated showing of classics ‘Remember the Titans’ at Gillies’ request.

We’d like to thank the Dumfries Hunters for travelling to Dunfermline for the Sunday scrimmage session, and are grateful for the facilities provided to us at Fordell Firs, and the pitches we’ll be training on at Duloch Community centre - the home of the Dunfermline Kings.

Coach Zach Bradley mirror's Bryce's trip across the pond to join Roughnecks Staff

With preseason now underway, we are delighted to announce that Zach Bradley will be joining the Aberdeen Roughnecks’ coaching staff until May.

Zach will be helping out on the offensive side of the ball, as assistant offensive co-ordinator, with a particular focus on helping to prepare the Quarterbacks and Wide Receivers for the season ahead.

Zach (#13) looks for running room in a 55-21 win in the McDonald’s all-star game .

Coach Bradley boasts an impressive high school and college resume, holding records for single season passing touchdowns (43), and yards (3,047) in the Colonial League during his time at high school. Zach was a multi-sport athlete during his time at high-school, with 111 career wrestling victories and also appearing as the second team pitcher in baseball during his junior year.

Coach Bradley donning his 10 jersey during his time as a Diplomat

Zach jogs down the sideline during his current role as Assistant OC at Parkland High School

Zach was a regular team captain and collected many accolades during his time under centre. He was first-team All-Colonial and All Morning Call Area quarter back in both his junior and senior years, Morning Call Football Player of the Year and Coordinated Health Athlete of the year both as a senior

At Franklin & Marshall, Zach achieved an overall 61.1% completion rate during his time as a Quarterback, competing 107 of his 175 attempts for 7 touchdowns and 1,180 yards.

Since his playing days, Zach has taken up the role of assistant offensive co-ordinator for Parkland HS Football who last season went 10-3, just narrowly losing 22-21 after overtime in the District Championship game. He will be using all of his experience to help us out this pre-season and through our first few games, until he returns to the states in May.

Zach was down at training this afternoon working mainly with the QBs, taking them through drills, working on footwork, throwing actions and coaching points throughout offensive skeleton drills

When asked, Head Coach, Bryce Stevenson had this to say about working with Coach Bradley: “[I am] Absolutely delighted to announce that Coach Bradley has joined the Roughnecks for his time in Aberdeen. His experience in the game will be more than a welcome addition to the coaching staff and I am thoroughly looking forward to working with him whilst he is in Aberdeen.”

We welcome Coach Bradley to Aberdeen, and to the Roughnecks, hoping he’ll enjoy his time here and that he’ll be able to pass on his knowledge of the game and that his abilities are passed onto the Roughnecks’ offence to set them up for our NFC 1 North 2020 season.