Sources & contributions
About this archive
How the history of the Hurricanes was put back together, and how you can help.
The club's Wikipedia article was deleted in 2010 for being unreferenced. This archive fixes that. Every fact on the site links to where it came from, including the club's own 2002 website, the hurricanes.org.uk pages preserved by the Internet Archive, league records, news reports and the founder's files.
Where sources disagree, the record from the time and the people who were there take priority, and the disagreement is noted for review.
Photos and the logo
Every photo carries its caption from the time and its credit. Most come from the club's own websites and from the Stacey family's photo albums of the early 2000s; later ones are by the photographers who covered the team, including Garry Neesam (GLNPhotography), James Stancombe and Whizzyfingers Photography, and are used with permission. Photos of grounds and campuses come from Wikimedia Commons under the Creative Commons licence named in each credit.
The club logo is redrawn as a vector from the club's own artwork: the green version from the 2002 club website, and the purple version, used since the switch to purple in 2012–13, from the club's ScoreStream profile, used with the club's permission.
The University of Hertfordshire's College Lane campus, Hatfield, the university's main site when the club was founded in 1992Photo: en:User:Jknabe and de:User:Jknabe, public domain (via Wikimedia Commons) 
The University of Hertfordshire de Havilland campus, HatfieldPhoto: Naveed Qazi, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons) 
Hertfordshire Sports Village, Hatfield, the Hurricanes' home groundPhoto: David Hawgood, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)
Contribute
Sign in with your email (no password) to add yourself to a roster, fill in a missing result, share photos and memories, or suggest a correction. The club founder reviews everything before it appears, and published contributions are credited to you by name.
The club today
The Hurricanes still play in BUCS today, with Jim Messenger as head coach (as of 2024–25). For the current team, training and how to join, see the official pages:
Sources (210)
Club records & archived club websites (57)
- Hurricanes club website (Wayback Machine): alumni “Where are they now?” page
- Hurricanes club website 2012–15 (Wayback Machine): article images; footer "Photos by Garry Neesam, GLNPhotography.com"
- Hurricanes club website (Wayback Machine): Coaching staff, 25 Mar 2013 capture (2012–13 staff text)
- Hurricanes club website (Wayback Machine): Coaching staff, Joomla-era index.php page (undated capture; same staff text as the c. 2014 page plus Tom Roberts)
- Hurricanes club website (Wayback Machine): home page, 1 Apr 2003 ("Stirling win College Bowl thriller"; 2002–03 schedule)
- Hurricanes club website (Wayback Machine): home page, 28 Mar 2004 (2003–04 schedule; "Hurricanes going to College Bowl XVIII")
- Hurricanes club website (Wayback Machine): home page, 19 Apr 2004 ("Champions! Hurricane strikes to blow away Stallions for record 4th College Bowl win")
- Hurricanes club website (Wayback Machine): home page, 26 Apr 2012 (BUAFL final preview; quarter-final report)
- Hurricanes club website (Wayback Machine): home page, 25 Jun 2012 ("BUAFL 2011/12 National Championship Game", opening section; semi-final and quarter-final items)
- Hurricanes club website (Wayback Machine): home page, 21 May 2013 (2012–13 schedule and standings)
- Hurricanes club website (Wayback Machine): home page, 11 Mar 2015 (2014–15 fixture list)
- Hurricanes club website (Wayback Machine): 1997–1999 photo archive (College Bowl 98 & Playoffs; College Bowl XIII)
- Hurricanes club website (Wayback Machine): 2004/05 registered roster
- Hurricanes club website (Wayback Machine): Player Roster, 2012/2013 season
- Hurricanes club website (Wayback Machine): 2004/05 season page (club colours awards)
- Hurricanes club website (Wayback Machine): season photo albums, "The Stacey Family Photo Album" (2001–2006)
- Hertfordshire Hurricanes club records (2002), HALLLIST.TXT: Hall of Fame points list (2002)
- Hertfordshire Hurricanes club records (2002), Hall of Fame.doc: Hall of Fame 2002 inductees, presentation notes (1 Nov 2002)
- Hertfordshire Hurricanes club records (2002), REUNION PRESS RELEASE.txt: 10-year reunion press release (20 Sep 2002)
- Hertfordshire Hurricanes club records (2002), awards.txt: club annual awards, All-College, Wildcats and GB selections, and 1999–2000 and 2000–01 squad lists, compiled by webmaster Neil White (Sep 2002)
- Hertfordshire Hurricanes club records (2002), halloverview.txt: Hall of Fame 2002 inductee citations and presenters
- Hertfordshire Hurricanes club records (2002), hof.htm: Hall of Fame 2002 inductee list
- Hertfordshire Hurricanes club records (2002), roster.txt: all-time roster to c. 1998 (surname, first name, position, years)
- Hertfordshire Hurricanes club records (2002), speech.doc: Matt Coppinger, welcome speech to the first alumni event (1 Nov 2002)
- Wayback Machine CDX index for hurricanes.org.uk
- Hurricanes club website (Wayback Machine): Team History (2001)
- Hurricanes club website (Wayback Machine): 1997–98 awards
- Hurricanes club website (Wayback Machine): 1998–99 season
- Hurricanes club website (Wayback Machine): College Bowl XIII box score
- Hurricanes club website (Wayback Machine): 1999–2000 season
- Hurricanes club website (Wayback Machine): College Bowl XIV report
- Hurricanes club website (Wayback Machine): 2000–01 season
- Hurricanes club website (Wayback Machine): 2001–02 season and awards
- Hurricanes club website (Wayback Machine): 2002–03 season
- Hurricanes club website (Wayback Machine): 2003–04 season
- Hurricanes club website (Wayback Machine): 2005–06 coaching staff
- Hurricanes club website (Wayback Machine): Past Staff/Coaches (2001)
- Hurricanes club website (Wayback Machine): History and honours (c. 2014)
- Hurricanes club website (Wayback Machine): 2007–08 team info
- Hurricanes club website (Wayback Machine): 2008–09 home and team pages
- Hurricanes club website (Wayback Machine): "SEC Champions Again" (2012–13)
- Hurricanes club website (Wayback Machine): Coaching staff (c. 2014)
- Hurricanes club website (Wayback Machine): Coaching staff (2002)
- Hurricanes club website (Wayback Machine): All-Time Accolades (2002)
- Hurricanes club website (Wayback Machine): Alumni Hall of Fame (2004 classes)
- Hurricanes club website (Wayback Machine): "Rookies and Legends" alumni event (2002)
- Hurricanes club website (Wayback Machine): Retired numbers (see H6)
- Hurricanes club website (Wayback Machine): All Time Team (2002)
- Hurricanes club website (Wayback Machine): Rivalries (2001), Surrey friendly
- Hurricanes club website (Wayback Machine): Team Info (2001)
- Hurricanes club website (Wayback Machine): History (2005)
- Hurricanes club website (Wayback Machine): All-Time Results (2001)
- Hurricanes club website (Wayback Machine): Retired Numbers / Matt Coppinger profile (2002)
- Hurricanes club website (Wayback Machine): Hall of Fame biographies (2002)
- Hurricanes club website (Wayback Machine): Season pages 1994–2004 (results/<year>/season.htm)
- Hurricanes club website (Wayback Machine): Rivalries (2001)
- Hurricanes club website (Wayback Machine): 1997–98 season
2002 club website (Caneweb) (64)
- Caneweb (2002 club site), alumni/HallofFame.htm
- Caneweb (2002 club site), alumni/index.html
- Caneweb (2002 club site) image library
- Caneweb (2002 club site), seasons/1997/1997Roster.htm
- Caneweb (2002 club site), seasons/1997/Awards.htm
- Caneweb (2002 club site), seasons/1997/Depth.htm
- Caneweb (2002 club site), seasons/1997/Longest.htm
- Caneweb (2002 club site), seasons/1997/SeasonSoFar.htm
- Caneweb (2002 club site), seasons/1997/SeasonStats.htm
- Caneweb (2002 club site), seasons/1997/TeamSuper.htm
- Caneweb (2002 club site), seasons/1997/season.htm
- Caneweb (2002 club site), seasons/1998/Draftees.htm
- Caneweb (2002 club site), seasons/1998/Feature.htm
- Caneweb (2002 club site), seasons/1998/Games/011198GB.htm
- Caneweb (2002 club site), seasons/1998/Games/011198RC.htm
- Caneweb (2002 club site), seasons/1998/Games/081198GB.htm
- Caneweb (2002 club site), seasons/1998/Games/081198RC.htm
- Caneweb (2002 club site), seasons/1998/Games/140299GB.htm
- Caneweb (2002 club site), seasons/1998/Games/140299RC.htm
- Caneweb (2002 club site), seasons/1998/Games/140399GB.htm
- Caneweb (2002 club site), seasons/1998/Games/140399RC.htm
- Caneweb (2002 club site), seasons/1998/Games/151198GB.htm
- Caneweb (2002 club site), seasons/1998/Games/151198RC.htm
- Caneweb (2002 club site), seasons/1998/Games/210299GB.htm
- Caneweb (2002 club site), seasons/1998/Games/210299RC.htm
- Caneweb (2002 club site), seasons/1998/Games/210399GB.htm
- Caneweb (2002 club site), seasons/1998/Games/210399RC.htm
- Caneweb (2002 club site), seasons/1998/Games/280299GB.htm
- Caneweb (2002 club site), seasons/1998/Games/301198GB.htm
- Caneweb (2002 club site), seasons/1998/Games/301198RC.htm
- Caneweb (2002 club site), seasons/1998/Games/70399GB.htm
- Caneweb (2002 club site), seasons/1998/Games/70399RC.htm
- Caneweb (2002 club site), seasons/1998/SeasonSoFar.htm
- Caneweb (2002 club site), seasons/1998/season.htm
- Caneweb (2002 club site), seasons/1999/CollegeBowlXIV.htm
- Caneweb (2002 club site), seasons/1999/games/celtics@herts.htm
- Caneweb (2002 club site), seasons/1999/games/cobras@herts.htm
- Caneweb (2002 club site), seasons/1999/games/falcons@herts.htm
- Caneweb (2002 club site), seasons/1999/games/herts@cobras.htm
- Caneweb (2002 club site), seasons/1999/games/herts@oxford.htm
- Caneweb (2002 club site), seasons/1999/games/herts@pirates.htm
- Caneweb (2002 club site), seasons/1999/games/herts@stingers.htm
- Caneweb (2002 club site), seasons/1999/games/oxford@herts.htm
- Caneweb (2002 club site), seasons/1999/games/pirates@herts.htm
- Caneweb (2002 club site), seasons/1999/games/stingers@herts.htm
- Caneweb (2002 club site), seasons/1999/season.htm
- Caneweb (2002 club site), seasons/2001/awards.htm
- Caneweb (2002 club site), seasons/2002/season.htm
- Caneweb (2002 club site), seasons/news/news.htm
- Caneweb (2002 club site), team/AllTimeAccolades.htm
- Caneweb (2002 club site), team/AllTimeRoster.htm
- Caneweb (2002 club site), team/AllTimeTeam.htm
- Caneweb (2002 club site), team/Coaching Staff.htm
- Caneweb (2002 club site), team/HallofFame.htm
- Caneweb (2002 club site), team/PastStaff.htm
- Caneweb (2002 club site), team/Retired.htm
- Caneweb (2002 club site), team/TeamHistory.htm
- Caneweb (2002 club site), team/TeamInfo.htm
- Caneweb (2002 club site), team/profiles/players/Aho.htm
- Caneweb (2002 club site), team/profiles/players/MCoppinger.htm
- Caneweb (2002 club site), team/profiles/players/RSavage.htm
- Caneweb (2002 club site), team/profiles/players/afitzpatrick.htm
- Caneweb (2002 club site), team/profiles/players/alancia.htm
- Caneweb (2002 club site), team/profiles/players/mzaki.htm
Other web sources (68)
- Wikimedia Commons: "Allianz Park" by oatsy40 from London, CC BY 2.0
- Wikimedia Commons: "BAFRA crew Saffron Lane" by 21stCenturyGreenstuff, CC BY 3.0
- Wikimedia Commons: "De Havilland Campus." by Naveed Qazi, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Wikimedia Commons: "Hertfordshire Sports Village - geograph.org.uk - 4467760" by David Hawgood, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Wikimedia Commons: "Southleedsstadium" by Mtaylor848, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Wikimedia Commons: "UHCollegeLaneCampus" by en:User:Jknabe and de:User:Jknabe, Public domain
- Flickr: Garry Neesam (GLNPhotography), Hurricanes team photographer 2012–15
- Flickr: James Stancombe (stancs)
- Flickr: Gordon Dedman (Steeler Nation UK)
- Flickr: tony small (tonysmall2)
- Britball wiki (Fandom): Hertfordshire Hurricanes
- Britball wiki (Fandom): Southampton Stags
- Britball wiki (Fandom): 2006-07 BCAFL Season
- Britball wiki (Fandom): 2007-08 BUAFL Season
- Britball wiki (Fandom): Hertfordshire Hurricanes team infobox (2008–09 record)
- Britball wiki (Fandom): 2010-11 BUAFL Season
- Britball wiki (Fandom): Loughborough Aces
- Sky Sports, "Secret success story" (19 Apr 2012)
- Inside Britball, BUCS 2024/25 standings
- Inside Britball, BUCS 2024/25 playoffs
- Inside Britball, BUCS 2025/26 provisional alignments
- Inside Britball, BUCS 2025/26 standings
- UH Sport, American Football (search-engine snippet; live site down when checked)
- Ballaz in da Middle podcast, episode 20 (28 Apr 2024); also Points of Light, https://www.pointsoflight.gov.uk/womens-american-football-champion/
- Herts Sports Village, "New Head Coach of the American Football Performance Programme" (search snippet only)
- Inside Britball, British talent in the fourth season of the European League of Football
- Facebook: Hertfordshire Hurricanes
- Instagram: hertshurricanes
- Double Coverage, Week 11 BUAFL rankings (27 Feb 2012)
- X: herts_canes
- Facebook: UH American Football (Students’ Union club page)
- Double Coverage, "Hurricanes sink Mariners" (Mar 2012)
- YouTube, "Hertfordshire Hurricanes v Birmingham Lions – BUAFL Final – 20th April 2013" (2012 final video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sse9l1zKWdE)
- Flickr, BUCS Championship Final 2015
- Football America, "The Big Game: Stirling v Birmingham" (2016 final preview)
- Football America, "BUCS Prem 16-17 Review"
- Inside Britball, two brothers playing in BUCS National Finals six years apart (16 Mar 2025); also Leeds Beckett news, https://www.leedsbeckett.ac.uk/news/leeds-beckett-american-football-crowned-bucs-national-champions/
- Inside Britball, 2024–25 BUCS provisional alignments
- BAFA, "GB Lions Announce European Championship squad" (2010 European Championships, Frankfurt; Wayback Machine)
- BAFA, "Bowl Game Weekend" (18 Mar 2015; Wayback Machine)
- BAFA, "Coaches look forward to BUCS National Championship final" (20 Mar 2015; Wayback Machine)
- BAFA, "Stirling Clansmen retain BUCS National Championship" (22 Mar 2015; Wayback Machine)
- British American Football Association, "Coach of the Year Awards and Hall of Fame cap off Convention Weekend"
- BAFA, "BAFA Hall of Fame" (inductees by class, to the Class of 2025)
- BAFA, "Hall of Fame class of 2023 saluted" (7 Jul 2024)
- BAFA, "BAFA Hall of Fame announce Class of 2025" (23 Dec 2025)
- BAFRA Newsflash, Issue 10/12 (22 Mar 2012): results, including the BUAFL quarter-finals
- BAFRA Newsflash, Issue 11/12 (29 Mar 2012): "2012 BUAFL Bowl Games" officiating crews; results, including the BUAFL semi-finals
- BUCS (BUCScore), American Football 2012-13 – Championship – Men's knockout bracket (Wayback Machine)
- BUCS (BUCScore), American Football 2014-2015 – Championship knockout bracket (Wayback Machine)
- BUCS (BUCScore), American Football 2018-19 – Championship knockout bracket (Wayback Machine)
- YouTube (BUCS), "BUCS American Football Championship Final | Leeds Beckett vs University of Hertfordshire" (livestream, 31 Mar 2019)
- Double Coverage, "Final Scores" (21 Apr 2013)
- Double Coverage, "Finals Day Postponed – Update and Full Statement" (22 Mar 2013)
- Double Coverage, "Finals Interview: Dom Gould" (18 Apr 2013)
- Double Coverage, "Finals Interview: Drew Newiss" (18 Apr 2013)
- Double Coverage, "National Championship Predictions" (Mar 2013)
- Double Coverage, "Birmingham Lions vs Hertfordshire Hurricanes VIDEO" (24 Apr 2013; MVP interviews)
- YouTube (GridironTV), "Birmingham Lions vs Hertfordshire Hurricanes 2012 Buafl Final" (full game)
- YouTube (GridironTV), "Birmingham Lions vs Hertfordshire Hurricanes 2013 Bucs Cup Final" (full game, 23 Apr 2013)
- YouTube (GridIronVP), "BUCS American Football Final 2013" (highlight reel, 30 Apr 2013)
- Anthony Fitzpatrick, "The Irish Nole" (his offensive line coaching blog)
- Leeds Beckett University news, "Leeds Beckett American Football crowned BUCS National Champions" (4 Apr 2019)
- London Blitz, "Meet the new Head Coach of the London Blitz B Squad"
- SGS College American Football academy, coaching staff (Wayback Machine capture)
- UH Sport, "American Football Scholarships at Herts" (July 2025)
- UH Sport, "Setting the Standard: University of Hertfordshire American Football" (May 2025)
- UH Sport — American Football (University of Hertfordshire)
Club founder (4)
- Matt Coppinger, club founder, in conversation 2026-10-21
- Matt Coppinger, club founder, in conversation 2026-10-22
- Matt Coppinger, club founder, in conversation 2026-10-22 (recollection; confirm with alumni)
- Matt Coppinger, club founder, in conversation 2026-10-22 (recollection; confirm with alumni)
Wikipedia (17)
- Wikipedia: deleted article "Hertfordshire Hurricanes" (Wayback capture 2010-02-11; AfD https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Articles_for_deletion/Hertfordshire_Hurricanes)
- Wikipedia: British Universities American Football League (finals list and standings; also British Collegiate American Football League)
- Wikipedia: 2002–03 British Collegiate American Football League
- Wikipedia: 2003–04 British Collegiate American Football League
- Wikipedia: 2004–05 British Collegiate American Football League
- Wikipedia: 2005–06 British Collegiate American Football League
- Wikipedia: British Collegiate American Football League (2006–07 standings and bracket)
- Wikipedia: Beau Riffenburgh
- Wikipedia: List of American football teams in the United Kingdom
- Wikipedia: 1994–95 British Collegiate American Football League
- Wikipedia: 1995–96 British Collegiate American Football League
- Wikipedia: 1996–97 British Collegiate American Football League
- Wikipedia: 1997–98 British Collegiate American Football League
- Wikipedia: 1998–99 British Collegiate American Football League
- Wikipedia: 1999–2000 British Collegiate American Football League
- Wikipedia: 2000–01 British Collegiate American Football League
- Wikipedia: 2001–02 British Collegiate American Football League