In Memoriam

The Hurricanes mark the passing of Anthony Fitzpatrick, one of the club's longest-serving members.

Anthony came to Hertfordshire from the Luton Huskers youth programme and joined the Hurricanes for the 1996–97 season. He started every game at left tackle in his first season and was made a captain by his third game. He also helped coach the line, and that year the club had its first winning season. He was selected for the Southern Conference Wildcats all-star team that season, at defensive end.

Off the field he served the club as Secretary, then as President in 1998–99, and later as Treasurer. As President he was photographed with the College Bowl XIII trophy. As a player he was part of the club's national championship teams.

After his playing days he joined the coaching staff under Jim Messenger. He coached the defensive line and special teams, then the offensive line, and by 2005–06 he was offensive coordinator and assistant head coach. He was on the staff that won College Bowl XVIII. In 2002 the club's staff page called him "the fire in the belly of the Hurricanes". That year he was inducted into the club's founding Hall of Fame class and named in the 10th-anniversary All-Time Team. He also served on the Alumni Committee.

His coaching went well beyond Hertfordshire. He coached the offensive line at the London Blitz through several national titles and the 2011 EFAF Cup. He also coached at the Bedfordshire Blue Raiders and the London Olympians, and with Great Britain teams at student, under-19 and senior level. He then moved to Bristol as a full-time coach with the SGS College Pride programme. The British American Football Coaches Association honoured him with its Lifetime Achievement Award and renamed its Coaches' Coach of the Year award in his honour.

Our thoughts are with all who knew him.

The Hurricanes mark the passing of Kyle Hunlock, the club's Most Valuable Player of the 2004–05 season.

Kyle came to the University of Hertfordshire from the USA as an exchange student for the 2004–05 season, having played high-school football at home. He had been in touch with the Hurricanes before he arrived. He wore #66 and played guard on offence and on the defensive line, as well as on special teams. He was made a team captain, and the club believed he was the first exchange student to captain the Hurricanes. Team-mates knew him as "Cap'n Kyle".

That season the Hurricanes won the Southern Conference Eastern Division and scored 413 points in the regular season, a league record. As offence captain he received University club colours for his outstanding contribution to the team. At season's end he was named Team Most Valuable Player, and the club gave him his Hurricanes game helmet to take home.

Our thoughts are with all who knew him.