Staffordshire Surge
Club History
In 1992 the Stoke Spitfires disbanded, leaving Staffordshire without an American Football team for the first time in 8 years.
Six of the former Spitfires players played for the Chester Romans the following year, and this experience ignited the ex-Spitfires’ enthusiasm to start a new team in Staffordshire.
The new team was formed as a members’ club, and with the addition of former players of the South Cheshire Refugees, they started training in January of 1994. An initial core of ten players slowly grew to a squad of twenty-five, and under Head Coach Anthony Athersmith the team began to gel together.
After much discussion, the membership voted to name the club “Staffordshire Surge” and the team was then accepted into the British Senior League Division IV for the inaugural season.
It was a ‘Surge’ of success
Most of the credit for the formation and following success of the Surge must be given to then Chairman, the late Geoff Lowe and his wife Debbie Lowe, for their enthusiasm and persistence to bring American football back to Staffordshire. Every year, when playing our local rivals, Crewe Railroaders, the best player over both games gets an award that is dedicated to the honour of Geoff Lowe and Dave Ollier, both who sadly lost their lives during Covid-19 but were instrumental in the success of our clubs.
Since its formation the club has grown to now boast a matchday squad of more than 60 players of all shapes, sizes and genders, and over a dozen dedicated coaches.
Check out our season records from 1994 onwards
| Year | Won | Lost | Tied | Points For | Points Against | Win Ratio (%) | Post Season Finish |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1994 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 410 | 26 | 100% | Reached the semi-final |
| 1995 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 168 | 98 | 63% | – |
| 1996 | 6 | 4 | 0 | 193 | 194 | 60% | Reached the quarter-final |
| 1997 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 158 | 129 | 60% | Reached the quarter-final |
| 1998 | 1 | 8 | 1 | 94 | 157 | 10% | – |
| 1999 | 2 | 6 | 0 | 160 | 188 | 25% | Reached the quarter-final |
| 2000 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 242 | 100 | 75% | – |
| 2001 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 120 | 44 | 75% | – |
| 2002 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 145 | 166 | 50% | – |
| 2003 | 7 | 2 | 1 | 236 | 120 | 70% | – |
| 2004 | 5 | 4 | 1 | 165 | 161 | 50% | – |
| 2005 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 143 | 256 | 50% | – |
| 2006 | 3 | 7 | 0 | 104 | 355 | 30% | – |
| 2007 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 132 | 126 | 50% | – |
| 2008 | 0 | 9 | 1 | 73 | 381 | 0% | – |
| 2009 | 8 | 2 | 0 | 251 | 58 | 80% | Reached the quarter-final |
| 2010 | 4 | 6 | 0 | 88 | 222 | 40% | – |
| 2011 | 2 | 8 | 0 | – | – | 20% | – |
| 2012 | 0 | 0 | 0 | – | – | 0% | – |
| 2013 | 2 | 8 | 0 | – | – | 20% | – |
| 2014 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 280 | 233 | 50% | – |
| 2015 | 8 | 2 | 0 | 330 | 167 | 80% | Reached the quarter-final |
| 2016 | 6 | 4 | 0 | 273 | 218 | 60% | Reached the quarter-final |
| 2017 | 6 | 4 | 0 | 216 | 183 | 60% | Reached the quarter-final |
| 2018 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 237 | 62 | 88% | Reached the semi-final |
| 2019 | 3 | 5 | 0 | – | – | 38% | Reached the quarter-final |
| 2020 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| 2021 | 2 | 5 | 0 | 42 | 145 | 29% | – |
| 2022 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 147 | 95 | 75% | Reached the quarter-final |
| 2023 | 7 | 3 | 0 | 248 | 151 | 70% | Reached the quarter-final |
| 2024 | 7 | 3 | 0 | 267 | 162 | 70% | Reached the semi-final |