Southern Sundevils (American football)
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| Established | 1987 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Folded | 2008 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Home stadium | ROKO Leisure Centre, Portsmouth (to 2008) |
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| Head coach | Russell Hewitt | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| General manager | Mike Shaw | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| League | BAFL | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| League titles | None | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Division titles | 2 (1998, 2004) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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The Southern Sundevils were an American football team who competed in the Southern Conference of British American Football League (BAFL) Division One (the second tier of national competition). They played their home games at the ROKO Leisure Centre in Portsmouth, Hampshire, England. Russ Hewitt was the current general manager and head coach. Russ had been with the team since its inception as a player on the youth team and has progressed through the Senior level and since retiring from player was involved in the management and coaching side of the organisation. Many former Sundevil members have coached or played for national sides, with some going on to trial and play for professional or semi-professional teams.
The club was founded as the Eastleigh Royals in October 1987 by 20 young football enthusiasts. The team entered youth competition playing in two-touch competition. The team started their first season in the Southern Conference with defeats at Bournemouth and Chelmsford before winning 14–12 against the Fortek Falcons. The season ended with a 2–6 record.
In 1989 Colin O'Field became team manager and along with new coaching staff the team record improved to 4-4. The 1990 season had promised great things with the addition of Graham Thorpe to assist Coach Riley and so it proved, winning the Southern Conference with a perfect 8-0 record before losing to Waldron in the playoff quarterfinals. 1991 saw the team renamed as the Eastleigh Devils and end their tenure in the two-touch game. They finished the season with a 4–4 record, finishing third in their group and earning a wildcard playoff spot, where they lost 6–8 to the Bournemouth Raiders.
In 1992, the Eastleigh Devils entered the British Youth American Football Association to play youth kitted football in the Coastal Conference, where newly appointed Coach, Martin Keogh joined with Coach Thorpe to see the team win their group with a 4–2 record. As group winners, they were awarded home advantage but that proved to be of no avail as they were beaten heavily by the Southend Sabres, who would eventually be crowned champions.
In 1993, the team changed its name to their present title of the Southern Sundevils. They maintained their steady improvement to record a 7-1 season and the Southern Conference Championship before losing their first playoff match against the Heathrow Jets. On a more positive note, both coaches and five players were chosen for the Great Britain Crusaders team. 1994 was the Sundevils' last season in youth football. In a year which saw many of the more established players retiring and rookies joining the squad, they struggled, finishing bottom of their group.
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