Nene Valley Hybrids History Northamptonshire used to boast two fully kitted teams, the Rockingham Rebels, who played in Kettering and the Northants Storm, who played in Wellingborough. The county has a proud tradition, being one of the first ever to field a team in the UK, winning a National Title in 1985, narrowly loosing the 1990 National Senior League Championship and recording two unbeaten National Championship Youth winning teams in 1990 and 1991. The Nene Valley Hybrids will eventually field teams to represent the county in each division within the UK, Cadet, Youth, Collegiate and Senior, allowing players from the age of 12 upwards to enjoy one of the most powerful and dynamic sports in the world. We have taken the name 'Hybrids' because our success is dependent on the talents and experience of former Rebels & Storm players. We represent a coming together of the two opposing teams for the good of the game - a Hybrid if you like. Under new league regulation we are and will remain the sole representatives in the sport for the county of Northamptonshire. The Northants Stormbringers were formed in 1984 and were named after a Santa Pod Drag racer. One of the original 'Big Five' UK teams, the Northants Storm reached the Budweiser League Semi-Finals in 1986 and played a major role in the development of the sport in this country, playing some of the earliest games in the UK. Having made their first conference championship in 1989 they were fortunate enough to be coached by Don Markham (who coached the Helsinki Roosters to EuroBowl II success) who renamed the team the Northants Storm and changed their kit from Green and Gold to Black and Silver. The Senior team had their best season in 1990, winning 9 out of 10 regular season games, before reaching the NDMA Final, held at Crystal Palace, where they lost 27-25 to the Manchester Spartans. Financial troubles beset the team and they went into declining during the mid to late 1990's before folding at the end of the dismal 1997 season. The youth team was perhaps the best and most successful ever to play the game in the UK. It ran from 1987 to 1991, being born essentially out of the Kettering Kestrels youth two-touch team. The youth team took the league by storm (literally) during 1990 and 1991 when it was coached by Johnny Atlas and Bill Janquish using Don Markham's system. During those two years the youth team was unstoppable posting unbeaten regular season records and winning the Youth Kitted title in both years. The Rockingham Rebels were also formed in 1984, after some of the players and coaches split with the Stormbringers. Bob Lee was only Head Coach that the Rebels ever had, from the start in 1984, until the team folded in 1995 due to lack of players and finances. Bob Lee, who was a standout football and baseball player in his youth, was a the type of coach who always let you know where you stood, and in return he received respect and loyalty from his players. Training sessions could be torture at times, often continuing until someone brought up their breakfast, but it certainly stood the players in good stead come the season. Under Bob Lee, the Rebels were the the second ever team to win a Bowl game in Britain, the BAFF in 1985/86 and afterwards featured in the playoffs more years than not. At the Hybrids, we are always looking for players and coaching/admin staff alike and any involvement that you can offer will be very much appreciated. The team is still very much in the early stages, although we have already attracted a good deal of interest. Success will, however, require a great deal of support and help - so if you have the relevant skills, contact us today. If you lack the relevant skills, contact us today and we'll see to it that you develop them!