Titans Win a Record 3 Northern Divisional Titles in 2026 Season

Over the past two weekends our Manchester Titans senior team, U19s, and U16s have all won their respective Northern Division titles, something that has never been done before in the club’s history. In 2025 the seniors and the U19s both won their divisions but the U16s narrowly missed out, though they did win the Plate Final in the National Playoffs.

Head Coach George Foster and Defensive Line Coach Lewis Potts enjoying themselves on the sideline. Photo by Rory MacNair.

On Sunday 19 July the Premiership Manchester Titans and our U19s traveled up to East Kilbride together and beat the Pirates twice. This secured the Northern title for our Premiership team for the fifth consecutive season. We spoke with Head Coach George Foster after the EKP game:

Good afternoon Coach, congratulations on winning the Northern Premiership Division title for the fifth year in a row. Can you share your thoughts with our readers?

“It's a fantastic achievement and one we are incredibly proud of. To win the North 5 years on the bounce takes a massive and consistent effort from everyone involved. I can't thank them enough for their dedication to the club so it is very special to share these moments with them. With that said, the job's not done. We have 2 games to win in the regular season to secure an unbeaten record and then we can focus on the playoffs as we hunt a 3rd National Championship.”

HC George Foster and LB Rory Dodgson. Photo by Adam Edwards.

How is the team feeling as we head into these final two regular season games? How are you staying focused with the playoff excitement bubbling in the background? 

“We're feeling good, we lost a bit of momentum with the Summer break but we had a good win up in Glasgow and a couple of electric practices so the energy is certainly rebuilding. It's impossible to ignore the playoffs, we've been working towards that final goal all year. However, the most important event coming up is the next practice and then it's Merseyside at home on Saturday.”

Offensive Coordinator Alex Challands adds:

“It is always a joy to win and retain the Crown in the North, and being able to do this 5 years in a row is a testament to the hard work we as team put in each year. I say this to the players at the start of the year, that the game to win the North is one of only 3 that are truly important. The team have put a lot of effort in so far, and this is the first step to challenging for the [National] Crown.”

Order your Manchester Titans Northern Premiership Five-Time Champions shirt here.

The second Titans team to secure their Divisional title were our U16s. On Saturday 25 July our youngest contact team won both games to secure the top seed in the North and the best seeding in the playoffs.

The first game saw them trounce the North East Academy Giants, winning 48-6. The second game of the day against the Lancashire Buccaneers ended 50-22 in favour of the Titans. Our young QBs were on a roll, throwing dimes all day, knowing exactly where to find their speedy receivers. Both games can be watched back on our YouTube channel.

As the #1 seed, our U16s will play the East Kilbride Pirates (#5) and the Birmingham Lions (#4) in the Northern Playoffs on August 8th - to be hosted at Belle Vue Stadium.

Order your Manchester Titans U16 Northern Champions shirt here.

The Titans U19s win over EKP U19s put them in a position to secure a Division Title of their own the week after. On Sunday 26 July a victory over the Lancashire Buccaneers would put our U19s at 5-1 and top of the leaderboard for North & Scotland.

And a victory they got - decisively concluding their regular season with a 50-6 full time score at a wet and windy Belle Vue. Thank you to everyone who braved the weather to cheer our lads on! The full game is available to watch back on our YouTube channel.

Manchester Titans U19s celebrating their 50-6 victory on 26 July 2026.

We spoke with U19s Head Coach Sean Howe after the game:

“This was truly a team win. We set the standard leading up to the game that we can't switch off, it was a win or go home scenario. The team understood that and delivered. Each unit - offence, defence and special teams - contributed big plays including touchdowns on all three phases. The team started this season 0-1 which wasn't ideal but now I see it as a blessing in disguise. That loss sparked the fire in the team. We refocused to ensure we were a process focused program. The recent results show the success of this with us becoming back to back division champions. Now it's time to fully focus on the playoffs to secure a spot in the Britbowl final.”

Defensive Coordinator Devan Darcy said:

“It’s been an absolute privilege to coach this defence. From the first session, the players completely bought into what we were trying to build. We spoke all season about being focussed on the process rather than being driven by the outcome. We never talked about winning the division or allowing a certain number of points. We talked about doing the little things right every single day, winning our individual battles, playing with relentless effort, trusting our teammates and staying disciplined. The boys committed to that philosophy from day one, and this weekend they got the reward they deserved.

I honestly believe the Northern & Scotland Division is the toughest division in the country. Every week we faced high-powered offences capable of putting points on the board, with East Kilbride, Edinburgh and the Highlands all presenting completely different challenges. To come through that schedule and finish the regular season allowing fewer than 10 points per game is a testament to the work these players have put in since the very beginning.

As proud as I am of what we’ve achieved defensively, Championships are never won by one side of the ball. Our offence, special teams, coaching staff and everyone behind the scenes have all played a huge part in getting us to this point. Most importantly, the players deserve every bit of the credit. They’ve worked relentlessly, trusted the process and earned every bit of this success.

Winning the division is something we’re incredibly proud of, but it doesn’t change our mindset. The standard remains the same, the process remains the same, and now our full focus turns to the playoffs. We’re looking forward to the challenge ahead and seeing what this group is capable of achieving together.”

Order your Manchester Titans U19 Northern & Scotland Champions Tee here.

Our U19s next face the Nottingham Caesars in an away fixture at Nottingham on Sunday 16 August.

For more Titans football at Belle Vue make sure you get your tickets for the upcoming Premiership North game against the Merseyside Nighthawks on Saturday 1 August.

The week after, on Saturday 8 August, we host the Nottingham Caesars in our final Premiership North regular season game. This game will kick off at 6pm after the U16 Northern Playoffs. Don’t miss this epic day of British American Football!

Triple Away Game Weekend: Double Victory over Pirates and Fifth Northern Crown

Titans U19s go 4-1 and the Adult Contact Team are crowned Premiership North Champions for the 5th year in succession.

By Timothy Foster

On Saturday 18th July our Titans Women travelled south to Greenwich to take on the London Warriors in their final game of the 2026 NWFL season. Interrupting the Warriors’ end of season party, a diminished Titans squad arrived for a 4pm kick off in the blazing sun and left with a 55-0 loss, ending their season 0-6. Titans Women will not progress to the playoffs this season but after having successfully navigated a difficult re-build year their focus is now on preparing for 2027.

RB and DB Emily Rodrigues at Avery Hill Campus, 18 July 2026 (Photo by Hannah McManus)

Mind-blowingly, the next morning a number of Titans Women’s players, coaches and team management (some rotating functions) arrived 440 miles north to take on the East Kilbride Pirates for an U19 and Adult Contact double header at the Pirates’ home ground.

Going into the game EKP’s U19s were unbeaten (5-0) and the Titans U19s were on a three-match winning streak in Division 1 Scotland & North, so a tough battle was expected. Titans Adult Contact always expect a tough challenge from a combative EKP outfit, so a strong yet slightly reduced roster knew they were in for a battle too in the BAFA Premiership North.

A 5:45 start for a 12:00 kick-off was not an easy task but Titans U19s took a 1st Quarter lead when stand-in QB Bailey Cross (#21) scrambled for a touchdown after a turnover by Fin Norton (DB, #1). However, EKP hit back and multiple missed tackles allowed a TD run-in to make the score level at 6-6 (both extra point conversions missed). The EKP QB (#12) showed the power of his arm on multiple occasions, but the Titans secondary were up to the challenge, and the sides went into the half on level terms.

Bailey Cross (QB, #21) with the run-in to score the opening touchdown at GHA RFC, 19 July 2026. Photo by Adam McCulloch.

EKP took the lead in the 3rd Quarter with a “tush push” but in an attempt to stretch the lead they failed on their two-point conversion. Great defensive play by the Titans kept them in the game and QB Cross found Darrion Banton (WR, #9) with a pass down the middle for a fantastic touchdown. Titans held their nerve and completed the only extra point conversion of the game to go one point clear. Heroic defence in the closing moments of the game got them a well-earned victory. Titans U19 are now 4-1 on the season with one regular season game left - Lancashire Buccaneers at home on Sunday 26 July.

Alex Lenkowski (K, #17) booting the rock through the uprights. Photo by Katie Stepek.

Stoic defence was the name of the game for the Adult Contact team too, as the EKP QB (#10) dominated field position for most parts of the 1st Quarter. However, the arm of Josh Mills (QB, #3) prevailed and on two occasions he found Brad Temple (WR, #1) and Sam Wilson (WR, #88) who had burned their defensive coverage. One extra point conversion put the Titans 0-13 up (with the ball boys scrambling in the bushes looking for the ball, likely cursing Alex Lenkowski’s name (K, #17)). EKP hit back as a result of good field position with a safety and a run-in TD for an 8-13 scoreline at the end of the 1st Quarter.

BK Ndlovu (WR, #23) at GHA RFC, 19 July 2026. Photo by Katie Stepek.

A pick-six and two-point conversion put EKP in the lead 16-13, but Hafeez Bisiriyu (RB, #34) cut an arching run into the corner and the extra-point conversion was good putting the score at half time at 16-20. Titans then stepped up in the 3rd Quarter with a couple of great catches downfield by Brad Temple and Matt Wilson (WR, #81) set up perfect field position for Josh Mills to keep a speed option with the OL creating the perfect gap for him. Josh then found Connor Greenhalgh (WR, #11) with a pass down the middle and he powered away from his chasers.

The 3rd Quarter score of 16-32 was to be the final score, but not before some lung-busting defensive stands and turnovers on downs. Scott Tomlinson (OL, #56) and Conor Hewitt (OL, #71) put a shift in on DL towards the end of the game but “having done it before relied on muscle memory”. Shout-outs to DC James Dean, Lewis Potts’ “D-Line Dogs” and Allan Murdoch’s Defensive Backs for withstanding the onslaught that EKP threw at them, with some great interceptions by Derrick Florence (DB, #40 - his first pick leading to the Titans’ first TD of the day) and Dan Ward (DB, #6). But most of all to the coaches, staff, and players for completing 5 consecutive Premiership North Championships.

Fancy footwork from Herm Manga (RB, #80). Photo by Katie Stepek.

The shared coach journey home turned into karaoke, and the author’s imagination has Tyler Browne (WR, #29) giving a rendition of Mambo No. 5, and wondering whether Coach Foster’s Caroline was Sweet?

[The editorial team can confirm Tyler Browne sang Snooze by SZA and Coach Foster performed Eminem’s Lose Yourself. However, the author will be glad to know the entire coach was singing Sweet Caroline as they pulled into Gretna Green services.]

With the Titans now at 6-0 on the season with two more regular season games to play, they have secured the top seed in the North which grants them a home semi-final. At the time of writing, the Premiership South is as yet undecided on who it will send up north to Manchester for their playoff game. The likely candidate will be London Blitz, but there could still be some more surprises down South!

Your five-time Northern Champions! Photo by Katie Stepek.

Manchester Titans play at home next against the Merseyside Nighthawks on Saturday 1 August, then host the Nottingham Caesars on Saturday 8 August. Get your tickets now!

Titans Women and U19 Weekend Match Reports

By Timothy Foster

Small but mighty, Kemmi Crosby (WR, #11) taken down by two Warriors. Photo by @galagepics.

On Saturday 4th July Titans Women hosted the London Warriors (NWFL Premiership) and the following day the Titans U19s hosted Edinburgh Napier Knights (Division One Scotland & North). Both games kicked off at 12:00 with volunteers from the Mixed Adult Contact Team (Saturday and Sunday) and the Women’s Contact Team (Sunday) as ball-persons and chain crew" and the Merch stand in demand on both days. Both games were live-streamed on our YouTube channel and can be watched back online in full if you missed the games.

The London Warriors are a seasoned team who have competed in the National Finals multiple times and exactly a year ago they won a 0-52 victory in Manchester. This year they came up against a resurgent and very different Titans team full of tough tackling and hard running. Although the result was the same this year the scoreline of 8-19 showed huge progress for our Titans Women - the game was hard-fought and the teams were of equal determination and quality.

Erika Patao (LB/RB, #14) and Maryann Alozie (QB, #9) powering up the Titans run game. Photo by @galagepics.

It’s always nice to face ex-Titan, now-Warrior, and friend Kenya Peters (WR, #12) and she felt the full force of the Titans’ defensive effort, but her perseverance prevailed with a run-in TD in the final quarter. Titans’ TD was a great pick-six by Katie Sykes (DB, #33) whose pace saw her score from the halfway line in the second quarter. Emily Rodrigues (RB, #19) ran in the two-point conversion to make it 8-13 at the half, after two Warriors TDs in the first quarter had given them a 0-13 lead. The game saw standout performances from all players putting their bodies on the line, and a good first start for rookie Maryann Alozie (QB, #9). 

Ready for kick off vs Edinburgh Napier Knights. Photo by @shotsby.lozz

On Sunday 5th July two packed rosters of U19s players took to the field in what was an even game to-ing and fro-ing on the scoreline and field position. Titans took the initiative in the first quarter after early strong defending from LB #18 and a swarming defence, and then a great punt and turnover put the Titans on the front foot. A QB (#2) keeper, scrambling and then with dancing feet taking him over the line, with an extra point success. A pick-six from DB (#23) made the score 13-0.

The second quarter saw a momentum swing; Knights scored with a QB ‘keeper’ and then a brilliant pass from their own half was caught downfield for another touchdown. Two extra point conversions made the score 13-14 as play neared the half. Knights however went for it on 4th down in their own half with the clock ticking and the QB was nailed by the edge-rushing Titans #11. The final play of the half saw Titans QB roll out and find #8 by the pylon with a fantastic grab. A two-point conversion was good from the same combination and at the half the score was 21-14.

Titans U19 in the huddle. Photo by @shotsby.lozz.

A Titans fumble and Knights recovery lead to the first score of the second half, bringing Knights to within one point, but the Titans took control with tight defensive lines. The Titans QB with a throw down the middle found #10 with a great catch and run, an extra point in the 3rd quarter and then a brilliant run from #88, reversing the field and outpacing the defence down the Knights sideline in the 4th quarter brought an entertaining game to a close – final score 35-20.

Thanks to Tyler Browne for commentating Saturday’s live stream and entertaining the crowd on the PA on Sunday. Thanks also to the London Warriors and the Edinburgh Napier Knights for two excellent games.

Our next home games are the Titans U16s home tournament on Saturday July 25, the Titans U19s vs Lancashire Buccaneers on Sunday July 26, and the Manchester Titans vs the Merseyside Nighthawks on Saturday 1 August.

Titans Double Header in the Manchester Sun

By Timothy Foster

The Manchester Titans hosted their second double header of the season at a sunny Belle Vue on Saturday 20th June with Titans Women taking on Teesside Steelers and Titans Men tussling with the East Kilbride Pirates. The game day team put on a fantastic professional show with the tailgating enhanced by the presence of the Killa Carbs Pizza Company, Cocktail Cartel, Vanoffee, and a very active and welcoming merchandise stand. 

Erika Patao (LB, #14) and Emily Rodrigues (DB, #15) with the tackle on the Teesside RB (20 June 2026). Photo by Hannah McManus.

The first game saw Titans Women play a game of two halves. In the first half they struggled to gain momentum on the offence, but the defence gave a strong performance following an equally impressive outing at Birmingham Lions the weekend before. They were down 0-8 at the end of the first quarter and strong Teesside running in the second quarter saw two more TDs. Going into half-time it was 0-22.

Madeleine Tjalma with a TD run (20 June 2026). Photo by Malcolm Burke.

At the start of the second half a switch to Madeleine Tjalma (#1) at QB put Titans on the front foot with a series of run-plays. In the 4th Quarter Maddy ran in a TD from her own 41-yard line to put points on the board for the Titans. After a FT score of 6-22, many of the Teesside team and the Titans Women’s team stayed to watch the Titans game against East Kilbride.

From left to right: Charlie Martin (QB, #16), Destiny “Tiny” Olusegun (DL, #90), Robin Paier (DL, #98) on 20 June 2026. Photo by Malcolm Burke.

Our Manchester Titans were led onto the field by the sword-carrying Sam Wilson (WR, #88), cheered on by a crowd of over 300 fans, with 18 pupils of Highfield Primary School making themselves heard – “Lets Go Titans, Lets Go!!” This was no ‘artificial noise’ but pure human exuberance! The power play from the Titans started from the first whistle and a strong first quarter saw them lead 28-0. The first TD was from the pace of Hafeez Bisiriyu (RB, #34) who found an edge to run in from deep. Sam Wilson was found in the endzone by QB Josh Mills (#3) and then great blocking allowed rushing TD’s from Hafeez and Nathan Jewkes (RB, #12), both again from deep. All single point conversions were good from Alex Lenkowski (#17).

Sam Wilson (WR, #88) vs East Kilbride, 20 June 2026. Photo by Malcolm Burke.

The first play of the second quarter was a more impressive repeat of Brad Temple’s (WR, #1) catch and run-in from the Coventry game. EKP scored with a great catch but failed in a two-point conversion. Nathan Jewkes found a seam starting from his own 20-yard line and powered to the endzone supported by wingmen blockers and a field goal from Alex Lenkowski saw a half-time score of 45-6. Squad rotation in the second half saw good displays from Alex Ross (QB, #8) and the return from injury from Charlie Martin (QB, #16) and two field goals from the 100% boot of Alex Lenkowski brought a final score of 51-6.

Dan Ward (DB, #6) and Herminio Manga (RB, #80) with the tackle on Special Teams (20 June 2026). Photo by Malcolm Burke.

A special shout out is deserved for aggressive defence from LBs Rory Dodgson (#2) and Abdul (“Mad Dog”) Madougou (#18). The standout performance however was from our “12th Man”, the boys and girls from Highfield Primary who entertained the crowd with their chanting throughout the game and were rewarded at the end of the game with players signing their Titans merchandise and autograph books. On Father’s Day weekend there were a number of proud Dads in the stands who would echo the young voices: “T-I-T-A-N-S Titans are the very best!” on a day under Belle Vue Blue Skies remembered for the running of Maddy, Hafeez, Nathan, and Brad and our 12th Man. Our thanks go out to the teachers and pupils of Highfield Primary - special teachers make special memories.

Highfield Primary on their school trip to cheer on the Manchester Titans (20 June 2026). Photo by Karina Foster.

Titans Women play at home next on Saturday 4 July. Our Titans U19s play at home on Sunday 26 July.

The men’s team are back at home on Saturday 1 August. Get your tickets here!

Back to back away wins take Titans to 4-0

By: Timothy Foster

Since the CEFL Quarter Final learning experience, benchmarking themselves against one of Europe’s finest, our Manchester Titans have played and convincingly won two away games at Nottingham Caesars (7-45) and Coventry Phoenix (7-40). At the halfway point of the regular season of the BAFA Premiership North Titans stand at 4-0 with three wins on the road.

Boris Gavin (LB, #55) with the tackle (30 May 2026). Photo by Jude Armitage.

First came a trip to Nottingham on May 30th, with Titans playing in White and Blue. Cade Makin (DL, #94) scooped up a fumble and rumbled over from short range, sparking riotous celebrations. Djoss Balela (DB, #0) ran in a pick-six, and great end-zone catches by Connor Greenhalgh (WR, #11) and Brad Temple (WR, #1) kept the scoreboard moving. A five yard burst from Matt Kinsey (RB, #26) found a seam for a TD and ‘twinkle-toes’ Sam Penfold (WR, #10) somehow found his way down the Titans’ sideline, at pace, to run in another score [“it’s ‘cos I have small feet” he explained], and the immaculate boot of Alex Lenkowski saw all extra point conversions and a Field Goal. The only response from Nottingham was from a great catch (and then missed tackle) in the third quarter. Otherwise, [Defensive Coordinator] JD’s defence were impenetrable.

Celebrations for Sam Penfold (WR, #10) and the Titans (30 May 2026). Photo by Jude Armitage.

The trip to Coventry was a more daunting proposition on paper (so it’s a good job we play on 4G!). Coventry took to the field bristling with confidence in an Aztecs-like all-orange kit (Titans were in Blue and White). As we have seen in the past three seasons, the first quarter arm-wrestle was tough. Alex Lenkowski settles the nerves with a Field Goal, but two personal fouls marched Titans back into their own redzone and Phoenix converted that advantage with a great catch and extra point to go 7-3 up. That was the last seen of any Phoenix threat and JD’s defence held strong throughout. Josh Mills (QB, #3) ran in a ‘keeper’ to put Titans up by 10 at the end of the first quarter.

Phoenix Offence smothered by Titans Defence (14 June 2026). Photo by Kieran Grant.

The second quarter was surreal. Brad Temple took a catch at pace to run in a TD and Kristian Dean (WR, #15) scored his first TD for the Manchester Titans in the Adult Contact League with a good catch in the endzone. Inside the two-minute warning FJ (DB, #13) ran in two identical pick-sixes with Titans heading into the half at 7-37! The second half saw fantastic squad rotation, with everyone stepping up repaying the faith shown by [Offensive Coordinator] Alex Challands, JD and rest of the coaching squad. The final play saw Sam Jones (DL, #59) take down the Phoenix QB for his first sack as a D-Lineman. 

Kristian Dean defying gravity vs Coventry Phoenix (14 June 2026). Photo by Kieran Grant.

Author’s note: This is the first match report written by this author since 2007 (and the first for American Football), so apologies for any (slight) inaccuracies and artistic licence!

Djoss Balela with the tackle (14 June 2026). Photo by Kieran Grant.

The Titans’ next game is at home against the East Kilbride Pirates on Saturday 20 June.

CEFL Quarter Final: Titans in Thonon

On Saturday 16 May the Manchester Titans played the current French and European Champions, the Thonon Black Panthers, in the second round of the 2026 Central European Football League Championship, the Champions League for European American Football. The team traveled to the town of Thonon-les-Bains on the picturesque shores of Lake Geneva in the East of France and got to face some of the best talent European Football has to offer.

With the Alps glistening in the background, both teams sang their respective national anthems in front of a crowd of over 2,000 (not bad for a town with a population of 38,000) and fought hard through all four quarters of the game. The final score was 55-8 to Thonon which means the Black Panthers will proceed to the semi-final and host the Firenze Guelfi at home.

Linebacker Abdul Madougou (#18) and Defensive Lineman Mike Wood (#52). Photo by Tom Lebret.

After a long journey back to Manchester we sat down with Head Coach George Foster to get his thoughts on the game. The fixture against the Thonon Black Panthers was his second experience in the CEFL, but for the vast majority of his traveling squad it was the first.

Tell us about the trip to Thonon, what was it like for the team to go out there to play the European Champions?

“It was an absolutely fantastic trip and a wonderful experience across the board. Thonon are an incredibly talented team and they were in playoff form so hit us at full speed. With thousands in the crowd the atmosphere was electric and the rendition of La Marseillaise will ring in my ears forever.”

WR Matt Wilson (#81). Photo by Alex Bertrand.

Obviously the scoreline isn't what we'd hoped but still a very good showing for British American Football for anyone who watched the game. What are some of your main takeaways from the fixture? 

“My only frustration is that the scoreline got away from us. We fought hard and held our own for large chunks of the game but we couldn't do it consistently enough. Thonon applied pressure throughout and jumped on every mistake we made, something the best teams do. We need to learn from how they controlled the game but on an individual play by play basis we were able to get our share of wins. So, overall feelings are incredibly positive but with plenty of learning opportunities at hand.”

Titans Centre Scott Tomlinson (#56) and the Titans Offensive Line. Photo by Alex Bertrand.

Are there any Titans players you think really stepped up in this game?

“There absolutely are! To name just a few - Sam Wilson, a wide receiver who joined us just this year, had an incredible game, as did LB Abdul [Madougou]. Defensive backs FJ and Djoss [Balela] showed up in a big way - both on and off the field. When heads were down and during tough moments Djoss was always there lifting up our sideline, keeping everyone’s heads in the game. Another name worth mentioning is our rookie Matio [Dias Narcy] who joined us this year from Manchester Metropolitan University. He’s only 19 and he stepped up when our starting RT Joel Shebioba went down on the first offensive play. Enormous boots to fill in a high pressure game and he did a fantastic job.”

WR Sam Wilson (#88) with an incredible catch down the sideline. Photo by Alex Bertrand.

What are some areas where you think the British game needs to improve to get better results on the international stage?

“There are a few areas that simply aren't replicated in the British game, the two main areas are the Quarterback play and overall speed of the game. Josh [Mills, Titans Quarterback] fought incredibly hard for us and showed he has the arm talent to beat even the strongest of European defences. However, watching Mateo [Renteria, Black Panthers Quarterback] control the game from the line of scrimmage, killing plays and checking into favourable looks, was something you just don't see very often in the UK. Combine that with his ability to manipulate the pocket and throw off-platform to excellent skill players, and you have a very difficult offence to stop. The second point follows on from this - the speed of thought and ability to process information is found throughout the team. Their defence is lightning fast in mind and body, something that is rare in the UK game.”

Wide Receivers Matt Wilson (#81), Sam Wilson (#88), and Offensive Lineman Josh Wallace (#68) celebrating Matt’s touchdown. Photo by Rory Macnair.

As the Head Coach, what would you say is your goal for this team and for the wider sport in the UK in general?

“During the trip we asked players for their favourite inspirational quotes. Mine? "Be the change that you wish to see.” Our goal as a management team is to create opportunities for our players. Whether that is developing them to succeed at their university team, developing them for GB or their own individual European adventures, organising trips such as this, or even just developing them as people and giving them a community where they feel at home. I have been incredibly lucky to have experienced this throughout my life in the various sports that I have been a part of. I see it as a duty, but also a privilege, to steer the Titans, and British American Football in general, towards a future that can offer this to the next generations coming through."

Post-game handshakes at Stade Joseph Moynat, Saturday 16 May 2026. Photo by Victor Bacquin.

We spoke briefly with Maddy, the Titans' Team Manager, who worked closely with the Thonon staff in the run-up to the game.

“On behalf of our club I would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to the Thonon Black Panthers for being excellent hosts and for a fantastic game of football. It was a privilege to play under the lights at your home ground in front of your dedicated fans and to feel so welcomed by everyone. You put on an incredible show. Thank you for your kindness, your hard work, and for this unforgettable experience. We hope to meet you again soon!”

Manchester Titans and Thonon Black Panthers at Stade Joseph Moynat, Saturday 16 May 2026. Photo by Coralie Bizart.

Week 3 Review: Mixed Results in Titans Double Header

The dust has settled on what was an explosive week 3 for the Manchester Titans. Saturday 2 May saw the first home games of the Titans and Titans Women in the first double header of the 2026 season at Belle Vue.

Liz Majka (QB, #22) in the pocket vs Solent Thrashers. 2 May 2026. Photo by Hannah McManus.

Titans Women took an early lead against the Solent Thrashers after capitalising on a fumble recovery and good field position. However, Solent answered quickly by getting the ball into their star receiver Tuva Strom's hands and into the endzone. Touchdowns from Erika Patao, Madeleine Tjalma, Emma Kennaman, Emily Rodrigues, Tuva Strom, and Eilidh Currie took the final score to 31-63. A tough defeat at home, but the focus is now on the matchup against the undefeated Birmingham Lions on Saturday 13 June. 

Titans Women vs Solent Thrashers, 2 May 2026. Photo by Hannah McManus.

Later that afternoon in the second game of the double header, the Titans beat their Northern Division rival. After going 0-14 down in the first quarter against the Coventry Phoenix, the Titans rallied and ended the game with a 27-14 victory. WR Sam Wilson #88 got his first touchdown as a Titan in his debut game in blue. Settling into the season's rhythm, they now prepare for their CEFL fixture in Thonon-les-Bains on Saturday 16 May. 

Josh Mills (QB, #3) and Sam Wilson (WR, #88) celebrating in the end zone. Photo by Rory Macnair.

Both Titans teams play at home next on Saturday 20 June in another double header event. Titans Women face the Teesside Steelers at 12:00 and your Manchester Titans welcome the East Kilbride Pirates to Belle Vue for their matchup at 15:00.

Week 1 Review: Titans beat Nighthawks, Titans Women Lose by 1 Point

The first weekend of the BAFA National Leagues powered by Union Jack Classic saw two of our teams travel for an away fixture - one team to Durham, another to… South Manchester?

Saturday - Manchester Titans Women vs Teesside Steelers

Starting our weekend on Saturday 18 April in Maiden Castle, Durham the Titans Women took the Steelers by surprise by scoring first. RB Emily Rodrigues #15 in her debut as a Titan got the first points on the board on the opening offensive drive which set the tone for the rest of the game. The Steelers’ speedy RB Gaby Derrick racked up most of the points for Teesside but it was close and competitive throughout with the Titans up by one point at the half. 

With mere moments left in the fourth quarter, QB Liz Majka #22 found WR Jess Dovey #30 in the endzone, making it 25-26. A daring attempt at a 2-pt conversion to take the lead unfortunately fell short of the mark. The atmosphere was electric and both teams congratulated each other on a solid performance, looking forward to the rematch at Belle Vue on 20 June.

We got Head Coach Scott Tomlinson’s thoughts after the game:

“Honestly the game was a spectacle. A massive shoutout to the two coordinators I have, George Foster (OC) and Stuart Robinson (DC). They adjusted well and kept us in it. We knew our expectations this season, the team banded together and we’re now already hitting those targets. Having 5 people debut for Titans is a huge achievement and shows that this team will only go from strength to strength not only this season but even further into the future. Looking forwards to the game against Solent [on 2 May] - every game will be competitive but if we continue to execute as we have been it’s going to make for a very entertaining game.”

Sunday - Manchester Titans vs Merseyside Nighthawks

Fast forward to Sunday 19 April, at what turned out to be more of a home game than expected, fans, friends, family, and a very loud cohort of Titans alumni crowded the fences at the Armitage Centre to cheer on their boys in royal blue. Knowing what the people had come to see, the Titans put 7 touchdowns on the Merseyside Nighthawks and still left the crowd wanting more.

We spoke to Head Coach George Foster after the game:

“Fairly happy with the game, it took us a little longer than we would have liked to get fully up to speed but that is to be expected for the first game of the season. Defensively we put on a good show and had answers to everything that Merseyside threw at us which was good to see. Offensively we grew as the game developed and started to really hit our standard in the second half. On specials we had a couple of big returns and blocked up our kicks well. So overall a strong performance but plenty for us to work on over the next couple of weeks as we prepare for Coventry.”

Speaking on the offensive performance, OC Alex Challands said “It was a good effort to get any pre-season rust out of the system ready for a hectic May. We showed strong throughout the game, and ran away with it whilst rotating in the second half, which is a testament to the effort put in throughout the depths of the squad so early on in the season.”

It was a great outing for new players on the squad with one touchdown for ex-Newcastle Viking WR Matt Wilson #81, and one for rookie RB Herminio Manga #80 in their Titans debuts. In the second half of the game back-up QB and ex-Chester Roman Alex Ross bagged himself his first two passing touchdowns in his debut as a Titan. Another Titans debutant Ben Komba got the first interception of the season and his first interception as a Titan. In the meantime, the rest of the Titans defence ground down the Merseyside offence, leaving the Nighthawks with negative yardage on the day. 

A solid 46-0 victory to start the 2026 season puts the Titans at 1-0 after Week 1. 

Both Titans teams play next at home on Saturday 2 May. Titans Women against the Solent Thrashers at 12pm and Manchester Titans against Coventry Phoenix at 3pm. Get your tickets today!

One Club, One Future

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Week 1: Manchester Titans and Titans Women Kick Off 2026 Season

British American Football is finally back! Week 1 of the BAFA National Leagues powered by Union Jack Classic kicks off this weekend with our Manchester Titans Premiership side and our Titans Women both playing a fixture against some very familiar opponents. 

Featured player: Madeleine Tjalma (WR, #1)

Manchester Titans Women vs Teesside Steelers - 18 April 2026

Saturday 18 April sees our Women’s team traveling up North to face the Teesside Steelers. After a disappointing 2025 season, a lot of changes have been made to the team’s management, its player base, and coaching roster. 

Speaking to our new Head of Women’s Contact Football, ex-Great Britain player Liz Majka, she tells us “The team has gone through a lot of changes, which have all been taken in stride by every player and staff member. We have Scott [Tomlinson] at the helm leading us as HC, with our DC and OC being from GB backgrounds whether that’s playing or coaching. Last year the Titans were a very different team.” She adds, “We are here to play, and bring as much competition as we can to each opponent we face.”

We also spoke with Scott Tomlinson, current Head Coach of Titans Women and long-time Offensive Lineman for the Manchester Titans. When asked what he’s most looking forward to this season, he said “It’s been a couple of seasons since I’ve coached the Women’s team. I am really excited to get back out there and put that Manchester stamp back on the league. The thing I’m most looking forward to is seeing how far the team has come since the start of pre-season and seeing all the hard work from both players and staff finally come to a head.”

As interim HC in 2023, Scott coached the Women’s team all the way to a silver medal in the 7s final against Teesside. He says “I would have to take my socks and shoes off to count the amount of times I have coached against Teesside. They have always been a hard team to go against but that means it’s always a really fun battle.”

It’s clear this will be a test of how Titans Women have prepared during the off and pre-season, but it’s also an opportunity for a fresh start. Liz says, “For me this season is all about rebuilding. We’ve had a new influx of rookies who have taken to the sport like a fish to water and I’m so excited to see everything come together for their debut.”

Mary Priestner, the Women’s Team Manager and Head Medic, says “I’ve been around this team now for 3 years and I don’t think I’ve ever been so excited for a season. Some of the experience [the new coaches] bring is next level and that’s exciting for the players. We are ready to hit the ground running and most importantly have some fun playing football again.”

Titans Women kick off against Teesside Steelers at 1.30pm at Maiden Castle, DH1 3SE. Stay tuned for score updates on the Women’s Contact Instagram page @mcrtitanswomens! 

Featured player: Brad Temple (WR, #1)

Manchester Titans vs Merseyside Nighthawks - 19 April 2026

On Sunday 19 April, the Manchester Titans Premiership side travel all the way to Fallowfield for their away fixture against the Merseyside Nighthawks. A familiar opponent from years gone by, the Nighthawks dropped down to Division 1 after the 2024 season but are now back in the Premiership North.

Speaking to Head Coach George Foster, he tells us “I’m looking forward to it. Merseyside had a great year to bounce back last season so will be coming into the game with a lot of momentum. There will always be surprises but we’ve prepped well and I’m sure our players will handle those surprises when they pop up.”

George is going into his second year as Head Coach for the Titans and is staying the course he charted for the team in 2025. He says, “Prep is mostly the same as last year, but we have certainly been able to carry over our momentum from last year. We’re focusing on our fundamentals and ensuring we are executing our skills at a high level. We’ve been very lucky to welcome a large group of new players again this year. We continue to get younger and hungrier, so I’m very excited to see some of the younger guys continue to step up.”

Asked what he’s most looking forward to in the 2026 season, he says “Seeing the guys go out and compete. It’s always special seeing their hard work come to fruition in a game. Nothing beats the atmosphere of a game day when everyone is firing!”

The Titans kick off against Merseyside at 2pm at the Armitage Centre on Moseley Road, M14 6PA. Entry to this game is free.

Catch the Titans and Titans Women at our double header home opener at Belle Vue Stadium on Saturday 2 May! Get your tickets today.

One Club, One Future

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62 Titans selected for Great Britain National Programmes

Titans QB Charlie Martin at the GB trial in Derby, January 2026. Photo by Harvey Steele.

As the Great Britain Contact Teams gear up for their respective camps tomorrow in Derby and Nottingham, we’d like to congratulate and celebrate our 62 Titans who earned a coveted spot in the National Programmes for 2026.

We are immensely proud of all our contact and flag players whose hard work has paid off and who now get to represent their country in the sport they love. It’s an honour to have you be part of our club. We wish you the best of luck in securing a spot on the game day squads, the whole club is behind you!

Titans Coach Eliot Hutton at the GB trial in Derby, January 2026. Photo by Harvey Steele.

We are also proud of all our Titans coaches who are involved with the GB Men’s Performance, Development, Academy, Women’s Performance, and Men’s Flag programmes. With their knowledge, commitment, and dedication to this sport they not only make our club better, but they also elevate British American Football at the international level.

The first GB contact fixture in 2026 will be Great Britain Women vs Germany on Sunday 31 May at the Nick Newbold Stadium in Coventry. Tickets are available to purchase online and on the door on the day.

Titans WR Madeleine Tjalma at the GB trial in Derby, January 2026. Photo by Sarah Hurley.

Later this year the GB Men’s Development Team travel to Georgia on the weekend of 10-11 October. The week after on 17-18 October there will be a double header at home for the Performance team against Norway and the Development team against Spain. The Performance squad then travel to Finland on the weekend of 24-25 October.

Titans WR Matt Wilson at GB Camp on 28 March 2026. Photo by @br7film

See below the full list of GB Titans for 2026.

Great Britain Men’s Contact - Performance and Development

• Aaron Wilmot

• Abdul Madougou

• Alex Challands (coach)

• Alex Lenkowski

• Allan Murdoch (coach)

• Ben Komba

• Cade Makin

• Charlie Evans

• Charlie Martin

• Clement Magaji

• Daniel Ward

• Danylo Szlachetko Blackburn

• Darrion Banton

• Destiny Olusegun

• Djoss Balela

• Fin Norton

• Fred Nash

• Gabe Wiseman

• George Foster (coach)

• Harry McDermott

• Isaiah Shebioba

• Jack Mayfield

• James Eaton

• James Williams

• Jerome Darko

• Joe Partington

• Joel Shebioba

• Jonathan Omal

• Josh Mills

• Manny Eze

• Matt Wilson

• Mike Thompson

• Munashe Nunurai

• Owen Smith

• Robin Paier

• Sam Bloomfield

• Sam Fossey (coach)

• Tio Benjamin

• Tion Fortune

• Tom Jones

Great Britain Women’s Contact Performance

• B West

• Chloe Southard

• Eliot Hutton (coach)

• Emily Rodrigues

• Kiera Collier

• Madeleine Tjalma

• Rivka Moore

• Ruby Watson

• Tilley Edwards

Great Britain Academy

• Ako Adefulu

• Axel Tahoe

• Bailey Cross

• Gael Cavezzale

• Marcus Hood

• Ron Buraimoh

• Ryan Parkinson

• Sarim Rafique

• Sean Howe (coach)

Great Britain Men’s Flag

• Ash Lancashire (coach)

• Luke Sweeney

Great Britain Women’s Flag - Development

• Charlotte Townsend

• Chloe Southard

• Lucy Rowlands

Great Britain Youth Flag

• Evan Day

• Gael Cavezzale

This list is accurate at the time of writing on 10 April 2026.