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.

U16 Contact: 2026 Fixtures

U16 Contact Fixtures

We’re excited to announce our U16 Contact fixtures for 2026!

We play a 5-a-side version of American Football and at each tournament we play 2 games against different opponents.

Our season starts with Tournament 1 hosted by the Lancashire Buccaneers on 25 April with games against the Buccaneers and the Yorkshire Academy Assassins. On 9 May we travel to Chester to face the Romans and Darlington Steam and on 4 July we’re in Yorkshire to play Chester Romans and the North East Academy. The regular season concludes with Tournament 6 at home in Manchester on 25 July where we’ll go up against the Sheffield Giants and Lancashire Buccaneers. 

We’d love to see you at one of our games this year. Your support means the world to us, and entry is free!

It’s also not too late to join the team. If you are 14 or 15 years old, or you turned 16 after 31 August 2025, you are eligible to play for our U16s Contact team. We are a mixed team so girls and boys are both welcome. We will teach you everything you need to know!

All Youth Contact fixtures for 2026. Featured player: Jorge Santana (#2 QB, U19)

• Tournament 1

  Saturday 25 April

  Host: Lancashire Buccaneers

  Opponents: Lancashire Buccaneers, Yorkshire Academy Assassins

• Tournament 2

  Saturday 9 May

  Host: Chester Romans

  Opponents: Chester Romans, Darlington Steam

• Tournament 5

  Saturday 4 July

  Host: Yorkshire Academy Assassins

  Opponents: Chester Romans, North East Academy

• Tournament 6

  Saturday 25 July

  Host: Manchester Titans, Belle Vue Stadium, M12 4WB

  Opponents: Lancashire Buccaneers, Sheffield Giants

Other Manchester Titans Fixtures

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U19 Contact: 2026 Fixtures

U19 Contact Fixtures

We’re excited to announce our Under 19s Contact fixtures for 2026!

We play our first two games of the season against the Highland Wildcats at a neutral venue on 17 May and 13 June. On 21 June we travel to Lancashire to face the Buccaneers.

Our first home game of the season is on 5 July when we host the Edinburgh Napier Knights at Belle Vue. We then travel to Scotland with the Adult Contact team on 19 July for a double header against the East Kilbride Pirates.

We finish the regular season with a home game against the Lancashire Buccaneers on 26 July.

We’d love to see you at one of our games this year. Your support means the world to us, and entry is free! All home games are played at Belle Vue Stadium, Kirkmanshulme Lane, M12 4WB.

It’s also not too late to join the team. If you are between 16 and 18 years old, or you turned 19 after 31 August 2025, you are eligible to play for our U19s Contact team. We are a mixed team so girls and boys are both welcome. We will teach you everything you need to know!

All Youth Contact fixtures for 2026. Featured player: Jorge Santana (#2 QB, U19)

Other Manchester Titans Fixtures

Want to get involved?

Women’s Contact: 2026 Fixtures

Women’s Contact Fixtures

We’re excited to announce our Women’s Contact fixtures for 2026!

Our season starts with an away fixture against our Northern rivals, the Teesside Steelers. We then welcome the Solent Thrashers to Belle Vue on Saturday 2 May for a double serving of Titans football as our Adult Contact team take on Coventry Phoenix in the afternoon.

We play Birmingham away on 13 June and host Teesside at Belle Vue for the rematch on 20 June. In July we play the Warriors twice, at home on 4 July and away on 18 July.

The top teams will battle it out in the playoffs on 15 August, with the final taking place on 5 September.

We’d love to see you at one of our games this year. Your support means the world to us.

It’s also not too late to join the team. If you are 16+ you are eligible to play for our Women’s Contact team. Our experienced coaching staff will teach you everything you need to know!

Women’s Contact fixtures for 2026. Featured player: Katie Sykes (DB, #33)

Other Manchester Titans Fixtures

Want to get involved?

Mixed Adult Contact: 2026 Fixtures

Mixed Adult Contact Fixtures

We’re excited to announce our Mixed Adult Contact fixtures for 2026!

Our season starts with an away fixture on 19 April against a familiar opponent from years gone by, the Merseyside Nighthawks, who secured promotion to the Premiership North with their successful 2025 season.

On Saturday 2 May, we play our first home game of the 2026 season against the Coventry Phoenix, who are looking to be a strong side again this year. This is sure to be a fantastic game. Our Women’s Contact team host the Solent Thrashers in the morning before our game so it’s set to be a big day of football at Belle Vue.

We host another double header at home on Saturday 20 June with our game against the East Kilbride Pirates and our Women’s team facing off against the Teesside Steelers.

After a brief summer break it all kicks off again in July with a trip up to Scotland with our U19s to face the Pirates in a double header on their home turf.

The regular season comes to a close in August with back to back home games against Merseyside on 1 August and the Nottingham Caesars on 8 August.

The winner of the North will host a semi-final against the second seed in the South on the weekend of 22/23 August. The top two teams will meet in the final on 6 September.

Come down to support your Manchester Titans in our campaign to regain the title of Britbowl Champions in 2026. See you there!

All home and away fixtures for the Manchester Titans in 2026. Featured player: Alex Baldry (#87 TE)

Other Manchester Titans Fixtures

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WFFL: Manchester Titans are 2026 Plate Champions

The Manchester Titans squad at the 2026 WFFL finals at Ravenscraig. From left to right, top to bottom: Becky Haward, Sarah Ul-Haq, Sian Perry, Katie Sykes, AD Olesen, Tika Marcucci, Emily Massey, Charlotte Townsend, Chloe Southard, Becky May, Sal Fields, Airnorh Ikie.

On Saturday 14 March, as the third seed in the Highland and North Conference (HNC), the Manchester Titans had the honour of making the pilgrimage up to Ravenscraig Regional Sports Centre in Scotland for the 2026 WFFL Finals.

A close first game against London Flame in the quarter-final ended 6-20, leaving the Titans disappointed but fired up to win the next two games.

The Titans then stormed past the Leicester Huntsmen in the Plate semi-final with a decisive 33-6 victory. They finished the day by beating East Kilbride Pirates Red, a familiar opponent from the regular season, 26-7 in the Plate final. With determination and grit, they brought the silverware home to Manchester and claimed the title of 5th best Women’s flag team in the UK.

Defensive player Becky Haward (#8) said “Winning the plate feels great, and I'm especially proud of how we stepped up as a solid defensive unit for the Titans this season. I love this sport so much and the buzz at Ravenscraig makes me so excited for where flag is headed in the next few years.”

We are immensely proud of our Titans Women and we can’t wait to see how they do next year.

To get involved with Titans Women’s Flag for the 2027 season, check out our team page or message recruitment@manchestertitans.co.uk.