History

The North Carolina Tigers are headquartered in Raleigh, North Carolina and actively promote and play Australian Rules Football across the state. The club was founded in November 1997, with the first training session in early Spring 1998. It was founded by an American who figured that the time was right for Footy in the USA.

A North Carolina Tigers’ player has won the USAFL Nationals Best and Fairest player award twice and the USAFL Nationals Most Consistent player award, also twice.

Year Coach Captain Best & Fairest
1998 Simon Percival
1999 Simon Percival /
Martin Coventry
2000 Martin Coventry
2001 Martin Coventry Scott Cunningham &
Martin Coventry
2002 Martin Coventry Martin Coventry
2003 Martin Coventry /
Adam Coleman
Martin Coventry
2004 Adam Coleman Justin Davis &
Stephen Harper
2005 Adam Coleman Jason Heathcote Jason Heathcote
2006 Adam Coleman Seamus Doorhy Michael Coysh
2007 Jason Heathcote Wes McCallister &
Michael Coysh
Jason Heathcote
2008 Jason Heathcote Wes McCallister &
Michael Coysh
Ross Pleban
2009 Jason Heathcote Wes McCallister &
Jason Heathcote
Jason Heathcote
2010 Michael Coysh John Scull &
Jason Heathcote
Jason Heathcote
2011 Michael Coysh Paul Duncan & Jason Heathcote Paul Duncan
2012 Stuart Gill Mark Griffin & Wes McCallister Nick Camilleri
2013 Justin Plumley Mark Griffin & Wes McCallister Nick Camilleri
2014 Wes McCallister Nick Camilleri Scott Bradley & Nick Camilleri

 

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History timeline of the NC Tigers Football Club:

1981 – The Origin of Raleigh Based Footy

Seth McElvaney watches Aussie Rules football for the very first time. He was hooked immediately!

November 1997 – The “Crash” Begins!

Seth McElvaney officially starts the North Carolina Crash Football Club.

Spring 1998 – First Football Practice

With an advertisement placed in a local Raleigh newspaper, a handful of athletes partake in the first official ‘Footy’ practice.

September 1998 – The Club is Organized Off the Field

The North Carolina Crash hold the first annual board meeting. The inaugural members were:

President – Seth McElvaney

Vice President – Glenn Fullager

Treasurer – David Collings

April 1999 – Richmond FC Gets Onboard!

The North Carolina Crash Australian Rules Football Club becomes affiliated with the Richmond Tigers of the AFL. Consequently, the North Carolina Crash identity becomes the NORTH CAROLINA TIGERS. Richmond offers initial sponsorship assistance in the form of a set of Tigers jumpers (game uniforms) and footballs.

October 16-17, 1999 – First Ever Nationals

Seven players from the NC Tigers teamed up with the Carolina Hawks, Tri-Cities Saints and the Atlanta Kookaburras to form the Southern Crusaders at the 1999 USAFL National Championships. 22 teams from across the country descended on Cincinnati in what is surely the largest gathering of Aussie Rules players so far. Playing in Tri-Cities Saints jumpers, the Southern Crusaders were in Division II with 3 other teams. The Crusaders lost in the Division II final to the combined Baltimore/Washington contingent.

June 24, 2000 – Tigers Beat the Number 2 Team in the Country

The Tigers played host to the Nashville Kangaroos, a team unbeaten for the year against proven tough opposition, and beat them convincingly. The Tigers were without a number of their best players, and after the first quarter it looked like a walkover to Nashville. After what can only be described as a cowardice act by one particular Nashville player sent Tigers player Lee Angelelli to the hospital, the Tigers bounced back the best way they could and came back strong. An 8 goal last quarter sealed the match for the Tigers, and the biggest win to date.

October 11, 2000 – The Jumpers Have Arrived

We are now the proud owners of 27 Richmond football jumpers, now we can look like Tigers when we win our next tournament. Many thanks to Terry Grigg of Richmond F.C. for organizing them for us.

October 13-14, 2001 – Tigers Go 2-1 at Nationals and Just Miss Out on a Finals Berth

The Tigers finished fifth in the nation at the recent USAFL National championships held in Washington DC. The Tigers lost to Denver, but pulled out convincing wins against the Nashville Kangaroos and the LeHigh Valley Crocodiles. Unfortunately Seattle in another pool finished with a slightly higher percentage keeping us out of the final four. Captain-Coach Martin Coventry wins the Division III Best Player Award.

February 23, 2002 – First Ever US Inter-Collegiate Aussie Rules Match

History was made today in North Carolina, as UNC and NCSU played in the first ever U.S. collegiate Aussie Rules match. The experience of the UNC players showed through as they ran away easy winners over a tough NCSU squad, most of who were playing their first ever match. First night match under lights also. The Tigers proudly sponsor the nations’ first two college footy teams – the University of North Carolina Australian Rules Football Club and the NC State Australian Rules Football Club.

October 21, 2002 – Tigers Take 3rd in Division 3 Nationals

The Tigers brought home 3rd place in the 2002 National Tournament in Kansas City. Lose to Philly Crows after coming off a half time lead in the Semi Final.

October 11-12, 2003 – Tigers are Defeated in the Division III National Championship Grand Final

The Kansas City Power/New York Pies beat the North Carolina Tigers to capture the Division III National Australian Football Championship in the annual tournament, this year played in Kansas City. The Tigers put up a sterling effort as a scheduling error by the USAFL makes the Tigers play a 5-match weekend. Exhausted and with many injuries, the Tigers lose to a fresh and combined side, whose composition is dubious at best. Captain-Coach Martin Coventry wins the Division III Best Player Award.

September 11, 2004 – Tigers Take 2nd Place in the Steel City Boomerang Cup!

The North Carolina Tigers, renowned for tenacious team performances against difficult odds, emerged as the runners-up in the Steel City Australian Rules Football Tournament held on Saturday September 11, 2004. Playing with a mix of experience and desire, the young Tigers side proved to be arguably the surprise team at the event, which was held on a clear sunny day at St Vincents College in Latrobe, near Pittsburgh.

October 2004 – USAFL Nationals

Tigers make Division 2, and Jason Heathcote wins the Division II Best Player Award.

February 5, 2005 – First Metro Footy Draft

The Tigers held the Triangle’s first ever North Carolina Metro Footy League Draft at Woody’s on Friday night. The three teams, Capitals, Rams, Wolves, were filled as names were randomly drawn from a hat. The Club offers local footy action through the North Carolina Metro Footy League. The Wolves, Capitals, and Rams comprise a metro 9-a-side league with matches played monthly. Metro Footy is a scaled down version of Footy. Matches are played on a regulation size soccer field and have 9 players per side. All are welcome to try Metro Footy, before graduating to the Tigers.

May 7, 2005 – NC Tigers First International Match

It was a tough day for the Tigers as they played host to the Etobicoke Kangaroos (Toronto, Canada) in a pre-season matchup. Kangaroos 17.14.(116) def. Tigers 4.16.(40).

October 1-2, 2005 – USAFL Nationals

The North Carolina Tigers earned the right to play in Division II again this year, seeded 3rd with Orange County, Philadelphia, and Seattle. Nationals were held in Milwaukee.

October 7-8, 2006 – USAFL Nationals

Tigers make Division I status, and become the first USAFL club to rise from Division III to Division I. The 2006 North Carolina Tigers returned from the USAFL Nationals held in Las Vegas. With them are stories that will just have to stay in Vegas. However, the Tigers did bring back white match shorts, lots of good memories, a few injuries, and experience from playing some of the best teams in the Nation.

October 13-14, 2007 – USAFL Nationals

To mark the United States Australian Football League’s 10th Anniversary, the USAFL Board announced a USAFL Team of the Decade, a USAFL All-American Team of the Decade and Umpires of the Decade at our National Tournament in Louisville, Kentucky. Our own Rob Beyersdorf was named to the USAFL All-American Team of the Decade and Seth McElvaney was named to the Umpires of the Decade. Congratulations on those achievements!

The North Carolina Tigers earned the right to play in Division II again this year,

finishing with one win and two losses.

Game 1 Game 2 Game 3
Atlanta 6.1-37 Minnesota 7.5-47 NC Tigers 9.4-58
NC Tigers 5.6-36 NC Tigers 1.8-14 Nashville 1.4-10

 

October 11-12, 2008 – USAFL Nationals

At the picturesque U.S. Air Force Academy, in Colorado Springs, CO, the North Carolina Tigers braved sub-freezing temperatures in Division II this year. The club finished 2-1, only being defeated by an invited Canadian team, Calgary. This was the best result ever for the Tigers, beating 2 top 10 teams in the process.

Game 1 Game 2 Game 3
Calgary 5.11-41 Milwaukee 0.0-0 NC Tigers 5.3-23
NC Tigers 1.0-6 NC Tigers 3.6-24 Dallas 0.5-5

 

October 10-11, 2009 – USAFL Nationals

Cincinnati, Ohio, the North Carolina Tigers were in Division II and finished 0-3.

Game 1 Game 2 Game 3
NC Tigers 3.2-20 NC Tigers 0.0-0 NC Tigers 0.0-0
Nashville 3.4-22 San Diego 9.8-62 Milwaukee 5.13-43

 

October 9-10, 2010 – USAFL Nationals

Louisville, Kentucky, the North Carolina Tigers were in Division III and finished 1-1-1.

Game 1 Game 2 Game 3
NC Tigers 10.3-63 NC Tigers 5.1-31 NC Tigers 4.7-31
Las Vegas/Arizona 3.8-24 Florida United 9.4-58 Columbus Jackaroos 5.1-31

A North Carolina Tigers’ player has won the USAFL Nationals Best and Fairest player award twice and the USAFL Nationals Most Consistent player award, also twice.

Year Coach Captain Best & Fairest
1998 Simon Percival
1999 Simon Percival /
Martin Coventry
2000 Martin Coventry
2001 Martin Coventry Scott Cunningham &
Martin Coventry
2002 Martin Coventry Martin Coventry
2003 Martin Coventry /
Adam Coleman
Martin Coventry
2004 Adam Coleman Justin Davis &
Stephen Harper
2005 Adam Coleman Jason Heathcote Jason Heathcote
2006 Adam Coleman Seamus Doorhy Michael Coysh
2007 Jason Heathcote Wes McCallister &
Michael Coysh
Jason Heathcote
2008 Jason Heathcote Wes McCallister &
Michael Coysh
Ross Pleban
2009 Jason Heathcote Wes McCallister &
Jason Heathcote
Jason Heathcote
2010 Michael Coysh John Scull &
Jason Heathcote
Jason Heathcote
2011 Coach Captain Best & Fairest
2012 Coach Captain Best & Fairest
2013 Coach Captain Best & Fairest

 



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