Defensive Linemen

Les Jackson

A real beast of a lineman who many say could have played in the NFL. Played for the Thames Valley Chargers from the games infancy in the UK. Moved from there to join the Manchester Spartans where he won a national title in 1990. Also won a European Championship with the GB Lions in 1989. After leaving the Spartans he went on to play for the New York Knights in the World League where they used to have walk off the team bus first in order to impress the away fans and players!


Jackson in his Thames Valley days

Tom Tovo

DT Tom Tovo stands 6-foot-4 and played for various south coast teams including the 1996 Division Three champions the Winchester Rifles. Has played a variety positions including defensive line, tight end and fullback, but spent the 1997 London Monarchs training camp learning defensive end and defensive tackle positions.


Tom Tovo playing for the England Monarchs in 1998

Also played for Eastleigh Royals and Bournemouth Buccaneers...once had a 226-yard, three-TD rushing game for the Royals. Family originates from Fiji. Made 12 tackles for the Monarchs in 97, defended one pass and returned a kickoff 33 yards...versatile player who returned for a second season with the Monarchs. Stunned Monarchs coaches at tryouts with his 290-pound frame and 4.6-second speed over the 40. Returned to the Monarchs for the 1998 season, before moving onto the Scottish Claymores in 1999. Tovo moved onto play for the Southern Sundevils when the Claymores folded.


Tovo sacking Rhein Fire QB in 2000
Photo http://www.cheddarheads.co.uk

Dave Samuels

Superbly consistent and fast defensive linemen who started his career along with fellow Allstar Les Jackson with the Thames Valley Chargers. Moved to the Manchester Spartans in 1990 where he picked up a national title before moving to the London Olympians in 1991. A two time European Champion with the GB Lions in 1989 and 1991 he was also a 1991 World League trialist.

 
Dave Samuels (far left in red) playing for the GB Lions in 1991

Paul Evans

One of the great stalwarts of the British game. Starting his career in the 1980s with the Brighton B-52s, he played for them for many years, and then for the Sussex Thunder when the 52s merged with the Crawley Raiders.



After the Thunder folded he moved onto continue playing at the pinnacle of the sport with the best team in the country, the London O's. Evans scored a TD on an interception return for the O's, in their Britbowl 2003 triumph over the East Kilbride Pirates. In his swansong season he was called up for the GB Lions where he helped to win the 2004 European Pool B championship.
Evans (#60) with the 2004 European Championship trophy with the GB Lions

Nigel Hoyte

Standing 6ft 3" and weighing 270lbs Hoyte led the infamous London Ravens D-Line from it's inception in 1983 through to when the Ravens folded..

Selected for the London Monarchs as part of the Operation Discovery programme. Retired from the game in 1993, but came out of retirement to play for his local team, the Plymouth Admirals in 1994.

Jude Ugwebulam

Ugwebulam was a dominating defensive end who started his career at LB. Standing 6ft 4in and 220lbs he played for the London Ravens for many years, competing in the 1988 Eurobowl competition and was also called up for the GB Lions for the 1987 finals in Finland, and then again in 1995 for the friendly against Ireland. Returned to the game in the 2000s where he was coaching at the London O's.

Steve Leatham

An unbelievably quick defensive end, he was reported to have had the quickest first step of any defensive lineman anywhere, and as a result he was a fantastic pass rusher. Played for the London Olympians and also the Manchester Spartans for many years when the sport was at it's peak.

No photo - if you one of Steve then we'd like to put it here.