Bournemouth Junior Bobcats

The Bournemouth Junior Bobcats were formed in 1986 by local lads under the watchful eye of the senior Bobcat management, the lads then a team of 25 players played two friendly games against New Forest Gladiators winning both games so convincingly, that it was decided to enter a league under the name of the Bournemouth Bengals in 1987.

The team registered in the J.A.F.L. and duly played six competitive games, winning three and losing three, but became runners-up in their first league year. They lost to their arch-rivals Portsmouth in the playoffs.

During that season, friendly games were played against such teams as Solent Blitz, who were at that time playing limited contact rules. The Juniors gave such a good account of themselves holding Solent to a draw to encourage the growth of the Junior Bobcats.

Although the team still had very little coaching or organisation, it was successfully held together through the hard work of Derek Burridge and senior assistance.

At the end of 1987 the club elected a committee from enthusiastic parents who obtained the services of Dave Ritchard's as club manager and his assistant in Tim Dawe. Together the management and the committee started building the Bobcats Juniors.

The Juniors grew to become one of the top sides in the country and certainly the largest with a squad of 72! The club obtained vast player sponsorships and gained a club sponsor in French Collection (an International Perfume Company), plus gained the service of an ex-Pro Canadian player in Colin Blythe with further coaching expertise from ex-Senior and UK player Gary Manser. Further assistance was given by Bobcat players Mark Hasell and Billy Ko.

In 1988 the Juniors paved the way for a successful season, winning two friendly games against league opposition and two further wins in the Furniss Challenge Trophy, which guaranteed them a semi-final spot (which never took place).

The Junior Bobcats blazed a trail through the season defeating the likes of the Cornwall Corvettes, Britannia Royals, Fortek Falcons, Basingstoke Ironsides and the Portsmouth Warriors to capture the JAFL Southern Conference.

The away match at Portsmouth being the defining moment of their season. Trailing 13-0 at the half-time interval, the Bobcats rallied in the second half to score 27 unanswered points to win this crucial match-up against a side who had beaten them at Bournemouth.

In the semi-finals, the Bobcats played one of the most memorable games in Junior American Football history when they took on the unbeaten Tiptree Titans. The Titans won 13-7,  but it came down to the last play of the match, when a hail-mary pass from Rich Lynett to Jon Wyse failed.

Following the 1988 season, the decision was taken to start playing kitted full contact American Football. Several players left the club and joined the two touch Bournemouth Raiders American Football team, but the majority carried on playing in the 1989 season. The Junior Bobcats were not as successful in 1989, playing in the Youth Kitted League. Thrashed by the Portsmouth Warriors and Cheltenham and team folded mid-season.

A new management team came in, and the club reformed as the Bournemouth Renegades (with no affialiation to the Bobcats). The Renegades carried on playing that season with the same players that had been playing for the Junior Bobcats, but the results did not improve and they finished fourth out of five teams.

The Renegades played on until 1997 before folding.