Team Notes: Several enthusiastic people who threw a football around Herbert Park, Ballsbridge for several months formed the Dublin Tornadoes in 1986. Very quickly the team grew as interest in American Football increased in the capital as well as in other parts of the country. The team moved training location several times due to an ever increasing squad and finally settled in the Phoenix Park. They took part in their first Irish League in 1987, finishing with a respectable 3 wins and 6 losses. Between 1988 and 1991 they participated in the League with an increasing squad and their players gained more playing experience and in some cases coaching experience. They sent some of the senior players to a coaching clinic run by Marty Shottenheimer in Loughborough, England. In 1990 they played a game against the Boston Townies, a senior college team, going down only 12-0. The most respectable result by an Irish team against foreign opposition ever. In 1992 they reached their first Irish League Semi-Final under the guidance of Coach Tony Howie, a previous Notre Dame training assistant. The Antrim Bulldogs beat them with two late 4th quarter touchdowns. In 1993 Coach Dave Curran took over the running of the team and guided they to their first unbeaten season, 13-0 and their first Shamrock Bowl appearance. In the final at the Iveagh Grounds, Crumlin, they defeated arch-rivals the Dublin Celts, 31-2. Coach Brián Sutton took control of the team in 1994 and continued Coach Currans' teachings and method of play throughout the year. They went through the year with 10 wins and only one loss. Again, they reached and won the Shamrock Bowl in 1994, beating the Carrickfergus Knights 21-15 in the final, played in Newry Co. Down. Coach Curran returned to the Football Forum, becoming Offensive Coach with the newly formed Irish National Team. Another highlight of the Tornadoes history took place in July 1994 when they beat a visiting Canadian alumi team 19-18. They had travelled around Europe and had not been beaten until their visit to Dublin. Sadly, in November 1994 Coach Curran passed away, leaving the whole Irish American Football community stunned. His passing has since acted as an inspiration to their club to achieve higher goals. In 1995 they continued their tremendous record, going unbeaten through the year 10-0 and beating the Carrickfergus Knights again in the Shamrock Bowl by 44-12. The final was held in their home grounds at Islandbridge. 1996 continued as we left off. They went through the season unbeaten, 8-0 and again won the Irish League Title. However, they came up against very strong opposition in the Shamrock Bowl and were beaten by the Dublin Lightning, 24-12. 1997 was not been a successful year. Due to retirements and emigrations our player roster is down to a level that makes it unsafe for us to participate in this years Irish League. However, most of our squad will continue training with the newly formed Dublin Bulls in order to keep fit, alert and in football shape as well as to help out our latest new team find their feet in the world of American Football.