After the elation of promotion in 2004, the National Programme put together a number of spring camps to put the Lions through their paces in preparation for a tough Pool A schedule in the summer of 2005 in Malmo, Sweden. As number 4 seeds, the GB Lions were drawn to face the number 1 seeds, Germany, in the semi-final. Riq Ayub, voted European All-star Coach, still had his feet planted firmly on the ground,

"Going from 7^th or 8^th in Europe to number four was a colossal achievement and we showed that we had an inner fire, a character of steel to excel. Nor will I forget what it took to instil this by the coaches and the special feeling of high energy and motivation we had but the journey has only just begun and the road ahead will be long and challenging one. We have to implement the lessons learnt from the last tournament and if every player does as the forty in France did then why not". In April, the Lions announced an 81 man roster for the first full camp to be held on 23^rd and 24^th April at Crystal Palace NSC. The roster includes 6 NFLE players and a good mix of players from over 20 other clubs.

QB. David Drane (Cologne Falcons), Graham Lightfoot (Doncaster Mustangs), Peter Rogers (Gateshead Senators), Stuart Franklin (London Olympians), Ashley Heath (Farnham Knights)
RB. Chris Taylor (Bristol Aztecs), Kingsley Ejiogu, Marc Saunders (both Farnham Knights), Lee Taylor (Nottingham Outlaws), Phil McGrath (Lancashire Wolverines), Stewart Muir (Kent Exiles), Anthony Perkins, Steve Coles (both Coventry Jets)
TE. Phillip Scales (Cologne Falcons), Adam Newman (Oxford Saints), Thomas Jenkins (Southern Sundevils)
WR. David Winters (Birmingham Bulls), Mark Cohen (Coventry Jets), Mark Squire (East Kilbride Pirates), Joe Black (Lancashire Wolverines), Duncan Aldous (London Blitz), Rodney Edgerton (Farnham Knights), Andrew Boyle, Tam Byrne, Clive Palumbo, Junior Price, Jeremy Sims (all London Olympians), Marvin Allen (NFLE/London Olympians)
OL. Steve Hopkins, Pete Jones, Charlie Wilson (all Bristol Aztecs), David Carpenter, Gavin Collins, Peter
Fields, Kevin Keohane, Mark Lockwood (all Farnham Knights), Robert Beveridge (Clyde Valley Hawks), Nick Crowe (London Olympians), Adrian Samuel, Matthew Meyer (both London Olympians/ UH Hurricanes), Kester Longhurst, Thomas Palmer (both Sussex Thunder)
DL. Matt Barrett, Paul Summers (both Birmingham Bulls), Sean Hopkins (Bristol Aztecs), Paul Evans, Marco Fasulo, Lawrence Reid, Gary Thomas (all London Olympians), Daniel Watts (NFLE/London Olympians), Saul Freer (Coventry Jets), Brian Long (Doncaster Mustangs), Shaun Smith (NFLE/Southern Sundevils), Steve Harrison, Richard Rochester, Liam Smith (all Farnham Knights), Ben Tucker (South Wales Warriors)
LB. Brendon Cunnane (Birmingham Bulls), Jason Brisbane (London Blitz), Gary Clark, Lee Collins (both Clyde Valley Hawks), Aden Durde (NFLE/London Olympians), Aaron Alexis, Damian Anderson, Tim Newton, Jay Taylor (all London Olympians), Paul Newey (Coventry Jets), Dale Powell (Southern Sundevils), Craig McDonnell Craig, Craig Pennington (both Lancashire Wolverines)
DB. James Brazier (Berlin Adler), Jeff Brown Jeff (NFLE/Chiltern Cheetahs), Wes Roach, Scott Rowe (both London Olympians), Onoh Ozongwu (NFLE/London Olympians), Mike Dunson, Neil Edwards, Simon Kockelbergh (all Farnham Knights), James Kilby, Adam Biggs (both Coventry Jets), Lennox Johnson (London Blitz)

The National Programme organized a game with the NCAA Division Three college team, Centre College, from Kentucky in May that they played at Crystal Palace NSC.

"It is obvious that this team is heaped with pedigree and tradition and we are extremely pleased that we will have the opportunity to play them on home soil," said Riq Ayub. 

28th May 2005 – GB Lions 6-21 Centre College, Crystal Palace National Sports Centre, London

Centre concluded its spring season with a 21-6 win in an exhibition game against the Great Britain Lions, at the Crystal Palace National Sports Centre in London. Centre's defense limited the Lions to only 134 total yards and did not allow an offensive score. Great Britain's lone score came off a 32-yard interception return from Jason Brisbane midway through the fourth quarter.

"We played well for three quarters, but lost our intensity in the fourth quarter," Centre coach Andy Frye said. Defensively, I was impressed with our intensity. There were numerous opportunities for the national team, but we were able to keep them out of the end zone." 


Photo by Adam Blandford

The Colonels used two touchdowns in the first quarter to take an early 14-0 lead. Sophomore quarterback Kevin Phelps scored on a 1-yard run and then connected on a 15-yard pass to sophomore receiver Zach Brooks for the second score of the period.

Freshman Paul Boccieri caught a 9-yard pass from sophomore quarterback Jordan Tinnell in the second quarter to give the Colonels a 21-0 lead at the half.

"I was impressed with their size up front," Frye said. "They were definitely the largest, most developed team we have played.They had good skill and good speed."

Centre gained 127 yards on the ground and 145 through the air for 272 total yards of offense. Junior running back Adam Blandford carried the ball 12 times for 86 yards and also caught two passes for 11 yards. Phelps led four quarterbacks completing 10 of his 14 pass attempts for 87 yards. Tinnell finished the game four of five for 43 yards.

Freshman running back B.J. Wright led the Colonels with three receptions for 16 yards. Junior receivers Lou Brenner and Michael Swartzentruber had two catches each. Brenner gained 26 yards while Swartzentruber had 24 yards. Brooks also caught two passes for 19 yards, including the 15-yard touchdown.

Three Centre defenders recorded three tackles each, including junior defensive back Taylor Holland sophomore linebacker Aaron Evans and freshman defensive back John Perin. Freshman defensive back Tyler Boron had an interception for Centre.

Frye was also pleased with the Colonels' special teams play.

"Our special teams performed well. Our kickoff team did a great job on coverage and our punt team performed well under pressure," Frye said.

Approximately 60 players, including freshmen, sophomores and juniors travelled overseas for the contest after taking part in 10 spring practices. 

On the eve of the European Championships, Head Coach Riq Ayub was critical of the tournament format. Following the game against Germany on July, 28th, the Lions will have only one day rest before they have to play again, 'I am a firm believer that players should have a minimum of two days rest between games for health and safety reasons. I am surprised that that the organisers did not note the amount of injuries picked up with only one days rest in the last tournament'.