An Interview with ex-London Raven and now Spanish National
Team Head Coach - Peter Brugnani Interview conducted June 2001 What got you interested in football and ultimately coaching? When I was a youngster back in London , in the 60's . I got my first insight into the Gridiron game. A saturday afternoon sports program "World of Sport" happened to show highlites of a Superbowl , because racing had been abandoned this day. Miami Dolphins , I can't remember who they played , but I will always keep the memory of Running back Larry Czonka (I think that's how you spell it) and Mercury Morris. Unfortunately in Britain until the 80's there was nothing. I ran track and Field and got to International status with GB , and one day met up with some ex-teammate who had been athletes and they mentioned they were now involved with American Football. After asking if I could participate in training sessions .....I got hooked . The team LONDON RAVENS , my friends Ken Rennie (guard) and Errol "Big Bird" Philips (then DT). Coaching seem a natural progression , also when I moved down to Spain , it was a way of tidying myself over until I got a proper job. You played for the Ravens in their hey-day in the 80's. How much has football changed in Europe since then? Is the standard better? Never have I known such intensity in training as we had in
the Ravens. We were 60 guys FIGHTING to get on the roster for a game. When I joined in 84
, we trained in Hyde Park , London. NO changing rooms , No showers , No shelter when it
rained and 90% of the team always showed up. Due to government legislation to coach any sport you have to
be with the proper credentials. All the coaches here have to go through a study program
that covers apart from football a general Physical Education study programme. Now we have
about 20 fully qualified Coaches , apart from our club commitments we also run the
National team set up Junior and Senior. The ex-Head coach is now involved with Barcelona
Dragons and cannot dedicate the time necessary and I was asked to take over. It's been a long time since Spain has had a game of such relevant nature.To be exact the last time was when we played GB in Madrid in 97'. We always try to arrange some sort of post season game against a touring US college , but you find that players have had enough of football by then , and we usually get stuffed. Now we have fewer teams less active players but a slow regeneration of talent, it's a good time to start bringing through a new generation. What was your proudest moment in football
to date? What is your favourite team in the NFL?
What are your thoughts about the current
state of the game in Spain? Anything else you'd like to add?
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