Bay City Buccaneers

The Bay City Buccaneers are the only gridiron club in Geelong, Victoria. We cater for both Juniors (U/18's), Seniors and in the near future, Flag Football (a non contact version of gridiron).

The Bay City Buccaneers was first conceived by a group of friends at a BBQ in 2003. After quite a few beers and whilst throwing the footy around, one of the guys commented "Wouldn't it be good to start our own team in Geelong." That person was Marty Jackson. At the time, there was another team in Geelong and Marty knew it was going to be an uphill battle but Marty had seen what to do and what not to do and was ready for the challenge.

After being told he couldn't start a new team, Marty, who had by now already resolved to start one, developed an almost fanatical pursuit to complete his goal. It was with a single-minded desire he hounded every person he knew and anyone he came in contact with, to be a part of his new team.

Early on there was no name for the new team and it was known only as 'the club'. It consisted of Marty and his mates running pass patterns on a Sunday afternoon. Soon the name came into being. Geelong is known as the 'City by the Bay' and a few of the guys liked the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Hence the team name, Bay City Buccaneers was born.

During this period in the club's history, training was at the Oberon Primary School in Geelong and it was made up mainly of guys throwing the ball around. Things started to progress when Marty secured the services of Ed Devonish, an experienced player/coach from England. Ed managed to give the early practices some structure and this moved the club forward at an ever increasing speed.

It was at this time Marty stepped up his recruitment campaign and was lucky enough to secure the services of Kriss Guidotti. Kriss was a Victorian State rep as well as an Australian rep and a player coach with over 17 years experience. Kriss was quickly appointed Head coach and soon bought into the fold, his old friend Garry Wilson. Kriss and Garry's relationship went back to 1988 in Adelaide. Kriss playing for the Victorian Eagles and Garry for the NSW Wolfpack. Garry is a player coach from the NSW league and has a very sharp offense mind. Garry was named Offensive coach and Ed Devonish, Defensive coach.

Soon it was realised the Oberon Primary School was not adequate for our purposes and then Marty Jackson had a stroke of genius and in a move that would be copied by others in the league, he approached his local University. Deakin University along with their student body union D.U.S.A. opened their arms to the Buccs and a great association commenced. The Buccs still to this day play at the university ground at Waurn Ponds and it is considered the best surface in the league.

It seemed that after almost a year and a half of blood, sweat and tears, Marty's dream had come to a reality when the Bay City Buccaneers were admitted into the Gridiron Victoria 2004 season. The rest is history.
External Link
[http://www.dusa.org.au/scripts/cgiip.exe/WServiceDUSA/ccms.r?PageId10235 Webpage]

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