User:AVP8472/Dublin Dragons

The Dublin Dragons American Football Club is based in Lucan, County Dublin. At present, the Club plays full contact, kitted American Football in the Irish American Football League (IAFL).

About
The Dublin Dragons AFC were formed in 2000 by John Durrad & Alan Burke, both who had experience of 15 years or more, from an already existing 7 man flag team called the Greystones Gladiators.

The team back then consisted of 11 players with only five having previous experience (of which all five had won one or more Shamrock Bowls) playing full kitted football with clubs such as the Dublin Celts, Dublin Tornadoes, Dublin Lightning, Greystones Rebels (now the Dublin Rebels) and Dublin Tigers.

The club trained in Marlay Park on the south side of the city through the first year with no sign of a League or a friendly game to be found, but the Dragons picked up some new and experienced players over that year. These were of different nationalities, including American, German, English, Mexican, Australia, South African and French as well as Irish.

The 2004 season was one of the Dragons most successful, due to young players who had a strong desire to compete with the best players in Ireland, but especially the coaching ability of New York native Phil DeMonte, who was also the National Team Coach. The club finished with a 3-5 season and managed to reach the play-offs for the first time. In 2004 the whole Organisation moved to the Lucan Community College, as the majority of the players were from Lucan and surrounding areas.

That September, on the insistence of Phil DeMonte some of the coaches attended the Coaching Convention again in the UK, where two of the Dragons completed the level 1 coaching certificate. Due to work commitments Phil DeMonte had to move back to the UK were he is now Head Coach of the Oxford Cavaliers in Oxford University.

From 2005-2007 the Dragons level of skill and determination became a force in the IAFL, but by the end of 2007 there was a watershed with quite a few players in the autumn of their careers due to retire from the game, which meant a loss of key players with others leaving because of personal circumstances. Also, our previous Sponsorship contract had expired.

2008-2010: And the Rebuilding Process
The Owner Partnership of John Durrad and Al Burke decided that the Club had gone full circle; the Club needed a new influx of players both experienced and at the rookie level in football. This was achieved in 2008 and a new and improved Management structure was implemented.

Also in 2008, Al Burke was elected Dublin Dragons AFC Head Coach by the Management Committee. Al Burke brought over 20yrs competitive experience at National and International level to the position of Head Coach.

Coach Al introduced the spread offence that is becoming increasingly popular in the NCAA, the Dragons quickly gathered the players required to run it effectively. The Club ended with a 2-4 season, which for a mostly rookie squad, was a successful enough year and a lot of experience was gained. Unfortunately, the Club could only avail of Coach Al's services for that year as he moved with his family to West Vancouver, Canada.

The Head Coach position was not vacant for long and it passed onto Rob Olwill with his election to the post in 2009/10.