Gathered in a park 25 years ago, ten men came together with one passion. At home in living rooms, what was once the beloved couch, is cut and torn apart fashioned into rudimentary pads which bulge through replica American jerseys. Heads are bare with the exception of the occasional kickboxing helmet framing an excited face. Cones on the ground mark out a small area of the park and the game gets underway.
25 years on what started as a friendly game once a week, quite often ending with the setting sun silhouetting these pioneers of Gridiron, has now grown to a league encompassing eight teams through out Sydney. The technology of protection is better, but the passion and desire is stronger than ever.
The sport which has inspired countless movies and books is growing in Australia, and for good reason. Players now gather together on Astroturf fields, with 30 of their team mates battling each week to hold the championship trophy at the end of the year.
This year the Bondi Raiders, one of the last remaining original teams based in Sydney, are celebrating their 25th year of existence. What started as the Waverly Raiders, a team formed by the pioneers of gridiron, is now one of the most successful teams in Australian Gridiron History with achievements including the first team in Australia to win ten championships, numerous players representing both New South Wales and Australia and players advancing to play overseas.
If you are interested in playing Gridiron in this, the 25th year of the Raiders, you can attend the team’s training, contact Head Coach Paul Manera on 0406 538 634 or email him on coach@bondiraiders.com.