Hobbs Returns Home

The Nottingham Caesars, they are ready to go, more than ready in all honesty, as Head Coach Vanden Warner and his NFC1 South side go all out for promotion this season, just ask Will Hobbs – we did!!

One of the team captains at the Caesars this, 2023 season, Hobbs, who joined the club during the off-season, and is one of some 25 or so new signings the club has welcomed, it’s a homecoming he, and all connected to the club, will be a glittering one.

Having started at the club, as a member of their Junior set-up, the Nottingham-native, who has an endearing passion for American sports – to be honest, who doesn’t, is a much-travelled athlete who, having also taken in spell sin both Switzerland and Germany, has had an on-off love affair with Tamworth Phoenix.

Now though, home is where the heart is, and it’s all about the Maroon and Gold, and taking them, into the Promised Land.

“I grew up here, so it’s definitely a homecoming for me,” Hobbs told the Nottingham Sport.

“I played here some sixteen years ago now, and have gone on to play the game for near two decades as well.

“I’ve been into American sports most of my life, get to (Nottingham) Panthers games when I can, but, when I was younger, and I started playing games, it was rugby at the time.

“Then, along with some mates, we started watching the NFL, on television, and I contacted BAFA at the time to see about how I’d start up a team, and they suggested joining my local.

“I didn’t know we had any back then, and then I began playing under Matt Walker; I’m a huge fan of his, and he’s taught me a lot, he’s always the first person I call, after family, when I’ve got some news to discuss.

“Now though, in coming home, I couldn’t be more fortunate because, where we train and play, I live less than ten minutes away, which is great.”

Hobbs though, he’s been busy since he left the Caesars, for pastures new, all those years ago, tasting success both at home, and abroad.

Germany, and Switzerland, have certainly added a more, rounded game, to his arsenal, and he’s continued going from strength-to-strength, on, and off the football field.

“When I played in Switzerland, it was a decent league, in a rather competitive division, and with a really good standard of player,” explained Hobbs.

“However, on the opening game of the season, and that very first play, I broke my collarbone on a punt return and spent the next seven weeks on the sidelines.

“Coming back though was great as we went on and won the league that season as well.

“As for playing in Germany, that was a fantastic experience for me.

“I played for a team in Saarbrucken, which is near the French border, under a very knowledgeable coach, and it’s something I’d highly recommend doing.”

Now though, it’s all about the homecoming and the hopes, the dreams, of a winning season that sees Hobbs, the roster, and the coaching staff, at the Caesars, gain that, slightly overdue, promotion.

First though, it’s the visit of Sheffield Giants, to the Caesars new home, the David Ross Sports Village, at the University of Nottingham, on the afternoon of Sunday 30 April.

It’s just a case of, hitting the ground running, especially as other clubs around the country having already started their respective campaigns, a few weeks back.

“There’s pretty much a whole new group of players here, so that extra time has given us a little longer in which to gel together, as a unit,” explained Hobbs ahead of the season opener.

“My coming back here, we’ve got a bunch of dudes with us.

“The coaches have pulled in a lot of players, from all over, and that’s awesome for us.

“There’s some really great guys here, like Sam Fraser, who Coaches (Vanden) Warner and (Grant) Lawless name-dropped to get me here.

“Jack Rice, who I’ve played alongside, and against, and is someone who we both have mutual respect for; along with the likes of Will Jepson and James Draper, who I won the 2017 Championship alongside at Tamworth (Phoenix).

“I could go on as well as there’s a whole lot of guys, with plenty of talent, and an all-round, solid team here – the focus, it’s on winning, and with a strong tam mentality instilled that we already are a Premiership team.

“That opener, against Sheffield (Giants), that will be a really good measure for us; they’re a Premiership team that are used to competing against the best, so it should be an early marker, for both sides, as to how the season goes.”

As for the Caesars, this campaign, it can mean so much, to everyone connected to the club, and they all have that one goal in mind, promotion.

“We believe that the only thing that’s stopping us, is our own mistakes”, admitted Hobbs.

“We want to challenge at the top, so we need to get out of this division to do that.

“It’s about the execution, and our training methods so for games, we just need to be clinical, and do what we know we can – there’s to be no messing around.”

The Nottingham Caesars kick-off their NFC1 South campaign, at home to Sheffield Giants (at the David Ross Sports Village), at 12 noon, on Sunday 30 April (followed by their U19s in action straight after, at 3pm). Keep up-to-date with all things Caesars via their socials, on Facebook and Twitter.

Image courtesy of Richard Smith as Will Hobbs returns home.