Meet the Team - 2014 Lineman of the Year, Adam Lilley

Wed Jan 07 2015

In this “Meet the Team” series we will get to know some of the Yorkshire Rams playing and coaching staff, this week it’s your 2014 Lineman of the Year, Adam Lilley.

Name: Adam Lilley Position: Offensive Line Number: #59 Height: 6” Weight: 223lbs NFL team: Miami Dolphins Experience: 10 years

What is your greatest personal achievement? Represented Great Britain Students in 2005 whilst studying at the University of Nottingham playing Defensive End. As coach, I was part of the staff to win the 2012 Challenge Trophy final with the University of Sheffield Sabres.

What is your greatest achievement with the Rams? Defeating the Doncaster Mustangs 14-13 in 2012 after coming into the game as underdogs (they’d been letting us know about it beforehand!) and hanging onto the result after taking a 14-0 lead.

Any advice for this year’s rookies? Whatever your level of talent, the best rookies tend to be the ones that have the genuine desire and commitment to run through walls for the team. The technique will come as long as you work hard and show willingness and determination!

How about advice for any youngsters aspiring to play senior football? Get playing in youth and junior programmes! The techniques and skills you will learn will provide a vital framework to fall back on when you make the step up against the larger and quicker athletes in the adult league.

What’s on your pre-game soundtrack? It varies based on mood, but something that’s going to stir a feeling you want heading into the game. Surface of the Sun from the soundtrack to Sunshine is brilliant for this. But I’ll also go for stuff like Slipknot, Rage Against the Machine, Rise Against etc.

What do you eat the evening before a game? Something carby, pasta, rice etc.

What would you say is your biggest inspiration? My first positional coach at Nottingham Uni, Jeremy Wood. I was immensely lucky to land on a team where the coaching was that good, I still use some of the drills he taught me when coaching players myself today.

Favourite Quote: “Success is peace of mind which is a direct result of self-satisfaction in knowing you did your best to become the best you are capable of becoming.” - John Wooden

Twitter name: @wibblemonkey