The Coventry Cassidy Jets latest new faces are also familiar ones, a trio of former players have returned to the club to the boost their defensive ranks. Brett Rosenbaum, Wayne Gumbs and Andrew McKenzie have all arrived back at the Jets after a spell away from the club. General Manager Will White was delighted to have the trio return "There are a lot of good things happening at the club at the moment and having these young guys back on board bodes well for the future".
Gumbs left after the disappointment of Britbowl XXI in spite of winning the 2007 most improved player of the year award. After joining his brother Adam with the Peterboro' Saxons, Gumbs has decided the time is right to return to the Premier "I just want to get back on top of my game and get back to playing with some of the best players that this Country has to offer, the Jets is the place to do that".
Joining Gumbs in the defensive backfield will be Rosenbaum, who left the Jets after one season back in 2006. Since then the linebacker, turned defensive back, has compiled an impressive resume including a season in Germany with the Lübeck Cougars and more recently turning his hand to Arena Football in the US with the Quad City Steamwheelers.
Joining from his former club, the Staffordshire Surge, the 26 fitness instructor will split time at free safety and slot receiver. "I want to play against high calibre players" stated the Milton Keynes native "after my Arena Football experience, I realised I needed to stretch myself at every possible opportunity and the Premier Division is the showcase for top athletes". Rosenbaum is keen to resume his GB Lions career in 2010 at the European Championships in Frankfurt and feels that the Jets is the best place to showcase his talent.
"I've come back to the Jets because I want to play with the best and get into the GB squad. I'm desperate to pull that shirt on next year and help us go out and beat the Germans in their own backyard". Also returning, after a year long absence, is former youth team Captain Andy McKenzie. At just 20 years old the computer game programmer from Glasgow impressed the Jets coaches last year with his physical displays for the Leicester Longhorns in the British University American Football League.
Whilst studying at Leicester's DeMontfort University McKenzie won the 2008-2009 Team MVP and Player's Player Awards. Now living in Rugby with his girlfriend, McKenzie has returned to his local team with fond memories of his youth experience "I loved training and grew a bond with the lads on the team. We worked hard and won our first two games against the Chester Romans. I'm back now to re-capture that success and the bond with my old team mates that have climbed the ranks to the senior team, ultimately, I want to help the Jets win another championship anyway I can!"
The returning trio will be looking to make their mark on Sunday as the Jets travel to the south coast where they'll meet the winless Sussex Thunder. The two clubs meet for only the second time with the Jets taking the first match up 21-7 earlier this season. Gerry McManus will be looking for a response from his team after their last road trip ended in a 32-0 mauling at the hands of the London Blitz.