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Football

This is the index page to the All-Time Record of Irish American Football, 8v8 Football, Flag Football and the Irish Abroad from USA to Canada , the World and Women’s Leagues.

Irish American Football

This is the Index Page to the All-Time Results, Standings and Box-Scores of American Football Ireland 11v11 Leagues, College Bowl, Early Pre-Pads Football, Festivals, All-Star Games and Preseasons. Below you will find links to the Results & Tables of the Irish American Football League since its first year in 1986, in increasing levels of detail, depending on how much detail you want

Header Image Credit: [1] Dublin Rebels | Wayback Machine (2007) 2001shamrockbowl [Internet] Available from: https://web.archive.org/web/20071117020944im_/http://www.dublinrebels.com/images/2001shamrockbowl.jpg [Accessed 29 May 2020][Photo Credit: Dublin Rebels]

American Football Ireland Standings

The Results of the Finals of the three levels in the Irish American Football League

(11 v 11): Shamrock Bowl, AFI 1 Bowl and AFI 2 Bowl

The Irish American Football League has been running since 1986 when the first Shamrock Bowl was played. For the first three seasons the League operated in Ireland only, and then in 1989 became part of the Combined Gridiron League which operated throughout Ireland, England, Scotland and Wales. In 1990 the League returned to an Ireland-only league, but only in Northern Ireland, with the sole Republic of Ireland representatives, the Dublin Celts, playing in the UK Second Division (NCMMA) and playing a series of exhibition matches against the Northern Irish teams. Following on from the Irish League Final, the Champions of the Irish League played against the Dublin Celts in the Shamrock Bowl.

Shamrock Bowl & AFI 1 Bowl and AFI 2 Bowl

American Football Ireland Shamrock Bowls 1986-Present

American Football Ireland 1 Bowls 2014-Present

American Football Ireland 2 Bowls 2014-Present

Shamrock Bowl Confernce / Premier Overviews

Final Standings and playoff matches 1983-Present

Irish American Football League Shamrock Bowl Conference 2013-2019

Irish American Football Association Irish American Football League 2006-2012

Irish American Football League Winter and Spring League Era 1997-2005

All-Ireland American Football League 1990-1996

Irish American Football League 1983-1989

American Football Ireland 1 & 2 Divisions Overviews

Final Standings and Playoff Matches 2013-Present

Irish American Football League | 1 Conference 2013-2019

Irish American Football League | 2 Conference 2014-2019

Photo Credit: [2] Belfast Trojans | Facebook (2019) Belfast Trojans 2019 Shamrock Bowl Team Photo [Internet] Available from: https://scontent-dub4-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/67549549_2490100237703599_4668366298105774080_o.jpg?_nc_cat=110&_nc_oc=AQnPNzaKTFPPuYzmhtDHyBJRLYSyiFyfpNTTit4ElMdT_Lz_whigmINviDFDiXwduh-Oip7X8zWR9IxucVOsI1Bb&_nc_ht=scontent-dub4-1.xx&oh=339c483bfbeb2f405217f4cfdafc644b&oe=5DA35E19 [Accessed 6 August 2019]

American Football Ireland Results

Season by Season Results and Standings 1984-Present

In 1991 an All-Ireland American Football League was re-established, under the American Football association of Ireland banner, which became the Irish Senior League in 1997, under new management. This was a time when the initial excitement for the new sport faded, and the NFL was no longer on terrestrial TV in Ireland or Britain, and the number of teams dropped to 3 in 1999, and then in 2000 there was no league.

Shamrock Bowl Conference / Premier Season Results

Season Results and Standings 1984-Present

AFI Premier Division (2020-Present):

2020

IAFA/IAFL Shamrock Bowl Conference (2013-2019):

2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013

IAFA Irish American Football League (2006-2012):

2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006

Autumn and Spring League Era (1998-2005):

2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 1999 1998

AFAI All-Ireland AFL (1991-1997):

1997 1996 1995 1994 1993 1992 1991

Irish League and Conference Era (1984-1990):

1990 1989 1988 1987 1986 1985-86 1984

American Football Ireland 1 Division 2013-Present

AFI Division 1 (2020-Present):

2020

IAFA / IAFL 1 Conference (2013-2019):

2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 

American Football Ireland 2 Division 2014-Present

AFI Division 2 (2020-Present):

2020

IAFA / IAFL 2 Conference (2014-2019):

2019 2017 2016 2015 2014 

Photo Credit: [3] Dublin Celts American Football Team | Facebook (2017) [Internet] Available from: https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10213260818544676&set=gm.457477981311995&type=3&theater&ifg=1 [Accessed 21 January 2019]

American Football Ireland Box-Scores

In Depth Scorers and Match Reports for the American Football Ireland 11v11 Leagues

In 2001, a new administration – the Irish American Football Association – re-established the Irish American Football League, as a Winter League in 2001, and a Spring League in 2002, and then in 2003 as ‘Division 1’  with an 8-Man Division 2. Divisions 1 & 2 were merged into one 11-Man, 6-team IAFL in 2004, and the League expanded to 11 teams by 2008, when a new 8-Man Development League was again re-introduced, to help newer teams starting out, and help existing clubs field second teams. the Development League became a full 11-Man Second Level in 2013, with the two tiers renamed the Shamrock Bowl Conference &  IAFL 1 Conference. A third Tier, the IAFL 2 Conference was introduced in 2014, leading to a 23-team League at its height. In 2020 the Irish American Football Association was renamed American Football Ireland, under new management, President Orla McAleese, the first Female President of the Association.Shamrock Bowl Conference / Premier Box-Scores & Match Reports

In Depth Match Reports and Box-Scores 1986-Present

Shamrock Bowl Conference / Premier Box-Scores & Match Reports

In Depth Match Reports and Box-Scores 1986-Present

IAFA Spring & Autumn League Era (Box-Scores & Match Reports):

2004 2003 2002 2001

AFAI Irish Senior League (Box-Scores & Match Reports):

1999

AFAI All-Ireland American Football League (Box-Scores & Match Reports):

1995 1994 1992 

IAFL Irish American Football League Early Era (Box-Scores & Match Reports):

1986

Picture Credit: [4] Irish American Football Association (2018) Nostalgia – A look a some pictures from the archives [Internet] Available from: http://www.americanfootball.ie/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/20171016_165339-1024×768.jpg [Accessed 3 July 2018]

UCD IAFA College Champions 2019

American Football Ireland College

American Football Ireland Intervarsity Championship

The Jordanstown Jaguars, based in Ulster University Jordanstown played in the first full season of the Irish American Football League in 1987. The Trinity Bowl, played from 1992-1995, was the first competition played in Irish Universities, although it did not involve College teams. From 1998 to 1999 the Queen’s University Belfast Broncos competed in the AFAI Irish Senior League, and in 1999 the University of Limerick Vikings were formed, initially as a Flag Football team, and then from 2001 onwards as a fully kitted team playing uin the resurrected IAFL. The First Kitted College Bowl was played in 2006, when there was more than one kitted College team for the first time, namely the University of Limerick Vikings and Dublin City University Saints. The College Championship became a three-team tournament involving the Trinity College Dublin Thunderbolts and the University College Dublin Sentinels in 2010 (DCU were no longer fielding a team).

College Bowl / Intervarsity Championship

American Football Ireland Intervarsity Championship 2006-Present

IAFA College Championship (Seasons:): 2018 2017 2014 2013

CUSAI American Football College Bowl (Seasons): 2010 2009 2007 2006

Preseason College Bowls:

American Football Association of Ireland | Trinity Bowl 1992-1995

Picture Credit: [5] UCD American Football Facebook Page (2018) Post November 19, 2018 [Internet] Available from: https://www.facebook.com/UcdAmericanFootball/photos/a.514850931958530/1771976799579264/  [Accessed 3 December 2018]

Pre-American Football Ireland Leagues

The Results of the Finals of the three levels in the Irish American Football League

(11 v 11): Shamrock Bowl, AFI 1 Bowl and AFI 2 Bowl

Pre-American Football Ireland Leagues

Starting with the US Army’s European Theater of Operations Football Championship in Northern Ireland in 1942, through to the 4th of July Festival match in 1983, held in Banbridge Rugby Club between two teams of specially trained Rugby players, American Football Leagues in Ireland pre-date the American Football Ireland (Originally Irish American Football Association) by 52 years.

Early Pre-Pads Football Matches (Seasons): NIAFA 1986 1985 1983

ETO European Theater of Operations Football Championship (Seasons): 1944  Autumn 1942 

Picture Credit: [6] Belfast Blitzers | Facebook (2019) Photo 22 August 2019 [Internet] Available from: https://www.facebook.com/belfastblitzers/photos/pcb.2260513057393170/2260507127393763/?type=3&theater [Accessed 23 August 2019]

American Football Ireland Festivals

The Results of Festival Matches since 1985.

Festivals and Exhibition matches have been organised since 1983, with teams playing in smaller towns in the Irish Regions, or as part of 4th of July Celebrations in both Dublin and all over the Country. Some of these festival matches have attracted up to 5,000 spectators.

Festival matches also take part in preseason, and can also be Regular Season matches or DV8 8-a-side matches.

Irish American Football League Festivals & Exhibition Matches 1986-Present

Irish American Football Association Marcel Seeley Memorial Cup 2016-2019

Irish American Football Association Dingle Classic (Gaeltacht Bowl) 2009-2011

American Football Association of Ireland | Trinity Bowl 1992-1995

Irish American Football League Summer Bowl Festival 1986-1989

IAFA /IAFL Shamrock Bowl Conference Era Festivals & Exhibitions (Seasons): 2019 2018 2016

IAFA Festivals (Seasons): 2012 2011 2009

IAFA DV8 Festivals & Exhibitions (Seasons):  2008 

AFAI All-Ireland American Football League Festivals & Exhibitions (Seasons): 1992

IAFA Irish American Football League Festivals & Exhibitions (Seasons): 1989 1988 1987 1986

Picture Credit: [7] Craigavon Cowboys (2016) Cowboys beat Soldiers at Stars and Stripes Event [Internet] Available from: https://www.craigavoncowboys.co.uk/uploads/7/8/0/2/78026140/1467843728.png [Accessed 10 February 2020]

IAFL Preseason 2017 Carrickfergus Knights v West Dublin Rhinos

American Football Ireland Preseasons

The Results of Preseason Matches in the American Football Ireland Leagues

Preseason, like in the National Football League is an important part of player development. The Irish American Football League generally plays a two-game preseason in preparation for the 8-game regular season.

American Football Ireland Preseason Results & Standings

American Football Ireland Preseason Friendlies (seasons): 2020

IAFA / IAFL Shamrock Bowl Conference Era Preseason Friendlies (Season): 2019 2018 2017 2016  2015 2014

IAFA Irish American Football League Preseason Friendlies: 2011 2010

IAFA / IAFL Spring & Autumn Era Preseason Friendlies (seasons): 2004-05 2004 2003 2001

AFAI All-Ireland American Football League Pre-Season Friendlies: 1995 1994 1993 1992 1991

IAFA Irish American Football League Pre-Season Friendlies: 1990 1989 1987 1986

American Football Ireland Preseasons (Box-Scores & Match Reports)

IAFL Preseason Friendlies (Box-Score & Match Reports): 1989 1986

Picture Credit: [8] Carrickfergus Knights Facebook (2017) Albums: Preseason 2017 – Knights v Rhinos (9-12) [Internet] Available from: https://scontent-dub4-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t31.0-8/17038640_967866763347762_8632389447465364132_o.jpg?nc_cat=109&_nc_sid=e007fa&_nc_ohc=KEQnjrvMn_oAX--tgg&_nc_ht=scontent-dub4-1.xx&oh=f0f579e9eb3955d315bb97d494b91f86&oe=5EE77FECl [Accessed 18 May 2020]

American Football Ireland All-Star Games

The Results of the IAFL All-Star Games 1986-Present

All Star Games have been a integral part of Irish American Football since the beginning, as in the National Football League.

Irish American Football League All-Star Games 1986-Present

Picture Credit: [9] Dublin Rebels Wayback Machine (2005) 2005shamrockbowl1 [Internet] Available from: http://web.archive.org/web/20050901182936im_/http://www.dublinrebels.com/2005shamrockbowl1.jpg [Accessed 1 February 2021]

Irish International American Football

From the first ever touring American Football teams in Ireland in the 1940s to the big NCAA College Games from the 1980s onwards to the matches played by Irish American Football teams – both club and country – against North American teams and European teams there is plenty to savour in the history of International American Football in Ireland and Irish teams overseas.

American Teams in Ireland (1942-Present)

American Football teams in Ireland.

#The first ever American Football games played in Ireland were in the 1940s, when teams of US Servicemen returning from WW2 played matches in Ravenhill (Home of Ulster Rugby) and Croke Park (Home of the GAA) in aid of the Irish Red Cross. Further matches were played in the 1950s & 1960s by US Air Force Personnel stationed at US Air Bases in Britain & Germany during the Cold War. There were also during the late 1980s and up until the mid-1990s high-profile pre-season matches between NCAA College teams and one NFL match between the Pittsburgh Steelers and Chicago Bears. 2012 also saw the return of the high-profile NCAA games to Ireland, featuring both NCAA Division I Regular Season Matches, and also the Global Ireland Football Tournament, a series of 6 Regular Season NCAA Division III and High School matches played at a variety of venues across Ireland. 

All Games

American Football in Ireland | ETO, USAFE and High Schools 1942-1973

Games by Era

NFL & NCAA Pre-Season Games in Ireland 1988-1997

NCAA Football | Regular Season Games in Ireland 2012-2016

American High School Football Games in Ireland 2012-Present

Canadian U20 & High School Gridiron Football Teams in Ireland 2012-2013

Box-Scores and Match Reports:

NCAA College Football Classic

Christopher Columbus Classic Bowdoin Polar Bears 7 Tufts Jumbos 6 29 November 1992

Shamrock Classic Dublin – Navy Midshipmen 27 Notre Dame Fighting Irish 54 2 November 1996

Picture Credit:

football player with ball running on green field during daytime

Irish Teams v American Teams (1986-Present)

Irish Teams v American Teams

In the 1980s the first Irish American Football teams were formed following the UK’s Channel 4 TV station airing a Weekly NFL Highlight Show, and matches were organised between Irish Teams and Eastern Football League (Massachusetts area) Semi-Pro Teams. Matches were also irregularly scheduled between Irish teams and US Servicemen and High schools. In 2004 the first matches between Ireland and NCAA Division III teams were organised, and in 2007 these became a regular fixture in Ireland, between Irish Club Teams and NCAA Division III teams. 

All Games Overview

American Football Ireland Irish Teams v USA & Canadian Teams 1985-Present

Games by Era

International American Football Irish Teams v Eastern Football League Teams 1986-1988

International American Football | Irish Teams v Canadian Semi-Pro Teams 1994-1995

American Football Ireland Irish Teams v USA & Canadian Services & Underage Teams 1993-Present

International American Football | Ireland v NCAA Division III Teams 2004-2005

International American Football | Irish Teams v NCAA Division III Teams 2007-2019

Seasons

ETO Football Championship (Seasons):  Autumn 1942 Spring 1944

Box-Scores and Match Reports

Irish American Football League v Eastern Football League (Semi-Pro)

Green Isle All-Stars 0 Marlboro Shamrocks 36 – 29 November 1986

Dublin Celts 0 Taunton Raiders 46 – 19 April 1987

Irish American Football League v Canadian Football Teams (Semi-Pro & U22)

Carrickfergus Knights 6 Team Canada 34 – 25 August 2002

Irish American Football Association / Global Football (NCAA Division III)

William Wagner Trophy – Tallaght Outlaws 0 Claremont-McKenna Stags 67 – 19 May 2007

Picture Credit: Pexels Free Photos

European American Football (Irish Clubs & Team Ireland):

 The Dublin Celts, the first American Football team in Ireland, formed in 1984, played matches against British opposition in 1985 & 1986 due to lack of kitted opposition in Ireland. In 1986 the first Shamrock Bowl was played and the Irish American Football League was started the following year, with the Shamrock Bowl Champions winning the right to represent Ireland in the Eurobowl, the European Champions Cup. Britain was expelled from the European Football League in 1992, and Ireland left the organisation at the same time as it could not afford to play games in continental Europe. Irish teams played a series of matches against English, Scottish and Welsh teams from then until 2000, and the Nations Cup, between Ireland, England, Scotland and Wales was held from 1996-1999. In 2002 Ireland rejoined the European circuit, with the Dublin Rebels playing in the Charleroi Trophy in Belgium, an unofficial Championship for amateur Western European Champions, such as the Irish, Belgian & Dutch Leagues. From 2005-2006 Irish teams returned to playing British teams, and then in 2009 the first Atlantic Cup, an official tournament for the Champions of amateur Western European Leagues was held. Belgian, Dutch, Irish and sometimes either a Luxembourg representative or a team from the French third level competed for this European Tier 3 Trophy until 2016, when the Belgian & Dutch entrants made the step up to EFL (Tier 2) level. From 2014-present a series of matches involving Irish teams and teams from the Atlantic Fringe, such as Scotland and Iberia, have been played, as well as Internationals between Ireland and Belgium and Netherlands. 

black player of american football on stadium

International 8-Man American Football (Irish Clubs):

AFI 8-v8

American Football Association of Ireland | Wicklow Festival 8-a-side Blitz 1995

UK & Ireland Youth Kitted Football | Exhibition 1998 Box Score

Picture Credit: Pexels Free Photos

Irish International Box-Scores

Irish Wolfhounds; Charleroi Trophy

Ireland International American Football (Box-Scores & Match Reports):

Ireland Fighting Irish International Results (Box-Scores & Match Reports):

Great Britain Lions 22 Ireland Fighting Irish 0 – 17 March 1995

Ireland Fighting Irish 45 Northwest GB All-Stars 0 – 26 November 1995

Irish Leprechauns | Nations Cup (Box-Scores & Match Reports)(Seasons):

Four Nations American Football | Nations Cup Box-Score & Match Reports 1997

Team Ireland International Results (Box-Scores & Match Reports):

Ireland 6 Great Britain Bulldogs 69 | 4 September 2004Ireland 8 Coventry Jets 35 | 15 October 2006

Irish Wolfhounds International Results (Box-Scores & Match Reports):

Dutch Lions 20 Irish Wolfhounds 0 | 27 August 2016

Irish Wolfhounds 20 Belgian Barbarians 19 | 20 October 2018

Belgian Barbarians 6 Irish Wolfhounds 7 | Oct 2019

Irish Clubs Internationals (Box-Scores and Match Reports):

European Football League International Challenge Cup Game Summaries 1986-1988

EFAF Chareroi Trophy (Box-Scores & Match Reports): 2004 2003

Picture Credit:

Irish American Football Teams

 

Dublin 11v11 Teams

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Overview & [Season Roster & Match Reports]:

Fingal

Dublin City University Saints 2006-2010: [ 2007 ]

North Dublin Marshals 2006

Dublin City

Dublin Bulls 1997

Dublin Tigers 1998-1999

West Dublin Rhinos 2008-Present

South Dublin

Dublin Tornadoes 1986-1996 [ 1994 ][ 1995 ][ 1996 ]

Dublin Dragons 2000-2014 [ 2002 ][ 2003 ][ 2006](see also 8v8 Junior Teams, 8v8 Teams, 8v8 2nds Teams)

Tallaght Outlaws 2007-2008

South Dublin Panthers 2015-Present

Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown

Dublin Celts 1984-1993 [ 1985 ][ 1989 ][ 1990 ][ 1992 ][ 1993 ]

Dublin Lightning 1995-1998 [ 1996 ]

Dublin Rebels 2001-Present [ 2002 ][ 2004 ][ 2005 ][ 2007 ][ 2008]

Picture Credit: [1] Dublin Celts American Football Team Facebook Page (2016) Photo by Joseph Greene August 28, 2016 [Internet] Available from: https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=1421158977901127&set=gm.269427200117075&type=3&theater&ifg=1 [Accessed 3 July 2018]

 

Antrim 11v11 Teams

Add your job title

Overview & [Season Roster & Match Reports]

Belfast City

[ Hale Blue Devils 1942 ]

Belfast Blitzers 1985-1988 [ 1986 ][ 1987 ]

Belfast Spartans 1985-1996 [All-Time Players: 1984-1997] (see also 8v8 Junior Teams)

Queens University Belfast Broncos 1998-1999 (see also 8v8 Teams)

Belfast Bulls 2002-2008 (see also 8v8 Teams, 8v8 2nds Teams)

Mid & East Antrim

Carrickfergus / East Antrim Cougars 1986-1989

Carrickfergus / Belfast Knights 1994-present [ 1999200220182019 ](see also 8v8 Junior Teams, 8v8 2nds Teams)

South Antrim

Jordanstown Jaguars 1987

Aldergrove Hawks 1986-1987

Antrim / A26 Bulldogs 1988-1993 [ 1992 ]

Newtownabbey Warriors 1991

Antrim Jets [ 2019 ]

Picture Credit: [16] Carrickfergus Knights – Vimeo (2018) Portrait [Internet] Available from: https://i.vimeocdn.com/portrait/482449_300x300 [Accessed 22 July 2018]

Ulster 11v11 Teams

Add your job title

Overview & [Season Roster & Match Reports]

Derry /Donegal

Coleraine Chieftains 1985-1990

Armagh

Craigavon Cowboys 1986-Present [ 2017 ][ 2019 ] (see also 8v8 Junior Teams, 8v8 Teams, 8v8 2nds Teams)

Lurgan Area Raiders 1994-1995

Portadown Panthers 1996-1997

Lisburn, Castlereagh & North Down

Bangor Buccaneers 1986-1987

Belfast / NI Giants 1987-1990

East Side Jets 1987 [ 1987 ]

Newry, Mourne & Down

PIcture Credit: [19] Craigavon Cowboys – Twitter Account (2018) Profile Picture [Internet] Available from: https://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/864100166680424448/TCauLbnj_400x400.jpg [Accessed 22 July 2018]

Leinster 11v11 Teams

Add your job title

Overview & [Season Roster & Match Reports]:

Louth

Drogheda Vikings 1992

Drogheda Lightning 2013-2014 (see also 8v8 Teams)

Louth / Dundalk Mavericks 2014-Present

Midlands

Tullamore Phoenix 2012-2013 (see also 8v8 Teams)

Meath Bulldogs 2013-Present (see also 8v8 Teams)

Westmeath / Mullingar Minotaurs 2013-Present (see also 8v8 Teams)

Kildare

North Kildare Reapers 2012-2017 (see also 8v8 Teams)

South Kildare Soldiers 2014-2017

Wicklow & Carlow

Greystones Rebels 1998

Picture Credit: [27] North Kildare Reapers Facebook Page (2016) North Kildare Reapers Logo [Internet] Available from: https://scontent-dub4-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/1915656_601510396666670_1466765724774743782_n.png?_nc_cat=108&_nc_ht=scontent-dub4-1.xx&oh=9ce7704ef3f30893cf5253668ebb76c8&oe=5C98C46E [Accessed 11 December 2018]

Munster 11v11 Teams

Add your job title

Overview & [Season Roster & Match Reports]:

Lee Valley Steelers 1988-1993

University of Limerick Vikings 2001-Present [ 2008 2011]

Cork Admirals 2002-Present [ 2007 ]

Waterford Wolves 2013-2019

Connacht 11v11 Teams:

Galway Warriors 2014-Present

Picture Credit: [33] Irish American Football Association (2017) UL Vikings Logo [Internet] Available from: https://www.americanfootball.ie/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/ULVikings-HI-RES-Logo.png [Accessed 30 November 2018]

American Football Ireland 8v8 Teams

2nds Teams (8v8)

Add your job title

Overview & [Season Roster & Match Reports]:

Dublin

Dublin Tornadoes Vets 1993

Dublin Dragons 2nds 2001-2012

Dublin Rebels 2nds 2002-2010 [ 2008 ]

Tallaght Outlaws 2nds 2007

Antrim

Carrickfergus Knights 2nds 1998-present

Queens University Belfast Broncos 1998

Belfast Bulls 2nds 2007

Leinster

Tullamore Phoenix 2nds 2012

Munster

Cork Admirals 2nds 2002-2008 [ 2007 ]

Picture Credit: [4] Irish American Football Association (2018) Dublin Rebels Team Logo [Internet] Available from: https://www.americanfootball.ie/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/Team-Logo-Dublin-Rebels-2.png [Accessed 22 July 2018]

Irish Flag Football Teams

Ireland Flag Football Teams

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American Football Ireland Flag Football Timeline 1985-2020

Overview & [Season Roster & Match Reports]: 

Team Ireland Flag Football Men: [International Series: 2016 ][ EFAF European Flag Football Championships: 2013 ]

Picture Credit: [1] American Football Ireland (2020) AFI-Flag-Football_white [Internet] Available from: https://www.americanfootball.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/AFI-Flag-Football_white.png [Accessed 24 August 2020]

Dublin Flag Football Teams

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Overview & [Season Roster & Match Reports]:

Drimnagh Cycos 1995-2005 [ 1995-96  1996-97 1997-98 1999-2000 2001-02 2002-03 ]

Dublin 86ers 2009-2013

Dublin Bay Raptors 2017-Present [ 2018 ]

Dublin Gladiators [ 1998-99 ] 

Dublin Vipers 2013-2017 [ 2015-16 ]

South Dublin Panthers [ 2014-15 ]

South West Jets 1994-1995

Picture Credit: [31] Irish American Football Association (2017) Dublin Bay Raptors Logo [Internet] Available from: https://www.americanfootball.ie/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/Team-Logo-Dublin-Bay-Raptors-No-BCKGD.png%5BAc cessed 4 November 2019]

Leinster Flag Football Teams

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Overview & [Season Roster & Match Reports]:

Maynooth University 2010-Present [ 2013-14 ]

Picture Credit: Maynooth University Hurricanes (2018) Hurricanes Logo [Internet] Available from: https://scontent-dub4-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-1/p200x200/38026346_1866849043362350_2546461568355270656_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&_nc_ht=scontent-dub4-1.xx&oh=7923a6be0f36fd21b1f67437c4ebfc0a&oe=5C6D6BC9 [Accessed 1 December 2018]

Connacht Flag Football Teams

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Overview & [Season Roster & Match Reports]:

Roscommon Rogues 2015-2016

Picture Credit: [36] Irish American Football Association (2017) Galway Warriors Logo [Internet] Available from: https://www.americanfootball.ie/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/Team-Logo-Galway-Warriors.png [Accessed 11 December 2018]

Irish American Football Players, Coaches & Personnel

Irish-Born Pro Players & Coaches

NFL; AFL; CoFL; WFL;

A look at the record of Irish-born Professional & US College American Football Players.

Irish-Born NFL, AAA & College American Football Players, Coaches & Personnel:

Tom Furlong Irish-Born NFL and Pro American Football Player 1965-1966

(New York Giants (NFL), Atlanta Falcons (NFL) and Brooklyn Dodgers (CoFL))

Adrian Young Irish-Born NFL, Pro and College American Football Player 1964-1975

(USC Trojans (NCAA), Philadelphia Eagles (NFL), Detroit Lions (NFL), Chicago Bears (NFL) and The Hawaiians (WFL))

Neil O’Donoghue Irish-Born GAA Football, Soccer and NFL American Football Player 1970-1985

(Round Towers and Dublin Minors (GAA), Shamrock Rovers (LoI Soccer), St. Bernard’s College (Alabama, NCAA Soccer), Auburn Tigers (NCAA Football), Buffalo Bills (NFL), Tampa Bay Buccaneers (NFL), St. Louis Cardinals (NFL))

John Sinnott Irish-Born NFL and College Football Player 1976-1982

(Brown Bears (NCAA), New York Giants (NFL) and Baltimore Colts (NFL))

Emmett Waldron | Irish-Born Pro & College American Football Player 1993-1999 (

Rice Owls (NCAA), Scottish Claymores (WLAF-NFLE))

Linda Holland | Irish-Born Pro Legends-Arena American Football Player 2014

(Western Australia Angels (LFL Australia))

Ian Jones Irish-Born GAA Football, Rugby Union and NFL American Football Coach 2010-Present

(South Carolina Gamecocks (NCAA Football), Penn State Nittany Lions (NCAA Football), Cleveland Browns (NFL) Houston Texans (NFL), Salt Lake Stallions (AAF))

Picture Credit: Shutterstock

adult american football athlete audience

Irish American Football Officials

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Irish American Football Management

A look at the various different Organisations in Irish American Football down through the years, and the composition of those organisations and members.

American Football Association of Ireland (1991-2000): 1997

American Football Ireland (2020-present): 2020

Irish American Football Officials

Officials are the Referees and Linesmen of American Football. With action all over the field at any given time, there are six officials ruling over play during the game, all under the Referee, the Chief Official.

Irish American Football Association (1998-2019): 2007

Picture Credit: Pexels Free Photos

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Awards & All-Star Teams

MVP; All-Nations Cup;

The Most Valuable Player Awards and All-Star Teams through the years.

Four Nations American Football | All-Nations Cup Teams:

Home Nations American Football | All-Nations Cup Team 1997

Irish American Football League MVP Awards:

Irish American Football League | MVP Awards 1993

Picture Credit: Pexels Free Photos

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All-Time Players Lists

All-Times Players Lists

Belfast Spartans All-Time Players List 1984-1997: https://eirball.ie/2020/04/23/belfast-spartans-all-time-players-list-1984-1997/

Picture Ctredit: Pexels Free Photos

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Cheerleaders & Sponsors

Cheerleaders & Sponsors

Irish American Football Cheerleaders

Cork Admirals Cheerleaders (Seasons): 2010

American Football Ireland Sponsors

Westmeath Minotaurs Irish American Football Team Sponsors

Picture Credit: Pexels Free Photos

Irish American Football Records

American Football Ireland Yearbooks

Below you will find links to Yearbooks containing:

Box Scores , Match Reports , Team Rosters , Scorers for each season from 1985-Present.

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AFAI 1990-1999

AFAI 1990-1999

1990 Yearbook (AFAI):

Dublin Celts Irish American Football Team Roster & Match Reports 1990

1992 Yearbook (AFAI):

AFAI | All Ireland American Football League 1992 | Box Scores & Match Reports

American Football Association of Ireland | Pre-Season Friendlies 1992

Antrim Bulldogs | Irish American Football Team | 1992 Season Results & Match Reports

Dublin Celts | Irish American Football Team | Season Roster & Match Reports 1992

Prospect Pumas Irish Junior Kitted American Football Team Roster and Match Reports 1992

1993 Yearbook (AFAI):

Dublin Celts | Irish American Football Team 1993 Season Results & Roster

Ardee Falcons American Football Ireland 8v8 Team Roster and Game Summaries 1993

1995 Yearbook (AFAI):

AFAI | All Ireland American Football League 1995 | Box Scores & Match Reports

Great Britain Lions 22 Ireland Fighting Irish 0 – 17 March 1995

Ireland Fighting Irish 45 Northwest GB All-Stars 0 – 26 November 1995

Irish Leprechauns | International American Football Team | 1995 Roster

Dublin Tornadoes | Irish American Football Team | 1995 Season Roster & Match Reports

1996 Yearbook (AFAI):

Dublin Lightning American Football Ireland Team Roster and Game Summaries 1996

Dublin Tornadoes American Football Ireland Team Roster and Game Summaries 1996

Drimnagh Cycos | Irish Flag Football Team | Season 1995-96

1997 Yearbook (AFAI):

Nations Cup 1997

Anglo-Irish Flag Football Challenge I | Box Score & Match Report 1997

Drimnagh Cycos | Irish Flag Football Team | Season 1996-97

1998 Yearbook (AFAI)

UK & Ireland Youth Kitted Football | Exhibition 1998 Box Score

Anglo-Irish Flag Football Challenge II | Box Score & Match Report 1998

Drimnagh Cycos | Irish Flag Football Team | Season 1997-98

1999 Yearbook (AFAI)

American Football Association of Ireland | Irish Senior League 1999 | Box Scores & Match Reports

Carrickfergus Knights Irish American Football Team Roster & Match Reports 1999

Anglo-Irish Flag Football Challenge III | Box Score & Match Report 1999

Drimnagh Cycos | Irish Flag Football Team | 1998-99 Season Results & Roster

Dublin Gladiators | Irish Flag Football Team | 1998-99 Season Results & Roster

Picture Credit: Pexels Free Photos

man playing american football on field

IAFA Yearbooks 2000

Add your job title

2000 Yearbook (IAFA)

International Flag Football Challenge – Ireland 27 England 7 – 6 May 2000

Drimnagh Cycos | Irish Flag Football Team | 1999-2000 Season Results & Roster

2001 Yearbook (IAFA)

Irish American Football League | Winter League 2001 | Box Scores & Match Reports

Anglo-Irish Flag Football Challenge V | Box Score & Match Report 2001

2002 Yearbook (IAFA)

Irish American Football Association | Irish American Football League | Spring League 2002 | Box Scores & Match Reports

Irish American Football Association | Irish American Football League | Spring League 2002 | Scoring Charts

Carrickfergus Knights Irish American Football Team Roster and Match Reports 2002

Dublin Dragons | Irish American Football Team | 2002 Season Roster & Match Reports

Dublin Rebels | Irish american Football Team | 2002 Season Roster & Match Reports

Irish Flag Football Association | Challenge Matches 2001-02 | Box Score & Match Reports

Drimnagh Cycos | Irish Flag Football Team | 2001-02 Season Roster & Match Reports

2003 Yearbook (IAFA)

Irish American Football Association | Irish American Football League | Division 1 2003 | Box Scores & Match Reports

Anglo-Irish Flag Football Challenge Drimnagh Cycos v BSFL Allstars Game Summary 2003

Dublin Dragons | Irish American Football Team | 2003 Season Roster & Match Reports

Belfast Bulls American Football Ireland 8v8 Team Roster and Game Summaries 2003

Drimnagh Cycos American Football Ireland Flag Team Roster and Game Summaries 2002-03

2004 Yearbook (IAFA)

Irish American Football Association Super League Box Scores & Match Reports 2004

European Federation of American Football | International Friendly | Ireland 6 Great Britain Bulldogs 69 | 4 September 2004

Dublin Rebels | Irish American Football Team | 2004 Season Roster & Match Reports

Anglo-Irish Flag Football Challenge VIII | Box Score & Match Report 2004

2006 Yearbook (IAFA)

European Federation of American Football | International Friendly | Ireland 8 Coventry Jets 35 | 15 October 2006

Dublin Dragons | Irish American Football Team | Team Roster & Match Reports 2006

2007 Yearbook (IAFA)

Cork Admirals Irish American Football Team Roster and Match Reports 2007

Dublin City University Saints Irish American Football Team Match Reports and Roster 2007

Dublin Rebels American Football Ireland Team Roster and Game Summaries 2007

Cork Admirals 2nds Irish American Football DV8 Team Roster and Match Reports 2007

2008 Yearbook (IAFA)

Dublin Rebels American Football Ireland Team Roster and Game Summaries 2008

University of Limerick Vikings | Irish American Football Team | 2008 Season Roster & Match Reports

Trinity College Dublin Thunderbolts Irish 8-a-side American Football Team Roster and Match Reports 2008

Dublin Rebels 2nds American Football Ireland 8v8 Team Roster and Game Summaries 2008

2009 Yearbook (IAFA)

Erris (Mayo) Rams American Football Ireland 8v8 Team Roster and Game Summaries 2009

Picture Credit: Pexels Free Photos

people playing american football

IAFA Yearbooks 2010s

Add your job title

2011 Yearbook (IAFA)

University of Limerick Vikings | Irish American Football Team | 2011 Season Roster & Match Reports

Trim Bulldogs | Irish American Football 8-a-side Team | 2011 Season Roster & Match Reports

2012 Yearbook (IAFA)

Trim Bulldogs | Irish American Football 8-a-side Team | 2012 Season Roster & Match Reports

2013 Yearbook (IAFA)

Team Ireland Flag Football Men | Team Roster & Match Reports | EFAF European Flag Football Championships 2013

2014 Yearbook (IAFA)

NUI Maynooth Phantoms Irish Flag Football Team Roster and Match Reports 2013-14

2015 Yearbook (IAFA)

South Dublin Panthers | Irish Flag Football Team | 2014-15 Season Roster & Match Reports

2016 Yearbook (IAFA)

Dutch Lions 20 Irish Wolfhounds 0 | 27 August 2016

Team Ireland Flag Football Match Reports and Roster 2016

Dublin Vipers Irish Flag Football Team Roster and Match Reports 2015-16

2017 Yearbook (IAFA)

Craigavon Cowboys | Irish American Football Team | 2017 Season Results & Roster

2018 Yearbook (IAFA)

Irish Wolfhounds 20 Belgian Barbarians 19 | 20 October 2018

Belfast Knights Irish American Football Team Roster and Match Reports 2018

Dublin Bay Raptors | Irish Flag Football Team | 2018 Season Roster & Match Reports

2019 Yearbook (IAFA)

Belgian Barbarians 6 Irish Wolfhounds 7 Oct 2019

Antrim Jets | 2019 IAFL 2 Conference Season | Box Scores & Match Reports

Belfast Knights | 2019 IAFL Shamrock Bowl Conference Season | Box Scores & Match Reports

Craigavon Cowboys American Football Ireland Team Roster & Match Reports 2019

Antrim Jets | Irish Youth Kitted American Football Team | Season Roster & Match Reports 2019

Craigavon Cowboys Irish Flag Football Team Roster and Match Reports 2019

Picture Credit: Pexels Free Photos

Irish 8v8 American Football

This is the Index Page to the All-Time Archive of 8v8 American Football (Contact) in Ireland. This version of American Football is designed to facilitate the playing of American Football in 3 areas of competition: (1) Junior Kitted Teams. (2) Small Towns; and (3) 11v11 Teams to field 2nds Teams. depending on the numbers that turn up on gthe day it could be 6v6; 7v7; 8v8 or 9v9. Includes Early Pre-Pads American Football 1983-1991

Header Picture Credit: [1] Hogan, Sean (2016) “Kildare’s American football team crowned All Ireland champs”. Kildare Now. 26 October, 2016. [Internet] Available from: https://www.kildarenow.com/upload/2016/10/26122252/IMG_1564-e1477481286183.jpg [Accessed 30 January 2020]

Junior / Youth Kitted Football

American Football Ireland Youth Kitted League 2013-Present; NIAFA Northern Ireland Junior American League Two-Touch 1991-1994; Youth Challenge Games 1995-2012

The first Junior / Youth Kitted American Football League was created in 1991, when the Northern Ireland Junior American League made the step up from Two-Touch to Kitted. It lasted two seasons, and from then the Ballymena Wolfhounds played international exhibition games against British opposition as they had no opposition in Ireland.

In the 2000s there were a number of exhibition games played among Junior Kitted teams, and in 2013 the first IAFA Junior Kitted Programme was officially launched, with a 7-team League, playing 7v7, 8v8, 9v9 Kitted Football (depending on the numbers on the day) in 2019.

There has also been 6v6 Junior Kitted American Football.

Junior / Youth Kitted Finals

American Football Ireland Youth Kitted Finals 2013-Present

Junior / Youth Kitted Standings

Irish American Football Association Youth Kitted League 2013-2019

Northern Ireland Junior American League 1991-1992

Junior / Youth Kitted Results

AFI Youth League (Seasons): 2020

IAFA Youth Kitted League (Seasons): 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013

IAFA Youth Cups, Leagues and Tournaments (Seasons): 2009 2008 2007 2006

AFAI Junior Kitted Challenge (Seasons): 1994

NIAFA Northern Ireland Junior American League (Kitted – Seasons): 

1994 1992 1991

NIAFA Northern Ireland Junior American League (Kitted – Preseasons): 

1991

Junior / Youth Kitted Box-Scores

Youth Internationals (Club):

UK & Ireland Youth Kitted Football | Exhibition 1998 Box Score

Picture Credit: [2] Irish American Football Association | Facebook (2019) Photo, October 20, 2019: “Congratulations to Cork Admirals American Football Club who are this years IAFA Youth Champions after defeating the Belfast Knights 44-7 in the final! “ [Internet] Available from: https://www.facebook.com/iafaireland/photos/pcb.2768526973181185/2768526746514541/?type=3&theater [Accessed 21 October 2019]

Prospect Pumas Two-Touch Junior American Football Team 1986[Picture Credit: Andrew Wilson]

Junior Two Touch American Football

NIAFA Northern Ireland Junior American League Two-Touch 1986-1990; ICAF Youth Blitz 1991; East Coast Junior Football Association 1985-1986

From 1986 to 1991, before Flags were brought in, there were a number of Junior Two-Touch Leagues organised by regional development bodies, such as the East Coast Junior Football Association (Greater Dublin Area) from 1986 to 1987, and the Northern Ireland Junior American League which ran from 1988 to 1990, when it became fully kitted. In 1991, a Junior Two-Touch American Football Blitz took place in Tymon Park, Tallaght. These Leagues were Two-Touch, although it was only the ball carrier who had to be touched twice, all other ;positions were full contact (i.e. Blocking etc.) [References: Andrew Wilson’s reply to Eirball’s post, March 27, 2020 [Internet] Available at : https://www.facebook.com/eirballenda/posts/2433567573622264?comment_id=2696161900696162&notif_id=1612882525056885&notif_t=feed_comment&ref=notif [Accessed 11 February 2021]

Junior Two Touch Results

ICAF Junior Touch American Football Blitz (Seasons)1991

Northern Ireland Junior American League (Seasons): 1990 1988 1987 1986

East Coast Junior Football Association (Seasons): 1987 1986 

Northern Ireland Junior American League (Preseasons): 1990

Picture Credit: [3] Andrew Wilson (2021) Reply to Eirball Facebook Post, March 27, 2020 “this is a very early publicity photo (pre kit) taken in 1986, I think.” [Internet] Available from: https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10219341931087529&set=p.10219341931087529&type=3&av=2226857640959926&eav=AfZG4VnfE0tNSFTwa-nyACGq3CrmStfgyhPu8_I0C1E4keYcOz_YZe5FHtJXGznrua2a22r7OV1hILGkeHYHClQT [Accessed 11 February 2021]

DV8 Development League / Blitzes

IAFA DV8 Development League 2008-2012; IAFA Mini-League 1993; IAFA Blitzes and Challenge Games 1994-2012.

The first DV8 Development Mini-League was created in 1993, for smaller teams like the Ardee Falcons (Co. Louth), and Dublin Tornadoes Vets (2nds team). Blitzes were played over the following 10 years, with another Mini-League (IAFL Division 2) created in 2003. Again Blitzes were employed up until the creation of the DV8 Development League in 2008, which lasted until 2012, when the League became the full 11v11 IAFL 1 Conference. The DV8 format was then used for the Junior Kitted League.

DV8 Development League / Challenge Standings

DV8 Development League – 1st and 2nds Teams Standings 2008-2012

Irish American Football League | DV8 Development League 2008-2012

Irish American Football Association DV8 Challenge 1998-2003

DV8 International Blitz Results

DV8 International Blitz (Seasons): 1995

DV8 Development League / Challenges and Blitzes Results

IAFA DV8 Development League (Seasons): 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008

IAFA DV8 Blitzes: 2012 2012 2011 2010 2008 2007

Spring & Autumn League Era Division 2 Leagues, Blitzes and Challenges:

2004 2003 2002 20011998

AFAI Development Mini-League: 1993

Picture Credit:
[4] Drogheda Lightning (2011) dsc00574 “David Murray carries the ball for the Lightning the last time the teams met in Tullamore.” [Internet] Available from: https://boltsinblue.files.wordpress.com/2013/02/dsc00574.jpg [Accessed 21 January 2019]

Early Pre-Pads American Football

Pick-Up Games and Challenge Games 1983-1986

Beginning with a match in Banbridge between two teams of specially trained Rugby players for American Indeendence Day in 1983 through to the first Irish American Football League season in 1986, non-kitted contact Football was played between Irish teams due to the huge cost involved in getting helmets and padding imported into the country from USA. By 1987 all teams were now fully kittted and the League played its first full season. The non-kitted version of American Football would have been very like the early days of the NFL or Ohio League from 1900 to 1930s, or more modern day pick-up games in parks throughout the United States. These non-pad, non-helmet pick-up games have recently been codified by the American 7s Football League, which has similar rules to 8v8 Football such as Arena / Indoor Football.

Early Pre-Pads Football Matches Results

Early Pre-Pads Football Matches (Seasons): 19851983

Picture Credit: Modern Day American 7s Football League [5] A7FL Facebook (2020) Photo, August 22, 2020 [Internet] Available from: https://i0.wp.com/www.a7fl.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/A7FLBackInMotionFINAL.png?resize=294%2C300&ssl=1 [Accessed 12 September 2020]

International 8v8 American Football

black player of american football on stadium

International 8-Man American Football (Irish Clubs):

AFI 8-v8

American Football Association of Ireland | Wicklow Festival 8-a-side Blitz 1995

UK & Ireland Youth Kitted Football | Exhibition 1998 Box Score

Picture Credit: Pexels Free Photos

Irish 8v8 American Football Teams

This is the Eirball Index Page to the History, Results and Rosters of Irish 8v8 American Football (also known as Arena or Indoor Football) was invented in the USA to help smaller towns, colleges and High Schools play Football. It is most popular in Mexico. American Football Ireland runs Leagues for three types of 8v8 Teams: Youth Contact, Smaller Towns and 2nds Teams. It is also hoping to start an 8v8 Blitz for Women. The Leagues can also be 7v7 and 9v9 depending on the numbers of players on the day.

Youth Contact 8v8 Teams

Northern Ireland Junior American Football League Two-Touch 1986-1990; Northern Ireland Junior American League Kitted 1991-1993; Irish American Football League Junior Blitz 2009-2012; Irish American Football League Youth Kitted League 2013-2019; American Football Ireland Youth Kitted League 2020.

All-Time Record & [Season Roster & Match Reports]

Antrim

Antrim Cobras 1987-1988 [ 1988 ]

Ballymena Wolfhounds 1991-1998 [ Exhibition 1998]

Belfast Junior Spartans 1991-1992

Prospect Pumas 1991-1993 [ 1992 ]

Carrickfergus Knights 2013-2014

Antrim Jets [ 2019 ]

Ulster

Brownlow Bandits 1991

Leinster

Midlands Soldiers 2009

Drogheda Lightning 2013

South Kildare Soldiers 2013-2018

Munster

University of Limerick Vikings 2018

Picture Credit: [1] Antrim Jets | Facebook (2019) Photo 29 September 2019: ” Not the result we wanted but very proud of all the players and coaches. “ [Internet] Available from: https://scontent-dub4-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/71796121_333178334149483_7674892213314125824_o.jpg?_nc_cat=101&_nc_eui2=AeFrwSzjzHcQ_Oer8BdkB0CSC4KBTqSKbt5BCSRSSIg2JY8oRhVmcBoT6chcZMt0KWLDiYqjTv8_W_8w0S5eUE8iLyxwVzXSdGXnQW6j6GFN3A&_nc_oc=AQl1AFRPuYKThDw91QzPPAK52NYc7Z5nydyoPVv4JrEpu93MGFkPnr1PbY2S02RKxi5JUzdBfH6_ESultq3H66jq&_nc_ht=scontent-dub4-1.xx&oh=06a3046d14837f681fa3d34c626ca3d4&oe=5E27717C [Accessed 30 September 2019]

Smaller Towns 8v8 Teams

American Football Association of Ireland Mini-League 1993; Irish American Football Association Blitzes 1998-2005; IAFA DV8 Development League 2006-2012; IAFA DV8 Blitzes 2013.

All-Time Record & [Season Roster & Match Reports]

Louth

Ardee Falcons 1993 [ 1993 ]

Drogheda Lightning 2011-2012

Wicklow & Carlow

Bray Seahawks 1989-1990

IT Carlow Chargers 2010

Midlands

Edenderry Soldiers 2007-2008

Midlands Soldiers 2009

Tullamore Phoenix 2010-2011

Trim Bulldogs 2011-2012 [ 20112012]

Mullingar Minotaurs 2012

Kildare

North Kildare Reapers 2012

Munster

Limerick Patriots 1993

University of Limerick Vikings 2003

Waterford Wolves 2012

Antrim

Belfast Lasers 1998

Belfast Bulls 2002-2003 [ 2003 ]

Ulster

Craigavon Cowboys 2003-2009

Dublin

Dublin Dragons 2008-2009

Trinity College Dublin Thunderbolts 2008-2009 [ 2008 ]

University College Dublin Sentinels 2009

Connacht

Erris Rams (Mayo) 2009-2010 [ Erris (Mayo) Rams 2009 ]

PIcture Credit: [2] Meath Bulldogs Fan Group | Facebook (2012) Photo by Garland Drake, July 9, 2012 “Trim Bulldogs win a dramatic exhibition game against Drodghea Lighting in Moneygall 28-26 “ [Internet] Available from: https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=4037194604090&set=gm.412879918758381 [Accessed 14 November 2020]

American Football Ireland 2nds Teams (8v8)

AFAI DV8 Mini-League 1993; IAFA Blitzes 1998-2005; IAFA DV8 Development League 2006-2012; IAFA DV8 Blitzes 2013;

All-Time Record & [Season Roster & Match Reports]

Dublin

Dublin Tornadoes Vets 1993

Dublin Dragons 2nds 2001-2012

Dublin Rebels 2nds 2002-2010 [ 2008 ]

Tallaght Outlaws 2nds 2007

Antrim

Carrickfergus Knights 2nds 1998-present

Queens University Belfast Broncos 1998

Belfast Bulls 2nds 2007

Munster

Cork Admirals 2nds 2002-2008 [ 2007 ]

Leinster

Tullamore Phoenix 2nds 2012

Pictiure Credit: [3] Carrickfergus Knights | Wayback Machine (2003) Gallery [2001] [Blitz 26 July 2001] [Internet] Available from: http://web.archive.org/web/20030221070129/http://www.carrickfergusknights.com/thumbs.asp?game=1 [Accessed 18 May 2020]

Irish Flag Football

Flag Football is a Non-Contact Coed/Mixed version of American Football Similar to Tag Rugby, where players wear a flag attached to their waist which must be pulled off in order to tackle them. Scoring is as American Football, although under current rules there is no kicking, and is played on a smaller field with 5 players (In the Irish Flag Football League of the 1990s there were seven players per team and kicking was allowed.

Irish Flag Football League & Blitzes

The first Flag Football Leagues in Ireland were in Northern Ireland in the mid-1980s. Then in 1991 members of the Dublin Tornadoes American Football Team started a league in Dublin to grow the game. The league became the Irish Flag Football League with addition of teams in Greystones, Co. Wicklow, and lasted until 2000.

From the mid-1980s to 2000, there were two separate development bodies under the IAFA/AFAI: The Northern Ireland American Football Association & Irish council of American Football (Republic of Ireland) charged with developing Flag Football, Junior Football & 8-a-side DV8 Football.

Flag Football was restarted in 2001 as a series of Challenge Games held Nationally. This grew into a National Series of Blitzes, with approximately four Bowls held annually until the formation of the second Irish Flag Football League in 2007, this time a National one. It lasted two seasons before the blitz system was re-introduced. All of these iterations of Flag Football Leagues and Tournaments were under numerous Irish Flag Football Association banners.

In 2014 the Irish American Football association took over the running of Flag Football, and the Irish Flag Football League was re-instated, with the League named the Emerald Bowl Conference. A second level, the Glas (Green) Bowl Conference is being introduced in 2019.

Irish Flag Football League & Blitzes (Standings)

IFFL

Irish Flag Football League & Blitzes (Bowls & Finals)

Irish Flag Football Association Logo

Irish Flag Football League | Emerald Bowls 2015-2018

Irish Flag Football Association | Bowl Finals 2009-2014

Irish Council of American Football | Irish Flag Football Association | League Finals 1992-2000

Irish International Flag Football Challenges (Finals):

Irish-American Flag Football Classic 2010-2014

Anglo-Irish Flag Football Challenge 1997-2005

Irish Flag Football League (Decade / Era Overviews):

The Final Standings & Playoff Results at a glance: Decade / Era Overviews:

Irish Flag Football League (Decade / Era Final Tables & Playoffs Overviews)

Irish Flag Football League Emerald Bowl Conference 2014-2019

Irish Flag Football Association | Irish Flag Football League 2007-2008

Picture Credit:

Dublin Bay Raptors 2018

Irish Flag Football League (Results)

IFFL

Irish Flag Football League (Level 1)(Results)

AFI Flag Premier Division (2020-Present): 2020

IFFL Emerald Bowl Conference (2014-2019): 2019 2018  2017 2016-17 2015-16 2014-15 

IFFA Irish Flag Football League (2007-2008): 2007-08 2007

Irish Flag Football League (Level 2)

As well as organising the Emerald Bowl Conference in 2014-15, the Irish Flag Football Association continued to run Blitzes and Tournaments. In 2019, these unofficial 2nd Levels became a full second division: the Glas (Green) Bowl Conference.

AFI Flag Division One (2020-Present): 2020

IAFA Glas Bowl Conference (2019): 2019

Picture Credit:

 

Provincial Flag Football Leagues & Blitzes

Dublin Flag Football League; Northern Ireland American Football Association; Irish Flag Football Association; Flag Football Ireland; American Football Ireland Flag

Provincial Flag Football Leagues

AFI Flag Dublin Conference (Seasons): 2020

AFI Flag North Conference Premier Division (Seasons): 2020

AFI Flag North Conference Division 1 (Seasons): 2020

AFI Flag Central Conference (Seasons): 2020

IFFA Dublin Flag Football League (1991-2000): 1999-2000 1998-99 1997-98 1996-97 1995-96 1994-95 

NIAFA Flag Football League:1986 1985

Irish Flag Football Tournaments, Blitzes & Scrimmages

IFFA Flag Football Blitzes (2014-Present): 2017-18 2014-15

IAFA Indoor Flag Football Tournaments (2014): 2014

IAFFA Tournaments (2009-2014): 2013-14 2012-13 2011-12 2010-11 2009-10 

IFFA Tournaments (2001-2007)  2006-07 2005-06 2001-02 

Picture Credit: [3] Dublin Bay Raptors Whats App Conversation (18 August 2020) Photo Uploaded by Jimmy English at 15:46 .

Drimnagh Cycos IFFA Dublin Flag Football League Champions 1995-96

Irish Flag Football Association (Box-Scores & Match Reports):

Irish Flag Football Association; Anglo-Irish Flag Football Challenge

Box-Scores & Match Reports for each game, arranged on a season-by-season basis:

IFFA Challenge Matches (Box-Scores & Match Reports): 2001-02

Anglo-Irish Flag Football Challenge (Box-Scores & Match Reports): 1997 1998 1999 2001 2004

Picture Credit: [6] FD Reporter (1996) “Photo caption: Irish Cream: the Lads from Drimnagh celebrate their Championship” First Down. April 20, 1996. Pg. 20.

Other Flag Football

A number of other Flag Football Competitions have taken place in Ireland besides the Irish Flag Football League & Blitzes, and International Competitons.

The most prominent of these would be the Junior Flag Football & Two-Touch Football (prior to Ireland getting Flags from America, teams had to rely on a system whereby the ball carrier was ‘tackled’ if he was touched with two hands.

There has also been College / University and Schools Flag Football Tournaments, and Indoor Flag Football Tournaments (the rules differ due to the walls of the Indoor Hall impinging on play).

Irish Flag Football League & Blitzes

The first Flag Football Leagues in Ireland were in Northern Ireland in the mid-1980s. Then in 1991 members of the Dublin Tornadoes American Football Team started a league in Dublin to grow the game. The league became the Irish Flag Football League with addition of teams in Greystones, Co. Wicklow, and lasted until 2000.

From the mid-1980s to 2000, there were two separate development bodies under the IAFA/AFAI: The Northern Ireland American Football Association & Irish council of American Football (Republic of Ireland) charged with developing Flag Football, Junior Football & 8-a-side DV8 Football.

Flag Football was restarted in 2001 as a series of Challenge Games held Nationally. This grew into a National Series of Blitzes, with approximately four Bowls held annually until the formation of the second Irish Flag Football League in 2007, this time a National one. It lasted two seasons before the blitz system was re-introduced. All of these iterations of Flag Football Leagues and Tournaments were under numerous Irish Flag Football Association banners.

In 2014 the Irish American Football association took over the running of Flag Football, and the Irish Flag Football League was re-instated, with the League named the Emerald Bowl Conference. A second level, the Glas (Green) Bowl Conference is being introduced in 2019.

Irish Flag Football League & Blitzes (Standings)

IFFL

Irish Flag Football League & Blitzes (Bowls & Finals)

Irish Flag Football Association Logo

Irish Flag Football League | Emerald Bowls 2015-2018

Irish Flag Football Association | Bowl Finals 2009-2014

Irish Council of American Football | Irish Flag Football Association | League Finals 1992-2000

Irish International Flag Football Challenges (Finals):

Irish-American Flag Football Classic 2010-2014

Anglo-Irish Flag Football Challenge 1997-2005

Irish Flag Football League (Decade / Era Overviews):

The Final Standings & Playoff Results at a glance: Decade / Era Overviews:

Irish Flag Football League (Decade / Era Final Tables & Playoffs Overviews)

Irish Flag Football League Emerald Bowl Conference 2014-2019

Irish Flag Football Association | Irish Flag Football League 2007-2008

Picture Credit:

Dublin Bay Raptors 2018

Irish Flag Football League (Results)

IFFL

Irish Flag Football League (Level 1)(Results)

AFI Flag Premier Division (2020-Present): 2020

IFFL Emerald Bowl Conference (2014-2019): 2019 2018  2017 2016-17 2015-16 2014-15 

IFFA Irish Flag Football League (2007-2008): 2007-08 2007

Irish Flag Football League (Level 2)

As well as organising the Emerald Bowl Conference in 2014-15, the Irish Flag Football Association continued to run Blitzes and Tournaments. In 2019, these unofficial 2nd Levels became a full second division: the Glas (Green) Bowl Conference.

AFI Flag Division One (2020-Present): 2020

IAFA Glas Bowl Conference (2019): 2019

Picture Credit:

 

Provincial Flag Football Leagues & Blitzes

Dublin Flag Football League; Northern Ireland American Football Association; Irish Flag Football Association; Flag Football Ireland; American Football Ireland Flag

Provincial Flag Football Leagues

AFI Flag Dublin Conference (Seasons): 2020

AFI Flag North Conference Premier Division (Seasons): 2020

AFI Flag North Conference Division 1 (Seasons): 2020

AFI Flag Central Conference (Seasons): 2020

IFFA Dublin Flag Football League (1991-2000): 1999-2000 1998-99 1997-98 1996-97 1995-96 1994-95 

NIAFA Flag Football League:1986 1985

Irish Flag Football Tournaments, Blitzes & Scrimmages

IFFA Flag Football Blitzes (2014-Present): 2017-18 2014-15

IAFA Indoor Flag Football Tournaments (2014): 2014

IAFFA Tournaments (2009-2014): 2013-14 2012-13 2011-12 2010-11 2009-10 

IFFA Tournaments (2001-2007)  2006-07 2005-06 2001-02 

Picture Credit: [3] Dublin Bay Raptors Whats App Conversation (18 August 2020) Photo Uploaded by Jimmy English at 15:46 .

Drimnagh Cycos IFFA Dublin Flag Football League Champions 1995-96

Irish Flag Football Association (Box-Scores & Match Reports):

Irish Flag Football Association; Anglo-Irish Flag Football Challenge

Box-Scores & Match Reports for each game, arranged on a season-by-season basis:

IFFA Challenge Matches (Box-Scores & Match Reports): 2001-02

Anglo-Irish Flag Football Challenge (Box-Scores & Match Reports): 1997 1998 1999 2001 2004

Picture Credit: [6] FD Reporter (1996) “Photo caption: Irish Cream: the Lads from Drimnagh celebrate their Championship” First Down. April 20, 1996. Pg. 20.

Other Flag Football

A number of other Flag Football Competitions have taken place in Ireland besides the Irish Flag Football League & Blitzes, and International Competitons.

The most prominent of these would be the Junior Flag Football & Two-Touch Football (prior to Ireland getting Flags from America, teams had to rely on a system whereby the ball carrier was ‘tackled’ if he was touched with two hands.

There has also been College / University and Schools Flag Football Tournaments, and Indoor Flag Football Tournaments (the rules differ due to the walls of the Indoor Hall impinging on play).

Other Flag Football

Add your job title

Indoor Flag Football (2014)

IAFA Indoor Flag Football Tournaments (2014): 2014

Irish Schools Flag Football (2011-2013)

IAFA | Schools Flag Football Tournaments:

Irish American Football Association | Schools Flag Football Finals 2011-2013

IAFA / Women in Sport Schools Flag football Tournaments: 2012

Irish Junior Flag Football (2005-2006)

IFFA Junior League: 2005-06

Flag Football Summer Bowls (1986-1997)

Irish Flag Football Summer Bowl Blitzes (Bowls & Finals):

In addition to the Northern Ireland American Football Association Flag Football League (1985 to 1986) and the Irish Flag Football League (Greater Dublin Area) which started in 1991-92, there have been a number of Summer Bowls and Summer Leagues which have been run by various regional development bodies such as the Jack Daniels Summer Bowl, held in aid of Third World charities, the Irish Collegiate American Football Association Summer Bowl (1993-1994) and the Irish Flag Football Association Summer League (1995-1997).

Irish Flag Football Association | Summer League Finals 1995-1997

Irish Collegiate American Football Association | Summer Bowl 1993-1994

Jack Daniels Summer Bowl International Flag Football Challenge 1986-1992

ICAFA Summer Bowl: 1993

Picture Credit: [10] Enda Mulcahy | Facebook (2020) Post 14 January 2020: “Just got this photo from Ciaran Columb of Marlay – A team photo of the Flag Football Champions from 1993-94 – brilliant! Thanks Ciaran!” [Internet] Available from: https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=2202286633412368&id=100008931583156 [Accessed 14 January 2020]

Irish International Flag Football

International Flag Football

International Flag Football

International Flag Football

Ireland has been playing International Flag Football since 1997 at least, when friendlies against England were arranged. These continued until 2007. In 2009 the European Flag Football Championships were held in Belfast, with Ireland entering a team. In 2010 Ireland’s Under 13s (a Coed team) entered the European Championships for the first time and returned in 2012, along with an Under 15s team (also Coed). in 2013 the Senior team again entered the Championships.  2016 was a significant year for Irish Flag Football, when, a year after the establishment of the Irish Flag Football League, an International Series was held in Gormanston, Co. Meath, featuring Ireland as well as European National Teams and the Ramstein Mayhem club side from Germany.  

International Senior Flag Football (Overview):

European Federation of American Football | European Flag Football Championship 2009-2013

Team Ireland Flag Football Friendlies 1997-2007

International Junior Flag Football (Overviews):

European Federation of American Football | European Flag Football Junior Championships Under 13 2010-2012

Team Ireland Youth | Flag Football Internationals 2006-2007

European International Flag Football (Seasons):

Irish Flag Football Association | International Series 2016

European Federation of American Football | European Flag Football Championships Men | Pesaro, Italy 2013

Team Ireland Flag Football Friendly 2013

International Flag Football Team Ireland v Allstars 2013

European Federation of American Football Junior Flag Championship Under 15 Netherlands 2012

European Federation of American Football Junior Flag Championship Under 13 Netherlands 2012

European Federation of American Football | European Flag Football Junior Championship Under 13 Rome 2010

European Federation of American Football | European Flag Football Championships Men | Belfast, Ireland 2009

Team Canada Flag Football Tour of Ireland and Scotland 2009

International Flag Football Friendly Tournament 2007

Irish International Flag Football Series 2006

European International Flag Football (Team Rosters and Game Summaries):

International Flag Football Challenge – Ireland 27 England 7 – 6 May 2000

Picture Credit: [1] American Football International (2013) EFAF Logo [Internet] Available from: http://www.americanfootballinternational.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/EFAF_logo.gif [Accessed 30 August 2017]

International Club Flag Football

International Club Flag Football

Irish teams have been playing International matches since the first charity bowl in the 1980s in aid of GOAL (an Irish International Development Agency) – the GOAL Heroes v RTE Raiders. Following on from that the Drimnagh Cycos played in the Anglo-Irish Flag Football Challenge for 9 years against the Leicester Europa Eagles, and then another charity event, the Irish-American Flag Football Classic, was held between two teams representing the US Ambassador’s Residence (Phoenix Park Pirates) and the American Embassy (Dublin 8s).

The Celtic Bowl was held in 2015 between 8 Irish teams and two Scottish teams to celebrate the 30th anniversary of American Football in Ireland. In 2016 Ireland hels an International Tournament featuring National Teams and also the Ramstein Mayhem from Germany. In 2017-18, the Kaiserslautern Screaming Eagles entered one of the Four IAFA Blitzes, which has been included here in the Irish International Club Flag Football section.

European Club Flag Football (Overviews):

International Federation of American Football Europe | Flag Football | Champions Bowl 2016-2018

European Club Flag Football (Seasons):

IFAFE Flag Football Champions Bowl (Seasons): 2018 2017 2016

NFL UK Jaguars Se7ens Cup (UK & Ireland): 2018

Flagging New Year (Scotland / NW Europe): 2018

Irish International Club Flag Football (Overviews):

Irish-American Flag Football Classic 2010-2014

Anglo-Irish Flag Football Challenge 1997-2005

International Flag Football | Irish Teams v US Services 1993-1996

Goal Celebrity Flag American Football Match 1988-1989

International Flag American Football Charity Match 1985

Irish International Club Flag Football (Season Results):

Maynooth University Charity Flag Football Tournament 2020

Flag Football Ireland | Europa Cup Tournaments 2017-18

IT Tallaght International Flag Football Exhibitions 2016

Irish Flag Football Association | Celtic Bowl 2015

Irish International Club Flag Football (Box-Scores & Match Reports):

Anglo-Irish Flag Football Challenge (Game Summaries): 2004 2003 2001 1999 1998 1997

Picture Credit: [9] Gwent Gators Facebook Page (2020) Photo 24 February 2020: “This coming weekend, the Gwent Gators head over to the Emerald Isle as part of our Pre Season tour, to take part in the Maynooth Charity Blitz Tournament at Maynooth University.” [Internet] Available from:https://scontent-dub4-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/87135154_1020381378361002_2983123746514010112_o.png?_nc_cat=106&_nc_sid=8024bb&_nc_ohc=C_MEaZuUnHwAX8wNudT&_nc_ht=scontent-dub4-1.xx&oh=84eb43cc00abd261589b122e9ff3aedf&oe=5E97F437 [Accessed 3 March 2020]

 

Irish Flag Football Teams

Team Ireland Flag Football Teams

Team Ireland

American Football Ireland Flag Football Timeline 1985-2020

Overview & [Season Roster & Match Reports]: 

Team Ireland Flag Football Men: [International Series: 2016 ][ EFAF European Flag Football Championships: 2013 ]

Picture Credit: Terence McCann [13] Irish American Football Association (2016) Flag Football National Team Gets Ready for International Friendly Event [Internet] Available from: https://www.americanfootball.ie/team-ireland-flag-gets-ready-face-british-dutch-swedes/ [Accessed 25 February 2018]

Dublin Flag Football Teams

Flag Football Ireland; Irish Flag Football Association

Overview & [Season Roster & Match Reports]:

Drimnagh Cycos 1995-2005 [ 1995-96  1996-97 1997-98 1999-2000 2001-02 2002-03 ]

Dublin 86ers 2009-2013

Dublin Bay Raptors 2017-Present [ 2018 ]

Dublin Gladiators [ 1998-99 ] 

Dublin Vipers 2013-2017 [ 2015-16 ]

South Dublin Panthers [ 2014-15 ]

South West Jets 1994-1995

Picture Credit: Terence McCann [48] Joe @ Dublin Bay Raptors WhatsApp Image 2020-10-17 at 19.30.2

Connacht Flag Football Teams

Flag Football Ireland;

Overview & [Season Roster & Match Reports]:

Roscommon Rogues 2015-2016

Picture Credit: [2] Flag Football Ireland Facebook Page (2017) Photo October 25 2017 [Internet] Available from: https://www.facebook.com/FlagFootballIreland/photos/pcb.2083533201870491/2083532171870594/?type=3&theater [Accessed 28 October 2017]

Team Ireland Flag Football Teams

Team Ireland

American Football Ireland Flag Football Timeline 1985-2020

Overview & [Season Roster & Match Reports]: 

Team Ireland Flag Football Men: [International Series: 2016 ][ EFAF European Flag Football Championships: 2013 ]

Picture Credit: Terence McCann [13] Irish American Football Association (2016) Flag Football National Team Gets Ready for International Friendly Event [Internet] Available from: https://www.americanfootball.ie/team-ireland-flag-gets-ready-face-british-dutch-swedes/ [Accessed 25 February 2018]

Dublin Flag Football Teams

Flag Football Ireland; Irish Flag Football Association

Overview & [Season Roster & Match Reports]:

Drimnagh Cycos 1995-2005 [ 1995-96  1996-97 1997-98 1999-2000 2001-02 2002-03 ]

Dublin 86ers 2009-2013

Dublin Bay Raptors 2017-Present [ 2018 ]

Dublin Gladiators [ 1998-99 ] 

Dublin Vipers 2013-2017 [ 2015-16 ]

South Dublin Panthers [ 2014-15 ]

South West Jets 1994-1995

Picture Credit: Terence McCann [48] Joe @ Dublin Bay Raptors WhatsApp Image 2020-10-17 at 19.30.2

Connacht Flag Football Teams

Flag Football Ireland;

Overview & [Season Roster & Match Reports]:

Roscommon Rogues 2015-2016

Picture Credit: [2] Flag Football Ireland Facebook Page (2017) Photo October 25 2017 [Internet] Available from: https://www.facebook.com/FlagFootballIreland/photos/pcb.2083533201870491/2083532171870594/?type=3&theater [Accessed 28 October 2017]

Ulster Flag Football Teams

Flag Football Ireland; Northern Ireland American Football Association

Overview & [Season Roster & Match Reports]:

Aldergrove Hawks 1986

Bangor Buccaneers 1985-1986

Belfast Blitzers 1985-1986

Belfast Spartans 1985

Coleraine Chieftains 1985-1986; 2001-2002

Craigavon Cowboys [ 2019 ]

Jordanstown Jaguars 1985-1986

Tyrone Tornadoes 1985-1986

Picture Credit: [5] Belfast Blitzers | Facebook Page (2013) Post November 3, 2013: “Belfast Blitzers V Coleraine Chieftains, Flag Football Game, circa 1985. These photos were taken at Coleraine. “ [Internet] Available from: https://scontent-dub4-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t31.0-8/740003_455904087854085_1401328382_o.jpg?_nc_cat=104&_nc_sid=e007fa&_nc_ohc=EYpPyTbRGdkAX_i51Us&_nc_ht=scontent-dub4-1.xx&oh=003874a874ca954051ea6afa5d74b29c&oe=5F0150E8 [Accessed 2 April 2019]

 

E-Football Ireland

E-Football Ireland

Madden NFL Console Game, Fantasy Football and Prediction Leagues are popular forms of E-Football.

flat screen television

Madden NFL Console Games

Madden NFL

Madden NFL is a Computer Console American Football game for one or more players, played on a Playstation or Xbox. There is an American Football Ireland Madden Championship (started in 2020) as well as Irish Leagues, and teams playing as the Dublin teams players can relocate an NFL team to in Madden NFL (see the Relocation Football League).

American Football Ireland Madden Championship Series (Seasons):

2020

Madden NFL Computer Console Games (Decade Overview):

Relocation Football League (Madden NFL) 2016-Present

Picture Credit: Pexels Free Photos

pexels-photo-682933.jpeg

Fantasy Football

NFL Fantasy Football;

Fantasy Football is a Computer Game whereby players score points based on how real NFL players have performed in NFL games. Players join Leagues and then draft NFL players before the season begins. Leagues are NFL-managed, or managed by individual players, the latter often based on a theme, such as an Irish League or World League, the results of which have been recorded below. There also non-NFL Leagues (eg. Irish Fantasy League of American Football – Pre-NFL Fantasy Football League)

NFL Fantasy Football (Decade Overviews):

NFL Fantasy Football AFL Ireland (Seasons): 2020

NFL Fantasy Football | NFL-Ireland 2015-2018

Irish Fantasy Football Leagues (Independent)

Irish Fantasy League of American Football 1994-1996

Irish Fantasy League of American Football 1997-2005

Irish Fantasy League of American Football 2006-2015

First Down Ireland Fantasy Gridiron (Newspaper):

First Down Fantasy Gridiron Ireland 1994-1996

Picture Credit: Pexels Free Photos

American Football USA

American Football – also known as Gridiron Football as the field was originally marked out in a grid-like pattern – originated in USA and Canada. The 11v11 version of the game is the one most recognisable to Irish viewers – there is also 12v12 Canadian Football and 8v8 Arena Indoor Football (most popular in Mexico). The NFL is the League most fans would know, however, there is also Rival Leagues (also known as AAA Leagues i.e. Championship to the NFL’s Premier League), NCAA College Football, Minor Leagues (lower level leagues), Semi-Pro State Leagues, High school Football, US Armed Forces Football.

National Football League

The National Football League is the highest level of American Football in the USA, and started in 1920 (and is celebrating its 100th Anniversary this year). Irish-born players have been involved right from the start

National Football League Irish Players and Coaches

NFL Irish Players and Coaches

Tom Furlong Irish-Born NFL and Pro American Football Player 1965-1966

Adrian Young Irish-Born NFL, Pro and College American Football Player 1964-1975

Neil O’Donoghue Irish-Born GAA Football, Soccer and NFL American Football Player 1970-1985

John Sinnott Irish-Born NFL and College Football Player 1976-1982

Ian Jones Irish-Born GAA Football, Rugby Union and NFL American Football Coach 2010-Present

Picture Credit: Happy St. Patricks day. Football ball and clover on an isolated background. Pattern for greeting card, logo, banner, poster, party invitation. Vector illustration Mityay PG Shutterstock

NFL v Other Leagues

NFL v CFL;

NFL/AFL v Canadian Football League Internationals (1926-1969) :

American Football League International 1926

Canadian Football League v American Football League Matches 1941-1948

National Football League v Canadian Football League 1950-1961

National Football League Preseason Matches in Canada 1960-1969

NFL v American Football Leagues (1927-1942)

Whilst not strictly speaking International matches, the National Football League has also played matches against American Football League teams in the 1920s, 1930s, & 1940s.

National Football League v American Football League 1927-1928

California Winter League 1927-1928

Memphis Tigers | AAA Independent American Football 1929-1933

National Football League v Pacific Coast Football League 1936

Pacific Coast Football Leagues (Seasons): 1927 1928

National Football League v Army & College All-Stars 1942

Picture Credit: 1920s football action. Hundreds of spectators watch from stadium seats. Everett Collection [Sutterstock]

National Football League Seasons

NFL seasons; NFL preseasons

National Football League Super Bowl Era (1967-Present)

National Football League Super Bowl 1967-Present

National Football League and American Football League 1966-1969 (Irish Players) (Tom Furlong and Adrian Young)

National Football League 1970-1975 (Irish Players) (Adrian Young)

National Football League (Irish Players) 1976-1987 (Neil O’Donoghue and John Sinnott)

National Football League (Seasons): 2020 2019

National Football League (Preseasons): 1986 1990 1992 1994 1995 2012 2019 2020

National Football League Championship Era (1920-1966)

The most successful teams in the Ohio League and Upstate New York Pro Football Circuit joined forces in 1920, in attempt at creating a true National Football League, in order to provide a common set of rules and to cut down on the spiralling wage demands, which saw players jump from team to team in search of the best pay packet. This League, the American Professional Football Association, renamed itself the National Football League in 1922, and has since become the most popular sports league in America, although from 1920-1932 it was still a Minor (AAA) League in status.

National Football League Championship Game 1933-1966

National Football League (USA) Champions 1920-1932

National Football League 1920-1925 (Irish Players)

Major League Football (NFL & AAA): 1920

Picture Credit: ARLINGTON, USA – SEP 15, 2015: Interior view of the AT&T Stadium, formerly known as Cowboys Stadium in Arlington. Texas, United States By David J Maldonado [Shutterstock]

American Football Leagues (AAA)

Ever since the birth of the National Football league in 1920 there have been attempts at creating a second Professional Football League to rival it, with only the American Football League of 1960-1969 being successful enough to force a merger (the NFL and AFL are now the NFC and AFC and the winners of each play in the Super Bowl).

There has been a number of eras of Major Leagues: The American Football Leagues Era (1926-1950), The Continental Football Leagues Era (1960-1983), and the XFL Football Leagues Era (1990-2020). In addition during the XFL Era there were two other Major League attempts: the Arena Football League (1985-2019) and the World Football Leagues (1991-2020).

Rival Leagues to the National Football League have existed since the 1920s, most of them from the 1920s to 1960s called themselves the American Football League, and since then there has been a variety of names and ideas, such as the Continental Football League (1965-1969), World Football League (1974-1975), Spring Leagues (United States Football League, 1983-1985), Indoor Football Leagues (Arena Football League 1986-2019), World Football Leagues (World League of American Football / NFL Europe 1991-2007, Elite Football League of India 2012, China AFL 2016-2019, & LFA Mexico 2016-present), Extreme Football Leagues & Leagues which failed to get off the ground (PSFL 1993, Spring League 2000, XFL 2001, United Football League 2009-2011, FXFL 2014-2015, North American Football League 2016, The Spring League 2017-Present, XFL 2020), More recently Minority Football Leagues have appeared such as the Alliance of American Football 2019 and the Freedom Football League 2020.

Only the American Football League of 1960-1969 has been successful long-term, leading to both the start of the Super Bowl between the AFL Winners and the NFL Winners in 1967 and the eventual merger of the two leagues (They are now the American & National Football Conferences in the NFL – the Super Bowl is still played between the winners of the two Conferences)

Major League Eras

Early Pro American Football (1892-1919) The first attempts at establishing the sport of Professional Football outside of the big Colleges.

American Football Leagues Era (1926-1950) The first Major League Rival Era, the AFL Era isso named because most leagues used the AFL name. Most were based in the South or West with teams also in the Mid-West and North East. At the time the NFL was solely based in the North East and Mid-West.

Continental Football Leagues Era (1960-1983) The second Major League Era featured leagues such as the Continental Football League (which placed teams in Canada and Mexico), the World Football League (which placed a team in Hawaii) and the United States Football League.

XFL Football Leagues Era (1992-2020) The most famous League of this Era is the XFL, which intended to bring back the hard-hitting working class Football which had been seen my some to have disappeared from the NFL.

Failed Pro Football Leagues (1917-Present) There has been a long list of Leagues which failed to get off the ground, which are not important except to obsessive fans.

Other Leagues

Canadian Football League (1958-Present) The Canadian Football League broke away from the Amateur Canadian Rugby Union in 1958 and established the first Pro Gridiron Football League outside of the United States. (see CFL & Womens for more on Canadian Football)

Arena Football League (1985-2019) The most successful venture since the AFL of 1960-1969, Arena Football (also known as Indoor Football) is played on a converted Ice Rink, with a 50-yard Field and two 8-yard endzones. Teams have 8 players and 5 downs (attempts) in which to score or the ball is turned over. It has become massively popular in Mexico. (see Indoor, Flag & Games for more on Reduced Numbers Football Leagues).

World Pro Football Leagues (1991-2020) The first venture by the NFL overseas was the World League of American Football (a development league) which placed teams in Europe and Canada as well as cities without NFL teams. It failed after 17 years in 2007, but Leagues have since been established in India, Canada, Australia and China by various American Leagues. A League in Mexico in 2016 – the Liga Football Americano Mexico looks set to be a third Major League having been recognised by the Canadian Football League.

Legends Football League and American 7s (2004-Present) An attempt at starting a Womens Pro League and a No Pads Full Tackle Pro League respectively. (see Indoor, Flag & Games for more details).

Irish-Born AAA Players & Coaches

Irish-Born AAA Football Players

A look at the record of Irish-born Professional & US College American Football Players.

Major Rival Football Leagues Standings: 2020 2019

Irish-Born AAA American Football Players, Coaches & Personnel:

Tom Furlong Irish-Born NFL and Pro American Football Player 1965-1966

(New York Giants (NFL), Atlanta Falcons (NFL) and Brooklyn Dodgers (CoFL))

Adrian Young Irish-Born NFL, Pro and College American Football Player 1964-1975

(USC Trojans (NCAA), Philadelphia Eagles (NFL), Detroit Lions (NFL), Chicago Bears (NFL) and The Hawaiians (WFL))

Emmett Waldron | Irish-Born Pro & College American Football Player 1993-1999

(Rice Owls (NCAA), Scottish Claymores (WLAF-NFLE))

Linda Holland | Irish-Born Pro Legends-Arena American Football Player 2014

(Western Australia Angels (LFL Australia))

Ian Jones Irish-Born GAA Football, Rugby Union and NFL American Football Coach 2010-Present

(South Carolina Gamecocks (NCAA Football), Penn State Nittany Lions (NCAA Football), Cleveland Browns (NFL) Houston Texans (NFL), Salt Lake Stallions (AAF)

Picture Credit: ARLINGTON, USA – SEP 15, 2015: Interior view of the AT&T Stadium, formerly known as Cowboys Stadium in Arlington. Texas, United States By David J Maldonado [Shutterstock]

XFL’s / Spring Leagues

UFL 2009-2011; XFL 2001; 2020; AAF 2019; FXFL 2014-2015;

From the early 1990s to 2020 Leagues have sprung up that have attempted to be the AFL / WFL / USFL of the Era. Some of these Leagues, such as the XFL of 2001 and 2020 have had quite an impact on the American Football scene, with big budgets, and Major TV contracts.

United Football League 2009-2011

XFL (Seasons): 2020

Alliance of American Football (Seasons): 2019

XFL (Seasons): 2001

Regional Football League (Seasons): 1999

Another set of leagues has played a limited schedule – 2 to 3 games per team per season, often due to fans not showing up at the gates, or sometimes due to repositioning themselves as leagues confined to one area – ie. South Florida (Stars Football League) or New York / New England (FXFL)

The Spring League 2017-Present

FXFL Fall Experimental Football League 2014-2015

Stars Football League 2011-2013

The Spring League (Fall Seasons): 2020

The Spring League (Seasons): 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017

FXFL Fall Experimental Football League (Seasons): 2015 2014

Stars Football League (Seasons): 2011 2012 2013

Spring Football League (Seasons): 2000

Picture Credit: XFL- 2/9/20-MetLife Stadium East Rutherford,NJ- The Guardians host the Vipers on opening day of the XFL. By Christopher Lyzcen [Shutterstock]

United States Football Leagues Era (1960-1985)

USFL 1983-1985; AFA 1977-1983; WFL 1974-1975; SWPFL 1972-1973; CoFL 1965-1969; UFL 1961-1964

After a break in the 1950s when the National Football League started playing International games in Canada and against Canadian opposition, and the Canadian Football League provided a AAA Alternative to the NFL, new AAA Leagues started up again in the 1960s. The United Football League (1961-1964) was the first of these, and then from 1965-1969 the Continental Football League was the first to put teams in both Canada and Mexico.

The Southwestern Football League of 1972-1973 was the precursor to the World Football League (1974-1975) which aimed to bring the sport to the World, although Hawaii was as far as it got. The American Football association of 1977-1983 was another attempt at a AAA League although it was put out of business by the United States Football League (1983-1985) which was the first Major Spring League.  It featured High Profile Owners, such as the later US President Donald Trump, but was itself put out of business by the NFL’s collusion with the Major TV Networks to keep it off the air, as was proved in a later anti-trust trial.

Most of these Leagues, in particular the WFL & USFL tried, and failed to become another American Football League of 1960-1969 which was so successful it forced a merger with the NFL, with the winners of the two Leagues (now conferences since the merger in 1970) playing each other in the Super Bowl. (see National Football League )

United States Football Leagues Era Championship Games

United States Football Leagues Era AAA Championship Games 1961-1985

United States Football Leagues Era Overviews:

United Football League 1961-1964 (*)

Continental Football League 1965-1969

Southwestern Football League 1972-1973 (*)

World Football League 1974-1975 (Irish Players)

American Football Association 1977-1983 (*)

United States Football League 1983-1985

Southwestern Football League (Seasons): 1973

Picture Credit: Football field view on 50 yard line with spectator stands By pics721 [Shutterstock]

American Football Leagues Era (1920-1950)

AAFC 1946-1949; Pacific Pro Football League 1940-1948; AFLs 1926-1944;

The first Major rival to the NFL to use the American Football League name was the AFL of 1926, and from then until 1950 Leagues using this name came and went, usually lasting only one or two seasons. Theses Leagues, however, are notable for the genesis of teams such as the Cleveland (Now Los Angeles) Rams, San Francisco 49ers, Cleveland Browns and Baltimore (now Indianapolis) Colts, which later joined the NFL. The AFL of 1960 also reused the names of some of these teams (Buffalo Bills & Cincinnati Bengals), teams which are now also in the NFL.

American Football Leagues Era Champions:

American Football Leagues Era AAA Champions 1926-1949

American Football Leagues (Overviews):

All-American Football Conference 1946-1949

Pacific Coast Pro Football League 1940-1948

American Football League 1944

American Football League 1940-1941

American Football League 1938-1939

American Football League 1936-1937

American Football League 1934

Memphis Tigers | AAA Independent American Football 1929-1933

California Winter League 1927-1928

American Football League 1926

Anthracite Football League 1923-1924

Fort Wayne Friars Independent AAA Football 1920

Pacific Coast Football Leagues (Seasons): 1927 1928

All-America Football Conference (seasons): 1949

PIcture Credit: A worn and aged vintage old style American football helmet. Authentic and game-worn 1950s style football face mask and helmet By Brocreative [Shutterstock]

Early Pro American Football (1890-1919)

Ohio League; Pennsylvania Pro Football Circuit; World Series of Pro Football;

The first Pro american Football League was the Western Pennsylvania Pro Football Circuit in the Pittsburgh and surrounding Coal-Mining areas. The Leagues were unofficial, and the players paid under the counter. The first Word series was held in 1901, actually a five-team tournament, and that lasted two seasons. In 1903 the Ohio League became the first League to Officially pay players and when that League saw players salaries spiral due to competition from other teams for their services, four Ohio League teams joined forces with teams from Pennsylvania and Upstate New York to form the American Professional Football Association in 1920, which in 1922 changed its name to the National Football League, the Major League we know today. Canton is home to the Pro Football Hall of Fame, and the NFL Preseason opens there with the latest induction of Hall of Fame players in honour of the Canton Bulldogs, prime players in the Ohio League and formation of the NFL.

World Series of Pro Football:

World Series of Pro Football 1902-1903

World Series of Football (Seasons): 1902 1903

Pennsylvania League

Western Penn Pro Football Circuit (Seasons): 1895 1896

National Football League (Seasons): 1902

Ohio League

Ohio League Champions 1903-1919

Ohio League 1915-1919 (Irish Players)

Ohio League (Seasons): 1904 1905

Picture Credit: 1920s football action. Thousands of spectators watch from double decker stadium seats. By Everett Collection[Shutterstock]

Failed Major Leagues (1917-Present)

Failed Major Leagues

Most of these Leagues, however, have failed to even start their first season, have defrauded investors, or just suffered from a lack of mainstream publicity in the Internet Era with so much Football and other sports available to view online.

X-League Extreme Football League 2020 (L)

Pacific Pro Football 2020

Major League Football 2020

Freedom Football League 2020

American Patriot League 2018-2020

Trinity Professional Spring Football League 2018

North American Football League 2016

Fan Ownership League 2001

International Football Federation 2000

Professional Spring Football League 1993

International League of American Football 1990

World Indoor Football League 1988

Intercontinental Football League 1974-1975

Pro Football League 1917

PIcture Credit:

USA College Football

Irish Players have played College Football since the 19th Century:

Below you will find a list of links to Irish Connections with the NCAA and NAIA stateside:

Division 1 Football Bowl Series and Division 1 Football Championship Series, were known as Division 1A and Division 1AA respectively. This was before the separation of the Big 5 Conferences in the FBS into the College Football Playoff.

Irish-Born College Players & Coaches

NCAA;

Irish-Born College, Pro & NFL American Football Players

Adrian Young Irish-Born NFL, Pro and College American Football Player 1964-1975

(USC Trojans (NCAA), Philadelphia Eagles (NFL), Detroit Lions (NFL), Chicago Bears (NFL) and The Hawaiians (WFL))

Neil O’Donoghue Irish-Born GAA Football, Soccer and NFL American Football Player 1970-1985

(Auburn Tigers (NCAA Div IA), Buffalo Bills (NFL), Tampa Bay Buccaneers (NFL), St. Louis Cardinals (NFL))

Michael Mullen Irish-Born College American Football Player 1988-1990

(Wisconsin Badgers NCAA Div IA))

Emmett Waldron | Irish-Born Pro & College American Football Player 1993-1999

(Rice Owls (NCAA Div IA), Scottish Claymores (WLAF-NFLE)

Glenn Baker | Irish Born College American Football Player 2006-2007

(Cheshire Academy Cats (Prep School), Mount Ida Mustangs (NCAA Div III)

Connor Leckey | Irish-Born College American Football Player 2009-2011

(West Liberty Hilltoppers (NCAA Div III))

Darragh O’Neill | Irish Born College American Football Player 2011-2014

(Colorado Buffaloes (NCAA Div 1 FBS))

Sean Galvin | Irish-Born College American Football Player 2012-2014

(UCF Central Florida Knights (NCAA Div 1 FBS))

Irish-Born College Football Coaches & Personnel

Ian Jones Irish-Born GAA Football, Rugby Union and NFL American Football Coach 2010-Present

(South Carolina Gamecocks (NCAA Div 1 FBS), Penn State Nittany Lions (NCAA Div 1 FBS), Cleveland Browns (NFL) Houston Texans (NFL), Salt Lake Stallions (AAF))

Conal Fagan Irish-Born College American Football Cheerleader 2018-2020

(Notre Dame Fighting Irish (NCAA Div 1 FBS)

Picture Credit: The Notre Dame Cheerleaders, Coaches, and Players take the field before the Navy game on October 28, 2006 Jeremy R. Smith Sr. Shutterstock

NCAA College Football

NCAAF Div. 1 FBS; NCAAF Div 1 FCS; NCAAF D1A; NCAAF D2; NCAAF D3

NCAA Football Bowls (Overviews):

NCAA Football Division 1 Football Championship Subdivision Finals 1978-Present

NCAA Division 1 Football Bowl Subdivision College Football Playoff

NCAA F D1 FBS CFP (Seasons):

2020 2015-16 2014

NCAA Division 1 Football Bowl Sub-Division:

NCAA | Division 1 FBS | American Athletic Conference 2013-2014

NCAA Division 1A

NCAA Football Division 1A (Seasons): 1996 1991-92 1988 1984

NCAA Division 1 FCS

NCAA Division 1 Football Championship Subdivision (Seasons): 20202019-20

NCAA Division 2 (Seasons): 2020 2019

NCAA Division 3 (Seasons): 2019

Early College Football

US College Football (Seasons): 1904

Early College American Football

American Inter-Collegiate Football 1869-1875

Picture Credit: Notre Dame’s Heisman hopeful Brady Quinn directing traffic during the Navy game on October 28, 2006 Jeremy R. Smith Sr.Shutterstock

Minor League American Football

This is a record of A (4th Level Regional Leagues), Semi-Pro State Football Leagues and Amateur Gridiron Development Leagues. A American Football Leagues are Regional Professional Leagues, that come below the National Football League, AAA American Football Leagues and NCAA College Football. They are Regional in character i.e. being entirely based in either the Northeast/East Coast; Midwest; South or West.

Semi-Pro State Leagues

The first Professional American Football League in America that openly paid its players was the Ohio League (1902-1919). Four of its leading teams, including the Canton Bulldogs asked teams in Pennsylvania and New York State to form a National League in 1920 – thus the NFL was born.

Semi-Pro Leagues exist all over USA, organised roughly on state lines.

Below you will find a link to Irish Connections throughout the USA

New York-Penn Football Leagues

Five Star Football League; Western Pennsylvania Pro Football Circuit

New York Metropolitan Area

Semi-Pro State American Football | Five Star Football League 2010-2017

Pennsylvania League

Western Penn Pro Football Circuit (Seasons): 1895 1896

National Football League (Seasons): 1902

Picture Credit: Picture Credit: 1920s football action. Thousands of spectators watch from double decker stadium seats. By Everett Collection[Shutterstock]

Eastern Mid-West Football Leagues

Ohio League; Indiana

Ohio League

Ohio League | Champions 1903-1919

Ohio League 1915-1919 (Irish Players)

Ohio League (Seasons): 1904 1905

Indiana

Indiana State Football Championship (Seasons): 1920

Picture Credit: Picture Credit: 1920s football action. Hundreds of spectators watch from stadium seats. Everett Collection [Sutterstock]

Upper South Football Leagues

Kentucky; Virginia-Carolina

Kentucky

Armco Semi-Pro Football Teams 1924-1929

Virginia-Carolina

Virginia-Carolina Football League 1937

Picture Credit: Picture Credit: 1920s football action. Thousands of spectators watch from double decker stadium seats. By Everett Collection[Shutterstock]

Sevenman Tackle Football League Logo

Texas and Southwest Football Leagues

Sevenman Tackle Football League

Texas

Sevenman Tackle Football League (Texas) 1999-2005

Picture Credit: [11] Sevenman | Wayback Machine (2004) STFL Logo [Internet] Available from: https://web.archive.org/web/20021126163725im_/http://www.sevenman.com/stfllogo.gif [Accessed 13 February 2020]

Mountain West Football Leagues

Montana

Montana Leagues

Butte Independent League 1920-1928

Picture Credit:

PIcture Credit: A worn and aged vintage old style American football helmet. Authentic and game-worn 1950s style football face mask and helmet By Brocreative[Shutterstock]

man wearing green american football jersey holding the ball while running on the field

North West Football Leagues

Washington; Oregon

Northwest Leagues (Washington & Oregon)

Pacific Northwest Football League 1980

Northwest International Alliance 1980-1981

Northwest Football League 1982-1989

Picture Credit: Pexels Free Photos

California Football Leagues

Pacific Coast Football League; California Winter League

California

California

Pacific Coast Football League 2010-2019

California Football League 1938

Salinas Packers | California Pro American Football 1936-1937

Pacific Coast Pro Football League 1934-1935

Pacific Coast Football League 1926

Picture Credit: Picture Credit: 1920s football action. Hundreds of spectators watch from stadium seats. Everett Collection [Sutterstock]

Pacific & Cal-exico Leagues

Alaska; Super 8 Football League

Alaska

Alaska Football League 2015-2018

Mexi-Cali (Mexico-Califiornia Football Leagues)

Super 8 Football League | Winter Bowl 2015

Super 8 Football League | West Coast 2016-2017

Picture Credit:

Images

[13] Super 8 Football League (2018) Super 8 Football League Logo [Internet] Available from: http://super8footballleague.info/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/10378207_1545248759045177_2010222216677056541_n.jpg [Accessed 20 July 2019]

United States Armed Forces Football

Among the earliest verifiable American Football Leagues or Associations in Europe are the American Expeditionary Force Football League of WWI which was played in France at the conclusion of the War. There was a European Theater of Operations Football Championship (WWII) in Northern Ireland in 1942, which spread to England and Wales in 1943-1944. Following WWII, the United States found itself almost immediately in a War with Communist Russia, and American Football Leagues were set up in the United Kingdom, Germany, France, Italy, Spain & Greece (The United States Air Force in Europe – USAFE – Football League & United States ARmy EURope Football League – USAREUR) which ran right to the end of the Cold War.  One USAREUR League, the Northern Italian League, became the genesis of a National League in Italy featuring Homegrown teams.

World War I & II

AEFFL (1914-1919); ETO (1940-1945)

World War I (France – Navy & Army)

American Expeditionary Force Football League 1918-1919

AEFFL (Seasons): 1918 1919

World War II (UK & North Africa – Army & Air Force)

European Theater of Operations Championship 1942-1944

ETO Football Championship (Seasons): Autumn 1942 Spring 1943 Autumn 1943 Spring 1944 Autumn 1944

Picture Credit: [14] Belfast Blitzers | Facebook (2019) Photo 22 August 2019 [Internet] Available from: https://www.facebook.com/belfastblitzers/photos/pcb.2260513057393170/2260507127393763/?type=3&theater [Accessed 23 August 2019]

US Forces in Japan

USFJAFL

US Forces Japan-American Football League (Seasons): 2009

Picture Credit  Football field view on 50 yard line with spectator stands By pics721 [Shutterstock]

US Armed Forces Teams with Irish Connections

ETO; WW2

Teams stationed in Ireland

World War II

Hale Blue Devils | European Theater of Operations American Football Team in Ireland | Team Roster & Match Reports 1942

Teams with Irish Nicknames

World War II

Albuquerque AAB Flying Kelleys US Air Force Team 1942

Picture Credit: [10] Belfast Blitzers | Facebook (2019) Post 21 August 2019: “ As promised, a never before seen photo of the game held at Ravenhill in 1942. “ [Internet] Available from: https://www.facebook.com/belfastblitzers/photos/pcb.2258995414211601/2258986244212518/?type=3&theater [Accessed 23 August 2019]

High School Football

High School Football has often bee likened to a religion in the United States of America. There are many teams named after the Fighting Irish or similar Irish connections, with teams based in towns and cities named Dublin, Baltimore and other Irish town names.

Included in this record are Irish-born players who have played High School Football in USA.

American Football – also known as Gridiron Football as the field was originally marked out in a grid-like pattern – originated in USA and Canada. The 11v11 version of the game is the one most recognisable to Irish viewers – there is also 12v12 Canadian Football and 8v8 Arena Indoor Football (most popular in Mexico). The NFL is the League most fans would know, however, there is also Rival Leagues (also known as AAA Leagues i.e. Championship to the NFL’s Premier League), NCAA College Football, Minor Leagues (lower level leagues), Semi-Pro State Leagues, High school Football, US Armed Forces Football.

National Football League

The National Football League is the highest level of American Football in the USA, and started in 1920 (and is celebrating its 100th Anniversary this year). Irish-born players have been involved right from the start

National Football League Irish Players and Coaches

NFL Irish Players and Coaches

Tom Furlong Irish-Born NFL and Pro American Football Player 1965-1966

Adrian Young Irish-Born NFL, Pro and College American Football Player 1964-1975

Neil O’Donoghue Irish-Born GAA Football, Soccer and NFL American Football Player 1970-1985

John Sinnott Irish-Born NFL and College Football Player 1976-1982

Ian Jones Irish-Born GAA Football, Rugby Union and NFL American Football Coach 2010-Present

Picture Credit: Happy St. Patricks day. Football ball and clover on an isolated background. Pattern for greeting card, logo, banner, poster, party invitation. Vector illustration Mityay PG Shutterstock

NFL v Other Leagues

NFL v CFL;

NFL/AFL v Canadian Football League Internationals (1926-1969) :

American Football League International 1926

Canadian Football League v American Football League Matches 1941-1948

National Football League v Canadian Football League 1950-1961

National Football League Preseason Matches in Canada 1960-1969

NFL v American Football Leagues (1927-1942)

Whilst not strictly speaking International matches, the National Football League has also played matches against American Football League teams in the 1920s, 1930s, & 1940s.

National Football League v American Football League 1927-1928

California Winter League 1927-1928

Memphis Tigers | AAA Independent American Football 1929-1933

National Football League v Pacific Coast Football League 1936

Pacific Coast Football Leagues (Seasons): 1927 1928

National Football League v Army & College All-Stars 1942

Picture Credit: 1920s football action. Hundreds of spectators watch from stadium seats. Everett Collection [Sutterstock]

National Football League Seasons

NFL seasons; NFL preseasons

National Football League Super Bowl Era (1967-Present)

National Football League Super Bowl 1967-Present

National Football League and American Football League 1966-1969 (Irish Players) (Tom Furlong and Adrian Young)

National Football League 1970-1975 (Irish Players) (Adrian Young)

National Football League (Irish Players) 1976-1987 (Neil O’Donoghue and John Sinnott)

National Football League (Seasons): 2020 2019

National Football League (Preseasons): 1986 1990 1992 1994 1995 2012 2019 2020

National Football League Championship Era (1920-1966)

The most successful teams in the Ohio League and Upstate New York Pro Football Circuit joined forces in 1920, in attempt at creating a true National Football League, in order to provide a common set of rules and to cut down on the spiralling wage demands, which saw players jump from team to team in search of the best pay packet. This League, the American Professional Football Association, renamed itself the National Football League in 1922, and has since become the most popular sports league in America, although from 1920-1932 it was still a Minor (AAA) League in status.

National Football League Championship Game 1933-1966

National Football League (USA) Champions 1920-1932

National Football League 1920-1925 (Irish Players)

Major League Football (NFL & AAA): 1920

Picture Credit: ARLINGTON, USA – SEP 15, 2015: Interior view of the AT&T Stadium, formerly known as Cowboys Stadium in Arlington. Texas, United States By David J Maldonado [Shutterstock]

American Football Leagues (AAA)

Ever since the birth of the National Football league in 1920 there have been attempts at creating a second Professional Football League to rival it, with only the American Football League of 1960-1969 being successful enough to force a merger (the NFL and AFL are now the NFC and AFC and the winners of each play in the Super Bowl).

There has been a number of eras of Major Leagues: The American Football Leagues Era (1926-1950), The Continental Football Leagues Era (1960-1983), and the XFL Football Leagues Era (1990-2020). In addition during the XFL Era there were two other Major League attempts: the Arena Football League (1985-2019) and the World Football Leagues (1991-2020).

Rival Leagues to the National Football League have existed since the 1920s, most of them from the 1920s to 1960s called themselves the American Football League, and since then there has been a variety of names and ideas, such as the Continental Football League (1965-1969), World Football League (1974-1975), Spring Leagues (United States Football League, 1983-1985), Indoor Football Leagues (Arena Football League 1986-2019), World Football Leagues (World League of American Football / NFL Europe 1991-2007, Elite Football League of India 2012, China AFL 2016-2019, & LFA Mexico 2016-present), Extreme Football Leagues & Leagues which failed to get off the ground (PSFL 1993, Spring League 2000, XFL 2001, United Football League 2009-2011, FXFL 2014-2015, North American Football League 2016, The Spring League 2017-Present, XFL 2020), More recently Minority Football Leagues have appeared such as the Alliance of American Football 2019 and the Freedom Football League 2020.

Only the American Football League of 1960-1969 has been successful long-term, leading to both the start of the Super Bowl between the AFL Winners and the NFL Winners in 1967 and the eventual merger of the two leagues (They are now the American & National Football Conferences in the NFL – the Super Bowl is still played between the winners of the two Conferences)

Major League Eras

Early Pro American Football (1892-1919) The first attempts at establishing the sport of Professional Football outside of the big Colleges.

American Football Leagues Era (1926-1950) The first Major League Rival Era, the AFL Era isso named because most leagues used the AFL name. Most were based in the South or West with teams also in the Mid-West and North East. At the time the NFL was solely based in the North East and Mid-West.

Continental Football Leagues Era (1960-1983) The second Major League Era featured leagues such as the Continental Football League (which placed teams in Canada and Mexico), the World Football League (which placed a team in Hawaii) and the United States Football League.

XFL Football Leagues Era (1992-2020) The most famous League of this Era is the XFL, which intended to bring back the hard-hitting working class Football which had been seen my some to have disappeared from the NFL.

Failed Pro Football Leagues (1917-Present) There has been a long list of Leagues which failed to get off the ground, which are not important except to obsessive fans.

Other Leagues

Canadian Football League (1958-Present) The Canadian Football League broke away from the Amateur Canadian Rugby Union in 1958 and established the first Pro Gridiron Football League outside of the United States. (see CFL & Womens for more on Canadian Football)

Arena Football League (1985-2019) The most successful venture since the AFL of 1960-1969, Arena Football (also known as Indoor Football) is played on a converted Ice Rink, with a 50-yard Field and two 8-yard endzones. Teams have 8 players and 5 downs (attempts) in which to score or the ball is turned over. It has become massively popular in Mexico. (see Indoor, Flag & Games for more on Reduced Numbers Football Leagues).

World Pro Football Leagues (1991-2020) The first venture by the NFL overseas was the World League of American Football (a development league) which placed teams in Europe and Canada as well as cities without NFL teams. It failed after 17 years in 2007, but Leagues have since been established in India, Canada, Australia and China by various American Leagues. A League in Mexico in 2016 – the Liga Football Americano Mexico looks set to be a third Major League having been recognised by the Canadian Football League.

Legends Football League and American 7s (2004-Present) An attempt at starting a Womens Pro League and a No Pads Full Tackle Pro League respectively. (see Indoor, Flag & Games for more details).

Irish-Born AAA Players & Coaches

Irish-Born AAA Football Players

A look at the record of Irish-born Professional & US College American Football Players.

Major Rival Football Leagues Standings: 2020 2019

Irish-Born AAA American Football Players, Coaches & Personnel:

Tom Furlong Irish-Born NFL and Pro American Football Player 1965-1966

(New York Giants (NFL), Atlanta Falcons (NFL) and Brooklyn Dodgers (CoFL))

Adrian Young Irish-Born NFL, Pro and College American Football Player 1964-1975

(USC Trojans (NCAA), Philadelphia Eagles (NFL), Detroit Lions (NFL), Chicago Bears (NFL) and The Hawaiians (WFL))

Emmett Waldron | Irish-Born Pro & College American Football Player 1993-1999

(Rice Owls (NCAA), Scottish Claymores (WLAF-NFLE))

Linda Holland | Irish-Born Pro Legends-Arena American Football Player 2014

(Western Australia Angels (LFL Australia))

Ian Jones Irish-Born GAA Football, Rugby Union and NFL American Football Coach 2010-Present

(South Carolina Gamecocks (NCAA Football), Penn State Nittany Lions (NCAA Football), Cleveland Browns (NFL) Houston Texans (NFL), Salt Lake Stallions (AAF)

Picture Credit: ARLINGTON, USA – SEP 15, 2015: Interior view of the AT&T Stadium, formerly known as Cowboys Stadium in Arlington. Texas, United States By David J Maldonado [Shutterstock]

XFL’s / Spring Leagues

UFL 2009-2011; XFL 2001; 2020; AAF 2019; FXFL 2014-2015;

From the early 1990s to 2020 Leagues have sprung up that have attempted to be the AFL / WFL / USFL of the Era. Some of these Leagues, such as the XFL of 2001 and 2020 have had quite an impact on the American Football scene, with big budgets, and Major TV contracts.

United Football League 2009-2011

XFL (Seasons): 2020

Alliance of American Football (Seasons): 2019

XFL (Seasons): 2001

Regional Football League (Seasons): 1999

Another set of leagues has played a limited schedule – 2 to 3 games per team per season, often due to fans not showing up at the gates, or sometimes due to repositioning themselves as leagues confined to one area – ie. South Florida (Stars Football League) or New York / New England (FXFL)

The Spring League 2017-Present

FXFL Fall Experimental Football League 2014-2015

Stars Football League 2011-2013

The Spring League (Fall Seasons): 2020

The Spring League (Seasons): 2020 2019 2018 2017

FXFL Fall Experimental Football League (Seasons): 2014 (X)

Stars Football League (Seasons): 2011 2012 2013

Spring Football League (Seasons): 2000

Picture Credit: XFL- 2/9/20-MetLife Stadium East Rutherford,NJ- The Guardians host the Vipers on opening day of the XFL. By Christopher Lyzcen [Shutterstock]

United States Football Leagues Era (1960-1985)

USFL 1983-1985; AFA 1977-1983; WFL 1974-1975; SWPFL 1972-1973; CoFL 1965-1969; UFL 1961-1964

After a break in the 1950s when the National Football League started playing International games in Canada and against Canadian opposition, and the Canadian Football League provided a AAA Alternative to the NFL, new AAA Leagues started up again in the 1960s. The United Football League (1961-1964) was the first of these, and then from 1965-1969 the Continental Football League was the first to put teams in both Canada and Mexico.

The Southwestern Football League of 1972-1973 was the precursor to the World Football League (1974-1975) which aimed to bring the sport to the World, although Hawaii was as far as it got. The American Football association of 1977-1983 was another attempt at a AAA League although it was put out of business by the United States Football League (1983-1985) which was the first Major Spring League.  It featured High Profile Owners, such as the later US President Donald Trump, but was itself put out of business by the NFL’s collusion with the Major TV Networks to keep it off the air, as was proved in a later anti-trust trial.

Most of these Leagues, in particular the WFL & USFL tried, and failed to become another American Football League of 1960-1969 which was so successful it forced a merger with the NFL, with the winners of the two Leagues (now conferences since the merger in 1970) playing each other in the Super Bowl. (see National Football League )

United States Football Leagues Era Championship Games

United States Football Leagues Era AAA Championship Games 1961-1985

United States Football Leagues Era Overviews:

United Football League 1961-1964 (*)

Continental Football League 1965-1969

Southwestern Football League 1972-1973 (*)

World Football League 1974-1975 (Irish Players)

American Football Association 1977-1983 (*)

United States Football League 1983-1985

Southwestern Football League (Seasons): 1973

Picture Credit: Football field view on 50 yard line with spectator stands By pics721 [Shutterstock]

American Football Leagues Era (1920-1950)

AAFC 1946-1949; Pacific Pro Football League 1940-1948; AFLs 1926-1944;

The first Major rival to the NFL to use the American Football League name was the AFL of 1926, and from then until 1950 Leagues using this name came and went, usually lasting only one or two seasons. Theses Leagues, however, are notable for the genesis of teams such as the Cleveland (Now Los Angeles) Rams, San Francisco 49ers, Cleveland Browns and Baltimore (now Indianapolis) Colts, which later joined the NFL. The AFL of 1960 also reused the names of some of these teams (Buffalo Bills & Cincinnati Bengals), teams which are now also in the NFL.

American Football Leagues Era Champions:

American Football Leagues Era AAA Champions 1926-1949

American Football Leagues (Overviews):

All-American Football Conference 1946-1949

Pacific Coast Pro Football League 1940-1948

American Football League 1944

American Football League 1940-1941

American Football League 1938-1939

American Football League 1936-1937

American Football League 1934

Memphis Tigers | AAA Independent American Football 1929-1933

California Winter League 1927-1928

American Football League 1926

Anthracite Football League 1923-1924

Fort Wayne Friars Independent AAA Football 1920

Pacific Coast Football Leagues (Seasons): 1927 1928

All-America Football Conference (seasons): 1949

PIcture Credit: A worn and aged vintage old style American football helmet. Authentic and game-worn 1950s style football face mask and helmet By Brocreative [Shutterstock]

Early Pro American Football (1890-1919)

Ohio League; Pennsylvania Pro Football Circuit; World Series of Pro Football;

The first Pro american Football League was the Western Pennsylvania Pro Football Circuit in the Pittsburgh and surrounding Coal-Mining areas. The Leagues were unofficial, and the players paid under the counter. The first Word series was held in 1901, actually a five-team tournament, and that lasted two seasons. In 1903 the Ohio League became the first League to Officially pay players and when that League saw players salaries spiral due to competition from other teams for their services, four Ohio League teams joined forces with teams from Pennsylvania and Upstate New York to form the American Professional Football Association in 1920, which in 1922 changed its name to the National Football League, the Major League we know today. Canton is home to the Pro Football Hall of Fame, and the NFL Preseason opens there with the latest induction of Hall of Fame players in honour of the Canton Bulldogs, prime players in the Ohio League and formation of the NFL.

World Series of Pro Football:

World Series of Pro Football 1902-1903

World Series of Football (Seasons): 1902 1903

Pennsylvania League

Western Penn Pro Football Circuit (Seasons): 1895 1896

National Football League (Seasons): 1902

Ohio League

Ohio League Champions 1903-1919

Ohio League 1915-1919 (Irish Players)

Ohio League (Seasons): 1904 1905

Picture Credit: 1920s football action. Thousands of spectators watch from double decker stadium seats. By Everett Collection[Shutterstock]

Failed Major Leagues (1917-Present)

Failed Major Leagues

Most of these Leagues, however, have failed to even start their first season, have defrauded investors, or just suffered from a lack of mainstream publicity in the Internet Era with so much Football and other sports available to view online.

X-League Extreme Football League 2020 (L)

Pacific Pro Football 2020

Major League Football 2020

Freedom Football League 2020

American Patriot League 2018-2020

Trinity Professional Spring Football League 2018

North American Football League 2016

Fan Ownership League 2001

International Football Federation 2000

Professional Spring Football League 1993

International League of American Football 1990

World Indoor Football League 1988

Intercontinental Football League 1974-1975

Pro Football League 1917

PIcture Credit:

USA College Football

Irish Players have played College Football since the 19th Century:

Below you will find a list of links to Irish Connections with the NCAA and NAIA stateside:

Division 1 Football Bowl Series and Division 1 Football Championship Series, were known as Division 1A and Division 1AA respectively. This was before the separation of the Big 5 Conferences in the FBS into the College Football Playoff.

Irish-Born College Players & Coaches

NCAA;

Irish-Born College, Pro & NFL American Football Players

Adrian Young Irish-Born NFL, Pro and College American Football Player 1964-1975

(USC Trojans (NCAA), Philadelphia Eagles (NFL), Detroit Lions (NFL), Chicago Bears (NFL) and The Hawaiians (WFL))

Neil O’Donoghue Irish-Born GAA Football, Soccer and NFL American Football Player 1970-1985

(Auburn Tigers (NCAA Div IA), Buffalo Bills (NFL), Tampa Bay Buccaneers (NFL), St. Louis Cardinals (NFL))

Michael Mullen Irish-Born College American Football Player 1988-1990

(Wisconsin Badgers NCAA Div IA))

Emmett Waldron | Irish-Born Pro & College American Football Player 1993-1999

(Rice Owls (NCAA Div IA), Scottish Claymores (WLAF-NFLE)

Glenn Baker | Irish Born College American Football Player 2006-2007

(Cheshire Academy Cats (Prep School), Mount Ida Mustangs (NCAA Div III)

Connor Leckey | Irish-Born College American Football Player 2009-2011

(West Liberty Hilltoppers (NCAA Div III))

Darragh O’Neill | Irish Born College American Football Player 2011-2014

(Colorado Buffaloes (NCAA Div 1 FBS))

Sean Galvin | Irish-Born College American Football Player 2012-2014

(UCF Central Florida Knights (NCAA Div 1 FBS))

Irish-Born College Football Coaches & Personnel

Ian Jones Irish-Born GAA Football, Rugby Union and NFL American Football Coach 2010-Present

(South Carolina Gamecocks (NCAA Div 1 FBS), Penn State Nittany Lions (NCAA Div 1 FBS), Cleveland Browns (NFL) Houston Texans (NFL), Salt Lake Stallions (AAF))

Conal Fagan Irish-Born College American Football Cheerleader 2018-2020

(Notre Dame Fighting Irish (NCAA Div 1 FBS)

Picture Credit: The Notre Dame Cheerleaders, Coaches, and Players take the field before the Navy game on October 28, 2006 Jeremy R. Smith Sr. Shutterstock

NCAA College Football

NCAAF Div. 1 FBS; NCAAF Div 1 FCS; NCAAF D1A; NCAAF D2; NCAAF D3

NCAA Football Bowls (Overviews):

NCAA Football Division 1 Football Championship Subdivision Finals 1978-Present

NCAA Division 1 Football Bowl Subdivision College Football Playoff

NCAA F D1 FBS CFP (Seasons):

2020 2015-16 2014

NCAA Division 1 Football Bowl Sub-Division:

NCAA | Division 1 FBS | American Athletic Conference 2013-2014

NCAA Division 1A

NCAA Football Division 1A (Seasons): 1996 1991-92 1988 1984

NCAA Division 1 FCS

NCAA Division 1 Football Championship Subdivision (Seasons): 20202019-20

NCAA Division 2 (Seasons): 2020 2019

NCAA Division 3 (Seasons): 2019

Early College Football

US College Football (Seasons): 1904

Early College American Football

American Inter-Collegiate Football 1869-1875

Picture Credit: Notre Dame’s Heisman hopeful Brady Quinn directing traffic during the Navy game on October 28, 2006 Jeremy R. Smith Sr.Shutterstock

Minor League American Football

This is a record of A (4th Level Regional Leagues), Semi-Pro State Football Leagues and Amateur Gridiron Development Leagues. A American Football Leagues are Regional Professional Leagues, that come below the National Football League, AAA American Football Leagues and NCAA College Football. They are Regional in character i.e. being entirely based in either the Northeast/East Coast; Midwest; South or West.

Semi-Pro State Leagues

The first Professional American Football League in America that openly paid its players was the Ohio League (1902-1919). Four of its leading teams, including the Canton Bulldogs asked teams in Pennsylvania and New York State to form a National League in 1920 – thus the NFL was born.

Semi-Pro Leagues exist all over USA, organised roughly on state lines.

Below you will find a link to Irish Connections throughout the USA

New York-Penn Football Leagues

Five Star Football League; Western Pennsylvania Pro Football Circuit

New York Metropolitan Area

Semi-Pro State American Football | Five Star Football League 2010-2017

Pennsylvania League

Western Penn Pro Football Circuit (Seasons): 1895 1896

National Football League (Seasons): 1902

Picture Credit: Picture Credit: 1920s football action. Thousands of spectators watch from double decker stadium seats. By Everett Collection[Shutterstock]

Eastern Mid-West Football Leagues

Ohio League; Indiana

Ohio League

Ohio League | Champions 1903-1919

Ohio League 1915-1919 (Irish Players)

Ohio League (Seasons): 1904 1905

Indiana

Indiana State Football Championship (Seasons): 1920

Picture Credit: Picture Credit: 1920s football action. Hundreds of spectators watch from stadium seats. Everett Collection [Sutterstock]

Upper South Football Leagues

Kentucky; Virginia-Carolina

Kentucky

Armco Semi-Pro Football Teams 1924-1929

Virginia-Carolina

Virginia-Carolina Football League 1937

Picture Credit: Picture Credit: 1920s football action. Thousands of spectators watch from double decker stadium seats. By Everett Collection[Shutterstock]

Sevenman Tackle Football League Logo

Texas and Southwest Football Leagues

Sevenman Tackle Football League

Texas

Sevenman Tackle Football League (Texas) 1999-2005

Picture Credit: [11] Sevenman | Wayback Machine (2004) STFL Logo [Internet] Available from: https://web.archive.org/web/20021126163725im_/http://www.sevenman.com/stfllogo.gif [Accessed 13 February 2020]

Mountain West Football Leagues

Montana

Montana Leagues

Butte Independent League 1920-1928

Picture Credit:

PIcture Credit: A worn and aged vintage old style American football helmet. Authentic and game-worn 1950s style football face mask and helmet By Brocreative[Shutterstock]

man wearing green american football jersey holding the ball while running on the field

North West Football Leagues

Washington; Oregon

Northwest Leagues (Washington & Oregon)

Pacific Northwest Football League 1980

Northwest International Alliance 1980-1981

Northwest Football League 1982-1989

Picture Credit: Pexels Free Photos

California Football Leagues

Pacific Coast Football League; California Winter League

California

Pacific Coast Football League 2010-2019

California Football League 1938

Salinas Packers | California Pro American Football 1936-1937

Pacific Coast Pro Football League 1934-1935

Pacific Coast Football League 1926

Picture Credit: Picture Credit: 1920s football action. Hundreds of spectators watch from stadium seats. Everett Collection [Sutterstock]

Pacific & Cal-exico Leagues

Alaska; Super 8 Football League

Alaska

Alaska Football League 2015-2018

Mexi-Cali (Mexico-Califiornia Football Leagues)

Super 8 Football League | Winter Bowl 2015

Super 8 Football League | West Coast 2016-2017

Picture Credit:

Images

[13] Super 8 Football League (2018) Super 8 Football League Logo [Internet] Available from: http://super8footballleague.info/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/10378207_1545248759045177_2010222216677056541_n.jpg [Accessed 20 July 2019]

United States Armed Forces Football

Among the earliest verifiable American Football Leagues or Associations in Europe are the American Expeditionary Force Football League of WWI which was played in France at the conclusion of the War. There was a European Theater of Operations Football Championship (WWII) in Northern Ireland in 1942, which spread to England and Wales in 1943-1944. Following WWII, the United States found itself almost immediately in a War with Communist Russia, and American Football Leagues were set up in the United Kingdom, Germany, France, Italy, Spain & Greece (The United States Air Force in Europe – USAFE – Football League & United States ARmy EURope Football League – USAREUR) which ran right to the end of the Cold War.  One USAREUR League, the Northern Italian League, became the genesis of a National League in Italy featuring Homegrown teams.

World War I & II

AEFFL (1914-1919); ETO (1940-1945)

World War I (France – Navy & Army)

American Expeditionary Force Football League 1918-1919

AEFFL (Seasons): 1918 1919

World War II (UK & North Africa – Army & Air Force)

European Theater of Operations Championship 1942-1944

ETO Football Championship (Seasons): Autumn 1942 Spring 1943 Autumn 1943 Spring 1944 Autumn 1944

Picture Credit: [14] Belfast Blitzers | Facebook (2019) Photo 22 August 2019 [Internet] Available from: https://www.facebook.com/belfastblitzers/photos/pcb.2260513057393170/2260507127393763/?type=3&theater [Accessed 23 August 2019]

US Forces in Japan

USFJAFL

US Forces Japan-American Football League (Seasons): 2009

Picture Credit  Football field view on 50 yard line with spectator stands By pics721 [Shutterstock]

US Armed Forces Teams with Irish Connections

ETO; WW2

Teams stationed in Ireland

World War II

Hale Blue Devils | European Theater of Operations American Football Team in Ireland | Team Roster & Match Reports 1942

Teams with Irish Nicknames

World War II

Albuquerque AAB Flying Kelleys US Air Force Team 1942

Picture Credit: [10] Belfast Blitzers | Facebook (2019) Post 21 August 2019: “ As promised, a never before seen photo of the game held at Ravenhill in 1942. “ [Internet] Available from: https://www.facebook.com/belfastblitzers/photos/pcb.2258995414211601/2258986244212518/?type=3&theater [Accessed 23 August 2019]

High School Football

High School Football has often bee likened to a religion in the United States of America. There are many teams named after the Fighting Irish or similar Irish connections, with teams based in towns and cities named Dublin, Baltimore and other Irish town names.

Included in this record are Irish-born players who have played High School Football in USA.

High School Football

Ohio; Georgia; Washington

National Champions

USA High School Football National Champions 2001-2020

Ohio High School Football (Seasons): 1904

Georgia High School Football Association

Georgia High School Association Football Champions AA and A 1947-Present

Washington Interscholastic Activities Association

Washington Interscholastic Activities Association High School Football Championships 4A 1973-Present

Picture Credit: [3] Stadium Connection (2020) Shamrock Bowl ‘Home of the Fighting irish’ [Internet] Available from: http://stadiumconnection.com/simages/1440.jpg [Accessed 30 April 2020

Canadian Football

This is an index page to the history of the results and tables of Canadian Football – the Canadian Football League, Canadian Junior Football League, Canadian Semi-Pro State League and U Sport (Canadian University Football). Where possible an Irish link has been found – for example American Football Ireland teams v Football Canada teams, Irish-born players in the Canadian Leagues, or simply just a team with an Irish name, such as Queen’s University Gaels in Kingston, Ontario. After the brief preamble explaining the differences between Canadian and American Football, and the common origins of both in a game played between McGill University (Montreal) and Harvard University (Massachusetts), the reader will find links to the results and tables of the Football Canada Leagues (CFL, CJFL, Semi-Pro Provincial Leagues, and U Sport).

There are 4 main versions of Gridiron Football: the traditional 11v11 game played in USA, a 12v12 version of the game played in Canada, and a 8v8 version of the game played Indoors on converted Ice Hockey Arenas.

Bibliography

[1] Professional Football Researchers Association (2011) “No Christian End!” The Early History of Professional Football. pg. 23-32. PFRA Publications. Connecticut.

American Football Ireland v Football Canada

American Football Ireland v Football Canada

Canadian U21 Teams International:

Canadian U20 & High School Gridiron Football Teams in Ireland 2012-2013

Irish American Football Teams v Canadian U21 Teams 2002-2013

Canadian Semi-Pro Provincial Leagues International:

Irish American Football Teams v Canadian Semi-Pro Teams 1994-1995

Picture Credit: [7] Irish American Football Association (2013) Bristol (White) and Greendell (Green) at Tallaght Stadium [Internet] Available from:https://www.americanfootball.ie/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/gbowl8-650×487.jpg [Accessed 8 November 2019]

Canadian Football League Major Era 1956-Present

CFL 1956-Present

The 12v12 version of the game played in Canada differs from American Football not only in the number of players allowed on the field at any one time (12 in a Canadian Football team versus 11 in an American Football team), but also in the size of the field (a Canadian Football field is 110 yards long with two 20-yard endzones, while an American Football field is 100 yards long with two 15 yard endzones). Canadian Football teams also have only three downs (attempts) in which to gain 10 yards or the ball is turned over as opposed to four downs in American Football. There is also the possibility of scoring a “Rouge” in Canadian Football – this happens when the ball is kicked through the back of the endzone, and is worth one point.

Grey Cup

Canadian Football League Grey Cup Champions 1909-Present

Canadian Football League (Overviews):

Canadian Football League 2001-2009

Canadian Football League 1993-1995

Canadian Football League (Seasons):2020 2019 

Canadian Football League (Preseasons: 2019

Canadian Football League Timelines:

Canadian Football League Timeline 1869-present

Canadian Football League Expansion 1869-present

Picture Credit: Shutterstock / Scott Prokop (2008) REGINA – OCT 25: Canadian Football League game featuring the Saskatchewan Roughriders and Edmonton Eskimoes. October 25, 2008 in Regina, Canada. [Internet] Available from: https://www.shutterstock.com/image-photo/regina-oct-25-canadian-football-league-45333349 [Accessed 4 May 2021]

Canadian Rugby Union (1909-1956)

CRU 1909-1956

The Interprovincial Rugby Football Union (IRFU), the Big Four (Hamilton Tigers, Toronto Argonauts, Ottawa Rough Riders and Montreal Football Club), The Grey Cup was donated in 1909 by the Earl of Grey, for which only Canadian Rugby Union members may play for. The CFL’s version of the Super Bowl, and since the 1950s has been in the sole possession of the CFL, when the sport broke away from the Canadian Rugby Union and formed its own League, with the Cup dating back to the late-nineteenth century.

Canadian Football is 12-a-side as opposed to 11-a-side in standard American Football, with a 110-yard field, with two 20-yard endzones (whereas in American Football it is 100-yards long with two 15-yard endzones). in Canadian Football teams also have only three downs (attempts) in which to gain 10 yards before the ball is turned over as opposed to 4 in American Football. There is also the “Rouge” – 1 Point scored when the ball is kicked out the back of the endzone.

Canadian Rugby Union 1909-1956

Canadian Football League 1950-1959

Canadian Rugby Union (Canadian Football) 1946-1955

Canadian Rugby Union (Canadian Football) 1916-1919

Canadian Rugby Union (Canadian Football) 1907-1915

Picture Credit: [3] Kids Encyclopedia facts | Kiddle (2019) Canadian Football League League facts for Kids [Internet] Available from: https://kids.kiddle.co/images/a/a3/CFL_Logo_1960%27s.png [Accessed 9 June 2019]

people playing american football

Early Canadian Football 1861-1909

Early Canadian Football 1861-1909

The 12 players per team dates to 1874 when McGill University from Montreal challenged Harvard University in Massachusetts to two games of Football – one under Harvard’s American Rules, and one under McGill’s Rugby rules. At the time Soccer (Association Football) was favoured in USA Colleges, and Harvard had continued to play by “Boston Rules” (an early version of the game played in Boston). Canadian Football at the time favoured Rugby rules. Only 12 players made the trip to Harvard for the game from McGill, and as well as both Universities favouring the smaller number of players (there is 15 on a Rugby team), Harvard liked the idea of a Touchdown, as used in the Canadian Rugby version of the game. From then on the Harvard-McGill rules won out in both USA and Canada over Rugby and Soccer (with 12 players in Canada and 11 in USA). [For References see The Early History of Professional Football by the Professional Football Researchers Association – see [1] under Bibliography.

Canadian Rugby Union

Canadian Rugby Union 1898-1906

Canadian Rugby Football Union

Canadian Rugby Union Senior Champions 1892-1908

Canadian Rugby Football Union Senior Champions 1884-1887

Canadian Rugby (Football) University v Toronto 1875

CRFU (Results): 1887 1886 1885 1884

Ontario Rugby Football Union

ORFU (Results): 1891 1890 1889 1888 1883

Quebec Rugby Football Union

QRFU (Results): 1891 1890 1889 1888 1883

Picture Credit: Pexels Free Photos

Canadian Junior Football League (2nd Level)

CJFL

The Canadian Bowl is the Championship Game of the Canadian Junior Football League (CJFL), the second level of Canadian Football. It was first played in 1907 as the Canadian Rugby Union (CRU) Junior Championship, becoming the Leader-Post Trophy in 1925. After one year in 1947 as the Evergreen Bowl it became the Leader-Post Trophy again. It was known as the Leader-Post Trophy until 1976, two years after the Canadian Rugby Union (CRU) was renamed the Canadian National Junior Football League (CNJFL), when the Trophy was rebranded the Armadale Cup. It was again renamed in 1989, this time as the Canadian Bowl, seven years after the CNJFL became the Canadian Junior Football League (CJFL).

Canadian Bowls

Canadian Junior Football League Canadian Bowl 1989-Present

Canadian National Junior Football League Armadale Cup 1976-1988

Canadian Amateur Football Association Leader-Post Trophy 1947-1975

Canadian Rugby Union (Canadian Football) Junior Championship 1907-1925

Canadian Junior Football League (1982-Present)

Canadian Junior Football League Canadian Bowl 1989-Present

Canadian Junior Football League (Overviews)

Canadian Junior Football League | Ontario Conference 2014-2019

Canadian Junior Football League | Prairie Conference 2014-2019

Canadian Junior Football League | British Columbia Conference 2014-2019

Canadian Junior Football League (Seasons): 2019

Picture Credit: [Canada 3] Canadian Junior Football League | Facebook (2011) CJFL Profile Picture: March 3, 2011 [Internet] Available from: https://scontent-dub4-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t31.0-8/s720x720/172369_166507693399012_2554406_o.jpg?_nc_cat=108&_nc_eui2=AeEmInrSy7Bp5Q4nj_j07-ZNBsVadK5KjxZ41fzEaVCISv70yVik13v0v3zYpBxRgsfUNu-p8l9wNdwiUtbFgjxmLVz-GqrX6CXGQ0Q1t3vEOg&_nc_ohc=qW-lYWvPX78AQld50UAOtsqMmpIdM9heSa3xodVrfPzv-6YUYkLSkRtlA&_nc_ht=scontent-dub4-1.xx&oh=6d635c510b3954231714cee2128f1767&oe=5E6D4BE8%5BAccessed 20 December 2019]

Canadian Junior Football 1966-1981

CNJFL 1974-1981; CAFA 1967-1973

Canadian National Junior Football League (1974-1981)

Canadian National Junior Football League Armadale Cup 1976-1988

Canadian Amateur Football Association (1967-1973)

Canadian Amateur Football Association Leader-Post Trophy 1947-1975

Canadian Amateur Football Association Ontario Junior Football Conference 1967-1973

Picture Credit: [6] Canadian Junior Football League (2021) CanadianBowlTrophy[Internet] Available from: https://cdn1.sportngin.com/attachments/photo/8099/3058/CanadianBowlTrophy.jpg [Accessed 4 January 2021]

football player holding football

Canadian Rugby Union Junior Divisions 1907-1966

Add your job title

Canadian Rugby Union (1947-1966)

Canadian Rugby Union (Canadian Football) | Big Four Football 1947-1956

Canadian Rugby Union Junior Divisions (1907-1946)

Canadian Rugby Union (Canadian Football) Junior Championship 1907-1925

Picture Credit: Pexels Free Photos

Canadian Provincial Football Leagues (3rd Level)

Canadian Provincial Football Leagues

Maritime Canada

Atlantic Football League

Atlantic Football League Moosehead Cup Champions 2009-Present

Atlantic Football League 2016-2019

Maritime Football League

Maritime Football League (Canada) 2015-2019

Quebec

Quebec Major Junior Football League 2011-2019

Northern Ontario & Quebec

Northern Football Conference 2015-2019

Alberta

Alberta Football League (Seasons): 2019

Picture Credit: [11] Northern Football Conference (2016) Cropped NFC Logo [Internet] Available from: http://nfcfootball.ca/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/cropped-NFC-logo.png [Accessed 20 December 2019]

selective focus photography of man holding nike football ball

U Sport (Canadian University Football)

U Sport

RSEQ (Réseau du sport étudiant du Québec )

RSEQ (Réseau du sport étudiant du Québec) University Football 1987-1990

RSEQ University Football (Seasons): 2019

Picture Credit: Pexels Free Photos

Canadian Football Leagues Internationals

CFL v NFL & AFL; Irish Teams v Canadian Teams;

Canadian Football League Internationals:

National Football League Preseason Matches in Canada 1960-1969

National Football League v Canadian Football League 1950-1961

Canadian Football League v American Football League Matches 1941-1948

American Football League International 1926

Canadian Semi-Pro Provincial Leagues International:

Irish American Football Teams v Canadian Semi-Pro Teams 1994-1995

Canadian U21 Teams International:

Canadian U20 & High School Gridiron Football Teams in Ireland 2012-2013

Irish American Football Teams v Canadian U21 Teams 2002-201

Picture Credit: [2] Ninety-Nine Yards, Chris Lawton (2020) An International Fixture: When the CFL played teams from other leagues [Internet] Available from: https://i0.wp.com/ninetynineyards.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2020/04/ezgif.com-webp-to-jpg.jpg?w=824 [Accessed 14 May 2020]

Mexican American Football

Mexican American Football

From the first College Championship in the 1930s to the most recent Professional League: Liga de Futbol Americano, the history of American Football in Mexico is the longest in the World outside of USA and Canada. This is a record of 11v11 American Football: for the Arena Indoor (8v8) version of the game which is more popular in Mexico than anywhere else see: Arena Indoor Football; For all Women’s American Football including Mexican Women’s Football see: Women’s American Football; For Flag Football see: Flag Football World

Mexican Pro-Leagues

LFA; FAM; FAMA; OMFA

Major Mexican American Football Leagues:

Liga Futbol Americano (Mexico) 2016-2019

Liga Football Americano (Mexico) (Seasons):

2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016

AAA Mexican American Football Leagues:

Futbol Americano de Mexico 2019-Present

Futbol Americano (Mexico) Asociacion 2014-2016

Futbol Americano de Mexico (Seasons):

2021 2020 2019

Futbol Americano (Mexico) Asociacion FAMA (Seasons):

2016 2014

Organisation Mexicano de Futbol Americano OMFA Pro (seasons):

2013 2011 2010

Liga Nacional Master (seasons):

2008

Picture Credit: [1] Liga Football Americano Mexico (2019) LFA 2018 Logo [Internet] Available from: https://i1.wp.com/lfa.mx/2018/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/LFAlogonew.png?fit=734%2C734&ssl=1 %5BAccessed 1 August 2018]

ONEFA & Junior Colleges

ONEFA; OEFA

ONEFA (Mexican Universities & Junior Colleges)

ONEFA Liga Mayor (Major League)

ONEFA Liga Mayor Conferencia de los Diez Grandes (ONEFA Mexico Major League Big 10) 1996-1999

ONEFA Liga Mayor Conferencia Diez Grandes (Big 10 Mexico) 2003-2004

ONEFA Liga Mayor (Seasons): 2019

OEFA Baja California

OEFA College (20-25 y.o.): OEFA College Bowls (Baja California College Football) 2004-2015

OEFA Varsity (17-19 y.o.) (Seasons): 2019

Picture Credit: [2] ONEFA (2020) ONEFA Logo [Internet] Available from: https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/proxy/PpcJl5QlfPoMSO4T5EdZd4ou8LwusCaoqw0_cjYcC2_CTplUWHkQJTa9S-DKMPI-FrkqeXFWoppz6Rha95yr [Accessed 11 May 2020]

CONADEIP Mexican Private Colleges

CONADEIP

CONADEIP Primera Fuerza (Premier League)

CONADEIP Primera Fuerza (Mexican College American Football) 2013-2014

CONADEIP (Seasons): 2019-20

CONADEIP Categoria Juvenil Finals

CONADEIP Categoria Juvenil (Mexican Junior College Football) Finals 2013-Present

CONADEIP Categoria Juvenil (Junior College)

CONADEIP Categoria Juvenil (Mexican Junior College Football) 2015-2016

[3] CONADEIP (2019) logo [Internet] Available from: http://conadeipfba.org.mx/images/logo.png [Accessed 15 December 2019]

Arena Indoor Football

About Arena Indoor Football

This version of American (or Gridiron) Football has become extremely popular in Mexico.

Indoor Football, also known as Arena Football was developed in 1986 as an 8v8 form of Indoor American Football. After an initial few seasons where the game was developed with a 4 team league, a full seasons League with eventually over a dozen teams was developed in the 1990 which was considered by the Wall Street Journal to be a fifth major.

The Arena Football League over-expanded in the 2000s with a Minor League, and its importance (and number of teams) waned since it first experienced financial diffulties  in 2009, and it ceased operations after the 2019 season due to the legacy debt incurred.

There is now, however, Indoor Football Leagues all over America, all of which would now be considered Minor League or Semi-Pro (AAA, AA, or even A)

Indoor Football is played on a 50-yard field with two 8-yard endzones, and teams have 5 downs (attempts) to reach the endzone or the ball is turned over. 3 of those downs must be passing plays, making Indoor Football highly explosive and high scoring.

The main difference between Arena Football & Indoor Football is the rebound nets either side of the goalposts in Arena Football, which is the only part of the original patent given to the Arena Football League in 1989, that a subsequent ruling in 1998 ruled was copyright, the rest being Football already in other leagues.

Note: For Women’s Indoor Football Leagues, including both Serious Leagues such as the Super 8 Football League in Baja California (Mexico) and Lingerie/Legends Football Leagues (where the Women wear sexy apparel) see Women’s American Football

Note 2: The American grading system for Pro Leagues is 1. Major League, 2. AAA League, 3. AA League, 4. A League, 5. Semi-Pro State Leagues.

Equivalent to 1. Premier League / Major League Soccer, 2. EFL/USL Championship, 3. EFL/USL League 1, 4. EFL/USL League 2, and 5. National League/NPSL in the English and American Soccer System.

Note 3: League in Bold sometimes considered Major Football Leagues.

AAA Arena Football Leagues

AFL;

Arena Football League (Major National Leagues):

Arena Football League Arena Bowls 1987-2019

Arena Football League 2016-2019

Arena Football League 2010-2015

Arena Football League 2001-2008

Arena Football League 1992-2000

Arena Football League 1987-1991

Arena Football League (Seasons): 2019

Picture Credit: [3] Arena Football League (2019) Arena Football League Reveals New Logo [Internet] Available from: https://snagfilms-a.akamaihd.net/0000015a-a977-d135-adda-fb7fb65f0000/images/c3/b8/20eb27b6418aa78b71d4679d2988/1545950679236_1545950297199_viewliftarticle_16x9images_16x9Images.png [Accessed 17 September 2019]

AA Arena Indoor Football Leagues (West)

IFL; PIFL: NAL

Leagues taking in the West, and parts of the South & Midwest that are west of the Mississippi.

AA Western Indoor Football Leagues (Overviews):

Indoor Football League 2013-Present

Indoor Football League 2009-2012

Professional Indoor Football League 1998-2001

Indoor Football League (Seasons):2019 2020 2021

Picture Credit: [4] Indoor Football League (2019) image_handler [Internet] Available from: https://goifl.com/common/controls/image_handler.aspx?thumb_id=0&image_path=/images/2020/12/3/ifl_map_2022_30.png  [Accessed 26 February 2021]

National Arena League Logo

AA Arena Indoor Football Leagues (East)

National Arena League

AA Arena / Indoor Football Leagues (East)

Leagues taking in the Northeast and parts of the Midwest & South that are East of the Mississippi.

AA Eastern Indoor Football Leagues (Overviews):

National Arena League 2017-Present

Professional Indoor Football League 2012-2015

American Indoor Football 2012-2016 

American Indoor Football Association 2007-2010

National Arena League (Seasons): 2019 2020

Picture Credit:

AA Indoor Football Leagues (Mid-West)

CIF; CIFL: UIF; IFL

Leagues primarily located in the Midwest but also taking in parts of the Atlantic, West & Texas.

American Arena League 2018-Present

Champions Professional Indoor Football League 2013-2014

Continental Indoor Football League 2007-2012

United Indoor Football 2005-2008

Indoor Football League 2000

American Arena League (Seasons):2021

Picture Credit: [9] Champions Indoor Football (2019) logo [Internet] Available from: http://gocif.net/images/logo.png %5BAccessed  26 November 2019]

AA Indoor Football Leagues (South)

LSFL; XLIF; SIF; SIFL; IFL

Southern Indoor Football Leagues (Overviews):

Leagues primarily located in the South but also taking in parts of the Northeast & Midwest.

X-League Indoor Football 2014-2015

Lone Star Football League 2012-2014

Southern Indoor Football League 2009-2011

Intense Football League 2004-2008

Elite Indoor Football (Seasons): 2021

National Gridiron League (Seasons):2020

Picture Credit: [3] Supreme Indoor Football Twitter (2017) Profile Picture [Internet] Available from: https://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/632384925950341121/fcRIgzt5_400x400.png [Accessed 19 February 2020]

Champions Indoor Football

A Arena Indoor Football Leagues

Texas; North West; California & South West; South East

California & South West

Super 8 Football League West Coast 2016-Present (*Also see NW Mexico-Southwest USA)

Pacific North West

American West Football Conference (Seasons):2019 2020

South East

United Arena League (Seasons): 2021

Supreme Indoor Football 2017

Texas & Prairie States

Champions Indoor Football 2015-Present

Champions Indoor Football (Seasons): 2021 2020 2019 

Mexican Arena Indoor Leagues

LEXFA

Liga Extrema se Football Arena (LEXFA)

LEXFA season Standings (All Arena Divisions): 2019

LEXFA Spring / Primavera (All Arena Division Standings): 2020

Liga Extrema de Football Arena Mexico

Lega Extrema de Fútbol Arena México (LEXFA) Division I Otoño 2013-2019

Liga Extrema de Football Arena Mexico (LEXFA) Autumn Division II 2013-2016

LEXFA Zona Golfo de Mexico (Seasons): Spring 2013

LEXFA Zone Occidente (Seasons): Spring 2013

Picture Credit: [1] LEXFA Wayback Machine (2020) Lexfa-ORO-2 [Internet] Available from: https://arenafootball.com.mx/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/Lexfa-ORO-2.png [Accessed 8 August 2020]

Baja-California

Baja California; California; Nevada; Texas

Baja California (Arena):

Super 8 Football League Baja 2012-Present

Baja Series (Seasons): 2019

West Coast (Arena):

Super 8 Football League West Coast 2016-Present

West Coast Series (Seasons): 2020

Baja-California-Nevada Tournaments (Arena / Outdoor):

Super 8 Football League Bowls & Tournaments 2010-Present

Super 8 Football League Tournaments (Seasons):

Winter Bowl 2014Copa Tijuana 2017Battle 4 San Diego 2019Eight Man Outdoor 2020 , Arena League 2020

Picture Credit: [5] Super 8 Football League (2018) Super 8 Football League Logo [Internet] Available from: http://super8footballleague.info/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/10378207_1545248759045177_2010222216677056541_n.jpg [Accessed 20 July 2019]

World Arena Football Leagues

CAFL;

Arena and Indoor Football Leagues located outside of the USA.

World Arena Leagues (Standings and Playoffs)

China Arena Football League 2016-2019

China Arena Football League (Results)

2019

FIAF Italian Federation of American Football (Bowl Results)

Federazione Italiana American Football FIAF Winter League Snowbowl 1992-2002

2019

Picture Credit: [10] China Arena Football League (2019) CAFL 2019 Competition Medal [Internet] Available from: http://caflfootball.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/CAFL-2019-Competition-Medal-768×768.png [Accessed 10 December 2019]

Fan Controlled Football (7v7)

FCF

Fan Controlled Football (Seasons): 2021

Picture Credit: [1] Fan Controlled Football League Facebook (2021) Profile Picture, 19 September 2020 [Internet] Available from: https://www.facebook.com/FCFL/photos/a.1232640490095873/3913614228665139/ [Accessed 28 February 2021]

American 7s

The idea for American 7s came to Ryan DePaul late in 2002. His High School Football playing career was over and there was no possibility of playing College Football. He was playing pick-up, no pads or helmet football in parks and thought it needed codifying, so in 2005 he began to develop 7v7 No Pads, No Helmet, Tackle American Football.

In 2014 he was approached by lifelong friend and entrepreneur, Sener Korkusuz about launching the League to Major League level. Soon afterwards the American 7s Football League was born, starting its first season in March 2015. [Ref: 1]

The idea for American 7s came to Ryan DePaul late in 2002. His High School Football playing career was over and there was no possibility of playing College Football. He was playing pick-up, no pads or helmet football in parks and thought it needed codifying, so in 2005 he began to develop 7v7 No Pads, No Helmet, Tackle American Football.

In 2014 he was approached by lifelong friend and entrepreneur, Sener Korkusuz about launching the League to Major League level. Soon afterwards the American 7s Football League was born, starting its first season in March 2015. [Ref: 1]

American 7s

American 7s Football League

American 7s Football League (Overview):

American 7s Football League 2015-2019

American 7s Football League (Seasons): 2021 2020

Pixture Credit: [4] A7FL Facebook (2020) Photo, August 22, 2020 [Internet] Available from: https://i0.wp.com/www.a7fl.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/A7FLBackInMotionFINAL.png?resize=294%2C300&ssl=1 [Accessed 12 September 2020]

References: [1] A7FL (2020) About [Internet] Available from: https://www.a7fl.com/about-a7fl/ [Accessed 23 May 2020]

Early Gridiron (1862-2019)

Gridiron is another name for American Football because in its early days the field was marked out in a grid pattern.

Early Pro American Football (1890-1919)

The first Pro american Football League was the Western Pennsylvania Pro Football Circuit in the Pittsburgh and surrounding Coal-Mining areas. The Leagues were unofficial, and the players paid under the counter. The first Word series was held in 1901, actually a five-team tournament, and that lasted two seasons. In 1903 the Ohio League became the first League to Officially pay players and when that League saw players salaries spiral due to competition from other teams for their services, four Ohio League teams joined forces with teams from Pennsylvania and Upstate New York to form the American Professional Football Association in 1920, which in 1922 changed its name to the National Football League, the Major League we know today. Canton is home to the Pro Football Hall of Fame, and the NFL Preseason opens there with the latest induction of Hall of Fame players in honour of the Canton Bulldogs, prime players in the Ohio League and formation of the NFL.

Gridiron is another name for American Football because in its early days the field was marked out in a grid pattern.

Early Pro American Football (1890-1919)

The first Pro american Football League was the Western Pennsylvania Pro Football Circuit in the Pittsburgh and surrounding Coal-Mining areas. The Leagues were unofficial, and the players paid under the counter. The first Word series was held in 1901, actually a five-team tournament, and that lasted two seasons. In 1903 the Ohio League became the first League to Officially pay players and when that League saw players salaries spiral due to competition from other teams for their services, four Ohio League teams joined forces with teams from Pennsylvania and Upstate New York to form the American Professional Football Association in 1920, which in 1922 changed its name to the National Football League, the Major League we know today. Canton is home to the Pro Football Hall of Fame, and the NFL Preseason opens there with the latest induction of Hall of Fame players in honour of the Canton Bulldogs, prime players in the Ohio League and formation of the NFL.

Early Gridiron

World Series of Pro Football; Pennsylvania League; Ohio League

World Series of Pro Football

World Series of Pro Football 1902-1903

World Series of Football (Seasons): 1902 1903

Pennsylvania League

Western Penn Pro Football Circuit (Seasons): 1895 1896

National Football League (Seasons): 1902

Ohio League

Ohio League | Champions 1903-1919

Ohio League 1915-1919 (Irish Players)

Ohio League (Seasons): 1904 1905

Picture Credit: 1920s football action. Thousands of spectators watch from double decker stadium seats. By Everett Collection[Shutterstock]

Failed American Football Leagues

Throughout the 100-plus year history of Professional American Football rival leagues to the NFL have risen and fallen, and while most manage at least one season there are those which fail to even start – this is an index page to the brief history of those leagues.

Failed Major Leagues (1917-Present)

Failed Major Leagues

Most of these Leagues, however, have failed to even start their first season, have defrauded investors, or just suffered from a lack of mainstream publicity in the Internet Era with so much Football and other sports available to view online.

X-League Extreme Football League 2020 (L)

Pacific Pro Football 2020

Major League Football 2020

Freedom Football League 2020

American Patriot League 2018-2020

Trinity Professional Spring Football League 2018

North American Football League 2016

Fan Ownership League 2001

International Football Federation 2000

Professional Spring Football League 1993

International League of American Football 1990

World Indoor Football League 1988

Intercontinental Football League 1974-1975

Pro Football League 1917

PIcture Credit: [1] X-League Extreme Football League (2020) Schedule [Internet] Available from: https://extfl.com/schedule/ [Accessed 24 January 2020]

Irish North American Football Teams

A number of American Football Teams in the United States of America were founded or run by Irish-Americans, with Irish-American, or Irish-born players prominent among their personnel.

Early Pro American Football teams (1892-1919)

Youngstown Patricians

Youngstown Patricians are notable for having wrested the World Championship in 1915 from the Washington Vigilants who had won 90 of their previous 94 matches since 1907, and had only been defeated three times in that period, all by College All-Star teams after they had finished training for the season (at the time College Football was still better than Pro Football). Youngstown were founded in the St. Patrick’s neighborhood of this Northeast Ohio City (near Cleveland) in 1914.

Youngstown Patricians (Ohio) Irish-American Football Team 1914-1920

Picture Credit: Picture Credit: 1920s football action. Hundreds of spectators watch from stadium seats. Everett Collection [Sutterstock]

American Football Timelines

These Timelines are a record of teams from the first to last that have played in each Major or AAA Professional American Football League, or Irish American Football League.

Major League Teams Predictions

Major American Football leagues

Major American Football League Teams Predictions

Major American Football Leagues Prediction 2040

World American Football Leagues Scenario 2033

World Football Leagues Prediction 2040

World Football League Proposal 2050

Indoor Football Leagues Prediction 2040

Fantasy League Prediction Timelines

Major League Gridiron Teams 1873-2022

Picture credit: [1]

Picture Credit:

[1] World League of American Football (2018) download [Internet] Available from: data:image/png;base64,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 Accessed 23 April 2018]

World Football

International American Football

The first match that could be described as an International Gridiron or American Football match is the one between two AFL teams in Canada in 1926. Following this the NFL and AFL played a series of matches between the Leagues in the 1920s, 1930s, and 1940s.

In 1941 the first Canadian Football League v American Football League matches were held, and in 1950 the first match between a National Football League team and a Canadian Football League team.

Beginning in the 1970s, there were attempts at promoting American Football in Europe, through the Intercontinental Football League, and from there the World. In 1976 the St. Louis Cardinals and San Diego Chargers played in Tokyo. In 1984 two United States Football League teams played in London, and in 1986 the first NFL American Bowl preseason game was held in London.

In 2007 the NFL decided to promote the NFL in London, Mexico City and Toronto with the International Series of Regular Season games, which have run until the present

Major American Football Leagues Internationals

American Football League (1926);

American Football League International

American Football League International 1926

National Football League v American Football Leagues 1927-1942

Whilst not strictly speaking International matches, the National Football League has also played matches against American Football League teams in the 1920s, 1930s, & 1940s.

National Football League v American Football League 1927-1928

California Winter League 1927-1928

Memphis Tigers | AAA Independent American Football 1929-1933

National Football League v Pacific Coast Football League 1936

Pacific Coast Football Leagues (Seasons): 1927 1928

National Football League v Army & College All-Stars 1942

Canadian Football League v Major American Football Leagues (1941-1969)

Canadian Football League v American Football League Matches 1941-1948

National Football League v Canadian Football League 1950-1961

National Football League Preseason Matches in Canada 1960-1969

Picture Credit: [International 1] Ninety-Nine Yards, Chris Lawton (2020) An International Fixture: When the CFL played teams from other leagues [Internet] Available from: https://i0.wp.com/ninetynineyards.com/wp-content/upl

football player holding football

Major American Football Leagues International 1972-Present

NFL International; USFL International; The Spring League v Japan;

The National Football League began playing matches abroad in 1950, with a series of matches in Canada and against Canadian opposition, which lasted until 1969. Then it played a match in Paris in 1972, as well as matches in the 1970s in Tokyo in partnership with the Intercontinental Football League. In the 1980s it started playing preseason matches in Europe (the American Bowl) and after the NFL Europe Development League experiment (1991-2007) it scheduled Regular Season NFL games in London, as well as preseason games in Japan, Mexico & Toronto.

In the meantime there has also been matches between NCAA and Minor League teams and teams from Leagues around the World.

National Football League International Games

National Football League Intercontinental 1972-1978

United States Football League | Postseason Exhibition Game in London 1984

National Football League | American Bowl Pre-Season Games in Europe 1986-1997

National Football League American Bowl Preseason Games in Mexico 1994-2001

National Football League International | Regular Season Games in London 2007-Present

AAA Leagues Internationals

The Spring League v Japan National Team 2020

Picture Credit: Pexels Free Photos

red and blue football jerseys

Minor American Football Leagues International

Intercontinental Football league;

Intercontinental Football League European Championship 1976-1978

Proposed American Football League in USSR 1979

Intercontinental Football League European Championship (Seasons): 1978 1977 1976

Picture Credit: Pexels Free Photos

USA and Canadian Colleges Internationals

US College Division I Teams Abroad; US College Division III Teams Abroad; Global Football;

NCAA Division I Football Games Abroad:

NFL & NCAA Pre-Season Games in Ireland 1988-1997

NCAA Football | Regular Season Games in Ireland 2012-2016

NCAA Division 1A Freshmen Tours to Europe

NCAA D 1A Freshmen Tour of Britain (Results): 1998

NCAA Division 1AA Football Games Abroad

NCAA Division 1AA Yankee Conference College Football Games in Europe 1988-1989

NCAA D 1AA Tours to Europe (Box-Scores): Villanova Wildcats 28 Rhode Island Rams 25 Milano Kickoff Classic Italy 1989

US College Division III Football Games v World Opposition

Tazon Azteca (Aztec Bowl – Mexican v US American Football) 1947-Present

International American Football | Ireland v NCAA Division III Teams 2004-2005

International American Football | Irish Teams v NCAA Division III Teams 2007-2019

US College Division III Football Games Abroad

Intercontinental Football League College and Air Force Games 1972-1973

International American Football USSR 1989

Global Football NCAA v CONADEIP (Mexico) Tours to Africa (Seasons): 2011

Global Football NCAA D III Tours to Europe (Seasons): 2019

Canadian High School Tours of Europe

Team Canada HS Tour of Britain (Season Results): 1998

Picture Credit: [10] Global Football | Michael Preston (2015) When Global Football, the Irish & Midshipmen Rocked Dublin [Internet] Available from: http://www.globalfootball.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/681161-copy.jpg [Accessed 17 January 2020]

World American Football

There are two main types of World American Football Competitions: (1) World Football Leagues, which are professional, and usually run by established North American Football Leagues such as the National Football League (NFL) and Legends Football League (LFL) or former Players and Coaches of those Professional Leagues. And (2) American Football World Cups and International Friendlies between Amateur National teams.

World Football Leagues

WLAF; AFL Europe; NFL Europe; EFL India; China AFL: LFL Canada; LFL Australia; PGFL Mexico; European Super League.

World Pro American Football Leagues (Bowl Games):

World Pro American Football Leagues Bowl Games 1991-2019

World Pro American Football Leagues (Overviews):

World League of American Football 1991-1992

Hamburg Blue Devils Independent Schedule American Football Team 1993

American Football League of Europe 1993-1995

World League of American Football 1995-1997

National Football League Europe 1998-2007

United Football League 2009-2011

Elite Football league of India 2012

Legends Football League Global 2012-2014

Pretty Girls Football League (Mexico) 2014-2017

China Arena Football League 2016-2019

Amsterdam Crusaders Independent Schedule American Football Team 2018

European Super League 2019

European League of Football 2021

World Pro American Football League Seasons:

Hamburg Blue Devils Independent Schedule American Football Team 1993

European League of American Football 1993

American Football League of Europe 1995

LFL Global (Seasons): Canada 2012-13 Australia 2013-14

Amsterdam Crusaders Independent Schedule American Football Team 2018

China Arena Football League 2019

Alliance of American Football 2019

Picture Credit: [97] World League of American Football (2020) 96claymoresawayjersey50rs.jpg.w300h350 [Internet] Available from: http://www.worldleagueofamericanfootball.com/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/.pond/96claymoresawayjersey50rs.jpg.w300h350.jpg [Accessed 17 September 2020]

football game

World American Football

American Football World Cups

American Football International Rankings

World Top 225 American Football Teams (Outside USA & Canada) 2019

American Football World Cup (Editions): 1999 2003 2007 201

IFAF Junior World Championships

International Federation of American Football Junior World Championship Finals 2009-Present

American Football Europe Federation European Championships (Editions): 1983

Internationals Non-USA and Canada

Ireland:

For more on Irish International American Football see: International American Football (Ireland)

United Arab Emirates: United Arab Emirates | International American Football Matches 2012-2018

Picture Credit: Pexels Free Photos

European American Football

The history off European American Football dates back at least to the First World War and the tours by American Servicemen. From 1972 onwards there have been attempts by the National Football League (NFL) and other Professional American Football Leagues to establish Professional American Football in Europe. while none of these attempts have so far been successful it has led to numerous leagues all over Europe played by Europeans.

There have been European Championships (for National Teams) since 1983 and likewise the Eurobowl (for Club Champions) since 1984. Regional Champions Leagues such as the Atlantic Cup which Irish teams entered have also been competed for since the 1980s. The first National Leagues were in Italy (1977), Germany (1979) and Finland (1980) and there are now either teams or leagues everywhere even including such small countries as Luxembourg and Iceland, except Greece and a few small countries.

European Internationals

The First European Championships for European National teams took place in 1983, there have also been tours by European teams to USA and American and Canadian teams to Europe.

European Championships

AFEF 1983; EFL 1987-1989; EFAF A-Group 2005-2010; EFAF B-Group 2004-2009; EFAF C-Group 2003-2007;

The first American Football European Championships were held in 1983, at Vince Lombardi Stadium, Castelgiorgio, Italy. Italy beat Finland 18-6 in the Final.

European Championships

EFAF EC A-Group (Editions): 2010 2005

EFL EC (Editions): 1993 1989 1987

AFEF EC (Editions): 1983

European Championships B-C Groups & Qualification

EFAF EC B-Group (Editions): 2009 2004

EFAF EC C-Group (Editions): 2007 2003

EFL EC-Qualification (Editions): 1989

European Junior Championships

EFAF EJC (Editions): 1998

EFAF EJC-Qualification (Editions): 1998

European Rankings

AFI European Nations Top 22 (end-of-year Rankings): 2019

EFAF AMPRO European Top 20 (end-of-season Rankings): 1995

Picture Credit: [1] American Football International (2013) EFAF Logo [Internet] Available from: http://www.americanfootballinternational.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/EFAF_logo.gif [Accessed 30 August 2017]

International Friendlies

European International Friendlies

International Friendlies

Slovakia International American Football Matches 2010-Present

International American Football USSR 1989

Minsk Bison Tours of USA 1993-1994

Picture Credit: [3] American Football (Russia) (2017) History in Russia | Billboard Advertising First College Game in Russia 1989 [Internet] Available from: http://www.americanfootball.ru/History/pics/billboard-1989-400×600.jpg%5BAccessed 24 December 2017]

European Football Leagues (AAA)

After the US Air Force & Army Leagues, the National Football League set about promoting the NFL in Europe. In 1970 the film M*A*S*H saw the first mainstream exposure of American Football in Europe with its climactic Football game at the end. Immediately following this there were expressions of interest from Europeans about setting up a League, and what followed was the Intercontinental Football League, which was to feature 6 teams, including the Rome Gladiators, owned by Bruno Beneck, the director of the most popular TV Sports Show in Italy, who had successfully introduced Baseball 20 years earlier. The League never got off the ground due to the oil crisis and the spectre of Terrorism, but the IFL continued to promote the game, playing a game in 1972 in Paris featuring NFL players, as well as bringing College teams and Semi-Pro Teams from 1976-1978 to play a best-of-5 European Championship.

TV stations started showing American Football in the late-1970s and early 1980s and the first Leagues sprang up, including the Rome Gladiators in Bruno Beneck’s Italy. By 1986 the National Football League had begun to play Pre-Season games in London, Barcelona, Berlin and Dublin. The European audiences soon wanted more so the World League of American Football, featuring 3 European teams, 6 American and one Canadian, was started in 1991. It lasted two seasons before being shelved by the NFL due to the lack of interest from American fans in a Development League. The American Football League of Europe, which ran from 1994-1995 filled in the gap in Pro Football, with its mix of start-up teams and teams from the European National Leagues bolstered by American imports.

The World League returned in 1995 as a 6-team Europe-only League and was renamed the NFL Europe League in 1998. After initial success, attendances dwindled – the fans wanted an NFL franchise – so in 2007 the NFL folded the League and focused on promoting the NFL in Europe through the NFL International Series – starting with one NFL Regular Season game a year played in London, growing to 4-per-year by 2020, with the stated intention of putting a team in London permanently by 2022.

Eurobowl and EFL (AAA Level 1 & AA Level 2)

Eurobowl; EFL

The first Eurobowl for European National Champions was played in 1986, governed by the European Football League. The organisation fell apart in 1992, following the expulsion of the United Kingdom, and was replaced by the European Federation of American Football which ran the Eurobowl until 2015 when the German Football League International took over running the sport for one year, being replaced in turn by the Europe Division of the International Federation of American Football, the World Governing Body.

Eurobowl Finals:

European Federation of American Football Europe Eurobowl 1986-Present

Eurobowl (Level 1):

International Federation of American Football Europe Big 6 Eurobowl 2015-present

EFAF Eurobowl: 1994 1993

EFL Eurobowl (Season Results):   1992 1991 1990 1989  1988 1986

European Football League (Level 2):

IFAF Europe EFL (Level 2):2016 2015

Picture Credit: [6] Wikipedia (2020) EuroBowl 86 Logo {Internet] Available from: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/de/thumb/2/2c/EuroBowl86.svg/1200px-EuroBowl86.svg.png [Accessed 5 April 2020]

Regional European Leagues (A Level 3)

Below the European Football League and Eurobowl Levels are Regional Football Leagues, namely West European, North European, East European and Central European Bowls.

Western Europe (A Level 3)

Four Nations Bowl; Charleroi Trophy; Atlantic Cup;

There has been Regional Tournaments in Western Europe since the Four Nations Bowl (England, Ireland, Scotland & Wales) in the 1990s and then the Charleroi Trophy (Belgium, Netherlands, Ireland) in the early 2000s. This was replaced by the Atlantic Cup in 2009, which ran until 2017 when the Belgian & Dutch Champions made the step up to European Football League Level.

Western European Club Championships (Level 3) (Overviews):

European Federation of American Football IFAF Europe Atlantic Cup Finals 2009-2017

European Federation of American Football Charleroi Trophy Finals 2002-2004

Atlantic Cup (Seasons):

 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009 

Charleroi Trophy: (Seasons)  2004 2003 2002

Dutch International Tournament (Seasons): 1997 

Four Nations Bowl (Seasons): 1992

Western European Friendlies (Seasons): 1986

Picture Credit:

Northern Europe (A Level 3)

EFL Scandinavian Cup; NEFL;

The Scandinavian Cup, played in the 1990s between the winners of the Swedish, Norwegian, Danish & Finnish Leagues, is the oldest of the Northern European Regional Tournaments. It has since been replaced by the Northern European Football League, featuring the British Champions too.

Nothern European Friendlies (Level 3): 1986

EFL Scandinavian Cup (Level 3): 1987 1988 1989 1993 1994 1995

IFAFE Northern European Football League (Level 3): 2017 2018

Picture Credit:

Central Europe (A levels 3 & 4)

EFAF Challenge Cup; CEFL

Central European Competitions have included the Challenge Cup (EFAF Era) and more recently the Central European Football League. These competitons have pitted the Champions of – at times – Austria, Czech Republic, Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, Serbia, Croatia, Romania, Bulgaria and Turkey – against each other in two levels as it currently stands.

Central European Football League Bowl (A level 3): 2018

Central European Football League Cup (A- level 4) 2018

Picture Credit:

National Leagues

The earliest National Leagues in Europe were the ones in Italy (1977), Germany (1979) and Finland (1979) and have since grown to include just about every Country in Europe.

EFAF National Bowl Games (Seasons): 1994 1995

British National Leagues

Add your job title

Britain (BAFA)

Britain: Level 1:

British American Football Association Britbowl Finals 1985-Present

British American Football Merit League (Seasons): 1984

British American Football Association National Leagues Premiership (Seasons): 2019

Britain Level 2:

British American Football Non-Merit Table (Seasons): 1984

Britain Level 3:

BAFA National Leagues Southern Football Conference (Seasons): 2019

Britain: Level 5:

British Gridiron Football League 1987-1988

Britain: British Colleges & Universities Football:

British Collegiate American Football League 1985-1990

British Collegiate American Football League 1990-1994

Britain: Women’s

British American Football Association Women’s Sapphire Series Division 1 2017-2019

British: Youth Kitted

BYAFA YKL (Results): 1996 1993 1992 1991

BYAFA Youth Kitted Friendlies (Results): 1992

Picture Credit: [1] American Football International (2013) logo [Internet] Available from: https://www.britishamericanfootball.org/Images/logo.png [Accessed 30 August 2017]

English National Leagues

Add your job title

England

National Passball League

National Passball League (Britannia) 1988-1993

National Passball League (Seasons): 1988 1991 1992 1993

English Regional Leagues

North England: Yorkshire Rose Winter League (Seasons): 1993

North England Friendlies (Seasons): 1994

Midlands: West Bromwich Sevens Tournament (Seasons): 1993

Home Counties: Home Counties Friendlies (Seasons): 1993

South England: Christine Crawley Charity Cup (Seasons): 1993

West Country: Oxford Passball Tournament (Seasons): 1993

English Senior Flag Football

English Senior Flag League 9v9 Senior Championship 2003-2005

British Senior Flag League 9v9 Senior Championship 1998-2002

English Junior Flag Football

National Flag Football Association Youth League (Seasons): 1998

Junior Gridiron League Youth League (14-18 y.o.) (Seasons): 1997 1995 1994

Youth Flag Football (South East England) (Seasons): 1993

Junior Gridiron League Junior League (9-15 yo) (Seasons): 1995

English Youth Two Touch Football

Junior American Football League (Britain) 1988

Junior Gridiron League Youth Two Touch League (South England) (Seasons): 1993

Junior Gridiron League Junior Two Touch League (South Britain) (Seasons): 1993

Northern Junior Gridiron League Two Touch (North England) (Seasons): 1993 1994

Picture Credit: [1] American Football International (2013) logo [Internet] Available from: https://www.britishamericanfootball.org/Images/logo.png [Accessed 30 August 2017]

Celtic National Leagues

Scotland (SGA); Wales (NWWCAFL); Brittany (Conf’Ouest); Galicia

Ireland (AFI):

As this is an Irish Sports Archive there is much more on American Football Ireland covered, so Ireland has its own page at: American Football Ireland

Scotland (SGA)

Scottish American Football Leagues

Caledonian Thistle American Football League 1987-1988

Scottish Gridiron Association Bowl Finals 1995-1998

Scottish American Football Capital Bowl 1986-1990

Capital Bowl (Seasons): 1990 1989

Scottish Flag Football Leagues

Scottish Flag Football Friendlies 1993-94

Scottish Flag Football Association Senior 2003-2007

Wales

North West & Welsh Counties American Football League 1987

Wales Friendlies (Seasons): 1993

Brittany (Conf’Ouest)

Conference Ouest (Brittany American Football) 1997-2005

Galicia (AGFA)

Liga Gallega de Futbol Americano (Galicia) 2012-2016

Picture Credit: [11] Conference Ouest | Wayback Machine (2001) Conference Ouest Map [Internet] Available from: http://web.archive.org/web/20010303153123im_/http://confouest.free.fr/images/ouest.gif [Accessed 18 April 2020]

Scandinavian National Leagues

Finland (SAJL); Denmark (DAFF); Norway (NAFF); Iceland.

Sweden (SAFF)

Sweriges Amerikanska FotbollForbund (SAFF)

SAFF Superserien (Standings):

Sveriges Amerikanska FotbollForbund Superserien (SAFF Sweden Superseries) 1997-1999

Finland (SAJL):

Finnish American Football Federation Bowls(Overviews):

Finnish American Football Federation Maple Bowls 1980-Present

Finnish American Football Association Men’s League (Seasons): 2020 2018 1980

Denmark (DAFF):

Dansk Amerikansk Fodbold Forbund (Denmark) Mermaid Bowl 1988-Present

Norway (NAFF)

Norwegian American Football Federation 1st Division 1991-2000

Iceland

Icelandic American Football (Reykjavik Einherjar) 2016-2019

Reykjavik Einherjar (Seasons): 2018-19 2017-18 2016-17

Picture Credit: [1] SAJL (2018) SAJL Logo [Internet] Available from: http://www.sajl.fi/@Bin/2800183/SAJL_rgb_glow%20%20laatikko.jpeg [Accessed 19 August 2018]

North European National Leagues

Germany (AfvD); Austria (FA; AFBOe); Switzerland (SAFV); Benelux (Big Five); Netherlands (AFBN): Belgium (BAFL): Flanders (FAFL)

Germany (AfvD)

AFVD American Football Verband Deutschland German Bowl 1979-Present

German Football League (Seasons): 1993

Austria (FA, AFBOe)

Football Austrian (AFBOe) Austrian Bowl 1984-Present

Switzerland (SAFV):

SAFV Swiss American Football Federation Nationalliga A 1986-1990

Benelux (Big Five)

Benelux Big Five Division (seasons): 1999

Belgium (BAFL):

Belgian American Football League | Elite Division 2017

Flanders (FAFL)

Flemish American Football League | Division II 2016

Netherlands (AFBN)

AFBN Eredivie (Seasons): 2018

Queens Football League Queens Bowl (Finals):

Queens Football League (Netherlands) Queens Bowl 2017-Present

Picture Credit: Manuel Findeis / Shutterstock.com (2018) MUNICH, BAVARIA, GERMANY – MARCH 11, 2018: close up on running kids in American football clothes representing the Munich Rangers at the St. Patrick’s Day Parade. [Accessed 4 May 2021]

Southern European National Leagues

Italy (FIAF); France (FFFA); Spain (FEFA); Portugal (FPFA); Catalonia (CLAF)

Italy (FIFA)

FIAF Federazione Italiana American Football Golden League 1998-2000

Federazione Italiana American Football FIAF Winter League Snowbowl 1992-2002

Lega Italiana Football Americano 1980-1981

Federazione Italiana Football Americano 1977

France (FFFA)

France: (FFFA):

FFFA French American Football Federation Division 1 2000-2010

Spain (FEFA)

Federacion Espanola de Futbol Americano LNFA Serie A Finals 1995-Present

Federation Espana de Football Americano LNFA Series (Spain) A 2017-2018

Portugal (FPFA):

Liga Portuguesa de Futebol Americano (Seasons): 2020

Campeonato Nacional (Seasons): 2019

Catalonia (CLAF)

Catalan League of American Football (Seasons): 1995

Picture Credit: [1] FIAF | Wayback Machine (1998) scudo [Internet] Available from: http://web.archive.org/web/19980526012131im_/http://www.fiaf.net/scudo.gif [Accessed 3 August 2018]

CAAF Logo

Central & East European National Leagues

Poland (PLAF); Slovakia (SAAF)

Russia (FAFR)

FAFR Federation of American Football of Russia League of American Football 2016-2018

Ukraine (ULAF)

ULAF (Results): 1999

Poland (PLAF):

Polish League of American Football 2006-2010

Czech Republic (CAAF)

CAAF Ceska Asociace Americkaho Fotbalu (Czech Republic) 1994-1999

Slovakia (SAAF)

Slovak Football League Champions 2010-2017

Slovak Football League (Seasons): 2017

Alpe Adria (AAFL)

AAFL Alpe Adria Football League

Alpe Adria Football League 2013-2015

Slovenia (ZANS)

ZANS Zveza za Ameriski Nogomet Slovenije

ZANS Zveza va Ameriski Nogomet Slovenije (Slovenia American Football League) 1. Liga 2010-2013

Serbia (SAFS)

SAFSrbija

SAFSrbija (Serbian American Football League) 2004-2006

Picture Credit:

Picture Credit: [1] CAAF (2021) nejnovejsi [Internet] Available from: https://www.caaf.cz/_SitePublic/img/nejnovejsi.jpg [Accessed 11 April 2021]

Japan American Football

American Football was first introduced to Japan in the 1930s, although it was not until after WWII, that it was played competitvely, with the Rice Bowl, Japan’s version of the Super Bowl, being played between the Universities since 1947, and since 1984 between the University Champions and the Social Champions (Business League – currently X-League).

There is also a third League in Japan, which is the Private Club League, opening up American Football to non-students and non-Corporate Workers. The JPFF (Japan Private Football Association) organises the Ocean Bowl between the JPFF East and JPFF West Champions.

Japan Bowls

Friendship Bowl; Rice Bowl

International Bowls

The Spring League v Japan National Team 2020

Tomodachi Bowl Japan v USA Friendship Bowl 2016-2019

Japan Rice Bowl (Universities v Social Champions):

Japan American Football Association Rice Bowl (Social v Student Era) 1984-2020

Picture Credit: [ Picture Credit: D. Young / Shutterstock (2010) DUSSELDORF, GERMANY – APRIL 24: The 1st German Japan Bowl. The action that lead to Japans last touch-down gathers momentum. On April 24, 2010 in Dusseldorf, Germany [Accessed 4 May 2021]

Social Championships

X-League

Japan X-League (Social League)

Japan American Football Association | X-League 2017-2019

Japan X-League X1 Super (Seasons): 2020

Picture Credit: [Japan 2] X-League (2020) X-Logo [Internet] Available from: https://s3-ap-northeast-1.amazonaws.com/xleague/images/xlogo.png [Accessed 7 January 2020]

Hokkaido American Football Association Potato Bowl 2018 Poster

University Championships

Koshien Bowl

Japan Universities National Championship

Japan Collegiate American Football Koshien Bowl (East v West) 2016-Present

Japan College Football (Seasons): 2019

JCAFA Koshien Bowl Division Standings & Playoffs (Seasons): 2020 2019

Japan Universities Regional Championships

East Japan Collegiate Football Deciding Match (Kantoh v North Japan) 2016-Present

North Japan University Football Pine Bowl (Tohoku v Hokkaido) 2012-Present

Japan Collegiate American Football Association Heiwadai Bowl (Chushikoku v Kyushu) 1983-2015

Japan Collegiate American Football Tokyo Bowl (Kantoh v Kansai) 2016-Present

Hokkaido Student American Football Association (HAFA – North Japan)

Hokkaido American Football Association Potato Bowl 2013-2018 (Charity Bowl)

Seasons: 2019

Tohoku Collegiate American Football Association (TCAA – North Japan)

Tohoku Collegiate American Football Association TCAA (Japan) Champions 1976-Present

Seasons: 2019-20 2018-19

Kantoh Collegiate Football Association (KCFA – East Japan)

Top 8 Seasons: 2020

Picture Credit: [8] Hokkaido American Football Association (2020) potato2018 [Internet] Available from: http://hokkaido-afa.com/potato/potato2018.jpg  [Accessed 22 October 2020]

Japan Private Football Association (JPFF)

JPFF

Japan Private Football Association (JPFF )

Japan Private Football Association JPFF All Japan Championship Ocean Bowl 2011-Present

Regional Adult American Football Championships

Kizuna Bowl (North Japan – Hokkaido v Tohoku) American Football Championship 2011-Present

Hokkaido Adult American Football Association (HAFA)

Hokkaido Adult American Football Association All-Star Lilac Bowl 2013-2018

HAFF North Laundry League (Seasons): 2020

Picture Credit: [Japan 3] Japan Private Football Association East (2020) JPFF Logo [Internet] Available from: https://image.jimcdn.com/app/cms/image/transf/dimension=79×10000:format=jpg/path/sce5a977e2e10f41a/image/i123385dd37d4d78c/version/1473861071/image.jpg [Accessed 10 May 2020]

Asian American Football

American Football was first introduced to Japan in the 1930s, although it was not until 1947 that it was played regularly, with the Rice Bowl, Japan’s Super Bowl played since 1947. Japan is so big on American Football it has its own page on Eirball at: Japan American Football. Korea, likewise has been playing American Football since the National University Championship was started in 1958. West Asia started playing American Football in the 2000s and China, India, Central Asia and South East Asia in the 2010s.

Korea (KAFA)

KAFA

American Football has been played in Korea since the 1950s. The Kimchi Bowl is their version of the Super Bowl and has been played since 1995 between the winners of the University Championship (Tiger Bowl) and Social Championship (Corporations) (Gwanggaeto Bowl).

The National University Championship has been played since 1958 and since 1995 is known as the Tiger Bowl.

The Gwanggaeto Bowl is the Championship Game of the Social Championship (Corporations).

Kimchi Bowl (Social Champions v University Champions):

Korea American Football Association | Kimchi Bowl 1995-2017

Tiger Bowl (National University Championship):

Korea American Football Association Tiger Bowl (University Championship) 2007-Present

Korea American Football Club Association (Arena Football)

A-League (Seasons): 2019

B-League (seasons): 2019

Picture Credit: [1] Korea American Football Association (2019) logo [Internet] Available from: http://www.kafa.org/kafa_new/images/logo.gif [Accessed 5 July 2020]

East & South East Asia American Football

China (AFLC)

American Football Leagues started in countries like China, India, Philippines and Malaysia in the 2010s. For Japan, where the Rice Bowl, their equivalent of the Super Bowl which started in 1947 see: Japan American Football and for Korea, where their National University Championship started in 1958

China (AFLC)

China Arena Football League 2016-2019

China Arena Football League (seasons): 2019

Philippines (PAFL)

Philippines American Football League 2018-2019

Philippines American Football League (Seasons): 2019

Malaysia (MAFA)

Malaysia American Football Association Flag Football Rose Bowl (Seasons): 2019

Picture Credit: [10] China Arena Football League (2019) CAFL 2019 Competition Medal [Internet] Available from: http://caflfootball.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/CAFL-2019-Competition-Medal-768×768.png [Accessed 10 December 2019]

Emirates American Football League

West Asia American Football

Add your job title

American Football started in countries like Israel, Turkey, United Arab Emirates and Kazakhstan in the early 2000s.

Israel (AFI):

American Football in Israel | Israeli Football League 2012-2018

Turkey (TAFK):

Turkiye Amerikan Futbolu Kurlu Turkey Tournament (Seasons): 2001

United Arab Emirates:

Emirates American Football League Desert Bowl 2013-Present

United Arab Emirates | International American Football Matches 2012-2018

Picture Credit: [9] Emirates American Football League (2019) logo [Internet] Available from: https://eafl.ae/blog/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/logo.png [Accessed 5 July 2020]

South & Central Asia American Football

EFLI; EFLI SL;

Indian Sub-Continent Pro Leagues (EFLI)

Elite Football league of India 2012

India (EFLI)

All India University American Football Championship (Seasons): 2015 2016

Bengaluru Cup 7v7 American Tackle Football Championship (Seasons): 2015

Sri Lanka (EFLI SL)

Elite Football League of India Sri Lanka – University Flag Football League 2015

Picture Credit: [1] Wikipedia (2018) Elite Football League of India Logo [Internet] Available from: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/f/f0/Elite_Football_League_of_India_Logo.png [Accessed 2 August 2018]

Oceania American Football

Since the 1980s American Football Leagues have been organised in Australia & New Zealand, with State Leagues in each of Australia’s six states as well as the Australian Capital Territory (Canberra) and Leagues in three of New Zealand’s Provinces.

In addition Australian States play for the Outback Bowl, and the Champions of each State and Territory play in the Southern Cross Tournament for the right to call themselves Australian Club Champions. New Zealand’s Provinces also play for the National Provincial Championship.

Gridiron Australia Logo

Gridiron Australia

Gridiron Australia; ACTGL: Gridiron NSW; Gridiron Queensland; Gridiron South Australia; Gridiron Tasmania; Gridiron Victoria; Gridiron West

Australian State Championships:

Australian Inter-State Millennium Tournament (Seasons): 2000

Australian Capital Territory Gridiron League

Australian Capital Territory Gridiron League 2000-2009

Gridiron New South Wales

Gridiron New South Wales Mens Competition 2018-2019

Gridiron New South Wales Mens Competition (Seasons): 1989

Gridiron New South Wales Mens AA Competition (2nd Division) (Seasons): 1989

Gridiron Queensland

Gridiron Queensland Mens Competition (Seasons): 1988-89 2018-19

Gridiron South Australia

Gridiron South Australia Seniors 1986-1989

Gridiron Tasmania

Tasmanian Gridiron League 1999-2002

Gridiron Victoria

Victorian Gridiron Football League 1988-1989

Victorian Gridiron Football League 1999-2001

Gridiron West (Western Australia)

Gridiron West Open Mens Competition (Western Australia) 2015-2020

Picture Credit: [Australia 1] Gridiron Australia Twitter (2020) Profile Picture, svQ6AuTx_400x400 [Internet] Available from: https://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/1038406427881041920/svQ6AuTx_400x400.jpg [Accessed 4 July 2020]

Gridiron New Zealand Logo

Gridiron New Zealand

GNZ; American Football Auckland; American Football Canterbury;

Gridiron New Zealand

GNZ National Provincial Championship (Seasons): 2000

American Football Auckland

Auckland Premier Gridiron League (Seasons): 1999-2000

American Football Canterbury

American Football Canterbury (Seasons): 2018

American Football Wellington

American Football Wellington (Seasons): 2019

[New Zealand 1] Gridiron NZ Wayback Machine (2001) head_left [Internet] Available from: https://web.archive.org/web/20010118001900im_/http://gridiron.co.nz/images/head_left.gif [Accessed 4 July 2020]

Latin American Gridiron Football

This is a record of Latin American Gridiron (American Football) Leagues. American Football is known as Football Americano, or just simply Football, in Latin America, as opposed to Futbol, which is the Spanish name for Soccer.

The sport was first played in Mexico in the late 19th Century, and leagues first started appearing in Mexico in the 1940s. In the 2000s the first Kitted American Football Leagues started in Argentina and Brazil, and are now played everywhere in Latin America.

Note: As Mexico is so big on American Football it has its own section: For more on Mexican American Football Leagues (Including Professional, College and State Leagues) see: Mexican American Football Leagues

AGFA Guatemala Logo

Central American Gridiron

Guatemala (LAGFA):

Guatemala

Liga Asociacion Guatemalteca de Football Americano (Overviews):

Asociacion Guatemalteca de Football Americano 2015-2017

Picture Credit: [7] Asociacion Guatemalteca de Football Americano | Facebook (2017) Profile Picture November 2, 2017 [Internet] Available from: https://scontent-dub4-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/23130487_1726349000769231_6373331777654393312_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&_nc_ohc=1st7Rs2hqecAQnQbCozPxwe12PwwAm3KeJeg1hz2T5pO0oGEGbp4FW0Zw&_nc_ht=scontent-dub4-1.xx&oh=87fa4b28c9270704eba512d14541d09f&oe=5E6AE3A5 [Accessed 12 December 2019]

Futebol Americano Brasil FABR Logo

Brazilian American Football

Campeonato Estadiaus (State Championships)

Campeonato Estadiaus (State Championships)

Amazonas Campeonato Amazonense (Seasons): 2019

Candango (Goias-Brasilia) Campeonato Candango (Seasons): 2019

Santa Catarina Campeonato Catarinense (Seasons): 2020

Carioca (Rio de Janeiro) Campeonato Carioca de Futebol Americano (Seasons): 2019

Gaucho (Rio Grande do Sul) Campeonato Gaucho de Futebol Americano (Seasons): 2020

Mato-Grosseto Campeonato Mato-Grossense de Football Americano (Seasons): 2018

Paulista (Sao Paulo) Sao Paulo Football League Diamond Series (Seasons): 2019

Mineiro (Minas Gerais) Minas Gerais Football League (Seasons): 2020

Picture Credit: [1] Futebol Americano Brasil (2017) FABR_newlogo-cabecalho [Internet] Available from: https://futebolamericanobrasil.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/FABR_newlogo-cabecalho.jpg [Accessed 10 July 2020]

Football Americano Argentina Logo

South American Gridiron

Argentina

Argentina

Football Americano Argentina Liga Mayor (Overviews):

Football Americano Argentina Liga Mayor 2012-2019

Picture Credit: [8] Football Americano Argentina (2019) faa [Internet] Available from: http://faarg.com.ar/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/faa.png [Accessed 12 March 2019]

African American Football

The Egyptian American Football league is currently the only fully kitted contact American Football League in Africa, although there are Flag Football Leagues (Tag) in Egypt, Morocco and Ivory Coast.

International American Football

The first match that could be described as an International Gridiron or American Football match is the one between two AFL teams in Canada in 1926. Following this the NFL and AFL played a series of matches between the Leagues in the 1920s, 1930s, and 1940s.

In 1941 the first Canadian Football League v American Football League matches were held, and in 1950 the first match between a National Football League team and a Canadian Football League team.

Beginning in the 1970s, there were attempts at promoting American Football in Europe, through the Intercontinental Football League, and from there the World. In 1976 the St. Louis Cardinals and San Diego Chargers played in Tokyo. In 1984 two United States Football League teams played in London, and in 1986 the first NFL American Bowl preseason game was held in London.

In 2007 the NFL decided to promote the NFL in London, Mexico City and Toronto with the International Series of Regular Season games, which have run until the present

Major American Football Leagues Internationals

American Football League (1926);

American Football League International

American Football League International 1926

National Football League v American Football Leagues 1927-1942

Whilst not strictly speaking International matches, the National Football League has also played matches against American Football League teams in the 1920s, 1930s, & 1940s.

National Football League v American Football League 1927-1928

California Winter League 1927-1928

Memphis Tigers | AAA Independent American Football 1929-1933

National Football League v Pacific Coast Football League 1936

Pacific Coast Football Leagues (Seasons): 1927 1928

National Football League v Army & College All-Stars 1942

Canadian Football League v Major American Football Leagues (1941-1969)

Canadian Football League v American Football League Matches 1941-1948

National Football League v Canadian Football League 1950-1961

National Football League Preseason Matches in Canada 1960-1969

Picture Credit: [International 1] Ninety-Nine Yards, Chris Lawton (2020) An International Fixture: When the CFL played teams from other leagues [Internet] Available from: https://i0.wp.com/ninetynineyards.com/wp-content/upl

football player holding football

Major American Football Leagues International 1972-Present

NFL International; USFL International; The Spring League v Japan;

The National Football League began playing matches abroad in 1950, with a series of matches in Canada and against Canadian opposition, which lasted until 1969. Then it played a match in Paris in 1972, as well as matches in the 1970s in Tokyo in partnership with the Intercontinental Football League. In the 1980s it started playing preseason matches in Europe (the American Bowl) and after the NFL Europe Development League experiment (1991-2007) it scheduled Regular Season NFL games in London, as well as preseason games in Japan, Mexico & Toronto.

In the meantime there has also been matches between NCAA and Minor League teams and teams from Leagues around the World.

National Football League International Games

National Football League Intercontinental 1972-1978

United States Football League | Postseason Exhibition Game in London 1984

National Football League | American Bowl Pre-Season Games in Europe 1986-1997

National Football League American Bowl Preseason Games in Mexico 1994-2001

National Football League International | Regular Season Games in London 2007-Present

AAA Leagues Internationals

The Spring League v Japan National Team 2020

Picture Credit: Pexels Free Photos

red and blue football jerseys

Minor American Football Leagues International

Intercontinental Football league;

Intercontinental Football League European Championship 1976-1978

Proposed American Football League in USSR 1979

Intercontinental Football League European Championship (Seasons): 1978 1977 1976

Picture Credit: Pexels Free Photos

USA and Canadian Colleges Internationals

US College Division I Teams Abroad; US College Division III Teams Abroad; Global Football;

US College Division I Teams Games Abroad:

NFL & NCAA Pre-Season Games in Ireland 1988-1997

NCAA Football | Regular Season Games in Ireland 2012-2016

US College Division III Football Games v World Opposition

Tazon Azteca (Aztec Bowl – Mexican v US American Football) 1947-Present

International American Football | Ireland v NCAA Division III Teams 2004-2005

International American Football | Irish Teams v NCAA Division III Teams 2007-2019

US College Division III Football Games Abroad

Intercontinental Football League College and Air Force Games 1972-1973

International American Football USSR 1989

Global Football NCAA v CONADEIP (Mexico) Tours to Africa (Seasons): 2011

Global Football NCAA Division III Tours to Europe (Seasons): 2019

Picture Credit: [10] Global Football | Michael Preston (2015) When Global Football, the Irish & Midshipmen Rocked Dublin [Internet] Available from: http://www.globalfootball.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/681161-copy.jpg [Accessed 17 January 2020]

World American Football

There are two main types of World American Football Competitions: (1) World Football Leagues, which are professional, and usually run by established North American Football Leagues such as the National Football League (NFL) and Legends Football League (LFL) or former Players and Coaches of those Professional Leagues. And (2) American Football World Cups and International Friendlies between Amateur National teams.

World Football Leagues

WLAF; AFL Europe; NFL Europe; EFL India; China AFL: LFL Canada; LFL Australia; PGFL Mexico; European Super League.

World Pro American Football Leagues (Bowl Games):

World Pro American Football Leagues Bowl Games 1991-2019

World Pro American Football Leagues (Overviews):

World League of American Football 1991-1992

Hamburg Blue Devils Independent Schedule American Football Team 1993

American Football League of Europe 1993-1995

World League of American Football 1995-1997

National Football League Europe 1998-2007

United Football League 2009-2011

Elite Football league of India 2012

Legends Football League Global 2012-2014

Pretty Girls Football League (Mexico) 2014-2017

China Arena Football League 2016-2019

Amsterdam Crusaders Independent Schedule American Football Team 2018

European Super League 2019

European League of Football 2021

World Pro American Football League Seasons:

Hamburg Blue Devils Independent Schedule American Football Team 1993

European League of American Football 1993

American Football League of Europe 1995

LFL Global (Seasons): Canada 2012-13 Australia 2013-14

Amsterdam Crusaders Independent Schedule American Football Team 2018

China Arena Football League 2019

Alliance of American Football 2019

Picture Credit: [97] World League of American Football (2020) 96claymoresawayjersey50rs.jpg.w300h350 [Internet] Available from: http://www.worldleagueofamericanfootball.com/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/.pond/96claymoresawayjersey50rs.jpg.w300h350.jpg [Accessed 17 September 2020]

football game

World American Football

American Football World Cups

American Football International Rankings

World Top 225 American Football Teams (Outside USA & Canada) 2019

American Football World Cup (Editions): 1999 2003 2007 201

IFAF Junior World Championships

International Federation of American Football Junior World Championship Finals 2009-Present

American Football Europe Federation European Championships (Editions): 1983

Internationals Non-USA and Canada

Ireland:

For more on Irish International American Football see: International American Football (Ireland)

United Arab Emirates: United Arab Emirates | International American Football Matches 2012-2018

Picture Credit: Pexels Free Photos

European American Football

The history off European American Football dates back at least to the First World War and the tours by American Servicemen. From 1972 onwards there have been attempts by the National Football League (NFL) and other Professional American Football Leagues to establish Professional American Football in Europe. while none of these attempts have so far been successful it has led to numerous leagues all over Europe played by Europeans.

There have been European Championships (for National Teams) since 1983 and likewise the Eurobowl (for Club Champions) since 1984. Regional Champions Leagues such as the Atlantic Cup which Irish teams entered have also been competed for since the 1980s. The first National Leagues were in Italy (1977), Germany (1979) and Finland (1980) and there are now either teams or leagues everywhere even including such small countries as Luxembourg and Iceland, except Greece and a few small countries.

European Internationals

The First European Championships for European National teams took place in 1983, there have also been tours by European teams to USA and American and Canadian teams to Europe.

European Championships

AFEF 1983; EFL 1987-1989; EFAF A-Group 2005-2010; EFAF B-Group 2004-2009; EFAF C-Group 2003-2007;

The first American Football European Championships were held in 1983, at Vince Lombardi Stadium, Castelgiorgio, Italy. Italy beat Finland 18-6 in the Final.

European Championships

EFAF EC A-Group (Editions): 2010 2005

EFL EC (Editions): 1993 1989 1987

AFEF EC (Editions): 1983

European Championships B-C Groups & Qualification

EFAF EC B-Group (Editions): 2009 2004

EFAF EC C-Group (Editions): 2007 2003

EFL EC-Qualification (Editions): 1989

European Rankings

AFI European Nations Top 22 (end-of-year Rankings): 2019

EFAF AMPRO European Top 20 (end-of-season Rankings): 1995

Picture Credit: [1] American Football International (2013) EFAF Logo [Internet] Available from: http://www.americanfootballinternational.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/EFAF_logo.gif [Accessed 30 August 2017]

International Friendlies

European International Friendlies

International Friendlies

Slovakia International American Football Matches 2010-Present

International American Football USSR 1989

Minsk Bison Tours of USA 1993-1994

Picture Credit: [3] American Football (Russia) (2017) History in Russia | Billboard Advertising First College Game in Russia 1989 [Internet] Available from: http://www.americanfootball.ru/History/pics/billboard-1989-400×600.jpg%5BAccessed 24 December 2017]

European Football Leagues (AAA)

After the US Air Force & Army Leagues, the National Football League set about promoting the NFL in Europe. In 1970 the film M*A*S*H saw the first mainstream exposure of American Football in Europe with its climactic Football game at the end. Immediately following this there were expressions of interest from Europeans about setting up a League, and what followed was the Intercontinental Football League, which was to feature 6 teams, including the Rome Gladiators, owned by Bruno Beneck, the director of the most popular TV Sports Show in Italy, who had successfully introduced Baseball 20 years earlier. The League never got off the ground due to the oil crisis and the spectre of Terrorism, but the IFL continued to promote the game, playing a game in 1972 in Paris featuring NFL players, as well as bringing College teams and Semi-Pro Teams from 1976-1978 to play a best-of-5 European Championship.

TV stations started showing American Football in the late-1970s and early 1980s and the first Leagues sprang up, including the Rome Gladiators in Bruno Beneck’s Italy. By 1986 the National Football League had begun to play Pre-Season games in London, Barcelona, Berlin and Dublin. The European audiences soon wanted more so the World League of American Football, featuring 3 European teams, 6 American and one Canadian, was started in 1991. It lasted two seasons before being shelved by the NFL due to the lack of interest from American fans in a Development League. The American Football League of Europe, which ran from 1994-1995 filled in the gap in Pro Football, with its mix of start-up teams and teams from the European National Leagues bolstered by American imports.

The World League returned in 1995 as a 6-team Europe-only League and was renamed the NFL Europe League in 1998. After initial success, attendances dwindled – the fans wanted an NFL franchise – so in 2007 the NFL folded the League and focused on promoting the NFL in Europe through the NFL International Series – starting with one NFL Regular Season game a year played in London, growing to 4-per-year by 2020, with the stated intention of putting a team in London permanently by 2022.

Eurobowl and EFL (AAA Level 1 & AA Level 2)

Eurobowl; EFL

The first Eurobowl for European National Champions was played in 1986, governed by the European Football League. The organisation fell apart in 1992, following the expulsion of the United Kingdom, and was replaced by the European Federation of American Football which ran the Eurobowl until 2015 when the German Football League International took over running the sport for one year, being replaced in turn by the Europe Division of the International Federation of American Football, the World Governing Body.

Eurobowl Finals:

European Federation of American Football Europe Eurobowl 1986-Present

European American Football Level 1 Overviews (Eurobowl):

International Federation of American Football Europe Big 6 Eurobowl 2015-present

European Football League Eurobowl (Level 1): 1986 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993

European Federation of American Football Eurobowl (Level 1): 1994

IFAF Europe European Football League (Level 2): 2015 2016

Picture Credit: [6] Wikipedia (2020) EuroBowl 86 Logo {Internet] Available from: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/de/thumb/2/2c/EuroBowl86.svg/1200px-EuroBowl86.svg.png [Accessed 5 April 2020]

Regional European Leagues (A Level 3)

Below the European Football League and Eurobowl Levels are Regional Football Leagues, namely West European, North European, East European and Central European Bowls.

Western Europe (A Level 3)

Four Nations Bowl; Charleroi Trophy; Atlantic Cup;

There has been Regional Tournaments in Western Europe since the Four Nations Bowl (England, Ireland, Scotland & Wales) in the 1990s and then the Charleroi Trophy (Belgium, Netherlands, Ireland) in the early 2000s. This was replaced by the Atlantic Cup in 2009, which ran until 2017 when the Belgian & Dutch Champions made the step up to European Football League Level.

Western European Club Championships (Level 3) (Overviews):

European Federation of American Football IFAF Europe Atlantic Cup Finals 2009-2017

European Federation of American Football Charleroi Trophy Finals 2002-2004

Atlantic Cup (Seasons):

 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009 

Charleroi Trophy: (Seasons)  2004 2003 2002

Dutch International Tournament (Seasons): 1997 

Four Nations Bowl (Seasons): 1992

Western European Friendlies (Seasons): 1986

Picture Credit:

Northern Europe (A Level 3)

EFL Scandinavian Cup; NEFL;

The Scandinavian Cup, played in the 1990s between the winners of the Swedish, Norwegian, Danish & Finnish Leagues, is the oldest of the Northern European Regional Tournaments. It has since been replaced by the Northern European Football League, featuring the British Champions too.

Nothern European Friendlies (Level 3): 1986

EFL Scandinavian Cup (Level 3): 1987 1988 1989 1993 1994 1995

IFAFE Northern European Football League (Level 3): 2017 2018

Picture Credit:

Central Europe (A levels 3 & 4)

EFAF Challenge Cup; CEFL

Central European Competitions have included the Challenge Cup (EFAF Era) and more recently the Central European Football League. These competitons have pitted the Champions of – at times – Austria, Czech Republic, Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, Serbia, Croatia, Romania, Bulgaria and Turkey – against each other in two levels as it currently stands.

Central European Football League Bowl (A level 3): 2018

Central European Football League Cup (A- level 4) 2018

Picture Credit:

National Leagues

The earliest National Leagues in Europe were the ones in Italy (1977), Germany (1979) and Finland (1979) and have since grown to include just about every Country in Europe.

EFAF National Bowl Games (Seasons): 1994 1995

British National Leagues

Add your job title

Britain (BAFA)

Britain: Level 1:

British American Football Association Britbowl Finals 1985-Present

British American Football Merit League (Seasons): 1984

British American Football Association National Leagues Premiership (Seasons): 2019

Britain Level 2:

British American Football Non-Merit Table (Seasons): 1984

Britain Level 3:

BAFA National Leagues Southern Football Conference (Seasons): 2019

Britain: Level 5:

British Gridiron Football League 1987-1988

Britain: British Colleges & Universities Football:

British Collegiate American Football League 1985-1990

British Collegiate American Football League 1990-1994

Britain: Women’s

British American Football Association Women’s Sapphire Series Division 1 2017-2019

British: Youth Kitted

BYAFA YKL (Results): 1996 1993 1992 1991

BYAFA Youth Kitted Friendlies (Results): 1992

Picture Credit: [1] American Football International (2013) logo [Internet] Available from: https://www.britishamericanfootball.org/Images/logo.png [Accessed 30 August 2017]

English National Leagues

Add your job title

England

National Passball League

National Passball League (Britannia) 1988-1993

National Passball League (Seasons): 1988 1991 1992 1993

English Regional Leagues

North England: Yorkshire Rose Winter League (Seasons): 1993

North England Friendlies (Seasons): 1994

Midlands: West Bromwich Sevens Tournament (Seasons): 1993

Home Counties: Home Counties Friendlies (Seasons): 1993

South England: Christine Crawley Charity Cup (Seasons): 1993

West Country: Oxford Passball Tournament (Seasons): 1993

English Senior Flag Football

English Senior Flag League 9v9 Senior Championship 2003-2005

British Senior Flag League 9v9 Senior Championship 1998-2002

English Junior Flag Football

Junior Gridiron League Youth League (14-18 y.o.) (Seasons):1994 1995

Youth Flag Football (South East England) (Seasons): 1993

Junior Gridiron League Junior League (9-15 yo) (Seasons): 1995

English Youth Two Touch Football

Junior American Football League (Britain) 1988

Junior Gridiron League Youth Two Touch League (South England) (Seasons): 1993

Junior Gridiron League Junior Two Touch League (South Britain) (Seasons): 1993

Northern Junior Gridiron League Two Touch (North England) (Seasons): 1993 1994

Picture Credit: [1] American Football International (2013) logo [Internet] Available from: https://www.britishamericanfootball.org/Images/logo.png [Accessed 30 August 2017]

Celtic National Leagues

Scotland (SGA); Wales (NWWCAFL); Brittany (Conf’Ouest); Galicia

Ireland (AFI):

As this is an Irish Sports Archive there is much more on American Football Ireland covered, so Ireland has its own page at: American Football Ireland

Scotland (SGA)

Scottish American Football Leagues

Caledonian Thistle American Football League 1987-1988

Scottish Gridiron Association Bowl Finals 1995-1998

Scottish American Football Capital Bowl 1986-1990

Capital Bowl (Seasons): 1990 1989

Scottish Flag Football Leagues

Scottish Flag Football Friendlies 1993-94

Scottish Flag Football Association Senior 2003-2007

Wales

North West & Welsh Counties American Football League 1987

Wales Friendlies (Seasons): 1993

Brittany (Conf’Ouest)

Conference Ouest (Brittany American Football) 1997-2005

Galicia (AGFA)

Liga Gallega de Futbol Americano (Galicia) 2012-2016

Picture Credit: [11] Conference Ouest | Wayback Machine (2001) Conference Ouest Map [Internet] Available from: http://web.archive.org/web/20010303153123im_/http://confouest.free.fr/images/ouest.gif [Accessed 18 April 2020]

Scandinavian National Leagues

Finland (SAJL); Denmark (DAFF); Norway (NAFF); Iceland.

Sweden (SAFF)

Sweriges Amerikanska FotbollForbund (SAFF)

SAFF Superserien (Standings):

Sveriges Amerikanska FotbollForbund Superserien (SAFF Sweden Superseries) 1997-1999

Finland (SAJL):

Finnish American Football Federation Bowls(Overviews):

Finnish American Football Federation Maple Bowls 1980-Present

Finnish American Football Association Men’s League (Seasons): 2020 2018 1980

Denmark (DAFF):

Dansk Amerikansk Fodbold Forbund (Denmark) Mermaid Bowl 1988-Present

Norway (NAFF)

Norwegian American Football Federation 1st Division 1991-2000

Iceland

Icelandic American Football (Reykjavik Einherjar) 2016-2019

Reykjavik Einherjar (Seasons): 2018-19 2017-18 2016-17

Picture Credit: [1] SAJL (2018) SAJL Logo [Internet] Available from: http://www.sajl.fi/@Bin/2800183/SAJL_rgb_glow%20%20laatikko.jpeg [Accessed 19 August 2018]

North European National Leagues

Germany (AfvD); Austria (FA; AFBOe); Switzerland (SAFV); Benelux (Big Five); Netherlands (AFBN): Belgium (BAFL): Flanders (FAFL)

Germany (AfvD)

AFVD American Football Verband Deutschland German Bowl 1979-Present

German Football League (Seasons): 1993

Austria (FA, AFBOe)

Football Austrian (AFBOe) Austrian Bowl 1984-Present

Switzerland (SAFV):

SAFV Swiss American Football Federation Nationalliga A 1986-1990

Benelux (Big Five)

Benelux Big Five Division (seasons): 1999

Belgium (BAFL):

Belgian American Football League | Elite Division 2017

Flanders (FAFL)

Flemish American Football League | Division II 2016

Netherlands (AFBN)

AFBN Eredivie (Seasons): 2018

Queens Football League Queens Bowl (Finals):

Queens Football League (Netherlands) Queens Bowl 2017-Present

Picture Credit: [1] PinClipArt (2020) German Football League ClipArt [Internet] Available from: https://www.pinclipart.com/picdir/middle/324-3249816_german-football-league-clipart.png [Accessed 14 June 2020]

Southern European National Leagues

Italy (FIAF); France (FFFA); Spain (FEFA); Portugal (FPFA); Catalonia (CLAF)

Italy (FIFA)

FIAF Federazione Italiana American Football Golden League 1998-2000

Federazione Italiana American Football FIAF Winter League Snowbowl 1992-2002

Lega Italiana Football Americano 1980-1981

Federazione Italiana Football Americano 1977

France (FFFA)

France: (FFFA):

FFFA French American Football Federation Division 1 2000-2010

Spain (FEFA)

Federacion Espanola de Futbol Americano LNFA Serie A Finals 1995-Present

Federation Espana de Football Americano LNFA Series (Spain) A 2017-2018

Portugal (FPFA):

Liga Portuguesa de Futebol Americano (Seasons): 2020

Campeonato Nacional (Seasons): 2019

Catalonia (CLAF)

Catalan League of American Football (Seasons): 1995

Picture Credit: [1] FIAF | Wayback Machine (1998) scudo [Internet] Available from: http://web.archive.org/web/19980526012131im_/http://www.fiaf.net/scudo.gif [Accessed 3 August 2018]

CAAF Logo

Central & East European National Leagues

Poland (PLAF); Slovakia (SAAF)

Russia (FAFR)

FAFR Federation of American Football of Russia League of American Football 2016-2018

Ukraine (ULAF)

ULAF (Results): 1999

Poland (PLAF):

Polish League of American Football 2006-2010

Czech Republic (CAAF)

CAAF Ceska Asociace Americkaho Fotbalu (Czech Republic) 1994-1999

Slovakia (SAAF)

Slovak Football League Champions 2010-2017

Slovak Football League (Seasons): 2017

Alpe Adria (AAFL)

AAFL Alpe Adria Football League

Alpe Adria Football League 2013-2015

Slovenia (ZANS)

ZANS Zveza za Ameriski Nogomet Slovenije

ZANS Zveza va Ameriski Nogomet Slovenije (Slovenia American Football League) 1. Liga 2010-2013

Serbia (SAFS)

SAFSrbija

SAFSrbija (Serbian American Football League) 2004-2006

Picture Credit:

Picture Credit: [1] CAAF (2021) nejnovejsi [Internet] Available from: https://www.caaf.cz/_SitePublic/img/nejnovejsi.jpg [Accessed 11 April 2021]

Japan American Football

American Football was first introduced to Japan in the 1930s, although it was not until after WWII, that it was played competitvely, with the Rice Bowl, Japan’s version of the Super Bowl, being played between the Universities since 1947, and since 1984 between the University Champions and the Social Champions (Business League – currently X-League).

There is also a third League in Japan, which is the Private Club League, opening up American Football to non-students and non-Corporate Workers. The JPFF (Japan Private Football Association) organises the Ocean Bowl between the JPFF East and JPFF West Champions.

Japan Bowls

Friendship Bowl; Rice Bowl

International Bowls

The Spring League v Japan National Team 2020

Tomodachi Bowl Japan v USA Friendship Bowl 2016-2019

Japan Rice Bowl (Universities v Social Champions):

Japan American Football Association Rice Bowl 1984-Present

Picture Credit: [12] X-League (2020) 73rd Rice Bowl Photo [Internet] Available from: https://s3-ap-northeast-1.amazonaws.com/xleague/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/001_m5_01801.jpg [Accessed 7 January 2020]

Social Championships

X-League

Japan X-League (Social League)

Japan American Football Association | X-League 2017-2019

Japan X-League X1 Super (Seasons): 2020

Picture Credit: [Japan 2] X-League (2020) X-Logo [Internet] Available from: https://s3-ap-northeast-1.amazonaws.com/xleague/images/xlogo.png [Accessed 7 January 2020]

Hokkaido American Football Association Potato Bowl 2018 Poster

University Championships

Koshien Bowl

Bowl Games

Japan Universities National Championship

Japan Collegiate American Football Koshien Bowl (East v West) 2016-Present

Japan Universities Regional Championships

East Japan Collegiate Football Deciding Match (Kantoh v North Japan) 2016-Present

North Japan University Football Pine Bowl (Tohoku v Hokkaido) 2012-Present

Tokyo-Osaka Regions

Kansai Football

Kansai Football (Seasons): 2020 2019

Kantoh Collegiate Football Association (KCFA – East Japan)

KCFA (Seasons): 2020 2019

North Japan Regions

Hokkaido Student American Football Association (HAFA – North Japan)

Hokkaido American Football Association Potato Bowl 2013-2018 (Charity Bowl)

Seasons: 2019

Tohoku Collegiate American Football Association (TCAA – North Japan)

Tohoku Collegiate American Football Association TCAA (Japan) Champions 1976-Present

Seasons: 2019 2018

West Japan Regions

Kyushu Collegiate American Football Association (KCAA – West Japan)

KCAFA (Seasons): 2019

Tokai Collegiate American Football Association (TKCAFA – West Japan)

TKCAFA (Seasons): 2019

Chushikoku Collegiate American Football Association (CSCAA – West Japan)

CSCAA (Seasons): 2019

Hokuriku Collegiate American Football Association (HCAFA)

HCAFA (Seasons): 2019

Picture Credit: [8] Hokkaido American Football Association (2020) potato2018 [Internet] Available from: http://hokkaido-afa.com/potato/potato2018.jpg  [Accessed 22 October 2020]

Japan Private Football Association (JPFF)

JPFF

Japan Private Football Association (JPFF )

Japan Private Football Association JPFF All Japan Championship Ocean Bowl 2011-Present

Regional Adult American Football Championships

Kizuna Bowl (North Japan – Hokkaido v Tohoku) American Football Championship 2011-Present

Hokkaido Adult American Football Association (HAFA)

Hokkaido Adult American Football Association All-Star Lilac Bowl 2013-2018

HAFF North Laundry League (Seasons): 2020

Picture Credit: [Japan 3] Japan Private Football Association East (2020) JPFF Logo [Internet] Available from: https://image.jimcdn.com/app/cms/image/transf/dimension=79×10000:format=jpg/path/sce5a977e2e10f41a/image/i123385dd37d4d78c/version/1473861071/image.jpg [Accessed 10 May 2020]

Asian American Football

American Football was first introduced to Japan in the 1930s, although it was not until 1947 that it was played regularly, with the Rice Bowl, Japan’s Super Bowl played since 1947. Japan is so big on American Football it has its own page on Eirball at: Japan American Football. Korea, likewise has been playing American Football since the National University Championship was started in 1958. West Asia started playing American Football in the 2000s and China, India, Central Asia and South East Asia in the 2010s.

Korea (KAFA)

KAFA

American Football has been played in Korea since the 1950s. The Kimchi Bowl is their version of the Super Bowl and has been played since 1995 between the winners of the University Championship (Tiger Bowl) and Social Championship (Corporations) (Gwanggaeto Bowl).

The National University Championship has been played since 1958 and since 1995 is known as the Tiger Bowl.

The Gwanggaeto Bowl is the Championship Game of the Social Championship (Corporations).

Kimchi Bowl (Social Champions v University Champions):

Korea American Football Association | Kimchi Bowl 1995-2017

Tiger Bowl (National University Championship):

Korea American Football Association Tiger Bowl (University Championship) 2007-Present

Korea American Football Club Association (Arena Football)

A-League (Seasons): 2019

B-League (seasons): 2019

Picture Credit: [1] Korea American Football Association (2019) logo [Internet] Available from: http://www.kafa.org/kafa_new/images/logo.gif [Accessed 5 July 2020]

East & South East Asia American Football

China (AFLC)

American Football Leagues started in countries like China, India, Philippines and Malaysia in the 2010s. For Japan, where the Rice Bowl, their equivalent of the Super Bowl which started in 1947 see: Japan American Football and for Korea, where their National University Championship started in 1958

China (AFLC)

China Arena Football League 2016-2019

China Arena Football League (seasons): 2019

Philippines (PAFL)

Philippines American Football League 2018-2019

Philippines American Football League (Seasons): 2019

Malaysia (MAFA)

Malaysia American Football Association Flag Football Rose Bowl (Seasons): 2019

Picture Credit: [10] China Arena Football League (2019) CAFL 2019 Competition Medal [Internet] Available from: http://caflfootball.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/CAFL-2019-Competition-Medal-768×768.png [Accessed 10 December 2019]

Emirates American Football League

West Asia American Football

Add your job title

American Football started in countries like Israel, Turkey, United Arab Emirates and Kazakhstan in the early 2000s.

Israel (AFI):

American Football in Israel | Israeli Football League 2012-2018

Turkey (TAFK):

Turkiye Amerikan Futbolu Kurlu Turkey Tournament (Seasons): 2001

United Arab Emirates:

Emirates American Football League Desert Bowl 2013-Present

United Arab Emirates | International American Football Matches 2012-2018

Picture Credit: [9] Emirates American Football League (2019) logo [Internet] Available from: https://eafl.ae/blog/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/logo.png [Accessed 5 July 2020]

South & Central Asia American Football

EFLI; EFLI SL;

Indian Sub-Continent Pro Leagues (EFLI)

Elite Football league of India 2012

India (EFLI)

All India University American Football Championship (Seasons): 2015 2016

Bengaluru Cup 7v7 American Tackle Football Championship (Seasons): 2015

Sri Lanka (EFLI SL)

Elite Football League of India Sri Lanka – University Flag Football League 2015

Picture Credit: [1] Wikipedia (2018) Elite Football League of India Logo [Internet] Available from: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/f/f0/Elite_Football_League_of_India_Logo.png [Accessed 2 August 2018]

Oceania American Football

Since the 1980s American Football Leagues have been organised in Australia & New Zealand, with State Leagues in each of Australia’s six states as well as the Australian Capital Territory (Canberra) and Leagues in three of New Zealand’s Provinces.

In addition Australian States play for the Outback Bowl, and the Champions of each State and Territory play in the Southern Cross Tournament for the right to call themselves Australian Club Champions. New Zealand’s Provinces also play for the National Provincial Championship.

Gridiron Australia Logo

Gridiron Australia

Gridiron Australia; ACTGL: Gridiron NSW; Gridiron Queensland; Gridiron South Australia; Gridiron Tasmania; Gridiron Victoria; Gridiron West

Australian State Championships:

Australian Inter-State Millennium Tournament (Seasons): 2000

Australian Capital Territory Gridiron League

Australian Capital Territory Gridiron League 2000-2009

Gridiron New South Wales

Gridiron New South Wales Mens Competition 2018-2019

Gridiron New South Wales Mens Competition (Seasons): 1989

Gridiron New South Wales Mens AA Competition (2nd Division) (Seasons): 1989

Gridiron Queensland

Gridiron Queensland Mens Competition (Seasons): 1988-89 2018-19

Gridiron South Australia

Gridiron South Australia Seniors 1986-1989

Gridiron Tasmania

Tasmanian Gridiron League 1999-2002

Gridiron Victoria

Victorian Gridiron Football League 1988-1989

Victorian Gridiron Football League 1999-2001

Gridiron West (Western Australia)

Gridiron West Open Mens Competition (Western Australia) 2015-2020

Picture Credit: [Australia 1] Gridiron Australia Twitter (2020) Profile Picture, svQ6AuTx_400x400 [Internet] Available from: https://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/1038406427881041920/svQ6AuTx_400x400.jpg [Accessed 4 July 2020]

Gridiron New Zealand Logo

Gridiron New Zealand

GNZ; American Football Auckland; American Football Canterbury;

Gridiron New Zealand

GNZ National Provincial Championship (Seasons): 2000

American Football Auckland

Auckland Premier Gridiron League (Seasons): 1999-2000

American Football Canterbury

American Football Canterbury (Seasons): 2018

American Football Wellington

American Football Wellington (Seasons): 2019

[New Zealand 1] Gridiron NZ Wayback Machine (2001) head_left [Internet] Available from: https://web.archive.org/web/20010118001900im_/http://gridiron.co.nz/images/head_left.gif [Accessed 4 July 2020]

Latin American Gridiron Football

This is a record of Latin American Gridiron (American Football) Leagues. American Football is known as Football Americano, or just simply Football, in Latin America, as opposed to Futbol, which is the Spanish name for Soccer.

The sport was first played in Mexico in the late 19th Century, and leagues first started appearing in Mexico in the 1940s. In the 2000s the first Kitted American Football Leagues started in Argentina and Brazil, and are now played everywhere in Latin America.

Note: As Mexico is so big on American Football it has its own section: For more on Mexican American Football Leagues (Including Professional, College and State Leagues) see: Mexican American Football Leagues

AGFA Guatemala Logo

Central American Gridiron

Guatemala (LAGFA):

Guatemala

Liga Asociacion Guatemalteca de Football Americano (Overviews):

Asociacion Guatemalteca de Football Americano 2015-2017

Picture Credit: [7] Asociacion Guatemalteca de Football Americano | Facebook (2017) Profile Picture November 2, 2017 [Internet] Available from: https://scontent-dub4-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/23130487_1726349000769231_6373331777654393312_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&_nc_ohc=1st7Rs2hqecAQnQbCozPxwe12PwwAm3KeJeg1hz2T5pO0oGEGbp4FW0Zw&_nc_ht=scontent-dub4-1.xx&oh=87fa4b28c9270704eba512d14541d09f&oe=5E6AE3A5 [Accessed 12 December 2019]

Futebol Americano Brasil FABR Logo

Brazilian American Football

Campeonato Estadiaus (State Championships)

Campeonato Estadiaus (State Championships)

Amazonas Campeonato Amazonense (Seasons): 2019

Candango (Goias-Brasilia) Campeonato Candango (Seasons): 2019

Santa Catarina Campeonato Catarinense (Seasons): 2020

Carioca (Rio de Janeiro) Campeonato Carioca de Futebol Americano (Seasons): 2019

Gaucho (Rio Grande do Sul) Campeonato Gaucho de Futebol Americano (Seasons): 2020

Mato-Grosseto Campeonato Mato-Grossense de Football Americano (Seasons): 2018

Paulista (Sao Paulo) Sao Paulo Football League Diamond Series (Seasons): 2019

Mineiro (Minas Gerais) Minas Gerais Football League (Seasons): 2020

Picture Credit: [1] Futebol Americano Brasil (2017) FABR_newlogo-cabecalho [Internet] Available from: https://futebolamericanobrasil.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/FABR_newlogo-cabecalho.jpg [Accessed 10 July 2020]

Football Americano Argentina Logo

South American Gridiron

Argentina

Argentina

Football Americano Argentina Liga Mayor (Overviews):

Football Americano Argentina Liga Mayor 2012-2019

Picture Credit: [8] Football Americano Argentina (2019) faa [Internet] Available from: http://faarg.com.ar/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/faa.png [Accessed 12 March 2019]

African American Football

The Egyptian American Football league is currently the only fully kitted contact American Football League in Africa, although there are Flag Football Leagues (Tag) in Egypt, Morocco and Ivory Coast.

Egyptian Federation of American Football

North African American Football

EFAF (Egypt)

Egypt

EFAF Egyptian National Football League (Overviews):

Egyptian National Football League Egyptian Bowl 2015-Present

Picture Credit: [6] Egyptian Federation of American Football | LinkedIn(2017) EFAF Logo [Internet] Available from: https://media-exp1.licdn.com/dms/image/C4D0BAQHhb8GPhZPm6A/company-logo_200_200/0?e=2159024400&v=beta&t=wvZqwzqs_OyJmTs3OcIDMbsDhW9i_3knkZcSo3gZP44 [Accessed 11 May 2020]

Women’s American Football

Female American Football comes in many varieties. There are the 11v11 Outdoor Leagues in USA, 7v7 and 5v5 Outdoor Full Contact Kitted Leagues around the World such as the Sapphire Series in Britain, Femenil Indoor (Arena) 8v8 Leagues, which are popular in Mexico and 7v7 Legends or Ladies Gridiron Leagues where players wear very little in terms of protective clothing.

Women’s American Football

selective focus close up photo of brown wilson pigskin football on green grass

Women’s American Football (11v11)

WFA

Women’s Football Alliance (USA):

Woman’s Football Alliance Division I 2017-Present

Picture Credit: Pexels Free Photos

Canadian Women’s Football

woman wearing red and black checkered dress shirt and beige fedora hat holding canada flag looking at lake

Women’s Canadian Football (12v12)

WWCFL

Western Women’s Canadian Football League (Seasons): 2019

Picture Credit: Pexels Free Photos

Arena Indoor Women’s Football

flag of mexico

Ladies Arena Indoor Football Leagues (8v8)

LEXFA; S8FL

Indoor or Arena Football Leagues are 8v8 Full Contact Kitted Leagues played in converted Ice Hockey Arenas.

Liga Extrema de Football Arena Mexico Femenil

Liga Extrema de Football Arena Mexico (LEXFA) Femenil 2011-2019

Liga Extrema de Football Arena Mexico (Seasons): 2011

Super 8 Football League Ladies Baja (Mexico):

Super 8 Football League Ladies Bowls 2016-2017

Super 8 Football League Ladies Championship 2016-2017

Picture Credit: Pexels Free Photos

European Women’s American Football

European Women’s American Football

BAFA Sapphire Seriers; Netherlands Queen’s Football League

Britain: Sapphire Series

British American Football Association Women’s Sapphire Series Division 1 2017-2019

Netherland: Queens Football League

Queens Football League (Netherlands) Queens Bowl 2017-Present

Picture Credit: Manuel Findeis / Shutterstock.com (2018) MUNICH, BAVARIA, GERMANY – MARCH 13, 2016: close up on girl in American football clothes representing the Munich Rangers Ladies at the St. Patrick’s Day Parade. [Accessed 4 May 2021]

World Women’s American Football

flag of different countries un members

World Women’s Outdoor Leagues (7v7, 6v6 & 5v5)

FXF

Mexico Femenil

FXF Football Xtremo Femenil (Mexico) 2019

Picture Credit: Pexels Free Photos

Legends Football Leagues

woman wearing shoulder pads

Legends Football Leagues (7v7 Arena Indoor Leagues)

LFL USA; LFL Global

The Lingerie Bowl was first played in 2004 as a rival to the Super Bowl half-time show which was seen by many fans as two long and boring. It was aired on a rival TV network and featured two teams of scantily-clad Women. The Bowl eventually came a fully-fledged league in 2009. The owner of the League admitted it was aimed at beer-drinking college students and following claims of sexism the Lingerie was replaced by bicycle shorts and crop-tops, and the League renamed the Legends Football League. It is 7v7 American Football with very little in terms of protective clothing.

United States Legends Football Leagues

Legends Football League Legends Bowls 2004-2019

Lingerie Bowl 2004-2009

Lingerie Football League 2009-2012

Legends Football League United States 2013-2019

Legends Football League United States (Seasons): 2019

X-League Extreme Football League (Seasons): 2020

World Legends Football Leagues

Legends Football League Global 2012-2014

Legends Football League Pacific Cup 2012-2013

LFL Global (Seasons): Canada 2012-13 Australia 2013-14

Legends Football League | Australia 2013-2014

Pretty Girls Football League (Mexico) 2014-2017

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