Factfile
IAFL Senior Team 1986-1996
Home Ground: Musgrave Park & Cooke Rugby Club, Belfast
Colours: Black / Blue / Yellow
Career Record: Unknown
Honours:IAFL Irish Conference Champions 1988.
History: The Belfast Spartans were one of the first American Football teams formed in Ireland in 1985, the Belfast Spartans played in the Unkitted Junior Division in 1986 and then played in the first full IAFL season in 1987. They were winners of the Irish Conference in 1988, losing to eventual winners, the Dublin Celts, in the Semi-Finals. In 1992 they missed out on the playoffs by a tie-breaker and also played in the Four Nations Bowl in Stoke, England against the home team Spitfites and the Cardiff Mets of Wales. In 1994 they went 0-6 before taking a year out and then competed in 1996 folding. They posted winning seasons in 1988 & 1992.
Home Venue Map
Year-by-Year Record
| Lge | Reg W-L-T | Pct | PS W-L-T | Chp | Other W-L-T | L | T | |
| 1987 | IAFL | 4-5-1 | .450 | 0-0-0 | – | 0-0-0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1988 | IAFL | 3-1-1 | .700 | 0-1-0 | – | 0-0-0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1989 | CGL | 4-4-0 | .500 | 0-0-0 | – | 0-0-0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1990 | IAFL | |||||||
| 1991 | IAFL | |||||||
| 1992 | AFAI | 4-2-0 | .667 | 0-0-0 | – | 0-2-0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1993 | AFAI | |||||||
| 1994 | IAFL | 0-6-0 | .000 | 0-0-0 | – | 0-0-0 | 0 | 0 |
Belfast Spartans Team Photo (Unknown Year) [30]
1986 Results
| Week | Date | H/A | Opposition | W/L | Score |
| ? | H | Craigavon Cowboys | W | ||
| ? | A | Craigavon Cowboys | L | 0-49 |
1987 Results
| Week | Date | H/A | Opposition | W/L | Score |
| 1 | 27.04.1987 | H | Dublin Celts | L | 6-7 |
| 4 | 17.05.1987 | H | Carrickfergus Cougars | L | 2-15 |
| 5 | 24.05.1987 | A | East Side Jets | W | 30-9 |
| 9 | 21.06.1987 | A | Belfast Blitzers | L | 0-63 |
| 10 | 28.06.1987 | A | Coleraine Chieftains | W | 6-0 |
| 12 | 12.07.1987 | H | Jordanstown Jaguars | W | 1-0# |
| 13 | 19.07.1987 | H | Dublin Celts | L | 0-27 |
| 18 | 30.08.1987 | H | Craigavon Cowboys | L | 0-52 |
| 19 | 06.09.1987 | H | Bangor Buccaneers | W | 1-0# |
| 19 | 06.09.1987 | H | Belfast Giants | W | 0-1# |
| ?? | ?? | A | F-14 Tomcats (Eng) | L | 14-42 |
1988 Results
| Week | Date | H/A | Opposition | W/L | Score |
| 1 | 17.04.88 | H | Carrickfergus Cougars | W | 7-6 |
| 2 | 01.05.88 | A | Coleraine Chieftains | W | 14-7 |
| 5 | 29.05.88 | H | Carrickfergus Cougars | W | 14-13 |
| 6 | 12.06.88 | A | Craigavon Cowboys | L | 13-41 |
| 9 | 24.07.88 | H | Coleraine Chieftains | T | 32-32 |
| SF | 14.08.88 | A | Dublin Celts | L | 6-45 |
1989 Results
| Week | Date | H/A | Opposition | W/L | Score |
| 1 | 07.05.89 | H | A26 Bulldogs | L | 0-40 |
| 2 | 13.05.89 | A | East Antrim Cougars | W | 36-14 |
| 5 | 03.06.89 | H | Craigavon Cowboys | W | 26-21 |
| 8 | 24.06.89 | H | East Antrim Cougars | W | 35-3 |
| 9 | 02.07.89 | A | NI Giants | L | 3-30 |
| 10 | 08.07.89 | H | Dublin Celts | L | 12-48 |
| 10 | 09.07.89 | A | Dublin Tornadoes | W | 1-0# |
| ? | ? | H | Craigavon Cowboys | L | 0-46 |
| ? | ? | A | Jersey Senates / Guernsey Gladiators (ChI) | T | 12-12 |
1990 Results
| Week | Date | H/A | Opposition | W/L | Score |
| ? | 06.05.90 | A | A26 Bulldogs | L | 12-15 |
| 13.05.90 | A | A26 Bulldogs | W | ||
| 27.05.90 | H | Craigavon Cowboys | L | ||
| 10.06.90 | A | Craigavon Cowboys | |||
| SF | 22.07.90 | H | A26 Bulldogs | L | 0-6 |
| F | 11.08.90 | A | Craigavon Cowboys | L | 3-54 |
1991 Results
| Week | Date | H/A | Opposition | W/L | Score |
| 1 | 11.05.91 | A | Dublin Tornadoes | W | 14-6 |
| 3 | 26.05.91 | H | Newtownabbey Warriors | W | 54-6 |
| 4 | 29.05.91 | A | Antrim Bulldogs | T | 6-6 |
| 5 | 09.06.91 | A | Dublin Celts | ||
| 21.07.91 | H | Antrim Bulldogs | L | 6-27 | |
| 08.91 | A | Dublin Tornadoes | W | 8-6 |
1992 Results
| Week | Date | H/A | Opposition | W/L | Score |
| 1 | H | Dublin Tornadoes | W | 16-13 | |
| 3 | 05.07.1992 | A | Craigavon Cowboys | L | 0-14 |
| 5 | 19.07.1992 | H | Dublin Celts | W | 13-12 |
| 7 | 02.08.1992 | H | Drogheda Vikings | W | 50-9 |
| 10 | 23.08.1992 | H | Lee Valley Steelers | W | 18-0 |
| 4NB | 30.08.1992 | Stoke | Stoke Spitfires (Eng) | L | 0-20 |
| 4NB | 30.08.1992 | Stoke | Cardiff Mets (Wal) | L | 0-13 |
| 12 | 06.09.1992 | A | Antrim Bulldogs | L | 8-11 |
1993 Results
| Week | Date | H/A | Opposition | W/L | Score |
| 1 | 16.05.93 | A | Dublin Tornadoes | L | |
| 5 | 05.06.93 | H | Lee Valley Steelers | W | 17-0 |
| 6 | 13.06.93 | A | Dublin Celts | L | 0-13 |
| 04.07.93 | A | Dublin Tornadoes | L | 0-33 | |
| SF | 12.09.93 | A | Dublin Tornadoes | L | 0-20 |
1994 Results
| Week | Date | H/A | Opposition | W/L | Score |
| 1 | 21.04.94 | H | Dublin Tornadoes | L | 6-15 |
| 2 | 01.05.94 | A | Dublin Tornadoes | L | 6-45 |
| A | Carrickfergus Knights | L | 6-15 | ||
| 29.05.94 | H | Carrickfergus Knights | L | 2-26 | |
| 8 | 06.94 | A | Lurgan Area Raiders | L | 6-13 |
| 09.07.94 | H | Lurgan Area Raiders | L | 0-20 |
1995 Results
| Week | Date | H/A | Opposition | W/L | Score |
| Did not compete |
1996 Results
| Week | Date | H/A | Opposition | W/L | Score |
| 09.06.96 | A | Dublin Tornadoes | L | 6-30 | |
Websites
[1] Britball Now (2016) Results Section [1987] [Internet] Available from: http://www.britballnow.co.uk/history-index/results-section.html [Accessed 23 March 2017]
[2] Irish American Football Association (2018) Shamrock Bowl History [Internet] Available from: hhttp://www.americanfootball.ie/american-football/shamrock-bowl-history/ [Accessed 23 March 2018]
[3] Britball Now (2016) Results Section [1988] [Other Kitted] [Internet] Available from: http://www.britballnow.co.uk/history-index/results-section.html [Accessed 27 February 2017]
[4] Britball Now (2016) Historial League Tables [1989] [CGL] [Internet] Available from: http://www.britballnow.co.uk/history-index/historical-league-tables-in/ [Accessed 27 February 2017]
[5]Britball Now (2016) Results Section [1989] [CGL] [Internet] Available from: http://www.britballnow.co.uk/history-index/results-section.html [Accessed 27 February 2017]
[30] Lucky Show (2016) Irish American Football [Internet] Available from: http://www.luckyshow.org/football/Shamrock%20Bowl.htm [Accessed 5 June 2017]
Sources
[6] Naughton, L. (1991) “Minority Report: Spartans supreme”, Evening Herald. Thursday, May 16, 1991, pg. 62.
[7] Naughton, L. (1991) “Minority Report: Tornadoes toppled!”, Evening Herald. Thursday, August 15, 1991, pg. 44.
[8] Anon. (1992) “IRISH CHAMPION CELTS STUNG BY BULLDOG SPIRIT”, First Down. July 11, 1992, pg. 17.
[9] Anon. (1992) “Dublin Celts still winless”, First Down. July 25, 1992, pg. 19.
[10] FD Reporter. (1992) “At last! It’s the Dub-win Celts!”, First Down. August 15, 1992, pg. 17.
[11] Naughton, L. (1992) “Minority Reports: U.S. Football”, Evening Herald. Thursday, September 3, 1992, pg. 94
[12] Naughton, L. (1992) “Minority Reports: U.S. Football”, Evening Herald. Thursday, September 10, 1992, pg. 70
[13] (1993) Storm Dave Talks Back. First Down. 15 May, p. 18.
[14] (1993) Irish Zeros. First Down. 19 June, p. 21.
[15] Carrickfergus Knights (1994) Knights American Football Club Carrickfergus Shamrock Bowl Programme. Belfast. Aldine Print
[16] Anon. (1994) Dublin Clinch Crown. First Down. 8 October1994. p. 22
[17] Anon. (1994) Scoreboard. First Down. 9 July 1994. p. 19
[18] Anon. (1994) Lurgan Blank Belfast. First Down. 9 July 1994. p. 20
[19] Anon. (1994) Scoreboard. First Down. 18 June 1994. p. 19
[20] Anon. (1994) Full Round-Up of BAFA’s Divisions Two and Three. First Down. 7 May 1994. pg. 21
[21] Anon. (1994) Chicago Knights maintain challenge. Carrick Times. 6 June 1994. pg. 60
[22] Naughton, L. (1994) American Football. Evening Herald. Thursday, 5 May 1994 . pg. 91
[23] Naughton, L. (1994) American Football. Evening Herald. Thursday, 26 May 1994 . pg. 68
[24] Naughton, L. (1994) Tornadoes turn up the power. Evening Herald. Thursday, 28 July 1994. pg. 55
[17] Naughton, L. (1994) American Football. Evening Herald. Thursday, 22 September 1994. pg.78
[18] Naughton, L. (1994) US Football. Evening Herald. Thursday, 29 September1994. pg.58
[19] Traynor, Jonathan (1991) “American Football: Clash of Titans!” Sunday Life May 28, 1991. pg. 46
[20] Anon. (1991) “Scoreboard: Gridiron” Sunday Life June 2, 1991. pg. 53
[21] Anon. (1991) “Gridiron: Antrim Dawgs go for walkies” Sunday Life June 9, 1991. pg. 41
[22] Anon. (1991) “American Football: Rows spoil Irish scene” Sunday Life July 28, 1991. pg. 43
[23] Anon. (1990) “American Football double-header” Sunday Life May 6, 1990. pg. 59
[24] Anon. (1990) “American Football Column: Spartans in revenge bid” Sunday Life May 13, 1990. pg. 46
[25] Anon. (1990) “American Football” Sunday Life May 20, 1990. pg. 56
[26] Anon. (1990) “American Football: Junior game is on the up!” Sunday Life May 27, 1990. pg. 58
[27] Anon. (1990) “American Football: off form Bulldogs lack any real bite” Sunday Life June 3, 1990. pg. 46
[28] Traynor, Jonathan (1990) “Local League action hots up” Sunday Life June 10, 1990. pg. 42
[29] Anon. (1990) “American Football: Cowboys riding high..” Sunday Life August 5, 1990. pg. 43
Newspapers
[30] FD Reporter (1992) “Spitfires win Four Nations Bowl Crown” First Down. September 5, 1992. Pg. 19
Logos
[31] Belfast Blitzers Facebook Page (2021) Post to Page by Belfast Blitzers, 5 February 2021: [Internet] Available from: https://scontent-dub4-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/146339398_3535274803250316_484236705150193506_n.jpg?_nc_cat=104&ccb=2&_nc_sid=dbeb18&_nc_ohc=APIfzLRulaMAX9g3LLc&_nc_ht=scontent-dub4-1.xx&oh=72bcf54f0435a9ab26cd035a8d2cf7c7&oe=604502C2 [Accessed 5 February 2021]
Images
[32] Belfast Spartans (2019) Belfast Spartans Team Photo [Internet] Available from: http://www.belfastspartans.co.uk/uploads/7/9/7/0/7970653/241186.jpg [Accessed 30 July 2019]
Acknowledgements
Thanks to David Turner.
About this document
Researched, compiled and written by Enda Mulcahy for the
Eirball | Irish North American and World Sports Archive
Last Updated: 5 February 2021
(c) Copyright Enda Mulcahy and Eirball 2019-2021.
You may quote this document in part provided that proper acknowledgement is given to the authors. All Rights Reserved.