Final Standings

References: [1-2] Legend / Key: # Barred from Playoffs – last two games not played. (D) Disbanded after season (C) Changed name after season – Chiltern Panthers became Hemel Panthers and Croydon Coyotes became Croydon Cyclones.

Playoffs

For a Recap of the Capital Bowl, including scorers, please click on the game above. References: [1-3]

Recap

The 12-team Capital League – a Regional Fifth Division in British American Football in 1987 climaxed with the London Area Panthers triumphing 22-20 over the St. Albans Kestrels in the Capital Bowl after a dropped pass in the dying seconds which would have meant a tying two-point conversion if successful was the difference between the teams [3].

St. Albans had finished top of the County Division with an 8-1-1 record before defeating Brent Bandits 33-8 in the Semi-Finals, while the London Area Panthers also went 8-1-1 in winning the City Division before eliminating F-14 Tomcats 25-6 in the other Semi-Final [1-2].

Irish-named players Nick Griffiths (Quarterback) and Mick Sheelan (Wide Receiver) starred for St. Albans Kestrels [3].

After the season the league in its entirety merged with the British Gridiron Football League (BGFL – a Northern Regional League), the North Wales and West Cheshire American Football League (NWWCAFL) and a large amount of United Kingdom American Football League (UKAFL – the fourth level in 1987) to form the new fourth level league the British National Gridiron League for 1988. The only exception wads the Barbarians who folded after being barred by the Capital League from the Playoffs towards the end of 1987. Six members continued in the old UKAFL as a regional Midlands Fifth Level League.

ABOUT THE BAFA Capital League

The British American Football Association united 100+ teams under the BAFA umbrella for 1987 as the BAFL (British American Football League) ceased to exist with the top three divisions in a league simply called the Budweiser League for sponsorship reasons. The top division was called the National Division, the second level the Premier Division and the third level Division One. Below these three divisions was the UKAFL (United Kingdom American Football League) as a fourth level and then regional leagues making up a fifth level (Thistle League in Scotland, NWWCAFL – North Wales and West Cheshire American Football League, BGFL – British Gridiron Football League – in the North and Capital League in the South East).

REFERENCES

[1] Anon. / Mark Lees (Ed.)(1987) “Results – Standings – Fixtures: Bud Playoffs: National” First Down. August 8, 1987. pg. 16. Mediawatch Ltd. Charlbury, Oxfordshire, England, UK.

[2] Anon. / Mark Lees (Ed.)(1987) “Results – Standings – Fixtures: Bud Playoffs: National” First Down. August 22, 1987. pg. 16. Mediawatch Ltd. Charlbury, Oxfordshire, England, UK.

[3] Anon. / Mark Lees (Ed.)(1987) “Results – Standings – Fixtures: Bud Fixtures: National” First Down. August 29, 1987. pg. 17. Mediawatch Ltd. Charlbury, Oxfordshire, England, UK.

GEO-GENEOLOGY OF IRISH SURNAMES

[6] Vivid Maps (2022) Geo-Geneology of Irish Surnames [Internet] Available from: https://vividmaps.com/irish-surnames/ [Accessed 31 January 2022]

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Thanks to John Malone, Paul O’Reilly, Declan Mulvey, Colm McGennis.

ABOUT THIS DOCUMENT

Researched, compiled and written by Enda Mulcahy for the

Eirball | Irish North American and World Sports Archive

Last Updated: 2 February 2022

(c) Copyright Enda Mulcahy and Eirball 2022

You may quote this document in part provided that proper acknowledgement is given to the authors. All Rights Reserved.