AFVD GBL 1 1992

[References: 1-3] Legend/Key: (C) Conference Champions *Qualify for Playoffs (R) Relegated to GBL 2.

Promoted from GBL 2 North: Hamburg Silver Eagles and Solingen Hurricanes

Promoted from GBL 2 South: Hanau Hawks and Rothernburg Knights

AFVD GBL 1 1993

[References: 4-5] (C) Conference Champions *Qualify for Quarter-Finals (R) Relegated to GBL 2 (D) Disbanded

Promoted from GBL 2 North: Braunschweig Lions

Promoted from GBL 2 South: Erding Bulls, Allgäu Comets

AFVD GBL 1 1994

[References: 6-7] (C) Conference Champions *Qualify for Playoffs (R) Relegated (D) Disbanded

Recap

The American Football Verband Deutschland (AFVD) German Bundesliga 1 1992 German Bowl was won by Düsseldorf Panther, the oldest continually-operating American Football team in both Germany and Europe (founded 1978 – Reference: 8). The Panther were 1983, 1984 and 1986 Champions and their opponents in the German Bowl XIV were Munich Cowboys, founded 1979, who were appearing in their first ever Final having gone 14-0 during the regular season and defeated Monheim Sharks and Cologne Crocodiles in the Playoffs. Düsseldorf Panther had eliminated Bad Homburg Falken and North Conference Champions Berlin Adler in the playoffs. Also qualifying for postseason were Noris Rams and Regensburg Royals. Cologne Bears, Stuttgart Scorpions and Darmstadt Diamonds were all relegated to the GBL 2 North and South, and were replaced by Hamburg Silver Eagles, Solingen Hurricanes, Hanau Hawks and Rothenburg Knights bringing the total number of teams in the GBL 1 for 1993 up to 16. [References: 1-3]

In 1993, Munich Cowboys finally won that first German Bowl, defeating Cologne Crocodiles 42-36 in overtime after a 13-0-1 season, again undefeated, but with one tie that year. The Cowboys had beaten Hamburg Silver Eagles and Berlin Adler on their way to the Championship Game, while Northern Conference Champions Cologne had eliminated Noris Rams and Düsseldorf Panther. Other playoff qualifiers in 1993 were Hanau Hawks and Rothenburg Knights. After the season Monheim Sharks, Dortmund Giants, Badener Greifs and Bad Homburg Falken were all demoted to their respective GBL 2 League and were replaced by Braunschweig Lions, who would go on to become one of the most successful of all German American Football Teams, winning eleven German Bowls by 2018. Also promoted from GBL 2 South were Erding Bulls and Allgäu Comets while Kempten Comets disbanded, leaving the GBL 1 at 14 teams for 1994. [References: 4-5]

The 1994 season featured Inter-locking schedules between the GBL 1 North and GBL 1 South, with each team playing two Inter-Conference games in total versus teams from the opposite Conference. Düsseldorf Panther regained the German Bowl they won in 1992, triumphing 27-17 in the Championship Game versus Northern Conference Champions Berlin Adler. The Panther had eliminated Noris Rams and defending Champions Munich Cowboys in the playoffs while Berlin Adler had defeated Regensburg Royals and Cologne Crocodiles on their way to the Bowl. Also appearing in the playoffs in 1994 were Southern Conference Champions Hanau Hawks, surprisingly eliminated in the Quarter-Finals by Cologne and also Braunschweig Lions. Relegated at the end of the year were Allgäu Comets who struggled in their first year in the top flight and disbanded after nine games, and Solingen Hurricanes. [References: 6-7]

To give the relative strength of Ireland’s National team, the Leprechauns at this time, the following November (3rd November 1995), played Hanau Hawks, who had won the GBL 1 South Championship on a 12-2 record, and lost by only a 6-19 scoreline. [References: 9-10]

References

[1] Ludwig Alberter to Google Groups (1992) German Bundesliga 1 – regular season results [Internet] Available from: https://groups.google.com/g/rec.sport.football.misc/c/Qsr8AiRujdo/m/sy8wvqTfC0UJ?hl=en  [Accessed 19 October 2021]

[2] Ludwig Alberter to Google Groups (1992) German Bowl XIV – October 3, Hannover [Internet] Available from: https://groups.google.com/g/rec.sport.football.misc/c/WTpKnRf5yIc/m/T14I4dRZ8tgJ?hl=en  [Accessed 19 October 2021]

[3] Ludwig Alberter to Google Groups (1992) German Bowl XIV: Duesseldorf 24, Munich 23 [Internet] Available from: https://groups.google.com/g/rec.sport.football.misc/c/dvKUId3oKKw/m/I-PI3w7gmXIJ?hl=en [Accessed 19 October 2021]

[4] Ludwig Alberter to Google Groups (1993) German Bundesliga- playoff, semi-finals [Internet] Available from:  https://groups.google.com/g/rec.sport.football.misc/c/b3Rx8mheLuc/m/HA7oNTXAZ7oJ?hl=en [Accessed 19 October 2021]

[5] Dominik Kubla to Google Groups (1993) German Bowl XV [Internet] Available from: https://groups.google.com/g/rec.sport.football.misc/c/GYKxnqWjI_c/m/HwQRpRTLjq0J?hl=en  [Accessed 19 October 2021]

[6] Ludwig Alberter to Google Groups (1994) [Results] German Bundesliga, playoff – semifinals [Internet] Available from: https://groups.google.com/g/rec.sport.football.misc/c/g_r15bH2H4s/m/tNUkE-jpAHwJ?hl=en  [Accessed 19 October 2021]

WEBSITES

[7] AFVD (2018) Bowls [Internet] Available from: http://www.afvd.de/text.php?Inhalt=bowls&menu=16&HP=AFVD [Accessed 30 December 2018]

[8] Dusseldorf Panther (2022) Historie [Internet] Available from: https://www.duesseldorfpanther.de/verein/historie/ [Accessed 6 April 2022]

[9] Britball Now (2009) British and Irish Friendly results against foreign opposition [Internet] Available from: http://www.britballnow.co.uk/History/UKClubsForeignOppo.html [Accessed 16 November 2017]

Newspapers

[10] Anon. (1996) “NORTHANTS MOVEN ON UP” First Down. April 6, 1996.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Thanks to Ralph Schmeer, Shane Mulcahy and Ciaran Simms

ABOUT THIS DOCUMENT

Researched, compiled and written by Enda Mulcahy for the

Eirball | Irish North American and World Sports Archive

Last Updated: 6 April 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.