The history of 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 1986. 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.
This Page is organised as follows:
- European Football Leagues (Major & AAA – Levels 0-1) – European League of Football, East European Super League, National Football League Europe League, American Football League of Europe, World League of American Football, Intercontinental Football League
- United States Professional Leagues in Europe (Global, Major and Minor) – National Football League International, American Bowl, United States Football League in Europe, Intercontinental Football League
- United States Armed Forces in Europe Football Leagues (WWI, WWII, Cold War) – USAFE, USAREUR, ETO, AEFFL
- European Internationals (IFAFE, EFAF, EFL) – European Championships, International Friendlies
- European Club Internationals (AAA & AA – Levels 1-2) – Eurobowl, European Cups.
- Regional European Cups (AA & A – Levels 2-3) – Western European Cups (Atlantic Cup, Charleroi Trophy, Four Nations Cup), Northern European Cups (NEFL, Scandinavian Cup), Central European Cups (CEFL, Challenge Cup)
- European National Leagues – Britain (British-wide Leagues and England)
- European National Leagues – Celtic Leagues (Scotland, Wales, Brittany, Galicia)
- European National Leagues – Scandinavian Leagues (Sweden, Finland, Norway, Denmark, Iceland)
- European National Leagues – German Leagues (GFL and Regionalligas, German State Leagues)
- European National Leagues – Central European Leagues (Austria, Switzerland, BeNeLux, Belgium, Netherlands, Flanders)
- European National Leagues – Southern European Leagues (Italy, France, Spain, Portugal, Catalonia),
- European National Leagues – East European Leagues (Russia, Ukraine, Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary),
- European National Leagues – South East European Leagues (Alpe-Adria, Slovenia, Croatia, Serbia, Romania)
European Football Leagues (Major & AAA – Levels 1-2)
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.
[1] European League of Football Facebook Page (2021) Profile Picture, February 4, 2021 [Internet] Available from: https://www.facebook.com/europeanleagueoffootball/photos/a.100150555247238/159345569327736/ [Accessed 27 April 2021]
About European Football Leagues
The First attempts at creating a European American Football League were in the 1970s following the hit film M*A*S*H and its climactic ending featuring an American Football game which intrigued European audiences.
Following on from this a couple of failed start-ups led in 1991 to the National Football League (NFL) creating the World League of American Football (WLAF) as a Development League. After two years with teams in USA, Canada and Europe it was shelved and returned in 1995 as a Europe-only league which itself was shelved in 2007 in order to promote the NFL itself in Europe through the International Series of NFL regular season games in London.
Following a number of low-key European Leagues, based primarily in Central and Eastern Europe between 2007 and 2019, the European League of Football in 2021 became the latest big-time Professional Football League in Europe, retaining the rights to the old WLAF / NFLE team names.
European Football Leagues (Level 0)
European Football Leagues
European League of Football
ELF Championship 2022: TBC
ELF Championship 2021: Frankfurt Galaxy 32 Hamburg Sea Devils 30
Amsterdam Crusaders Independent Schedule American Football Team 2018
League of American Football 2016-2018
Central European Football League 2006-2016
National Football League Europe 1998-2007
World League of American Football 1995-1997
American Football League of Europe 1993-1995
Hamburg Blue Devils Independent Schedule American Football Team 1993
World League of American Football 1991-1992
International League of American Football 1990
Northern Italian Football League 1976-1986
Proposed American Football League in USSR 1979
Intercontinental Football League European Championship 1976-1978
Intercontinental Football League 1974-1975
American Football League of Europe (Seasons): 1995
European League of American Football (Seasons): 1993
Intercontinental Football League European Championship (Seasons): 1978 1977 1976
[1] European League of Football Facebook Page (2021) Profile Picture, February 4, 2021 [Internet] Available from: https://www.facebook.com/europeanleagueoffootball/photos/a.100150555247238/159345569327736/ [Accessed 27 April 2021]
About European Football Leagues
The First attempts at creating a European American Football League were in the 1970s following the hit film M*A*S*H and its climactic ending featuring an American Football game which intrigued European audiences.
Following on from this a couple of failed start-ups led in 1991 to the National Football League (NFL) creating the World League of American Football (WLAF) as a Development League. After two years with teams in USA, Canada and Europe it was shelved and returned in 1995 as a Europe-only league which itself was shelved in 2007 in order to promote the NFL itself in Europe through the International Series of NFL regular season games in London.
Following a number of low-key European Leagues, based primarily in Central and Eastern Europe between 2007 and 2019, the European League of Football in 2021 became the latest big-time Professional Football League in Europe, retaining the rights to the old WLAF / NFLE team names.
European Football League Teams (Level 0)
European Football Leagues
European League of Football 2021-2022
ELF Northern Division (2022)
Irish-born Panthers Players: Tadgh Leader and Kevin Mayo 2021
ELF Central Division (2022)
ELF Southern Division (2022)
World League of American Football (Europe & North America 1991-1992)
WLAF European Division (1991-1992)
WLAF North American East Division (1991-1992)
WLAF North American West Division (1991-1992)
Picture Credit: [4] Sports Logos History (2018) USFL Logo 1983-1985 [Internet] Available from: https://sportslogohistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/united_states_football_league.png [Accessed 31 December 2019]
US Pro Leagues in Europe
NFL; USFL
US Pro Leagues in Europe (Major League):
National Football League
National Football League International | Regular Season Games in London 2007-Present
National Football League | American Bowl Pre-Season Games in Europe 1986-1997
National Football League Intercontinental 1972-1978
Arena Football League
Arena Football League Preseason Games in Europe 1989
United States Football League
United States Football League | Postseason Exhibition Game in London 1984
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.
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]
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
AFEF 1983; EFL 1987-1989; EFAF A-Group 2005-2010; EFAF B-Group 2004-2009; EFAF C-Group 2003-2007;
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: [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]
International Friendlies
European International Friendlies
International Friendlies
Slovakia International American Football Matches 2010-Present
European Club Championships (AAA & AA Levels 2-3)
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
About the Eurobowl
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 (Level 1)
Eurobowl; EFL
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
2001: Bergamo Lions (Ita) were Champions
2000: Bergamo Lions (Ita) were Champions
1999: Braunschweig Lions (Ger) were Champions
1998: Hamburg Blue Devils (Ger) were Champions
EFL Eurobowl (Season Results):
European Football Cups (Level 2)
IFAFE European Club Team Championship (Level 2)
European Football League (Level 2)
IFAF Europe EFL (Seasons):2016 2015
EFAF-Cup (Level 2)
EFAF Euro Cup (Level 2)
Regional European Leagues (AA & A Levels 3-4)
Below the European Football League and Eurobowl Levels are Regional Football Leagues, namely West European, North European, East European and Central European Bowls.
There have 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 Europe
Four Nations Bowl; Charleroi Trophy; Atlantic Cup;
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
European Federation of American Football Dutch Invitational Tournament 1997-1998
European Federation of American Football West European Club Friendlies 1997-1998
Atlantic Cup (Seasons):
2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009
Charleroi Trophy: (Seasons)
Anglo-Scottish Friendlies (Seasons):
Dutch International Tournament (Seasons): 1997
Four Nations Bowl (Seasons):
Western European Friendlies (Seasons):
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.
[1] Central European Football League (2009) CEFL Logo [Internet] Available from: https://cefl.avaladsfmusic.group/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/cefl-544-180-300×99.png [Accessed 6 June 2020]
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 Europe
EFAF Challenge Cup; CEFL
Central European Football League Championship (AA level 3):
Central European Football League Championship 2017-2019
CEFL Championship (Seasons):
Central European Football League Cup (A level 4)
Central European Football League Cup 2017-2019
CEFL Cup (Seasons):
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
American Football in Britain was first played in 1984 and at its’ height in the late-1980s had more than 200 affiliated adult teams.
While it suffered a slow retreat in the late 1990s it began to grow again the 2000s, helped in no small part by the NFL (National Football League) playing a series of Regular Season matches there every year.
There are now Adult Mens and Women’s Leagues or Youth, Junior, Cadet and Pee Wee Leagues in either full contact pads and helmets Football or non-contact Flag Football in 11on11, 9on9, 7on7, 6on6 or 5on5 variations.
See also English National Leagues and Celtic National Leagues for Country and Regional Level Leagues.
Picture Credit: [1] American Football International (2013) logo [Internet] Available from: https://www.britishamericanfootball.org/Images/logo.png [Accessed 30 August 2017]
British National Leagues
Britain (BAFA – British American Football Association)
Britain: Level 1:
British American Football Association Britbowl Finals 1985-Present
BAFA National Leagues Premiership (Seasons): 2019
BAFA Budweiser League National Division:
British American Football Merit League (Seasons): 1984
Britain Level 2:
BAFA Budweiser League Premier Division:
British American Football Non-Merit Table (Seasons): 1984
Britain Level 3:
BAFA National Leagues Southern Football Conference 2 (Seasons): 2019
BAFA Budweiser League Division 1
Britain: Level 4:
British Gridiron Football League 1987-1988
British University Foootball
Britain: British Colleges & Universities Football:
British Collegiate American Football League 1985-1990
British Collegiate American Football League 1990-1994
British Women’s Football
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]
National
From 1988 to 1994 the National Passball League in England played an independent schedule with teams such as the Cannock Chase Giants, a possible reference to the Celtic Archaeology of Staffordshire.
See also Celtic National Leagues for Country and Regional Level Leagues.
English National and Regional Leagues
National (NPL)
National Passball League
National Passball League (Britannia) 1988-1993
National Passball League (Seasons):
1991 Final: Thames Valley Thunderbolts 41 London Gators 15
English Regional Leagues
English Regional Leagues
Northern England and East Midlands
BGFL British Gridiron Football League (5th Level 1987)
BGFL Brit Bowl 1987: Mersey Centurions 20 Leicester Hunstmen 16
Yorkshire:
Yorkshire Rose Winter League (Seasons): 1993
Greater London Area and South East England: Capital League (5th Level 1987):
Capital Bowl 1987: LA Panthers 22 St. Albans Kestrels 20
English Regional Pre-Season and Winter Tournaments
North West England: North England Friendlies (Seasons): 1994
Midlands: West Bromwich Sevens Tournament (Seasons): 1993
East England: Home Counties Friendlies (Seasons): 1993
South East England: Christine Crawley Charity Cup (Seasons): 1993
South West England: Oxford Passball Tournament (Seasons): 1993
Picture Credit: [1] American Football International (2013) logo [Internet] Available from: https://www.britishamericanfootball.org/Images/logo.png [Accessed 30 August 2017]
British Flag Football
English Senior Flag Football
English Senior Flag League 9v9 Senior Championship 2003-2005
British Senior Flag League 9v9 Senior Championship 1998-2002
British Senior Flag Tournaments
BSFL 5 on 5 Tournaments (Results and Match Reports):
English Youth Flag Football (14-18 Years Old)
National Flag Football Association Youth League (Seasons):
Junior Gridiron League Youth League (14-18 y.o.) (Seasons):
Youth Flag Football (South East England) (Seasons):
English Junior Flag Football (12-14 Years Old)
NGA National Gridiron Association Junior Flag Tournaments (12-14 y.o.):
Junior Gridiron League Junior League (9-15 y.o.) (Seasons):
English Youth Two Touch Football
Junior Gridiron League Youth Two Touch League (South England) (Seasons):
Junior Gridiron League Junior Two Touch League (South Britain) (Seasons):
Northern Junior Gridiron League Two Touch (North England) (Seasons):
JAFL Junior American Football League (England and Wales 14-18 y.o.)
There have been Independent Leagues in the Celtic Countries (Regions) of Western Europe since the Thistle American Football League and North West and Welsh Counties American Football League in 1987.
Scotland
Copyright: unkreatives
From 1995 to 1998 the Scottish Gridiron Association broke away from the British American Football Association before remerging in 1999.
Wales
Copyright: lumyaisweet
n 1987 there was an Independent American Football League comprising teams in North Wales and the North West of England
Brittany
Copyright: 1enchik
From 1997 to 2005 Conference Ouest in Brittany formed an Independent Association in North West France before again merging with the Federation Francais de Football Americain
Galicia
Copyright: sateda
From 2012 to 2016 it was Galicia, in North West Iberia’s turn to be an Independent Association, before merging again with the Federation Espanola de Football Americano.
Celtic National Leagues
Scotland (SGA); Wales (NWWCAFL); Brittany (Conf’Ouest); Galicia (AGFA)
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
Scottish 7v7 Football Friendlies (Seasons and Match Reports):
Scottish Gridiron Association Bowl Finals 1995-1998
Caledonian Thistle American Football League 1987-1988
Scottish American Football Capital Bowl 1986-1990
Capital Bowl (Seasons): 1990 1989
Scottish Youth Kitted
Scottish Youth Kitted Friendlies (Seasons):
Scottish Flag Football
Scottish Flag Football Association Senior 2003-2007
Scottish Flag Football Friendlies 1993-94
Scottish Youth Flag Football
Scottish Youth Leagues and Tournaments (U18)
Scottish Claymores Flag Football Association Youth League (Seasons): 1996
Scottish Junior Leagues and Tournaments (U15)
Scottish Flag Football Association Junior Bowl Tournaments:
Wales (NWWCAFL)
North West & Welsh Counties American Football
Wales Friendlies (Seasons): 1993
North West & Welsh Counties American Football League 1987
Brittany (Conf’Ouest)
Brittany American Football
Conference Ouest (Brittany American Football) 1997-2005
Galicia (AGFA)
Galician American Football
German Football Leagues
Germany (AFVD); Bavaria (AVFBY)
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]
Germany (AFVD)
German Bowl
AFVD American Football Verband Deutschland German Bowl 1979-Present
American Football Verband Deutschland (AFVD)
AFVD American Football Verband Deutschand 1 Bundesliga 1979-1985
German Football League (Seasons): 1993
Bavaria (AFVBY)
Bayernliga (Overviews)
[1] American Football International (2021) OIP [Internet] Available from: https://www.americanfootballinternational.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/Sweden-SAFF-logo.3.jpg [Accessed 26 September 2021]
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]
Scandinavian National Leagues
Finland (SAJL); Denmark (DAFF); Norway (NAFF); Iceland.
Sweden (SAFF)
Sveriges 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
SAJL Finland Suomen Amerikkalaisen Jalkopallon Liitto Nasiet (Women’s):
Denmark (DAFF):
Dansk Amerikansk Fodbold Forbund (Denmark) Mermaid Bowl 1988-Present
Norway (NoAFF)
Norwegian American Football Federation 1st Division 1991-2000
Iceland
Icelandic American Football (Reykjavik Einherjar) 2016-2019
Reykjavik Einherjar versus European Teams (Seasons): 2018-19 2017-18 2016-17
FA / AFBOe Austria Logo
AFBN Netherlands Logo [Reference: 3]
[3] AFBN (2018) AFBN-Logo [Internet] Available from: https://www.afbn.nl/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/AFBN-Logo.jpg [Accessed 26 September 2021]
Central European National Leagues
Austria (FA; AFBOe); Switzerland (SAFV); Benelux (Big Five); Netherlands (AFBN): Belgium (BAFL): Flanders (FAFL)
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):
Belgium (BAFL):
Belgian American Football League | Elite Division 2017
Flanders (FAFL)
Flemish American Football League | Division II 2016
Netherlands (AFBN)
AFBN Eredivisie (Seasons): 2018
Queens Football League Queens Bowl (Finals):
Queens Football League (Netherlands) Queens Bowl 2017-Present
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]
[1] Federacao Portuguesa de Futebol Americano Facebook (2020) Profile Picture, December 12, 2018 [Internet] Available from: https://scontent-dub4-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/48184495_1215926928557890_4433979014956187648_n.png?_nc_cat=104&_nc_sid=09cbfe&_nc_ohc=Obwj4T4dv0MAX_OHaHq&_nc_ht=scontent-dub4-1.xx&oh=6c0e69e56872bedf51986570cc947c97&oe=5F2CAEBF [Accessed 10 July 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)
FEFA Federación Española de Fútbol Americano
FEFA Liga Nacional de Fútbol Americano Serie A
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] CAAF (2021) nejnovejsi [Internet] Available from: https://www.caaf.cz/_SitePublic/img/nejnovejsi.jpg [Accessed 11 April 2021]
East European National Leagues
Poland (PLAF); Slovakia (SAAF)
Russia and CIS (FAFR)
Commonwealth of Independent States (LAF, ELAF)
League of American Football 2016-2018
Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (AAF USSR)
Ukraine (ULAF)
ULAF (Results): 1999
Poland (PLAF):
Polish League of American Football 2006-2010
Czech Republic (ČAAF)
CAAF Ceska Asociace Americkaho Fotbalu (Czech Republic) 1994-1999
Slovakia (SAAF)
Slovak Football League Champions 2010-2017
Slovak Football League (Seasons): 2017
Hungary (HFL / MAFSZ)
[1] American Football International (2015) Alpe-Adria-logo [Internet] Available from: http://www.americanfootballinternational.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/Alpe-Adria-logo.jpg [Accessed 12 April 2021]
Balkan National Leagues
Alpe Adria (AAFL) Slovenia (ZANS) Serbia (SAFS) Bulgaria (FAFB)
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
Bulgaria (FAFB)
FAFB Federation of American Football – Bulgaria Федерация по Американски Футбол – България
United States Armed Forces in Europe Leagues
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.
Picture Credit: [9] Britball Now (2019) USAFE Final 1952 (Wembley) [Internet] Available http://www.britballnow.co.uk/_Media/1952-usaf-final-wembley_med.jpeg [Accessed 8 November 2019]
After World War II and as the Cold War set in, the United States Air Force in Europe set up a Football Championship with three Conferences: United Kingdom, Continental (France and Germany) and Mediteranean (Italy, Spain and Greece) Sports Conferences. There was also a smaller USAREUR (United States Army in Europe) Football League. The USAFE Championship wound down in 1993 due to the end of the Cold War.
Cold War (USAFE and USAREUR)
Cold War (USAFE – Air Force)
Intercontinental Football League College and Air Force Games 1972-1973
United States Air Force in Europe Football League | Finals 1952-1993
United States Air Force in Europe | United Kingdom Sports Conference 1951-1993
United States Air Force in Europe (USAFE) Football League Continental Sports Conference 1956-1960
United States Air Force in Europe (USAFE) Football League France Sports Conference 1953-1955
Cold War (USAREUR – Army)
Northern Italian Football League 1976-1986
United States Armed Forces in Europe | Northern Italian League 1974-1975
United States Army in Europe (USAREUR) Football League Com Z Conference 1953-1960
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]
The American Expeditionary Force (France WWI) and European Theater of Operations (Britain and Northern Ireland WWII) United States Army and Navy Units played Football Leagues during World War I and II in France, Britain, Northern Ireland, and North Africa.
World War I & II (AEF and ETO)
AEFFL (1914-1919); ETO (1940-1945)
World War II (UK & North Africa – Army & Air Force)
European Theater of Operations Championship 1942-1944
ETO Football Championship (Seasons):
Autumn 1944 Spring 1944 Winter 1944 Autumn 1943 Spring 1943
World War I (France – Navy & Army)