Tag: FXFL

XFL 2020 New York Guardians v Tampa Bay Vipers

Spring Football Leagues Bowl Games and Irish Players 1983-2023

Spring Football Leagues Bowl Games 1983-2023

DateBowlChampionsScoreRunners-UpScore
  United States Football League USFL Championship 
1983 Michigan Panthers24Philadelphia Stars22
1984 Philadelphia Stars23Arizona Wranglers3
1985 Baltimore Stars28Oakland Invaders24
  European Football League EFL Eurobowl 
1986ITAFT Vantaa (Fin)16Bologna Doves (Ita)2
1988IIHelsinki Roosters (Fin)35Amsterdam Crusaders (Ned)14
1989IIILegnano Frogs (Ita)27Amsterdam Crusaders (Ned)23
1990IVManchester Spartans (GB)34Legnano Frogs (Ita)22
1991VAmsterdam Crusaders (Ned)21Berlin Adler (Ger)20
1992VIAmsterdam Crusaders (Ned)42Giaguari Torino (Ita)24
1993VIILondon Olympians (GB)34Amsterdam Crusaders (Ned)22
  World League of American Football WLAF World Bowl 
09.06.19911991London Monarchs21Barcelona Dragons0
07.06.19921992Sacramento Surge21Orlando Thunder17
  Football League of Europe FLE Euro Super Bowl 
17.09.1994IStockholm Nordic Vikings43Hamburg Blue Devils35
American Football League of EuropeAFLE Euro Super Bowl
02.09.1995IIStockholm Nordic Vikings14Bergamo Lions0
  World League of American Football WLAF World Bowl 
1995IIIFrankfurt Galaxy26Amsterdam Admirals22
1996IVScottish Claymores32Frankfurt Galaxy27
1997VBarcelona Dragons38Rhein Fire24
  XFL Million Dollar Game 
21.04.2001 San Francisco Demons26Los Angeles Xtreme24
  National Football League – Europe League NFL-EL World Bowl 
14.06.1998VIRhein Fire34Frankfurt Galaxy10
27.06.1999VIIBarcelona Dragons24Frankfurt Galaxy3
25.06.2000VIIIRhein Fire13Scottish Claymores10
30.06.2001IXBarcelona Dragons17Berlin Thunder24
22.06.2002XBerlin Thunder26Rhein Fire20
14.06.2003XIFrankfurt Galaxy35Rhein fire16
12.06.2004XIIBerlin Thunder30Frankfurt Galaxy24
11.06.2005XIIIAmsterdam Admirals27Berlin Thunder21
27.05.2006XIVFrankfurt Galaxy22Amsterdam Admirals7
22.06.2007XVHamburg Sea Devils37Frankfurt Galaxy28
  United Football League UFL Championship Game 
2009 Las Vegas Locomotive20Florida Tuskers17 (OT)
2010 Las Vegas Locomotives23Florida Tuskers20
2011 Virginia Destroyers17Las Vegas Locomotive3
  Stars Football League SFL Presidents Cup 
28.07.2012IDaytona Beach Racers16Ft. Lauderdale Barracudas14
06.07.2013IIMiami Ironmen21Pompano Beach Swampdogs6
  Fall Xperimental Football League FXFL Championship 
2014(*)Brooklyn Bolts4-0Omaha Mammoths3-1
2015(*)Brooklyn Bolts3-1Florida Blacktips1-0
  The Spring League TSL Championship 
2017(*)Team North1-0Team West1-0
2018(*)Team West2-0Team East0-1
2019(*)Austin Generals2-0Team West1-1
2020(*)Las Vegas Hughes2-0TSL North1-1
  The Spring League Fall Season TSL Championship Game 
15.12.2020 Generals37Aviators14
  The Spring League Mega Bowl Championship 
19.06.2021 Linemen26Jousters23
  United States Football League USFL Championship Game 
03.07.2022 Birmingham Stallions33Philadelphia Stars30
01.07.2023 Birmingham Stallions28Pittsburgh Maulers12
  XFL XFL Championship 
13.05.2023 Arlington Renegades35D.C. Defenders26
Spring Football Leagues Bowl Games 1983-2023 [References: 1-64 – See end of article]

Daniel Whelan – Irish-Born Player

(Kicker – D.C. Defenders – XFL 2023 – Born in Bray, Co. Wicklow)

Irish-born punter Daniel Whelan kicked three punts for a total 158 yards, putting two punts inside the 20-yard line of Arlington and including a long of 64 yards, but was to be disappointed after his D.C. Defenders lost 35-26 to the Renegades in the 2023 XFL Championship Game. Whelan was drafted after the game by the Green Bay Packers and made his National Football League debut in 2024. [References: 65-68 – see end of article]

TADHG LEADER – IRISH-BORN PLAYER

(Kicker – Aviators – The Spring League 2021 – Born in Galway)

Former Connacht Rugby player Tadhg Leader was signed up to play another year of Rugby Union for Connacht in 2021 when the kicker started kicking American Footballs for fun. People took notice and said he should try out for American Football teams and so he went off to San Diego where he was kicking alongside Super Bowl-winning athletes. Unsure of his own ability he asked John Carney, who has 23 years of experience kicking Footballs and Carney said he could mix it with the NFL players. Before long Leader found himself playing for the Aviators in The Spring League in USA. The Aviators, one of four teams based in Indianapolis, a COVID-19 Pod and one of two Pods in the 8-team league in 2021 finished with an 0-6 record in 2021. [References: 60 – see end of article]

Emmett Waldron – Irish-born Player

(Linebacker – Scottish Claymores – World League of American Football / National Football League Europe League 1996-1999 – Born in Cork)

Emmett Waldron was born in Cork and played NCAA football for Rice University before signing for the Scottish Claymores in 1996 – the same year as Scottish Rugby Union captain Gavin Hastings. His father was an Irish Rugby Interprovincial player. In his first year at the Claymores, he would have earned £25,000 as well as bonuses and travelling expenses. He played four years for the Claymores as a linebacker. He was the first Irish player to play professional American Football in the NFL in a skilled position since the 1920s .[20] In 1996 he won the World Bowl with the Scottish Claymores when they defeated Frankfurt Galaxy 32-27 in World Bowl IV. [References: 69-72 – see end of article]

Kevin Hurst – Irish National Team Player

(Kicker – London Monarchs – World League of American Football 1996)

Kevin Hurst played for the Leicester Panthers before signing for the London Monarchs as a National Player in 1996. After one season with the Monarchs, he played for Ireland under Coach Kurt Smeby. He held the British domestic record for a Field Goal at the time with a successful 58-yard attempt against Australia in 1987. He was included in the squad to play against Wales on March 30th, 1997. [References: 73 – see end of article]

Image Credit

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]

XFL 2020 New York Guardians v Tampa Bay Vipers

References

[1] USFL.info (2017) 1983 Playoffs [Internet] Available from: http://www.usfl.info/1983playoffs.html [Accessed 3 February 2017]

[2] USFL.info (2017) 1984 Playoffs [Internet] Available from: http://www.usfl.info/1984playoffs.html [Accessed 3 February 2017]

[3] USFL.info (2017) 1985 Playoffs [Internet] Available from: http://www.usfl.info/1985playoffs.html [Accessed 3 February 2017]

[4] Eurobowl (2015) Eurobowl History [Internet] Available from: http://www.eurobowl.info/index.php?Inhalt=history [Accessed 15 April 2020]

[5] Anon. (1991) “Jon’s too Hort to handle” First Down, June 8, 1991, pg. 4-5

[6] Anglesey, Steve (1991) “Enter the Dragons!” First Down, June 15, 1992, pg. 6-7

[7] World League of American Football (2018) WLAF History: 1991 [Internet] Available from: http://www.worldleagueofamericanfootball.com/id165.html [Accessed 23 April 2018]

[8] Anon. (1992) “What a Drag On!” First Down, June 6, 1992, pg. 4-5

[9] Anglesey, Steve (1992) “Ace Arch has a ball in Montreal” First Down, June 13, 1992, pg. 4-5

[10] World League of American Football (2018) WLAF History: 1992 [Internet] Available from: http://www.worldleagueofamericanfootball.com/id166.html [Accessed 23 April 2018]

[11] Google Groups – rec.sport.football.misc (1994) Message by Dominik Kubla – 5 November 1994 [Internet] Available from: https://groups.google.com/forum/#!topic/rec.sport.football.misc/BRx_xxVsAoY [Accessed 21 August 2018]

[12] Enciclopedia del Football Italiano (2019) American Football League Europe 1995 [Internet] Available from: http://www.warriorsbologna.it/public/Enciclopedia/PDF/1995_afle_eur.pdf [Accessed 4 December 2019]

[13] World League of American Football (2018) WLAF History: 1995 [Internet] Available from: http://www.worldleagueofamericanfootball.com/id170.html [Accessed 23 April 2018]

[14] World League of American Football (2018) WLAF History: 1996 [Internet] Available from: http://www.worldleagueofamericanfootball.com/id171.html [Accessed 23 April 2018]

[15] World League of American Football (2018) WLAF History: 1997 [Internet] Available from: http://www.worldleagueofamericanfootball.com/id172.html [Accessed 23 April 2018]

[16] World League of American Football (2018) WLAF History: 1998 [Internet] Available from: http://www.worldleagueofamericanfootball.com/id173.html [Accessed 23 April 2018]

[17] World League of American Football (2018) WLAF History: 1999 [Internet] Available from: http://www.worldleagueofamericanfootball.com/id174.html [Accessed 23 April 2018]

[18] World League of American Football (2018) WLAF History: 2000 [Internet] Available from: http://www.worldleagueofamericanfootball.com/id175.html [Accessed 23 April 2018]

[19] World League of American Football (2018) WLAF History: 2001 [Internet] Available from: http://www.worldleagueofamericanfootball.com/id176.html [Accessed 23 April 2018]

[20] World League of American Football (2018) WLAF History: 2002 [Internet] Available from: http://www.worldleagueofamericanfootball.com/id177.html [Accessed 23 April 2018]

[21] World League of American Football (2018) WLAF History: 2003 [Internet] Available from: http://www.worldleagueofamericanfootball.com/id178.html [Accessed 23 April 2018]

[22] World League of American Football (2018) WLAF History: 2004 [Internet] Available from: http://www.worldleagueofamericanfootball.com/id179.html [Accessed 23 April 2018]

[23] World League of American Football (2018) WLAF History: 2005 [Internet] Available from: http://www.worldleagueofamericanfootball.com/id180.html [Accessed 23 April 2018]

[24] World League of American Football (2018) WLAF History: 2006 [Internet] Available from: http://www.worldleagueofamericanfootball.com/id181.html [Accessed 23 April 2018]

[25] World League of American Football (2018) WLAF History: 2007 [Internet] Available from: http://www.worldleagueofamericanfootball.com/id182.html [Accessed 23 April 2018]

[26] Remember the XFL (2017) Weekly Results [Internet] Available from: http://sites.google.com/site/rememberthexfl/weekly-results [Accessed 31 December 2019]

[27] United Football League | Internet Archive (2010) Schedule 2009 [Internet] Available from: https://web.archive.org/web/20100102212241/http://www.ufl-football.com/schedule [Accessed 13 August 2019]

[28] United Football League | Internet Archive (2011) Schedule 2010 [Internet] Available from: https://web.archive.org/web/20110609043730/http://www.ufl-football.com/schedule [Accessed 13 August 2019]

[29] United Football League | Internet Archive (2011) Schedule 2011 [Internet] Available from: https://web.archive.org/web/20111026023511/http://www.ufl-football.com/schedule [Accessed 13 August 2019]

[30] Stars Football League (2012) SFL’S FIRST CHAMPIONSHIP GAME [Internet] Available from: http://starsfootballleague.com/news/2572/ [Accessed 11 April 2020]

[31] Stars Football League (2012) THE SFL PRESIDENT’S CHAMPION TROPHY [Internet] Available from: http://starsfootballleague.com/news/sfl-presidents-champion-trophy/ [Accessed 11 April 2020]

[32] Stars Football League (2013) THE STAGE IS SET FOR THE THIRD ANNUAL PRESIDENTS CUP [Internet] Available from: http://starsfootballleague.com/news/stage-set-annual-presidents-cup/ [Accessed 11 April 2020]

[33] Stars Football League (2013) TEAM INFO – POMPANO BEACH SWAMPDOGS [Internet] Available from: http://starsfootballleague.com/team-info/gm-head-coach-ft-myers-swampdogs-football-club/ [Accessed 11 April 2020]

[34] You Tube | FXFL Football Channel (2014) FXFL Presented by Nivea Men Boston at Omaha Highlights, Nov 6, 2014 [0:09] [Internet] Available from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FSIejJnIa_U [Accessed 24 January 2020]

[35] You Tube | FXFL Football Channel (2014) FXFL Highlights presented by NIVEA MEN – Blacktips at Brooklyn, Nov 8, 2014 [2:01][Internet] Available from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pq_-zc-K2DM [Accessed 24 January 2020]

[36] You Tube | FXFL Football Channel (2014) FXFL Highlights Brooklyn at Boston – Halloween Night, Nov 1, 2014 [Internet] Available from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4lo4sB_VeQI [Accessed 24 January 2020]

[37] You Tube | FXFL Football Channel (2014) FXFL Highlights Presented by NIVEA MEN- Omaha at Brooklyn, Oct 27, 2014 [5:13] [Internet] Available from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b0-i0pUU4XU [Accessed 24 January 2020]

[38] You Tube | FXFL Football Channel (2014) FXFL Week #2 Boston at Brooklyn, Oct 16, 2014 [0:02][Internet] Available from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ll58VNJBOTU [Accessed 24 January 2020]

[39] You Tube | FXFL Football Channel (2014) FXFL Opening Night Recap – National TV, Oct 9, 2014 [0:03][Internet] Available from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AHPasGcAnMs [Accessed 24 January 2020]

[40] You Tube | Jeff Buss (2019) FXFL Omaha @ Brooklyn (October 24, 2014), Dec 31, 2019 [Internet] Available from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jps0DsyZ23A [Accessed 24 January 2020]

[41] You Tube | cflvideo1964 (2015) FXFL 2014 BOSTON BRAWLERS AT OMAHA MAMMOTHS, Apr 4, 2015 [Internet] Available from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r8FcOGnV4Dg [Accessed 24 January 2020]

[42] Omaha World-Herald | Wayback Machine (2014) Missed extra point helps Mammoths survive [Internet] Available from: https://web.archive.org/web/20151128214125/http://www.omaha.com/sports/missed-extra-point-helps-mammoths-survive/article_a54427f4-55d4-5806-aaaf-726c8b899a62.html [Accessed 24 January 2020]

[43] FXFL | Wayback Machine (2016) Home [Internet] Available from: https://web.archive.org/web/20160129101535/http://gofxfl.com/ [Accessed 24 January 2020]

[44] The Spring League (2017) Post “Game 1 of the Spring League season is in the books. The West beat the East, 10-6. Re-watch the broadcast right here.” [Internet] Available from: https://www.facebook.com/thespringleague/videos/1922228818055558/[Accessed 24 January 2020]

[45] The Spring League (2017) Post April 16, 2017 “It’s a final from the Greenbrier: Hutson Mason’s North team edges the South squad, 14-10, in Game 2 of the weekend.” [Internet] Available from: https://www.facebook.com/thespringleague/photos/a.1870863563192084/1923935811218192/?type=3 [Accessed 24 January 2020]

[46] The Spring League (2017) Post “Game 2 of the 2017 Spring League season is in the books, with the North beating the South, 14-10. You can re-watch most of the broadcast here. Note: the feed went out in the second half due to inclement weather.” [Internet] Available from:https://www.facebook.com/thespringleague/videos/1922762241335549/ [Accessed 24 January 2020]

[47] The Spring League (2019) Videos April 7 2018 ““Running back Kalif Phillips follows up a 47 yard run with this short TD to seal it for #TeamWest”” [Internet] Available from: https://www.facebook.com/thespringleague/videos/2102745346670570/ [Accessed 24 January 2020]

[48] The Spring League (2018) Videos April 13 2018 [Internet] Available from: https://www.facebook.com/thespringleague/videos/2105339876411117/ [Accessed 24 January 2020]

[49] The Spring League (2017) Post April 13, 2018 “Relive the best moments of today’s first game between Team South and Team West, including Johnny Manziel’s Spring League finale. #TheSpringLeague” [0:18] [Internet] Available from: https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=2105339876411117[Accessed 24 January 2020]

[50] The Spring League (2017) Post March 21, 2019 “#ATX, we got you covered. For #TheSpringLeague 2019, Team South will go by a new hometown name: The Austin Generals.” [Internet] Available from: https://www.facebook.com/thespringleague/posts/2337204383224664[Accessed 24 January 2020]

[51] The Spring League (2017) Post April 7, 2019 “OFFICIAL BOX SCORE FROM GAME 1 Team West 36 Team North 6” [Internet] Available from:https://www.facebook.com/thespringleague/posts/2347421552202947 [Accessed 24 January 2020]

[52] The Spring League (2017) Post April 7, 2019 “OFFICIAL BOX SCORE FROM GAME 2 Austin Generals 13 Team North 6” [Internet] Available from: https://www.facebook.com/thespringleague/posts/2347422305536205[Accessed 25 January 2020]

[53] The Spring League (2017) Post April 13 2019 “The Austin Generals closed The Spring League undefeated. Check out the full box score and play by play below of the Generals win over TSL West. Austin Generals 32 TSL West 13” [Internet] Available from: https://www.facebook.com/thespringleague/posts/2350788071866295 [Accessed 25 January 2020]

[54] The Spring League (2017) Post March 7, 2020″Game 1 ends with a final score of: Las Vegas Hughes: 14 TSL North: 7″ [Internet] Available from: https://www.facebook.com/thespringleague/photos/a.1870863563192084/2630097563935343/?type=3 [Accessed 8 June 2020]

[55] The Spring League (2017) Post March 7, 2020″Game 2 has gone final! TSL North: 14 TSL East: 7″ [Internet] Available from: https://www.facebook.com/thespringleague/photos/a.1870863563192084/2630133173931782/?type=3  [Accessed 8 June 2020]

[56] The Spring League (2017) Post March 11, 2020″DB Brandon Brice seals the game for Las Vegas capping off the final play with a pick-6. Las Vegas Hughes: 17 TSL East: 6″ [Internet] Available from: https://www.facebook.com/thespringleague/photos/a.1870863563192084/2633474570264309/?type=3  [Accessed 8 June 2020]

[57] The Spring League (2020) Post March 23, 2020: ″Since 2017, the year #TheSpringLeague began play, 229 of our players have been signed to pro football contracts #NFL: 90 #CFL: 51 #AAF: 55 #XFL: 33″ [Internet] Available from:  https://www.facebook.com/thespringleague/posts/2643855175892915 [Accessed 8 June 2020]

[58] The Spring League (2020) Game Schedule [Internet] Available from: https://www.thespringleague.com/?page_id=5732 [Accessed 28 October 2020]

[59] The Spring League (2021) Schedule [Internet] Available from: https://thespringleague.com/?page_id=5732 [Accessed 20 June 2021]

[60] The 42 (2021) The former Connacht man now trying to make it as an NFL kicker [Internet] Available from: https://www.the42.ie/tadhg-leader-connacht-nfl-5425042-May2021/ [Accessed 3 December 2021]

[61] TheUSFL (2022) Schedule [Internet] Available from: https://www.theusfl.com/schedule  [Accessed 9 April 2022][Last Accessed 4 July 2022]

[62] TheUSFL (2022) Box Score: Birmingham Stallions v Philadelphia Stars Box Score 43 [Internet] Available from: https://www.theusfl.com/championship-birmingham-stallions-vs-philadelphia-stars-jul-03-2022-game-boxscore-43 [Accessed 4 July 2022]

[63] TheUSFL (2023) Schedule [Internet] Available from: https://www.theusfl.com/schedule [Accessed 14 January 2024]

[64] XFL (2023) 2023 League Schedule [Internet] Available from: https://www.xfl.com/schedule [Accessed 9 April 2023][Print Schedule at: https://assets.contentstack.io/v3/assets/bltc7f51537c5999ea8/blt502e44053a17fe3a/XFLLEAGUESCHED23_1SHEET.pdf ][Accessed 18 February 2023][Last Accessed 10 September 2023]

[65] XFL (2023) 2023 North Division Championship – Seattle Sea Dragons 21 DC Defenders 37 [Internet] Available from: https://www.xfl.com/games/2303001-NorthChamp-SEA-at-DC [Accessed 10 September 2023]

[66] XFL (2023) 2023 Championship – Arlington Renegades 35 DC Defenders 26 [Internet] Available from: hhttps://www.xfl.com/games/2303003-Champ-ARL-at-DC [Accessed 10 September 2023]

[67] RTE Online, 2023-08-29 (2023) Green Bay Packers take a punt on Irish-born Dan Whelan [Internet] Available from: https://www.rte.ie/sport/us-sport/2023/0829/1402335-green-bay-packers-take-a-punt-on-whelan/ [Accessed 10 September 2023]

[68] MSN / Journal.ie (2023) ‘Proud moment for the School’ – Excitement in Bray as former student chases NFL history [Internet] Available from: https://www.msn.com/en-ie/sports/nfl/proud-moment-for-the-school-excitement-in-bray-as-former-student-chases-nfl-history/ar-AA1ga5ec [Accessed 10 September 2023]

[69] Anon. (1996) Claymores Roster / Monarchs Roster First Down. April 13th, 1996. Centre Pages.

[70] Naughton, Lindie (1996) US FOOTBALLEvening Herald. Thursday, 29 February 1996. pg 62 [Internet] Available from: http://archive.irishnewsarchive.com/Olive/APA/INA/Print.Article.aspx?mode=image&href=EHD%2F1996%2F02%2F29&id=Ar06206 [Accessed 5 July 2017]

[71] Football Database (2017) Emmett Waldron Career Stats [Internet] Available from: https://www.footballdb.com/players/emmett-waldron-waldrem01/stats [Accessed 2 December 2017]

[72] Naughton, Lindie (1996) “US FOOTBALL”Evening Herald. Thursday, 29 February 1996. pg 62 [Internet] Available from: http://archive.irishnewsarchive.com/Olive/APA/INA/Print.Article.aspx?mode=image&href=EHD%2F1996%2F02%2F29&id=Ar06206 [Accessed 5 July 2017]

[73] FD Reporter (1996) “Kicking Kev Keeps Irish Eyes Smiling: Ex-London ace Hurst hooks up with Kurt Smeby’s Leprechauns” First Down. March 15, 1997.

ABOUT THIS DOCUMENT

Researched, compiled and written by Enda Mulcahy for the

Eirball – Irish North American and World Sports Archive

Last Updated: 15 January 2024

(c) Copyright Enda Mulcahy and Eirball 2024

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