US Armed Forces Football

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.

USAFE Final 1952 [Reference: 9]

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.

The Yarvard Team at Larne on August 22, 1942 [References: 14]

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)

American Expeditionary Force Football League 1918-1919

AEFFL (Seasons): 1919 1918

Football field view on 50 yard line with spectator stands By pics721

Picture Credit  Football field view on 50 yard line with spectator stands By pics721[Shutterstock]

US Forces in Japan

USFJAFL

US Forces Japan-American Football League (Seasons): 2009

Hale Blue Devils in Action at Ravenhill 1942

[10] Belfast Blitzers | Facebook (2019) Post 21 August 2019: “As promised, a never before seen photo of the game held at Ravenhill in 1942. “ [Internet] Available from: https://www.facebook.com/belfastblitzers/photos/pcb.2258995414211601/2258986244212518/?type=3&theater [Accessed 23 August 2019]

ETO Teams in Ireland (1942-1944)

ETO, USAFE, All-American Festival.

Overview & [Season Roster & Match Reports]:

European Theater of Operations Football Teams

Navy Galloping Gaels went 0-0-1 in the ETO Northern Ireland Championship in Winter 1944

Army Wolverines went 0-0-1 in the ETO Northern Ireland Championship in Winter 1944

Tech Fighting Irish went 0-1 in the ETO Football Championship in Northern Ireland in Autumn 1942

Yarvard went 1-1 in the ETO Football Championship in Northern Ireland in 1942

Hale went 1-0 in the ETO Football Championship in Northern Ireland in 1942

Ravenhill 1942

Picture Credit: [10] Belfast Blitzers | Facebook (2019) Post 21 August 2019: “As promised, a never before seen photo of the game held at Ravenhill in 1942. “ [Internet] Available from: https://www.facebook.com/belfastblitzers/photos/pcb.2258995414211601/2258986244212518/?type=3&theater [Accessed 23 August 2019]

US Armed Forces Teams with Irish Connections

WW2

Teams with Irish Nicknames

World War II

Albuquerque AAB Flying Kelleys US Air Force Team 1942