List of American football teams in the United Kingdom


was introduced to the United Kingdom during the early part of the 20th century by American servicemen stationed in the country. The first recorded match took place on 23 November 1910 at Crystal Palace, London, where a team made up of the crew from USS Idaho defeated their counterparts from USS Vermont 19–0. During the Second World War, matches were played by American and Canadian servicemen stationed in the UK at venues throughout the country. This included the 'Tea Bowl' game played at the White City Stadium in 1944, and this was followed by the creation of the United States Armed Forces Europe league in 1946. This league consisted of teams from American military bases throughout Europe, with one of the league's three conferences made up of teams based in the UK – teams from this conference won the league championship thirteen times until the competition ceased in 1993.
The first teams open to British players were established in 1983, and competition began the following year in the form of a series of one-off games. The match results were compiled into a 'Merit Table', with teams playing more than three games eligible for the championship—the first champions were the London Ravens, who won all ten of their matches. Hundreds of clubs have since been formed, playing both full contact football and flag football at senior, university and youth level. Many of these clubs have since folded, renamed or merged with other local teams, but a few of the older clubs survive today.
The sport is administered by the British American Football Association, with two main bodies of competition; the BAFA National Leagues and the British Universities American Football League.

National Football League

As part of the NFL International Series, the National Football League, which otherwise has all of its teams resident in the United States, has one team with a permanent part-time residence in the UK.
TeamLocationTermFrequency
Jacksonville JaguarsWembley Stadium, Wembley, London2013–2020One game per year

The league also plays neutral-site games in London under the International Series banner. Since 2007, these have all been at Wembley Stadium; in 2019, the neutral-site games moved to the new home of Tottenham Hotspur.

BAFA National Leagues

The BAFA National Leagues was formed in 2010 by the BAFA in response to the British American Football League's decision to split from the governing body.
The senior league's membership comprises 68 teams based in towns ranging from Newquay in the south of England to Aberdeen in Scotland. The league is split into two regional conferences; the Southern Football Conference and the Northern Football Conference. The teams within each conference are spread across three tiers with promotion and relegation between each level. The bottom two tiers are further divided into regional conferences. The top-ranking teams in each division compete in playoffs culminating in divisional finals—the championship game contested by the top Premier Division teams is known as the BritBowl. The 2017 champions are the Tamworth Phoenix, who defeated the London Blitz 34–28 in the final held at the Sixways Stadium.
In addition to adult contact football, the BAFA runs youth, junior and women's contact football, and also flag football across all age ranges. A number of the teams within the league operate teams across two or more of these competitions. The British American Football Association defines the age ranges used within the league as follows:
DesignationAges Ages
Adult18 and above16 and above
Women17 and above16 and above
Under 19s16 to 19
Under 17s14 to 1717 and below
Under 12s12 and below

*Team competing in the BAFANL's senior contact league

TeamLocationYears in senior / adult league2018 BAFA Adult division2015 BAFA Adult flag conference / division2017 BAFA Under-19 division2018 BAFA Under-17 divisionOther teams
Aberdeen OilcatsAberdeenHighland North / North
Aberdeen Roughnecks*Aberdeen2014–NFC 2 North
Aylesbury Vale SpartansAylesburySoutheastern / North
Basingstoke BarracudasBasingstokeSoutheastern / South
Beeston BearsBeeston, NottinghamshireMid-England / South
Berkshire Renegades*Reading1985–87, 1989, 2006–2014, 2016—SFC 1 CentralSouth
Birmingham Bulls*Birmingham1984–NFC 2 SouthCentral
Birmingham LionsBirminghamSouthwestern / NorthSouthCentral
Black Country VipersStourbridgeSouthCentral
Blisworth FiveBlisworthSoutheastern / North
Bournemouth Bobcats*Bournemouth1986–1991, 2011–SFC 2 South
Bristol Apache*Bristol2011–SFC 1 Central
Bristol Aztecs*Bristol1991–Premier South
Buckinghamshire WolvesMarlowSouthYouth flag, Cadet flag
Burnley TornadoesBurnleyAssociateMid-England / NorthNorth West
Bury Saints*Bury St Edmunds2014–Premier South
Calderdale KnightsHalifaxMid-England / North
Cambridgeshire Cats*Cambridge1985–90, 1993–98, 2002–SFC 1 East
Cardiff HurricanesCardiffSouthwestern / South
Carlisle Sentinels*Carlisle2015—NFC 2 Central
Carnegie ReapersDunfermlineHighland North / South
Carnegie SteelersDunfermlineHighland North / North
Chester Romans*Chester1987–NFC 2 CentralNorthNorth West
Chichester SharksChichesterSoutheastern / South
Chorley BuccaneersChorleyNorthNorth WestYouth flag, Cadet flag
Clyde Valley Blackhawks*Wishaw2009–NFC 2 North
Cobham CougarsCobham, SurreyAssociateSouthSouth
Colchester Gladiators*Wivenhoe1985–95, 2005–SFC 1 EastSouth East
Cornish Sharks*Newquay2007–SFC 2 WestSouth West
Coventry CougarsCoventryYouth flag, Cadet flag
Coventry Jets*Coventry1991–93, 2004–NFC 1 SouthSouthwestern / NorthCentralYouth flag
Crewe Railroaders*Crewe1985–90, 2012–NFC 2 South
Doncaster ColtsDoncasterNorth East / Yorkshire
Doncaster Mustangs*Doncaster2003–NFC 1 South
Dumfries Hunters*Dumfries2017—NFC 2 North
Dunbeth DragonsCoatbridgeHighland North / North
Dundee Hurricanes*Dundee2003–NFC 2 North
Dunfermline KingsDunfermlineAssociateHighland North / North
Dunfermline RevolutionDunfermlineHighland North / North
East Essex Sabres*Shoeburyness2017—SFC 2 EastSouth East
East Kent Mavericks*Aylesham2006–SFC 1 EastSouth East
East Kilbride Pirates*Hamilton1986–Premier NorthNorthScotland
Edinburgh Napier KnightsEdinburghScotland
Edinburgh OutlawsEdinburghHighland North / South
Edinburgh Wolves*Edinburgh2003–Premier NorthNorthScotland
Essex Spartans*Billericay1999–SFC 2 EastSouth East
Etone JaguarsNuneatonCentral
Farnham Knights *Farnborough1986–Premier SouthSouthSouth West
Furness Phantoms*Ulverston2014–NFC 2 Central
Gateshead Senators*Gateshead1986–NFC 1 NorthNorth East / Yorkshire
Glasgow HornetsGlasgowHighland North / North
Glasgow Tigers*Glasgow1986–NFC 1 NorthScotland
Gloucester CenturionsGloucester2009–2014Southwestern / South
Grangemouth BroncosGrangemouthHighland North / South
Halton Spartans*Widnes2015—NFC 2 CentralNorth West
Hamilton BuccaneersHamiltonScotland
Hastings Conquerors*Hastings2015—SFC 2 South
Hereford StampedeHerefordAssociate
Hertfordshire Cheetahs*St Albans1987–SFC 2 SouthSouthSouth
Highland Stags / WildcatsInverness2009–2011AssociateNorthScotland
Horsham BuccaneersHorshamYouth flag
Humber Warhawks*Kingston upon Hull2015—NFC 2 South
Inverclyde GoliathsGreenockAssociateScotland
Ipswich Cardinals*Ipswich1987–SFC 2 EastSouth East
Jurassic Coast RaptorsDorchester2016—SFC 2 West
Kent Exiles*Sidcup1991–SFC 1 EastSouthSouth East / London
Kent PhoenixMaidstoneSouth East
King's Lynn PatriotsKing's LynnAssociate
Knottingley Raiders*Knottingley2017—NFC 2 South
Lancashire Wolverines*Blackburn1988–2004, 2007–NFC 1 North
Leeds Academy AssassinsLeedsNorthNorth East / Yorkshire
Leeds Bobcats*Leeds2015NFC 1 North
Leeds SamuraiLeedsMid-England / North
Leeds TornadoesLeedsMid-England / North
Leicester EaglesLeicesterSouthwestern / North
Leicester Falcons*Leicester2008–NFC 1 SouthCentral
Leicester HuntsmenLeicesterYouth Flag
Lincolnshire Bombers*Lincoln, Lincolnshire2007–NFC 2 SouthNorthNorth East / Yorkshire
Lincolnshire LonghornsLincoln, Lincolnshire2018—
London BarracudaLondonSoutheastern / South
London Blitz*Finsbury Park1984–Premier South /
SFC 2 East
Southeastern / SouthSouthLondonYouth flag
London Hornets*Camden Town2014—SFC 1 East
London Olympians*Crystal Palace1984–2007, 2009–Premier South
London RebelsKennington ParkSoutheastern / South
London SmokeClapham Common2018 -London Flash
London VipersCrystal PalaceSoutheastern / South
London Warriors*Boston Manor2008–Premier SouthLondon
Maidstone Pumas*Maidstone1998–2014, 2016—SFC 2 South
Manchester CrowsManchesterMid-England / South
Manchester Titans*Manchester2003, 2005–Premier NorthMid-England / SouthNorthNorth West
Mansfield Honey BadgersMansfieldMid-England / South
Merseyside Nighthawks*Birkenhead1986–Premier NorthNorthNorth West
Merthyr Tydfil Thunder DucksMerthyr TydfilSouthwestern / South
Moray TideLossiemouthScotland
Morecambe Bay Storm*Morecambe2017—NFC 2 Central
Nairnshire DragonsNairnScotland
Newcastle BlackhawksNewcastle upon TyneHighland North / South
Northants KnightsNorthampton2019-Associate LeagueAssociate League
Northants PhantomsNorthamptonSouthwestern / North
Northants TitansNorthamptonSouthwestern / NorthYouth flag
North East AcademyNewcastle upon TyneNorth East / Yorkshire
Northumberland ThunderCramlingtonHighland North / South
Northumberland Vikings*Woolsington2015—NFC 1 North
Norwich DevilsNorwich1986–2011, 2018SFC 2 EastSouth East
Nottingham Caesars*Nottingham1995–NFC 1 SouthNorth
Ouse Valley Eagles*Bedford2014SFC 1 CentralSouth
Oxford Killer PoniesOxfordSouthwestern / South
Oxford Saints*Abingdon1984–SFC 1 Central
Peterborough Saxons*Peterborough2002–NFC Division 2 South
Plymouth BuccaneersPlymouthSouthwestern / South
Portsmouth Dreadnoughts*Portsmouth2014–SFC 2 South
Reading LionsReadingSoutheastern / North & South
Rugby MaulersRugbySouthwestern / North
Salisbury City MaraudersSalisburyAssociate
Sandwell Steelers*Sandwell2014–NFC 1 SouthCentral
Sheffield ForgeSheffieldNorth East / Yorkshire
Sheffield Giants*Sheffield2010–Premier NorthMid-England / SouthNorth East / Yorkshire
Sheffield VipersSheffieldMid-England / North
Shrewsbury SentinelsShrewsburySouthwestern / North
Shropshire Revolution*Telford2007–NFC 1 South
Solent SeahawksSouthamptonSouthSouth West
Solent Thrashers*Southampton2005–SFC 1 CentralSouthwestern / South
Somerset WyvernsTaunton2018SFC2 WestSouth West
South London RenegadesSouthwarkLondon
South Wales Warriors*Llanharan1996–99, 2001–SFC 2 West
Staffordshire Surge*Stoke-on-Trent1994–NFC 2 South
Studley BearcatsStudleyYouth flag, Cadet flag
Sussex Thunder*Brighton1997–2013, 2015SFC 1 CentralSouth West
Swindon Storm*Swindon2013–SFC 2 SouthSouth West
Tamworth Phoenix*Tamworth2008–Premier NorthCentral
Torbay Trojans*Paignton1984–92, 1997–99, 2014–SFC 2 West
Victoria Park PanthersVictoria Park, LondonSoutheastern / South
Ware WolvesWareSoutheastern / North
Welwyn Hatfield MosquitosWelwyn Garden CityAssociate
Wembley Five-OWembleySoutheastern / North
Wembley Stallions*Wembley2015—SFC 1 EastLondon
West Coast Trojans*Renfrew2005–NFC 2 NorthHighland North / North
West Essex ShowboatsEppingSoutheastern / North
West Lothian AstrosLivingstonHighland North / South
Westcliff StormWestcliff-on-SeaSoutheastern / North
Woodham WarriorsWoodhamHighland North / South
Worcester RoyalsWorcesterSouthwestern / North
Worcestershire Black Knights*Worcester2017—SFC 2 West
Yorkshire Rams*Leeds1987–NFC 1 NorthMid-England / North

Northern Ireland

Northern Irish teams compete in an amateur island-wide regional competition in Ireland, organised by the Irish American Football League. Teams from Northern Ireland compete in the Northern Division of the IAFL. The teams, along with other amateur teams in Northern Ireland and throughout the rest of Ireland, also compete in competitions such as the Shamrock Bowl.
Currently neither of the two universities of Northern Ireland compete in either the British Universities or the IAFL College Bowl.
TeamLocationYear entered league2016 division
Belfast TrojansBelfast2007Shamrock Bowl Conference North
Antrim JetsAntrim2017IAFL2
Carrickfergus KnightsCarrickfergus1994Shamrock Bowl Conference North
Craigavon CowboysCraigavon1986Shamrock Bowl Conference North
Tyrone TitansOmagh2014IAFL1 North

British Universities and Colleges Sport

The British Universities American Football League was formed in 2007 by the BAFA after the organisation that ran its predecessor ceased operations. Since 2012, the league has operated under the jurisdiction of British Universities and Colleges Sport.
The league operates on three tiers – two Premier divisions with 6 regional conferences in the lower two tiers – with most teams from the two Premier divisions competing in postseason Championship playoffs. A system of promotion and relegation is used between the three tiers. The two teams that progress through the playoffs compete in the National Championship Final which is held at the South Leeds Stadium.
The 2016-17 champions are the Stirling Clansmen, who defeated the Durham Saints 10–7 in the final played at the Sixways Stadium, Worcester.
TeamUniversityLocationYear entered
league
2017–18 division
ARU RhinosAnglia Ruskin UniversityCambridge20122A South East
Bangor MuddogsBangor UniversityBangor, Gwynedd20092A North
Bath Killer BeesUniversity of BathBath1992Premier South
Bath Spa BulldogsBath Spa UniversityBath20102A South West
Bedfordshire BullsUniversity of BedfordshireBedford20172A Midlands
Birmingham LionsUniversity of BirminghamBirmingham1989Premier South
Bournemouth University BobcatsBournemouth UniversityBournemouth20142A South West
BNU BuccaneersBuckinghamshire New UniversityChalfont St Giles20082A South
Bradford BearsUniversity of BradfordBradford20112A North
Brighton PanthersUniversity of BrightonBrighton20032A South
Bristol BarracudaUniversity of BristolBristol20072A South West
Brunel BurnersBrunel UniversityUxbridge20101A South
Cambridge PythonsUniversity of CambridgeCambridge20111A South East
Canterbury Christ Church ChargersCanterbury Christ Church UniversityCanterbury20091A South East
Cardiff CobrasCardiff UniversityCardiff19871A South West
Chester LegionUniversity of ChesterChester20162A North
Chichester SpitfiresChichester UniversityChichester20142A South
City SentinelsCity University LondonIslington, London20132A South
Coventry JetsCoventry UniversityCoventry20102A Midlands
Derby BravesUniversity of DerbyDerby1996Premier North
DMU FalconsDe Montfort UniversityLeicester20112A Midlands
Durham SaintsDurham UniversityDurham2007Premier North
Edge Hill VikingsEdge Hill UniversityOrmskirk20152A North
Edinburgh Napier KnightsEdinburgh Napier UniversityEdinburgh20041A North
Edinburgh PredatorsUniversity of EdinburghEdinburgh20092A Borders
Essex BladesUniversity of EssexColchester20012A South East
Exeter DemonsUniversity of ExeterExeter20091A South West
Glasgow TigersUniversity of GlasgowGlasgow19861A North
Gloucestershire GladiatorsUniversity of GloucestershireCheltenham20102A South West
Greenwich MarinersUniversity of GreenwichCrystal Palace20042A South East
Heriot-WattHeriot-Watt UniversityEdinburgh20152A Borders
Hertfordshire HurricanesUniversity of HertfordshireHatfield1994Premier South
Huddersfield HawksUniversity of HuddersfieldHuddersfield20072A Midlands
Hull SharksUniversity of HullKingston upon Hull19851A North
Imperial ImmortalsImperial College LondonSouth Kensington20091A South East
KCL RegentsKing's College LondonSouthwark20102A South
Keele CrusadersKeele UniversityKeele, Staffordshire20132A North
Kent FalconsUniversity of KentCanterbury19961A South East
Kingston CougarsKingston UniversityKingston upon Thames20121A South
Lancaster BombersLancaster UniversityLancaster19912A Borders
Leeds Beckett CarnegieLeeds Beckett UniversityLeeds2009Premier North
Leeds CelticsUniversity of LeedsLeeds19901A Yorkshire
Leicester LonghornsUniversity of LeicesterLeicester19851A Midlands
Lincoln ColonialsUniversity of LincolnLincoln20062A Midlands
Liverpool FuryLiverpool John Moores UniversityLiverpool20081A Yorkshire
Liverpool RaptorsUniversity of LiverpoolLiverpool20152A North
Loughborough StudentsLoughborough UniversityLoughborough1988Premier North
Manchester TyrantsUniversity of ManchesterManchester20092A North
MMU EaglesManchester Metropolitan UniversityManchester20112A Midlands
Newcastle RaidersNewcastle UniversityGateshead19852A Borders
Northampton NemesisUniversity of NorthamptonNorthampton20112A Midlands
Northumbria MustangsNorthumbria UniversityGateshead20081A North
Nottingham StudentsUniversity of NottinghamNottingham19961A Midlands
NTU RenegadesNottingham Trent UniversityNottingham20091A Midlands
OBU PanthersOxford Brookes UniversityOxford20102A South West
Oxford LancersUniversity of OxfordOxford20122A South West
Plymouth BlitzUniversity of PlymouthPlymouth20011A South West
Portsmouth DestroyersUniversity of PortsmouthPortsmouth2006Premier South
Queen Mary and Barts London VipersQueen Mary, University of LondonLondon20162A South East
Reading KnightsUniversity of ReadingReading19871A South
Royal Holloway BearsRoyal Holloway, University of LondonEgham20052A South
Sheffield Hallam WarriorsSheffield Hallam UniversitySheffield20031A Yorkshire
Sheffield SabresUniversity of SheffieldSheffield20001A Yorkshire
Solent RedhawksSouthampton Solent UniversitySouthampton20091A South West
Southampton StagsUniversity of SouthamptonSouthampton19892A South West
Staffordshire StallionsStaffordshire UniversityStoke-on-Trent19921A Midlands
Stirling ClansmenUniversity of StirlingStirling1985Premier North
Sunderland SpartansUniversity of SunderlandSunderland20041A North
Surrey StingersUniversity of SurreyGuildford19941A South
Sussex SaxonsUniversity of SussexFalmer, East Sussex20131A South
Swansea TitansSwansea UniversitySwansea2009Premier South
Tarannau AberystwythAberystwyth UniversityAberystwyth19922A North
Teesside CougarsTeesside UniversityMiddlesbrough19852A Borders
UCLan RamsUniversity of Central LancashirePreston, Lancashire20121A Yorkshire
UCL EmperorsUniversity College LondonLondon20162A South
UEA PiratesUniversity of East AngliaNorwich19871A South East
UEL TitansUniversity of East LondonLondon20152A South East
UWE BulletsUniversity of the West of EnglandFilton19921A South West
UWS PyrosUniversity of the West of Scotland, Paisley CampusPaisley20032A Borders
Warwick WolvesUniversity of WarwickWarwick19891A Midlands
Worcester RoyalsUniversity of WorcesterWorcester20092A Midlands
York CenturionsUniversity of YorkYork20092A Borders
YSJ JaguarsYork St John UniversityYork20172A Borders

American High School League in Europe

The American High School League in Europe is a competition organised by the European branch of the Department of Defense Dependents Schools. The teams in this league are drawn from high schools affiliated with US military bases within Europe, with the exception of South Gloucestershire and Stroud College which is a further education college located in Filton, England. The league in its present format was founded in 1975, with its constituent teams divided into three divisions. All teams play a regular season schedule against the other teams in their regional conference, with the top-ranked teams competing in playoffs to decide the divisional champions. As of 2017, only one team based in the United Kingdom competes in the league, compared to the five teams that competed in 2012.
TeamLocationDivision
Alconbury DragonsAlconbury High School, Alconbury
Bristol Academy PRIDESouth Gloucestershire and Stroud College, Filton
Lakenheath LancersLakenheath High School, RAF LakenheathDivision I
Menwith Hill MustangsMenwith Hill Elementary/High School, RAF Menwith Hill
Southbank BlackhawksSouthbank International School, London

Bristol Academy Community League

The Bristol Academy Community League is a competition set up by the Bristol Academy of Sport in December 2012 for school pupils in Bristol and its surrounding areas. The league provides competition for players in the 14-17 and 17-20 year age brackets. The league comprises six teams, representing a specific geographic area.
TeamArea represented
Bristol CowboysCentral Bristol
Bristol GatorsBath and East Bristol
Bristol BobcatsSouth Gloucestershire and North Bristol
Bristol FalconsSomerset and South Bristol
Swindon StormSwindon
Welsh TomahawksNewport