American football is becoming more and more popular in the United Kingdom. There are numerous reasons for this, not the least of which is the fact that National Football League games are being shown by broadcasters such as Sky Sports, making it more accessible to an audience that might not have seen much of it in the past.
Then there’s the fact that locations such as Wembley Stadium and the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium host NFL matches every year, allowing people to get along and watch games played live. There are a number of teams that are based in London, which are as follows:
London Blitz
Based in Finsbury Park in the North of London, the London Blitz were formed in 1995 when two existing teams decided to merge together. They were the Ealing Eagles and the London Generals, meaning that the Blitz can be dated back to 1984. Having worked their way up through the lower divisions, the Blitz ended up in the Premier Division and won the BritBowl for the first time in 2007. They play their games in navy blue jerseys with white shorts and navy socks, as well as white helmets that bear a navy blue oval logo. They also operate a number of youth teams as well as a second team.
London Olympians
Formed in 1983, the London Olympians originally played on Streatham Common and were named after a local gym owned by the business partner of the team’s creator, taking on the moniker of Streatham Olympians. For a time, they were known as the London Os, and they won the BritBowl on a regular basis between 1995 and 2005. They are one of the most successful American football teams in the United Kingdom, reclaiming the Olympians name in 2009. They won every game that they played between 1998 and 2004, which is the longest unbeaten streak in the UK.
London Warriors
The London Warriors were formed in 2007 as a senior team for a successful youth side that had won. The British Youth American Football Association title two years running. Their application to join the British American Football League was formerly accepted in the December, and they went on to play in the BritBowl at the first time of asking. It took until 2013 before they eventually won it, but they then won it four times in succession. There have been some notable players who have made their way through the ranks of the London Warriors, including NFL player Efe Obada.
Wembley Stallions
The Wembley Stallions team was founded in 2013 and initially had one aim: to give people a safe and fun place for anyone hoping to play American football to do so. Both boys and girls aged thirteen and over can take part in contact football through the club, and recruitment is an ongoing process, so if you want to be able to take part, then you can do so. Although they’re named after Wembley, the club’s games are actually played at the London Post Office Sport & Social Association in Harrow, which is on the edge of Wembley, as opposed to Wembley Stadium.
Other American Football Teams in London
Whilst the ones mentioned above are the main teams that adults who are looking to play full-contact American football can get involved in, they aren’t the only teams on offer to people. There are also some women’s teams and flag football teams who you can turn to if you want to get your American football fix. As you might imagine, these come in and out of being on a regular basis depending on what is happening regarding funding and the number of players that want to take part, but here are some of the ones that we know about:
- London Amazons
- Baker Street Buttonhookers
- South London Renegades
- London Rebels
- London Smoke
- Victoria Park Panthers
Ways in for Younger Players
If you are a younger fan of American football or someone who knows one, you might be wondering what options there are available around the sport in the English capital. The most obvious answer to that comes in the form of university teams, which often provide something of a feeder to the bigger clubs in the city. Here is a look at some of the better-known American football teams based in London universities:
- City Wolfpack
- Imperial Immortals
- KCL Regents
- Queen Mary and Barts London Vipers
- Royal Holloway Bears
- UCL Emperors
- UEL Titans
South London Renegades
Whether you’re someone who is absolutely obsessed with American football or you’re just interested in getting to know more, the South London Renegades are a good place to start. It is an American football programme that has been around since 2008, when Steve Verrall created it as a way to introduce young people to the world of gridiron but also to look at ways of improving the lives of young people. Ever since then, the primary aim of the Renegades has been to help people aged between 16 and 19 get a gateway into the exhilarating sport.
The main idea that the South London Renegades have based their existence on is that mentoring is one of the best ways for people to grow and learn. As a result, the Mentor’s Program looks to make use of American football as a basis for giving guidance to those that need it. Once people have learned the ropes, they have the possibility of making it onto the Future Elite Program, which aims to take each player’s game to the next level. South London Renegades work with well-known organisations to create connections and built a positive community with American football at its heart.