Such is the popularity of American football in the United Kingdom nowadays, there are clubs playing the sport available up and down the country. The Bristol Aztecs are a good example of this, being based in the town of Filton in Gloucestershire and competing in the Premier South division of the BAFA National Leagues.
The fact that they are the only American football team based in the south-west of the country means that they are a popular one for those who live in the area and like to engage in gridiron as a sport. You can join them as a player or as a volunteer, depending on your interest.
A Brief History of the Aztecs
Here’s our domestic schedule for 2025 pic.twitter.com/ptM9ApxoT9
— Bristol Aztecs (@BristolAztecs) January 23, 2025
The Bristol Aztecs formed in 1990, winning the Division Two championship nine years later. In 2003, both the Youth and Junior teams were established, offering younger people in the area the chance to play some American football and also make their way through the ranks into the first team. Operating out of Filton’s Shaftesbury Park, the team represents Bristol as a city, thanks to the fact that it was formed there. When the British American Football League underwent a reorganisation in 2007, the Aztecs remained in the Premier Division and have competed in it since.
As the 2020 campaign approached, the Aztecs chose to join the SGS College’s Academy Setup, adopting the Bristol Academy Pride branding as a result. That included the likes of helmets, uniforms and new colours. The club’s popularity has gone from strength to strength, thanks to the overall popularity of the National Football League in the United Kingdom. Everyone is welcome at the club, with the senior team populated by those aged 18 and over, whilst the Youth and Junior teams are made up of everyone aged 14-19 in order to ensure a more level playing field.