British Collegiate American Football League

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The British Collegiate American Football League (BCAFL) is an American football league consisting of players from various colleges and universities in the United Kingdom. The league officially began in the 1985-1986 season with 4 teams, and celebrated its 20th aniversary with 37 teams to start the 2005-2006 campaign. The league expanded again for the 2006-2007 season, with the introduction of teams in Lincoln and Portsmouth, bringing the total number of BCAFL teams to 39.

While the game is played by university students and it largely follows the rules of American college football (though there are restrictions on the number of North American players allowed on the field at one time), it organizationally resembles the professional National Football League. As opposed to the conference and "bowl game" set-up used in American college football, the BCAFL divides itself into two conferences and uses a season-ending playoff system, similar to the NFL. At the end of an 8-game regular season, 16 of the 39 BCAFL teams advance to the playoffs (the playoffs expanded from 12 to 16 teams in the 2004-2005 season), with the 4 division champions and 4 "wild card" teams from each conference participating. The playoffs culminate with a championship game, called the "College Bowl" which features the champions of the Northern and Southern Conferences. Another difference between British and American college football is the fact that some British teams recruit players from more than one university.

Throughout its existence, the BCAFL has been plagued by the fact that some of its teams play at a vastly higher skill level than others. Over the past decade, however, the BSAFA (The British Student American Football Association is responsible for the operations of the BCAFL) has made great strides towards competitive balance, increasing the skill level on the field, and expanding the game throughout the UK.

Contents

[edit] BCAFL Teams

Teams are listed within their divisions, with their all-time regular season record listed in parentheses (records include ONLY official BCAFL regular season games through the 2005-06 season, as recorded in the BCAFL official all-time records).

[edit] Northern Conference

[edit] Scottish Division

Team Record Winning Pct. Division Champ. Conference Champ. BCAFL Champ.
Caledonian Roughriders 6-18-0 .250 0 0 0
Edinburgh Timberwolves 7-9-0 .438 0 0 0
Glasgow Tigers 87-52-13 .615 8 3 1
Paisley Pyros 20-53-5 .288 0 0 0
Stirling Clansmen 66-65-13 .503 5 1 1


[edit] Eastern Division

Team Record Winning Pct. Division Champ. Conference Champ. BCAFL Champ.
Leeds Celtics 91-24-10 .750 7 3 1
Newcastle Raiders 59-78-8 .434 1 1 0
Sunderland Kings 16-67-5 .210 0 0 0
UT Cougars 68-75-12 .477 5 3 2

[edit] Western Division

Team Record Winning Pct. Division Champ. Conference Champ. BCAFL Champ.
UCH Sharks 77-67-11 .532 5 3 4
Lancaster Bombers 58-56-6 .508 2 0 0
Lincoln Colonials 0-0-0 .000 0 0 0
Sheffield Sabres 40-61-9 .405 0 0 0
Sheffield Hallam Warriors 9-14-1 .396 1 0 0

[edit] Central Division

Team Record Winning Pct. Division Champ. Conference Champ. BCAFL Champ.
Derby Braves 28-49-2 .367 0 0 0
UEA Pirates 75-70-4 .517 2 1 0
Leicester Longhorns 66-81-8 .452 1 2 0
Loughborough Aces 114-27-1 .806 11 5 3
Nottingham Outlaws 43-37-0 .537 1 0 0

[edit] Southern Conference

[edit] Central Division

Team Record Winning Pct. Division Champ. Conference Champ. BCAFL Champ.
Tarannau Aberystwyth 48-60-4 .446 3 1 0
Birmingham Lions 88-39-9 .680 6 2 1
Oxford Cavaliers 62-54-4 .533 4 2 1
Staffordshire Stallions 59-44-9 .567 3 1 0
Warwick Wolves 49-77-8 .396 1 0 0

[edit] Eastern Division

Team Record Winning Pct. Division Champ. Conference Champ. BCAFL Champ.
ARU Phantoms 1-23-0 .042 0 0 0
Essex Blades 11-25-3 .321 0 0 0
Greenwich Mariners 9-6-0 .600 1 0 0
Hertfordshire Hurricanes 67-23-6 .729 7 5 4
Kent Falcons 25-56-0 .291 0 0 0
Royal Holloway Vikings 2-6-0 .250 0 0 0

[edit] Western Division

Team Record Winning Pct. Division Champ. Conference Champ. BCAFL Champ.
Bath Killer Bees 56-47-9 .540 2 0 0
Bristol Bullets 42-59-11 .424 2 0 0
Cardiff Cobras 98-39-13 .697 11 2 1
Plymouth Blitz 12-28-0 .300 0 0 0

[edit] Southern Division

Team Record Winning Pct. Division Champ. Conference Champ. BCAFL Champ.
Brighton Tsunami 10-13-1 .438 0 0 0
Portsmouth Destroyers 0-0-0 .000 0 0 0
Reading Knights 24-116-8 .189 0 0 0
Southampton Stags 82-44-10 .640 4 3 3
Surrey Stingers 47-44-5 .516 2 0 0

[edit] Defunct Teams

  • Aberdeen Steamroller (0-8-0, .000)
  • Aston Rhinos (10-43-3, .205)
  • Cambridge Pythons (38-16-2, .696)
  • Dundee Bluedevils (1-7-0, .125)
  • Manchester MPs (3-12-2, .235)
  • Strathclyde Hawks (64-41-15, .596)

[edit] BCAFL/College Bowl Champions

  • 1986 - Hull Sharks (5-0)
  • 1987 - College Bowl I: Hull Sharks def. Newcastle Scholars 23-6
  • 1988 - CB II: Cardiff Cobras tie Hull Sharks 0-0 (declared Co-Champions)
  • 1989 - CB III: Hull Sharks def. Cardiff Cobras 7-6
  • 1990 - CB IV: Teesside Demons def. Birmingham Lions 21-20
  • 1991 - CB V: Teesside Demons def. UEA Pirates 19-0
  • 1992 - CB VI: Southampton Stags def. Glasgow Tigers 53-0
  • 1993 - CB VII: Southampton Stags def. Leeds Celtics 19-0
  • 1994 - CB VIII: Glasgow Tigers def. Leicester Lemmings 26-0
  • 1995 - CB IX: Loughborough Aces def. Cambridge Pythons 23-20
  • 1996 - CB X: Leeds Celtics def. Cardiff Cobras 14-8
  • 1997 - CB XI: Loughborough Aces def. Tarannau Aberystwyth 28-19
  • 1998 - CB XII: Hertfordshire Hurricanes def. Leeds Celtics 16-7
  • 1999 - CB XIII: Hertfordshire Hurricanes def. Loughborough Aces 7-3
  • 2000 - CB XIV: Hertfordshire Hurricanes def. Leicester Lemmings 20-6
  • 2001 - CB XV: Oxford Cavaliers def. Loughborough Aces 26-23
  • 2002 - CB XVI: Loughborough Aces def. Oxford Cavliers 39-23
  • 2003 - CB XVII: Stirling Clansmen def. Hertfordshire Hurricanes 22-17
  • 2004 - CB XVIII: Hertfordshire Hurricanes def. Staffordshire Stallions 27-6
  • 2005 - CB XIX: Birmingham Lions def. Glasgow Tigers 34-7
  • 2006 - CB XX: Southampton Stags def. UT Cougars 79-8

[edit] 2006-07 Season

NC-Scottish
Team W L T PCT PF PA
Edinburgh Timberwolves 3 2 0 .600 99 61
Glasgow Tigers 2 2 0 .500 81 81
Caledonian Roughriders 2 2 0 .500 38 66
*Stirling Clansmen 0 3 0 .000 0 30
Paisley Pyros 0 5 0 .000 20 145
NC-Eastern
Team W L T PCT PF PA
Newcastle Raiders 6 0 0 1.000 154 34
UT Cougars 4 1 0 .800 186 51
Leeds Celtics 3 2 0 .600 146 73
*Sunderland Kings 2 4 0 .333 41 119
NC-Western
Team W L T PCT PF PA
Sheffield Hallam Warriors 2 0 0 1.000 55 6
Sheffield Sabres 3 1 0 .750 50 6
Lancaster Bombers 2 1 0 .667 30 32
Lincoln Colonials 0 3 0 .000 6 64
UCH Sharks 0 4 0 .000 6 123
NC-Central
Team W L T PCT PF PA
Loughborough Aces 4 0 0 1.000 104 57
UEA Pirates 2 4 0 .333 67 78
Derby Braves 1 2 0 .333 39 72
Leicester Longhorns 1 3 0 .250 28 79
Nottingham Outlaws 0 3 0 .000 21 97
SC-Central
Team W L T PCT PF PA
Birmingham Lions 4 1 0 .800 98 75
Staffordshire Stallions 3 1 0 .750 60 40
Warwick Wolves 2 2 0 .500 90 39
Oxford Cavaliers 2 2 0 .500 45 72
Tarannau Aberystwyth 2 4 0 .333 76 102
SC-Eastern
Team W L T PCT PF PA
Essex Blades 5 0 0 1.000 140 19
Greenwich Mariners 2 3 0 .400 98 80
Hertfordshire Hurricanes 2 3 0 .400 172 84
Kent Falcons 2 3 0 .400 56 80
Royal Holloway Vikings 1 3 0 .250 51 158
ARU Phantoms 1 4 0 .200 36 150
SC-Western
Team W L T PCT PF PA
Cardiff Cobras 3 0 0 1.000 53 12
Bath Killer Bees 3 0 0 1.000 114 50
Bristol Bullets 2 2 0 .500 118 73
Plymouth Blitz 0 3 0 .000 10 108
SC-Southern
Team W L T PCT PF PA
Southampton Stags 4 0 0 1.000 132 23
Brighton Tsunami 2 2 0 .500 52 53
Surrey Stingers 2 2 0 .500 71 82
Reading Knights 2 2 0 .500 56 86
Portsmouth Destroyers 1 3 0 .250 32 81


  • y - Clinched Division Title
  • x - Clinched Playoff Berth
  • * - Disqualified from BCAFL playoffs

[edit] Recent fixtures

[edit] December 10, 2006

  • UT Cougars 32, Glasgow Tigers 12
  • Caledonian Roughriders (2-2) @ Stirling Clansmen (0-3) - PPD
  • Edinburgh Timberwolves 28, Paisley Pyros 8
  • Leeds Celtics 45, UCH Sharks 0
  • Newcastle Raiders 1, Sunderland Kings 0 (forfeit)
  • Loughborough Aces 6, Sheffield Sabres 3
  • Lancaster Bombers (2-1) @ Sheffield Hallam Warriors (2-0) - PPD
  • Derby Braves (1-2) @ Nottingham Outlaws (0-3) - PPD
  • Birmingham Lions 20, UEA Pirates 6
  • Staffordshire Stallions 22, Tarannau Aberystwyth 6
  • Bath Killer Bees 40, Bristol Bullets 15
  • Southampton Stags 28, Greenwich Mariners 3
  • Hertfordshire Hurricanes 67, Royal Holloway Vikings 6
  • Essex Blades 43, ARU Phantoms 0
  • Portsmouth Destroyers 12, Reading Knights 6

[edit] February 4, 2007

  • Lancaster Bombers (2-1) @ Leeds Celtics (3-2)
  • Sheffield Hallam Warriors (2-0) @ Sheffield Sabres (3-1)
  • UCH Sharks (0-4) @ Lincoln Colonials (0-3)
  • Nottingham Outlaws (0-3) @ Derby Braves (1-2)
  • Leicester Longhorns (1-3) @ Warwick Wolves (2-2)
  • Royal Holloway Vikings (1-3) @ Oxford Cavaliers (2-2)
  • Bath Killer Bees (3-0) @ Bristol Bullets (2-2)
  • Reading Knights (2-2) @ Surrey Stingers (2-2)

[edit] 2006 BCAFL Playoffs

  Wild Card Round Divisional Round Conference Championships College Bowl XX
                                     
1  Loughborough Aces 30  
8  Stirling Clansmen 7  
  1  Loughborough Aces 34  
  7  Newcastle Raiders 2  
2  Glasgow Tigers 12
7  Newcastle Raiders 22  
  1  Loughborough Aces 14  
Northern Conference
  3  UT Cougars 21  
3  UT Cougars 44  
6  Sheffield Sabres 12  
  3  UT Cougars 26
  4  Staffordshire Stallions 6  
4  Staffordshire Stallions 6
5  Leeds Celtics 0  
  N3  UT Cougars 8
  S6  Southampton Stags 79
1  Birmingham Lions 21  
8  Hertfordshire Hurricanes 14  
  1  Birmingham Lions 14
  6  Southampton Stags 19  
3  Surrey Stingers 14
6  Southampton Stags 63  
  6  Southampton Stags 19
Southern Conference
  2  Cardiff Cobras 6  
2  Cardiff Cobras 25  
7  Bath Killer Bees 12  
  2  Cardiff Cobras 14
  5  Bristol Bullets 6  
4  Greenwich Mariners 6
5  Bristol Bullets 22  

[edit] Other BCAFL Operations/Connections

Each season, the BCAFL holds an annual All-Star game between the Northern Conference Cougars and the Southern Conference Wildcats. Trials for these All-Star teams are open to all in the league. Along with the acolades of competing for their conference, All-Star players are also eligible to try-out for the Great Britain Bulldogs, a national college team that competes with North American and other European American football national teams.

[edit] External links

          Professional Gridiron Football Leagues
Major Leagues
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Minor Leagues
Outdoor: All American Football League

Indoor & Arena: American Indoor Football Association | American Professional Football League | arenafootball2 | Continental Indoor Football League | Eastern Indoor Football League | Intense Football League | National Indoor Football League | North American Indoor Football League | United Indoor Football | World Indoor Football League
Semi-Professional Leagues
Alliance Football League | Empire Football League | Mid Continental Football League | Minor League Football Association | North American Football League | Southern States Football League
Non-North American Leagues
American Football Northern Conference | American Football Wellington | Asia Pacific Football League | Auckland Premier Gridiron League | British American Football League | British Collegiate American Football League | Danish American Football Federation | German Football League | Irish American Football League | NFL Europa | Norway American Football Federation | Southside Football League | X-League
Defunct Leagues
All-America Football Conference | American Football League | United States Football League | World Football League | XFL
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