Rotterdam Trojans
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Year founded: 1984 | |
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City | Rotterdam, Netherlands |
Other nicknames | Trojans |
Team colors | Green and White |
Head Coach Seniors | {{{coach_senior}}} |
Head Coach Youth | Danny Jansen |
Head Coach Flag | Vacant |
Chairman | Michel Boerman |
League/Conference affiliations | |
AFBN (2001–present)
NAFF (1984–1997)
AFLN (1998–2000)
Benelux League (1999–2000) |
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Team history | |
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Championships | |
Tulip Bowl National Championships (2)
1996, 1997 |
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Tulip Bowl Runners-up (2)
1995, 2002 |
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Div.2 Championships (0) | |
Div.2 Runners-up(0) | |
AFLN National Championships (2)
1998, 1999 |
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AFLN Runners-up (0) | |
Benelux Championships (3)
1995,1999,2000 |
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Benelux Runners-up(0) | |
Eurobowl Championships (0) | |
Eurobowl Runners-up(0) | |
EFAF Cup Championships (0) | |
EFAF Cup Runners-up(0) | |
Home field | |
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[edit] History
Founded in 1984, the Rotterdam Trojans are the second oldest surviving team in the Netherlands (only the Amsterdam Crusaders are older. Upon foundation, the Trojans immediately joined the national American Football body at the time, the NAFF (Nederlandse American Football Federatie).
After beginning in the second tier (NAFF Division One), the Trojans managed an undefeated championship season (12-0) in 1988 and gained promotion to the Premier Division. However, this step proved too much for the Trojans who were immediately relegated.
After a divisional reorganisation the Trojans moved back to the highest division, where they remain to this day. National Tulip Bowl titles were won in 1996 and 1997. Outside the NAFF, the Rotterdam Trojans also competed in the Eurobowl competitions in 1995 (losing in the first round to Birmingham Bulls) and reached the Eurobowl B final in 1996, losing 7-0 in the final to St. Gallen Seaside Vipers.
In 1998 the Trojans joined the breakaway AFLN (American Football League Nederland) and won two AFLN "National" championships. In addition, partipation in the Dutch-Belgian Benelux League saw Rotterdam pick up two Benelux Bowl titles in 1999 and 2000 to add to their first (non-official) win in 1995.
In 2001 the NAFF and AFLN put aside their differences to merge into the current organisational structure: the AFBN (American Football Bond Nederland).
A large re-building operation over the last 6 years has seen Rotterdam have intermittent success, reaching the Tulip Bowl final in 2002 and the semi-finals several times. The Trojans have been very successful in recruitment recently and look to be on their way to becoming a challenger once more for the national championship of the Netherlands.
In 2006 the Rotterdam Trojans returned to wearing their original team colours of green and white after several years of red and yellow. the play their home games at the renovated "City of Troje".