| Sport | American football |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1987 |
| No. of teams | 50 (across three divisions) |
| Country(ies) | United Kingdom |
| Ceased | 2010 |
| Last champion(s) | London Blitz |
The British American Football League (BAFL) was the United Kingdom's primary American Football league from 1998 until 2010. It was formerly known as the British Senior League (BSL) until 2005[1]. BAFL was the trading name for Gridiron Football League Ltd incorporated as a Company limited by guarantee. Registration number: 2353839. The company went into administration on 1 April 2010, and the company ceased to trade as from this date.[2]
The League had 3 divisions: Premier, 1 and 2, each with a playoff series and championship game to determine a winner. The Championship participants were promoted to the divisions above and the lowest ranking teams in each division are relegated.
Teams competed annually to reach the championship game (BritBowl) and win the Boston Trophy. The game was traditionally hosted at Sheffield's Don Valley Stadium, however the venue for the finals was switched in 2008 because of a schedule conflict with Rotherham United FC, the stadium's temporary tenants,[3] with the match instead being played at the Keepmoat Stadium in Doncaster.[4]
Tensions grew between the directors of BAFL and those of the British American Football Association.<, the governing body throughout 2009 and at the beginning of 2010, BAFL formally, but unconstitutionally withdrew, from BAFA. This led to uproar from the teams within BAFL, ultimately signalling the end for BAFL as an entity. The league ceased operations on 1 April 2010. The league was replaced by the BAFA Community Leagues for the 2010 season. This organisation, run under the umbrella of the governing body, rebranded in 2011 to become the BAFA National Leagues.
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Like most sports in Europe, but unlike most professional American football leagues, the BAFL uses the system of promotion and relegation, with the league divided into three divisions, "Premier," "Division 1" and "Division 2."
The BAFL's Premier Division for the 2009 season comprised five teams; this was due to the late withdrawal of the London Olympians shortly before the start of the 2008 season,[6] together with the voluntary withdrawal of the East Kilbride Pirates,[7] and the relegation of the Birmingham Bulls and Gateshead Senators following their failure to fulfill all of their fixtures the previous season.[8]
Division 1 comprised nineteen teams split into three regional conferences. As well as the teams relegated from the Premier Division, this included seven teams promoted from Division Two.[8]
| Division 1 North | Division 1 South-East | Division 1 South-West |
|---|---|---|
Division 2 comprised 26 teams split into six regional conferences. This included the three new teams accepted as associate members, plus the London Olympians who were re-admitted to this division.
| Division 2 Scottish | Division 2 North | Division 2 Central | Division 2 East | Division 2 South East | Division 2 South West |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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