American football was introduced to the United Kingdom during the early part of the 20th century by American servicemen stationed in the country. The first recorded match took place on 23 November 1910 at Crystal Palace, London, where a team made up of the crew from USS Idaho defeated their counterparts from USS Vermont 19–0.[1][2] During the Second World War, matches were played by American and Canadian servicemen stationed in the UK at venues throughout the country. This included the 'Tea Bowl' game played at the White City Stadium in 1944,[3] and this was followed by the creation of the United States Armed Forces Europe (USAFE) league in 1946. This league consisted of teams from American military bases throughout Europe, with one of the league's three conferences made up of teams based in the UK – teams from this conference won the league championship thirteen times until the competition ceased in 1993.[4][5]
The first teams open to British players were established in 1983, and competition began the following year in the form of a series of one-off games. The match results were compiled into a 'Merit Table', with teams playing more than three games eligible for the championship—the first champions were the London Ravens, who won all ten of their matches.[6][7] Hundreds of clubs have since been formed, playing both full contact football and flag football at senior, university and youth level. Many of these clubs have since folded, renamed or merged with other local teams, but a few of the older clubs survive today.
The sport is administered by the British American Football Association (BAFA), with two main bodies of competition; the BAFA National Leagues (BAFANL) and the British Universities American Football League (operating as part of the British Universities and Colleges Sport competition).
National Football League
As part of the NFL International Series, the National Football League, which otherwise has all of its teams resident in the United States, has one team with a permanent part-time residence in the UK.
| Team | Location | Term | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jacksonville Jaguars | Wembley Stadium, Wembley, London | 2013–2020 | One game per year |
The league also plays neutral-site games in London under the International Series banner. Since 2007, these have all been at Wembley Stadium; in 2019, the neutral-site games moved to the new home of Tottenham Hotspur.
BAFA National Leagues
The BAFA National Leagues (BAFANL) was formed in 2010 by the BAFA in response to the British American Football League's decision to split from the governing body.[8]
The senior league's membership comprises 68 teams based in towns ranging from Newquay in the south of England to Aberdeen in Scotland. The league is split into two regional conferences; the Southern Football Conference (SFC) and the Northern Football Conference (NFC). The teams within each conference are spread across three tiers with promotion and relegation between each level. The bottom two tiers are further divided into regional conferences.[9] The top-ranking teams in each division compete in playoffs culminating in divisional finals—the championship game contested by the top Premier Division teams is known as the BritBowl. The 2017 champions are the Tamworth Phoenix, who defeated the London Blitz 34–28 in the final held at the Sixways Stadium.[10]
In addition to adult contact football, the BAFA runs youth, junior and women's contact football, and also flag football across all age ranges.[11] A number of the teams within the league operate teams across two or more of these competitions. The British American Football Association defines the age ranges used within the league as follows:[12]
| Designation | Ages (contact) | Ages (flag) |
|---|---|---|
| Adult | 18 and above | 16 and above |
| Women | 17 and above | 16 and above |
| Under 19s | 16 to 19 | — |
| Under 17s | 14 to 17 | 17 and below |
| Under 12s | — | 12 and below |
| * | Team competing in the BAFANL's Adult Contact League (2020 season) |
| Team | Location | Years in Senior/Adult League | 2020 BAFANL Adult Division[9] | 2020 BAFA Adult Adult Flag Football Division[13] | 2020 BAFA Under-19 Division[14] | 2020 BAFA Under-17 Division[15] | Other teams[16][17] |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aberdeen Oilcats | Aberdeen | — | — | Highland North / North | — | — | — |
| Aberdeen Roughnecks* | Aberdeen | 2014–[18] | NFC 1 North | — | — | — | — |
| Aylesbury Vale Spartans | Aylesbury | — | — | Southeastern / North | — | — | — |
| Basingstoke Barracudas | Basingstoke | — | — | Southeastern / South | — | — | — |
| Beeston Bears | Beeston, Nottinghamshire | — | — | Mid-England / South | — | — | — |
| Berkshire Renegades* | Reading | 1985–87, 1989, 2006–2014, 2016—[19] | SFC East 2 | — | — | South | — |
| Birmingham Bulls* | Birmingham | 1984–[20] | NFC 2 South | — | — | Central | — |
| Birmingham Lions | Birmingham | — | — | Southwestern / North | South | Central | — |
| Black Country Vipers | Stourbridge | — | — | — | South | Central | — |
| Blisworth Five | Blisworth | — | — | Southeastern / North | — | — | — |
| Bournemouth Bobcats* | Bournemouth | 1986–1991, 2011–[21] | SFC 2 South | — | — | — | — |
| Bristol Apache* | Bristol | 2011–[22] | SFC West 2 | — | — | — | — |
| Bristol Aztecs* | Bristol | 1991–[23] | Premier South | — | — | — | — |
| Buckinghamshire Wolves | Marlow | — | — | — | — | South | Youth flag, Cadet flag |
| Burnley Tornados* | Burnley | 2015— | Associate | Mid-England / North | — | North West | 8 vs 8 Contact League |
| Bury Saints* | Bury St Edmunds | 2014–[24] | SFC East 1 | — | — | — | — |
| Calderdale Knights | Halifax | — | — | Mid-England / North | — | — | — |
| Cambridgeshire Cats* | Cambridge | 1985–90, 1993–98, 2002–[25][26] | SFC East 1 | — | — | — | — |
| Cardiff Hurricanes | Cardiff | — | — | Southwestern / South | — | — | — |
| Carlisle Kestrels | Carlisle | 2019— | Associate | — | — | — | — |
| Carlisle Sentinels | Carlisle | 2015—2019 | — | — | — | — | — |
| Carnegie Reapers | Dunfermline | — | — | Highland North / South | — | — | — |
| Carnegie Steelers | Dunfermline | — | — | Highland North / North | — | — | — |
| Chester Romans* | Chester | 1987–[27] | NFC South 1 | — | North | North West | — |
| Chichester Sharks | Chichester | — | — | Southeastern / South | — | — | — |
| Chorley Buccaneers | Chorley | — | — | — | North | North West | Youth flag, Cadet flag |
| Clyde Valley Blackhawks* | Wishaw | 2009–[28] | NFC North 2 | — | — | — | — |
| Cobham Cougars | Cobham, Surrey | — | — | — | South | South | — |
| Colchester Gladiators* | Wivenhoe | 1985–95, 2005–[29] | SFC East 2 | — | — | South East | — |
| Cornish Sharks* | Newquay | 2007–[30] | SFC West 2 | — | — | South West (development) | — |
| Coventry Cougars | Coventry | — | — | — | — | — | Youth flag, Cadet flag |
| Coventry Jets | Coventry | 1991–93, 2004–2018[31] | — | — | — | — | — |
| Crewe Railroaders* | Crewe | 1985–90, 2012–[32] | NFC 2 South | — | — | — | — |
| Doncaster Colts | Doncaster | — | — | — | — | North East / Yorkshire | — |
| Doncaster Mustangs* | Doncaster | 2003–[33] | NFC East 2 | — | — | — | — |
| Dumfries Hunters* | Dumfries | 2017— | NFC North 2 | — | — | — | — |
| Dunbeth Dragons | Coatbridge | — | — | Highland North / North | — | — | — |
| Dundee Hurricanes | Dundee | 2003–2019[34] | — | — | — | — | — |
| Dunfermline Kings | Dunfermline | 2017— | NFC North 2 | Highland North / North | — | — | — |
| Dunfermline Revolution | Dunfermline | — | — | Highland North / North | — | — | — |
| East Essex Sabres* | Shoeburyness | 2017— | SFC East 2 | — | — | South East (development) | — |
| East Kent Mavericks* | Canterbury | 2006–[35] | SFC 1 East | — | — | South East | — |
| East Kilbride Pirates* | Hamilton | 1986–[36] | NFC North 1 | — | North | Scotland | — |
| Edinburgh Napier Knights | Edinburgh | — | — | — | — | Scotland (development) | — |
| Edinburgh Outlaws | Edinburgh | — | — | Highland North / South | — | — | — |
| Edinburgh Wolves* | Edinburgh | 2003–[37] | Premier North | — | North | Scotland | — |
| Essex Spartans* | Billericay | 1999–[38] | SFC 2 East | — | — | South East | — |
| Etone Jaguars | Nuneaton | — | — | — | — | Central | — |
| Rushmoor Knights * | Farnborough | 1986–[39] | SFC Central 1 | — | South | South West | — |
| Furness Phantoms* | Ulverston | 2014–[40] | NFC West 2 | — | — | — | — |
| Gateshead Senators* | Gateshead | 1986–[41] | NFC North 2 | — | — | North East / Yorkshire | — |
| Glasgow Hornets | Glasgow | — | — | Highland North / North | — | — | — |
| Glasgow Tigers* | Glasgow | 1986–[42] | NFC 1 North | — | — | Scotland (development) | — |
| Gloucester Centurions | Gloucester | 2009–2014[43] | — | Southwestern / South | — | — | — |
| Grangemouth Broncos | Grangemouth | — | — | Highland North / South | — | — | — |
| Halton Spartans* | Widnes | 2015— | NFC South 1 | — | — | North West (development) | — |
| Hamilton Buccaneers | Hamilton | — | — | — | — | Scotland | — |
| Hastings Conquerors* | Hastings | 2015— | SFC East 2 | — | — | — | — |
| Hereford Stampede* | Hereford | 2020— | SFC Central 2 | — | — | — | — |
| Hertfordshire Cheetahs* | Watford, Hertfordshie | 1987–[44] | SFC East 1 | — | South | South | Youth flag, Cadet flag |
| Highland Stags | Inverness | 2009–[28] | Associate | — | North | Scotland | — |
| Horsham Buccaneers | Horsham | — | — | — | — | — | Youth flag |
| Humber Warhawks* | Kingston upon Hull | 2015— | NFC 2 South | — | — | — | — |
| Inverclyde Goliaths* | Greenock | 2018— | NFC North 1 | — | — | Scotland | — |
| Ipswich Cardinals* | Ipswich | 1987–[45] | SFC 2 East | — | — | South East (development) | — |
| Jurassic Coast Raptors | Dorchester | 2016—[46] | SFC South 2 | — | — | — | — |
| Kent Exiles* | Orpington | 1991–[47] | Premier South | — | South | South East / London (2 teams) | — |
| Kent Phoenix | Maidstone | — | — | — | — | South East | — |
| King's Lynn Patriots | King's Lynn | — | Associate | — | — | — | 8 vs 8 League |
| Knottingley Raiders* | Knottingley | 2017— | NFC 2 South | — | — | — | — |
| Lancashire Wolverines* | Blackburn | 1988–2004, 2007–[48] | NFC South 1 | — | — | — | — |
| Leeds Academy Assassins | Leeds | — | — | — | North | North East / Yorkshire | — |
| Leeds Bobcats* | Leeds | 2015 | NFC East 2 | — | — | — | — |
| Leeds Samurai | Leeds | — | — | Mid-England / North | — | — | — |
| Leeds Tornadoes | Leeds | — | — | Mid-England / North | — | — | — |
| Leicester Eagles | Leicester | — | — | Southwestern / North | — | — | — |
| Leicester Falcons* | Leicester | 2008–[49] | NFC South 1 | — | — | Central | — |
| Leicester Huntsmen | Leicester | — | — | — | — | — | Youth Flag |
| Lincolnshire Bombers* | Lincoln, Lincolnshire | 2007–[50] | NFC East 2 | — | North | North East / Yorkshire | — |
| Lincolnshire Longhorns | Lincoln, Lincolnshire | 2018— | — | — | — | — | — |
| London Barracuda | London | — | — | Southeastern / South | — | — | — |
| London Blitz* | Finsbury Park | 1984–[51] | Premier South / SFC South 2 (London Blitz B) | Southeastern / South | South | London | Youth flag |
| London Hornets* | Camden Town | 2014—[52] | SFC East 1 | — | — | — | — |
| London Olympians* | Crystal Palace | 1984–2007, 2009–[53] | Premier South | — | — | — | — |
| London Rebels | Kennington Park | — | — | Southeastern / South | — | — | — |
| London Smoke | Clapham Common | 2018 - | — | — | — | — | London Flash |
| London Vipers | Crystal Palace | — | — | Southeastern / South | — | — | — |
| London Warriors* | Boston Manor | 2008–[54] | Premier South | — | — | London | — |
| Maidstone Pumas* | Maidstone | 1998–2014, 2016—[55] | SFC East 2 | — | — | — | — |
| Manchester Crows | Manchester | — | — | Mid-England / South | — | — | — |
| Manchester Titans* | Manchester | 2003, 2005–[56] | Premier North | Mid-England / South | North | North West (2 teams) | — |
| Mansfield Honey Badgers | Mansfield | — | — | Mid-England / South | — | — | — |
| Merseyside Nighthawks* | Birkenhead | 1986–[57] | Premier North | — | North | North West (development) | — |
| Merthyr Tydfil Thunder Ducks | Merthyr Tydfil | — | — | Southwestern / South | — | — | — |
| Moray Tide | Lossiemouth | — | — | — | — | Scotland | — |
| Morecambe Bay Storm* | Morecambe | 2017— | NFC West 2 | — | — | — | — |
| Nairnshire Dragons | Nairn | — | — | — | — | Scotland (development) | — |
| Northern Nightmare | Sunderland | — | — | Highland North / South | — | — | — |
| Northants Knights* | Northampton | 2019- | SFC Central 2 | Associate League | |||
| Northants Phantoms | Northampton | — | — | Southwestern / North | — | — | — |
| Northants Titans | Northampton | — | — | Southwestern / North | — | — | Youth flag |
| North East Academy | Newcastle upon Tyne | — | — | — | — | North East / Yorkshire | — |
| Northumberland Thunder | Cramlington | — | — | Highland North / South | — | — | — |
| Northumberland Vikings* | Woolsington | 2015— | NFC North 1 | — | — | — | — |
| Norwich Devils | Norwich | 1986–2011, 2018[58] | SFC East 2[9] | — | — | South East (development) | — |
| Nottingham Caesars* | Nottingham | 1995–[59] | NFC South 1 | — | North | — | — |
| Ouse Valley Eagles* | Bedford | 2014[60] | SFC Central 2 | — | — | South | — |
| Oxford Killer Ponies | Oxford | — | — | Southwestern / South | — | — | — |
| Oxford Saints* | Abingdon | 1984–[61] | SFC Central 1 | — | — | — | — |
| Peterborough Saxons | Peterborough | 2002–2016[62] | — | — | — | — | — |
| Plymouth Buccaneers | Plymouth | — | — | Southwestern / South | — | — | — |
| Portsmouth Dreadnoughts* | Portsmouth | 2014–[63] | SFC Central 1 | — | — | — | — |
| Reading Lions | Reading | — | — | Southeastern / North & South (2 teams) | — | — | — |
| Rugby Maulers | Rugby | — | — | Southwestern / North | — | — | — |
| Sandwell Steelers* | Sandwell | 2014–[64] | Premier North | — | — | Central | — |
| Scunthorpe Alphas | Scunthorpe | 2019– | Associate' | — | — | — | Youth Development |
| Sheffield Forge | Sheffield | — | — | — | — | North East / Yorkshire (development) | — |
| Sheffield Giants* | Sheffield | 2010–[65] | Premier North | Mid-England / South | — | North East / Yorkshire | — |
| Sheffield Vipers | Sheffield | — | — | Mid-England / North | — | — | — |
| Shrewsbury Sentinels | Shrewsbury | — | — | Southwestern / North | — | — | — |
| Shropshire Revolution* | Telford | 2007–[66] | NFC South 1 | — | — | — | — |
| Solent Seahawks | Southampton | — | — | — | South | South West | — |
| Solent Thrashers* | Southampton | 2005–[67] | SFC Central 1 | Southwestern / South | — | — | — |
| Somerset Wyverns | Taunton | 2018 | SFC West 2 | — | — | South West | — |
| South Lincs Lightning | Bourne | 2020-22 | |||||
| South London Renegades | Southwark | — | — | — | — | London | — |
| South Wales Warriors* | Llanharan | 1996–99, 2001–[68] | SFC Central 1 | — | — | — | — |
| Staffordshire Surge* | Stoke-on-Trent | 1994–[69] | NFC West 2 | — | — | — | — |
| Studley Bearcats | Studley | — | — | — | — | — | Youth flag, Cadet flag |
| Sussex Thunder* | Brighton | 1997–2013, 2015[70] | SFC Central 1 | — | — | South West | — |
| Swindon Storm* | Swindon | 2013–[71] | SFC South 2 | — | — | South West | — |
| Tamworth Phoenix* | Tamworth | 2008–[72] | Premier North | — | — | Central | — |
| Torbay Trojans* | Paignton | 1984–92, 1997–99, 2014–[73] | SFC West 2 | — | — | — | — |
| Victoria Park Panthers | Victoria Park, London | — | — | Southeastern / South | — | — | — |
| Ware Wolves | Ware | — | — | Southeastern / North | — | — | — |
| Wembley Five-O | Wembley | — | — | Southeastern / North | — | — | — |
| Wembley Stallions* | Wembley | 2015— | SFC 1 East | — | — | London | — |
| West Coast Trojans | Renfrew | 2005–2018[74] | — | — | — | — | — |
| West Essex Showboats | Epping | — | — | Southeastern / North | — | — | — |
| West Lothian Astros | Livingston | — | — | Highland North / South | — | — | — |
| Westcliff Storm | Westcliff-on-Sea | — | — | Southeastern / North | — | — | — |
| Woodham Warriors | Woodham | — | — | Highland North / South | — | — | — |
| Worcester Royals | Worcester | — | — | Southwestern / North | — | — | — |
| Worcestershire Black Knights* | Worcester | 2017—[75] | SFC Central 2 | — | — | — | — |
| Yorkshire Rams* | Leeds | 1987–[76] | NFC South 1 | Mid-England / North | — | — | — |
Northern Ireland
Northern Irish teams compete in an amateur island-wide regional competition in Ireland, organised by the Irish American Football League (IAFL). Teams from Northern Ireland compete in the Northern Division of the IAFL. The teams, along with other amateur teams in Northern Ireland and throughout the rest of Ireland, also compete in competitions such as the Shamrock Bowl.
Currently neither of the two universities of Northern Ireland compete in either the British Universities or the IAFL College Bowl.
| Team | Location | Year entered league | 2016 division[77] |
|---|---|---|---|
| Antrim Jets | Antrim | 2017[78] | IAFL2 |
| Belfast Trojans | Belfast | 2007[79] | Shamrock Bowl Conference North |
| Carrickfergus Knights | Carrickfergus | 1994[80] | Shamrock Bowl Conference North |
| Craigavon Cowboys | Craigavon | 1986[81] | Shamrock Bowl Conference North |
| Tyrone Titans | Omagh | 2014[82] | IAFL1 North |
British Universities and Colleges Sport
The British Universities American Football League (BUAFL) was formed in 2007 by the BAFA after the organisation that ran its predecessor ceased operations.[83][84][85] Since 2012, the league has operated under the jurisdiction of British Universities and Colleges Sport (BUCS).[86]
The league operates on three tiers – two Premier divisions (North and South) with 6 regional conferences in the lower two tiers – with most teams from the two Premier divisions competing in postseason Championship playoffs. A system of promotion and relegation is used between the three tiers.[87] The two teams that progress through the playoffs compete in the National Championship Final (formerly the College Bowl) which is held at the South Leeds Stadium.[86]
The 2016-17 champions are the Stirling Clansmen, who defeated the Durham Saints 10–7 in the final played at the Sixways Stadium, Worcester.[88]
| Team | University | Location | Year entered league | 2017–18 division[89] | 2019-20 division[90] | 2022-23 division |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aberdeen | University of Aberdeen | Aberdeen | 2 Borders | |||
| ARU Rhinos | Anglia Ruskin University | Cambridge | 2012[91] | 2A South East | 2 South East | 2 Midlands |
| Bangor Muddogs | Bangor University | Bangor, Gwynedd | 2009[92] | 2A North | 2 North | 2 North |
| Bath Killer Bees | University of Bath | Bath | 1992[93] | Premier South | 1 South West | 2 South West |
| Bath Spa Bulldogs | Bath Spa University | Bath | 2010[94] | 2A South West | 2 South West | 2 South West |
| Bedfordshire Bulls | University of Bedfordshire | Bedford | 2017[95] | 2A Midlands | ||
| Birmingham Lions | University of Birmingham | Birmingham | 1989[96] | Premier South | Premier South | Premier South |
| Bournemouth University Bobcats | Bournemouth University | Bournemouth | 2014[97] | 2A South West | 2 South West | 1 South West |
| BNU Buccaneers | Buckinghamshire New University | Chalfont St Giles | 2008[98] | 2A South | ||
| Bradford Bears | University of Bradford | Bradford | 2011[99] | 2A North | 2 North | 2 North |
| Brighton Panthers | University of Brighton | Brighton | 2003[100] | 2A South | 1 South | 2 South |
| Bristol Barracuda | University of Bristol | Bristol | 2007[101] | 2A South West | 2 South West | 1 South West |
| Brunel Burners | Brunel University | Uxbridge | 2010[102] | 1A South | 1 South East | 1 South East |
| Cambridge Pythons | University of Cambridge | Cambridge | 2011[103] | 1A South East | 2 South East | 2 Midlands |
| Canterbury Christ Church Chargers | Canterbury Christ Church University | Canterbury | 2009[104] | 1A South East | 2 South East | 2 South East |
| Cardiff Cobras | Cardiff University | Cardiff | 1987[105] | 1A South West | 1 South West | Premier South |
| Chester Legion | University of Chester | Chester | 2016[87] | 2A North | 2 Midlands | |
| Chichester Spitfires | Chichester University | Chichester | 2014[106] | 2A South | 2 South | 2 South |
| City Wolfpack | City University London | Islington, London | 2013[107] | 2A South | 2 South East | 2 South East |
| Coventry Jets | Coventry University | Coventry | 2010[108] | 2A Midlands | Premier North | 1 Midlands |
| Derby Braves | University of Derby | Derby | 1996[109] | Premier North | 1 Midlands | 2 Midlands |
| DMU Falcons | De Montfort University | Leicester | 2011[110] | 2A Midlands | 1 Midlands | 2 Midlands |
| Durham Saints | Durham University | Durham | 2007[111] | Premier North | Premier North | Premier North |
| Edge Hill Vikings | Edge Hill University | Ormskirk | 2015[112] | 2A North | 2 North | 2 North |
| Edinburgh Napier Knights | Edinburgh Napier University | Edinburgh | 2004[113] | 1A North | 1 North | 2 Borders |
| Edinburgh Predators | University of Edinburgh | Edinburgh | 2009[114] | 2A Borders | 1 North | 1 Borders |
| Essex Blades | University of Essex | Colchester | 2001[115] | 2A South East | 1 South East | 1 South East |
| Exeter Demons | University of Exeter | Exeter | 2009[116] | 1A South West | 1 South West | 1 South West |
| Glasgow Tigers | University of Glasgow | Glasgow | 1986[117] | 1A North | 2 Borders | 1 Borders |
| Gloucestershire Gladiators | University of Gloucestershire | Cheltenham | 2010[118] | 2A South West | 2 South West | 2 South West |
| Greenwich Mariners | University of Greenwich | Crystal Palace | 2004[119] | 2A South East | 2 South East | 2 South East |
| Heriot-Watt | Heriot-Watt University | Edinburgh | 2015[120] | 2A Borders | 2 Borders | 2 Borders |
| Hertfordshire Hurricanes | University of Hertfordshire | Hatfield | 1994[121] | Premier South | Premier South | 1 South |
| Huddersfield Hawks | University of Huddersfield | Huddersfield | 2007[122] | 2A Midlands | 2 Midlands | |
| Hull Sharks | University of Hull | Kingston upon Hull | 1985[123] | 1A North | 1 North | 1 Borders |
| Imperial Immortals | Imperial College London | South Kensington | 2009[124] | 1A South East | 1 South East | 1 South East |
| KCL Regents | King's College London | Southwark | 2010[125] | 2A South | 2 South East | 2 South East |
| Keele Crusaders | Keele University | Keele, Staffordshire | 2013[126] | 2A North | 2 Midlands | 2 Midlands |
| Kent Falcons | University of Kent | Canterbury | 1996[127] | 1A South East | 1 South East | 1 South East |
| Kingston Cougars | Kingston University | Kingston upon Thames | 2012[128] | 1A South | 2 South | 2 South East |
| Lancaster Bombers | Lancaster University | Lancaster | 1991[129] | 2A Borders | 2 North | 2 North |
| Leeds Beckett Carnegie | Leeds Beckett University | Leeds | 2009[130] | Premier North | Premier North | Premier North |
| Leeds Gryphons | University of Leeds | Leeds | 1990[131] | 1A Yorkshire | 1 Yorkshire | 1 Borders |
| Leicester Longhorns | University of Leicester | Leicester | 1985[132] | 1A Midlands | 2 Midlands | 2 Midlands |
| Lincoln Colonials | University of Lincoln | Lincoln | 2006[133] | 2A Midlands | 2 Midlands | 2 Midlands |
| Liverpool Fury | Liverpool John Moores University | Liverpool | 2008[134] | 1A Yorkshire | 1 Yorkshire | 1 North |
| Liverpool Raptors | University of Liverpool | Liverpool | 2015[112] | 2A North | 2 North | 2 North |
| Loughborough Legion | Loughborough University | Loughborough | 1988[135] | Premier North | 1 Midlands | 1 Midlands |
| Manchester Tyrants | University of Manchester | Manchester | 2009[136] | 2A North | 2 North | 1 North |
| MMU Eagles | Manchester Metropolitan University | Manchester | 2011[137] | 2A Midlands | 2 North | 1 North |
| Newcastle Raiders | Newcastle University | Gateshead | 1985[138] | 2A Borders | 1 North | Premier North |
| Northampton Nemesis | University of Northampton | Northampton | 2011[139] | 2A Midlands | ||
| Northumbria Mustangs | Northumbria University | Gateshead | 2008[140] | 1A North | 1 North | 1 Borders |
| Nottingham Bandits | University of Nottingham | Nottingham | 1996[141] | 1A Midlands | Premier North | Premier North |
| Nottingham 2nd team | University of Nottingham | Nottingham | 2 Midlands | 2 Midlands | ||
| NTU Renegades | Nottingham Trent University | Nottingham | 2009[142] | 1A Midlands | 1 Midlands | 1 Midlands |
| OBU Panthers | Oxford Brookes University | Oxford | 2010[143] | 2A South West | 2 South | 2 South |
| Oxford Lancers | University of Oxford | Oxford | 2012[144] | 2A South West | 2 South | 1 South |
| Plymouth Blitz | University of Plymouth | Plymouth | 2001[145] | 1A South West | 2 South West | 2 South West |
| Portsmouth Destroyers | University of Portsmouth | Portsmouth | 2006[146] | Premier South | 1 South | 1 South |
| Queen Mary and Barts London Vipers | Queen Mary, University of London | London | 2016[87] | 2A South East | 1 South East | 1 South East |
| Reading Knights | University of Reading | Reading | 1987[147] | 1A South | 1 South | 2 South |
| Royal Holloway Bears | Royal Holloway, University of London | Egham | 2005[148] | 2A South | 1 South | 1 South |
| SGS Pride | South Gloucestershire and Stroud College | Bristol | Premier South | |||
| Sheffield Hallam Warriors | Sheffield Hallam University | Sheffield | 2003[149] | 1A Yorkshire | 1 Yorkshire | 1 North |
| Sheffield Sabres | University of Sheffield | Sheffield | 2000[150] | 1A Yorkshire | 1 Yorkshire | 1 North |
| Solent Redhawks | Southampton Solent University | Southampton | 2009[151] | 1A South West | 2 South West | 2 South |
| Southampton Stags | University of Southampton | Southampton | 1989[152] | 2A South West | 1 South West | 1 South West |
| Staffordshire Stallions | Staffordshire University | Stoke-on-Trent | 1992[153] | 1A Midlands | 2 Midlands | 1 Midlands |
| Stirling Clansmen | University of Stirling | Stirling | 1985[154] | Premier North | Premier North | Premier North |
| Sunderland Serpents | University of Sunderland | Sunderland | 2004[155] | 1A North | 2 Borders | 2 Borders |
| Surrey Stingers | University of Surrey | Guildford | 1994[156] | 1A South | 1 South | 2 South |
| Sussex Saxons | University of Sussex | Falmer, East Sussex | 2013[157] | 1A South | 2 South | 1 South |
| Swansea Titans | Swansea University | Swansea | 2009[158] | Premier South | Premier South | 1 South West |
| Tarannau Aberystwyth | Aberystwyth University | Aberystwyth | 1992[159] | 2A North | 2 North | 2 South West |
| Teesside Cougars | Teesside University | Middlesbrough | 1985[160] | 2A Borders | 2 Borders | 2 Borders |
| UCLan Rams | University of Central Lancashire | Preston, Lancashire | 2012[161] | 1A Yorkshire | 1 Yorkshire | 2 North |
| UCL Emperors | University College London | London | 2016[87] | 2A South | 2 South | 2 South East |
| UEA Pirates | University of East Anglia | Norwich | 1987[162] | 1A South East | Premier South | Premier South |
| UEL Titans | University of East London | London | 2015[112] | 2A South East | 2 South East | 2 South East |
| UWE Bullets | University of the West of England | Filton | 1992[163] | 1A South West | Premier South | Premier South |
| UWE 2nd team | University of the West of England | Filton | 2 South West | 2 South West | ||
| UWS Pyros | University of the West of Scotland, Paisley Campus | Paisley | 2003[164] | 2A Borders | 2 Borders | 2 Borders |
| Warwick Wolves | University of Warwick | Warwick | 1989[165] | 1A Midlands | 1 Midlands | 1 Midlands |
| Winchester Silverbacks [166] | University of Winchester | Winchester | 2 South | 2 South | ||
| Worcester Royals | University of Worcester | Worcester | 2009[167] | 2A Midlands | 1 South West | 2 South West |
| York Centurions | University of York | York | 2009[168] | 2A Borders | 2 Borders | 2 North |
| YSJ Jaguars | York St John University | York | 2017 | 2A Borders | 2 Borders | 2 North |
Exhibition Teams
The following teams are Exhibition teams who play several annual games on the continent against a European League team. The team is made up of a selection of BAFANL players from other sides.
| Team | Location | Term | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Thundering Herd | Travelling Exhibition Team | 2017–2019 | One game per year |
| Sealand Seahawks | Travelling Exhibition National Team | 2021– | Several games per year |
British Armed Forces Teams
| Team | Location | Term | League |
|---|---|---|---|
| British Army Jackals | DMS Whittington, Staffordshire | 2021– | Armed Forces |
| Royal Air Force Mustangs | RAF Waddington, Lincolnshire | 2021– | Armed Forces |
| Royal Navy | Portsmouth, Hampshire | 2021– | Armed Forces |
8GL League
The 8GL League is an 8 vs 8 Adult contact League, initially set up as a separate entity not under the governing body of the British American Football Association.
| Team | Location | Term |
|---|---|---|
| King's Lynn Patriots | King's Lynn, Norfolk | 2020– |
| Leigh Miners | Tyldesley, Greater Manchester | 2019–2020 |
| Midland Storm | Birmingham | 2019- |
| Pennine Panthers | Burnley, Lancashire | 2019– |
| St Helens Cardinals | St Helens, Merseyside | 2019– |
| Warrington Storm | Warrington, Cheshire | 2019– |
| Warwickshire Bears | Warwick, Warwickshire | 2019– |
| Wigan Raiders | Wigan, Greater Manchester | 2019– |
American High School League in Europe
The American High School League in Europe (also referred to as High School Football Europe) is a competition organised by the European branch of the Department of Defense Dependents Schools. The teams in this league are drawn from high schools affiliated with US military bases within Europe, with the exception of South Gloucestershire and Stroud College which is a further education college located in Filton, England. The league in its present format was founded in 1975, with its constituent teams divided into three divisions. All teams play a regular season schedule against the other teams in their regional conference, with the top-ranked teams competing in playoffs to decide the divisional champions. As of 2017, only one team based in the United Kingdom competes in the league, compared to the five teams that competed in 2012.[169][170]
| Team | Location | Division[169][170] |
|---|---|---|
| Alconbury Dragons | Alconbury High School, Alconbury | — |
| Bristol Academy PRIDE | South Gloucestershire and Stroud College, Filton | — |
| Lakenheath Lancers | Lakenheath High School, RAF Lakenheath | Division I |
| Menwith Hill Mustangs | Menwith Hill Elementary/High School, RAF Menwith Hill | — |
| Southbank Blackhawks | Southbank International School, London | — |
Bristol Academy Community League
The Bristol Academy Community League (BACL) is a competition set up by the Bristol Academy of Sport in December 2012 for school pupils in Bristol and its surrounding areas. The league provides competition for players in the 14-17 and 17-20-year age brackets. The league comprises six teams, representing a specific geographic area.[171]
| Team | Area represented |
|---|---|
| Bristol Cowboys | Central Bristol |
| Bristol Gators | Bath and East Bristol |
| Bristol Bobcats | South Gloucestershire and North Bristol |
| Bristol Falcons | Somerset and South Bristol |
| Swindon Storm | Swindon |
| Welsh Tomahawks | Newport |