1991 WLAF season

Last updated
1991 WLAF season
DurationMarch 23, 1991 – May 27, 1991
World Bowl '91
DateJune 9, 1991
Venue Wembley Stadium, London
Champions London Monarchs
WLAF seasons seasons
1992  →

The 1991 WLAF season was the inaugural season of the World League of American Football and was the first transatlantic sports league. The regular season began on March 23, and concluded on May 27. The postseason ran from June 1 until June 9, when the London Monarchs defeated the Barcelona Dragons 21–0 in World Bowl '91 at Wembley Stadium in London, England.

Contents

Attendances

Average game attendance was 25,361. [1] At London, Barcelona, Frankfurt and Montreal, attendances surpassed early expectations. [2] The Monarchs' home attendance led the league, with an average of 40,481 in the regular season. [3] The dress rehearsal for the World Bowl, London v Barcelona at Wembley in week 10, attracted 50,835 fans, [4] while the same week Frankfurt v Sacramento received a bigger crowd, 51,653, [4] [3] with around 10,000 more fans turned away. [3] The World Bowl was attended by 61,108. [4]

Regular season

Week 1

DateVisiting teamFinal scoreHome team
Saturday, March 23 London Monarchs 24–11 Frankfurt Galaxy
Raleigh–Durham Skyhawks 3–9 Sacramento Surge
Montreal Machine 20–5 Birmingham Fire
Sunday, March 24 New York/New Jersey Knights 7–19 Barcelona Dragons
Monday, March 25 San Antonio Riders 34–35 Orlando Thunder

Week 2

DateVisiting teamFinal scoreHome team
Saturday, March 30Sacramento Surge10–17Birmingham Fire
Raleigh–Durham Skyhawks20–58Orlando Thunder
Sunday, March 31New York/New Jersey Knights18–22London Monarchs
Monday, April 1Frankfurt Galaxy10–3San Antonio Riders
Barcelona Dragons34–10Montreal Machine

Week 3

DateVisiting teamFinal scoreHome team
Saturday, April 6Orlando Thunder12–35London Monarchs
Barcelona Dragons26–14Raleigh–Durham Skyhawks
Frankfurt Galaxy27–17New York/New Jersey Knights
Sunday, April 7Sacramento Surge3–10San Antonio Riders
Monday, April 8Birmingham Fire10–23Montreal Machine

Week 4

DateVisiting teamFinal scoreHome team
Saturday, April 13Frankfurt Galaxy10–16Sacramento Surge
New York/New Jersey Knights44–0Montreal Machine
Sunday, April 14Orlando Thunder13–33Barcelona Dragons
Monday, April 15San Antonio Riders37–15Raleigh–Durham Skyhawks
London Monarchs27–0Birmingham Fire

Week 5

DateVisiting teamFinal scoreHome team
Saturday, April 20Montreal Machine7–45London Monarchs
Raleigh–Durham Skyhawks28–30Frankfurt Galaxy
Barcelona Dragons14–22San Antonio Riders
Sunday, April 21Birmingham Fire31–6Orlando Thunder
Monday, April 22Sacramento Surge20–28New York/New Jersey Knights

Week 6

DateVisiting teamFinal scoreHome team
Saturday, April 27Montreal Machine7–17Frankfurt Galaxy
Barcelona Dragons29–20Sacramento Surge
Orlando Thunder6–42New York/New Jersey Knights
Sunday, April 28Raleigh–Durham Skyhawks10–35London Monarchs
Monday, April 29San Antonio Riders12–16Birmingham Fire

Week 7

DateVisiting teamFinal scoreHome team
Saturday, May 4Birmingham Fire6–11Barcelona Dragons
Frankfurt Galaxy17–14Orlando Thunder
Montreal Machine26–23Sacramento Surge
Sunday, May 5New York/New Jersey Knights42–6Raleigh–Durham Skyhawks
Monday, May 6London Monarchs38–15San Antonio Riders

Week 8

DateVisiting teamFinal scoreHome team
Saturday, May 11San Antonio Riders7–17Barcelona Dragons
London Monarchs22–7New York/New Jersey Knights
Sacramento Surge33–45Orlando Thunder
Sunday, May 12Birmingham Fire3–10Frankfurt Galaxy
Monday, May 13Raleigh–Durham Skyhawks6–15Montreal Machine

Week 9

DateVisiting teamFinal scoreHome team
Saturday, May 18Montreal Machine10–27San Antonio Riders
London Monarchs45–21Sacramento Surge
Sunday, May 19Frankfurt Galaxy10–3Barcelona Dragons
Monday, May 20Orlando Thunder20–14Raleigh–Durham Skyhawks
New York/New Jersey Knights14–24Birmingham Fire

Week 10

DateVisiting teamFinal scoreHome team
Saturday, May 25Sacramento Surge24–13Frankfurt Galaxy
Birmingham Fire28–7Raleigh–Durham Skyhawks
San Antonio Riders9–38New York/New Jersey Knights
Monday, May 27Barcelona Dragons20–17London Monarchs
Orlando Thunder33–27Montreal Machine

Standings

European Division
TeamWLTPCTPFPADIVSTK
London Monarchs 910.9003101211–1L1
Barcelona Dragons 820.8002061261–1W1
Frankfurt Galaxy 730.7001551391–1L1
North American East Division
TeamWLTPCTPFPADIVSTK
New York/New Jersey Knights 550.5002571553–0W1
Orlando Thunder 550.5002422863–1W3
Montreal Machine 460.4001452441–2L2
Raleigh–Durham Skyhawks 0100.0001233000–4L10
North American West Division
TeamWLTPCTPFPADIVSTK
Birmingham Fire 550.5001401402–0W2
San Antonio Riders 460.4001761961–1L1
Sacramento Surge 370.3001792260–2W1

[5] [6]

Postseason

Bracket

SemifinalsWorld Bowl '91
      
1 London Monarchs42
4 New York/New Jersey Knights 26
London Monarchs21
Barcelona Dragons 0
3 Barcelona Dragons10
2 Birmingham Fire 3

All-World League team

Offense

PositionFirst teamSecond team
Wide receiver Jon Horton, London
Gene Taylor, Barcelona
Byron Williams, Orlando		 Dana Brinson, London
Monty Gilbreath, NY/NJ
Carl Parker, Sacramento
Tackle Steve Gabbard, London
Mike Withycombe, Orlando		 Scott Adams, Barcelona
Theo Adams, London
Guard Paul Berardelli, London
Gary Frank, Frankfurt		John Guerrero, Orlando
Barry Voorhees, Barcelona
Center Doug Marrone, LondonCurtis Wilson, Sacramento
Quarterback Stan Gelbaugh, LondonScott Erney, Barcelona
Running back Tony Baker, Frankfurt
Ricky Blake, San Antonio		 Judd Garrett, London
Eric Mitchell, Orlando
Eric Wilkerson, NY/NJ

[7]

Defense

PositionFirst teamSecond team
Defensive end Bruce Clark, Barcelona
Mark Mraz, Frankfurt		 Donnie Gardner, San Antonio
Shawn Knight, Sacramento
Nose tackle Roy Hart, LondonDarrell Phillips, Birmingham
Mike Teeter, Frankfurt
Outside linebacker Danny Lockett, London
Tracy Simien, Montreal		Marlon Brown, London
Ron Sancho, NY/NJ
Inside linebacker John Brantley, Birmingham
Tim Walton, San Antonio		Ron Goetz, Barcelona
Pete Najarian, Sacramento
Ken Sale, London
Cornerback Anthony Parker, NY/NJ
Corris Ervin, London		John Holland, Birmingham
Richard Shelton, Montreal
Strong safety Greg Coauette, SacramentoTim Broady, Frankfurt
Free safety John Miller, Birmingham Dedrick Dodge, London

[7]

Specialists

PositionFirst teamSecond team
Kicker Phil Alexander, London Björn Nittmo, Montreal
Punter Chris Mohr, MontrealKirk Maggio, Birmingham
Special teams Erroll Tucker, Orlando (PR)Richard Shelton, Montreal (PR)
Operation DiscoveryPhil Alexander, London Victor Ebubedike, London

[7]

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References

  1. ↑ "League History". WLAF. Retrieved 26 May 2014.
  2. ↑ Stellino, Vito (April 7, 1991). "WLAF attendance surpassing early hopes in Europe and Canada". Baltimore Sun. Retrieved 26 May 2014.
  3. 1 2 3 Eichel, Larry (June 8, 1991). "In Europe, WLAF's Game Was More Than Football". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Archived from the original on October 29, 2014. Retrieved 26 May 2014.
  4. 1 2 3 "WLAF History: 1991". WLAF. Retrieved 26 May 2014.
  5. ↑ Associated Press (May 28, 1991). "WLAF standings". The Item. Sumter, South Carolina. p. 4B. Retrieved August 2, 2012.
  6. ↑ "1991 WLAF Standings". The Football Database. Retrieved August 2, 2011.
  7. 1 2 3 "1991 All-World League Team". The News. Boca Raton, Florida. May 25, 1991. p. 5D. Retrieved August 2, 2012.
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