European Football League

Last updated
European Football League
European Football League logo.png
Sport Gridiron football
Founded1986
Ceased2018
No. of teams6
Continent Europe
Last
champion(s)		 Potsdam Royals
Most titles Vienna Vikings (5)
Promotion to BIG6 European Football League
Official website Eurobowl.info

The European Football League (EFL) established in 1986, was a tournament for the best European American football teams affiliated to IFAF (International Federation of American Football - Europe), which replaced the European Federation of American Football (EFAF) in 2014.

Contents

Until 2013, the final game of the EFL was the Eurobowl, which has been held annually since 1986. In 2014, the EFL was replaced as Europe's top-tier club competition by the new BIG6 European Football League and the EFL Bowl was introduced as the new final game of the EFL. The 2018 EFL season was the last edition of the tournament.

EFL

Under the governance of EFAF, the best American Football teams in Europe participate in annual competitions. Until 2013, the EFL was the first-tier competition for American football clubs in Europe. EFAF determined the relative strength of each of its 17 affiliate leagues and allocated teams to the 4 divisions accordingly, thus not all nations took part. National league champions, runners-up or teams with international success were eligible for the EFL. Teams from 'weaker' leagues could take part in the EFAF Cup. The final game of the EFL was the Eurobowl, which has been held annually since 1986.

In 2014, the BIG6 European Football League was introduced as the new top-tier competition of American football in Europe. [1] The EFL continued to be played as a second-tier competition, with its teams playing for the newly created EFL Bowl trophy. [2] The inaugural EFL Bowl was won by the Kiel Baltic Hurricanes of Germany against Spain's Badalona Dracs on 20 July 2014. [3]

From 2017 on, the EFL Bowl winners may play a relegation game against the last placed team of the BIG6, and be promoted to the BIG6 if they win. [4] This relegation game never happened.

Format

Until 2013, Teams were split into 4 divisions of 3 or 2 teams. In a division of 3, teams played 2 matches; once at home to one opponent and the other away to the other opponent. In a division of 2 teams, each team played each other home and away. The division winners then advanced to the play-offs.

The play-off format was changed for the 2008 season. The tournament was expanded to an eight-team competition. The two finalists from the 2007 season, Vienna Vikings and Marburg Mercenaries, earned automatic berths for the next season and the two semi-finalists, Eidsvoll 1814's from Norway and Tirol Raiders from Austria, earned a spot for the national champions of their respective countries. In quarterfinals these teams faced the four winners of the divisional round. In semi-finals teams were paired by the Eurobowl seeding system, with the best-seeded team facing the worst and the second-best facing the second-worst. Winners then advanced to the Eurobowl.

With the start of the Big6 in 2014, the format of the EFL changed again. Six teams played in two divisions of three teams. The winners of the groups advanced to the EFL Bowl.

EFL Bowls

For a list of champions by year before 2014, see Eurobowl.

GameYearDateCityWinnersScoRunners-upAttendanceMVP
I201419 July 2014 [5] Kiel, Germany Kiel Baltic Hurricanes Flag of Germany.svg 40–0 Badalona Dracs Flag of Spain.svg 2,104Garrett Andrews (KBH)
II201527 June 2015 [6] Kiel, Germany Kiel Baltic Hurricanes Flag of Germany.svg 49–28 Allgäu Comets Flag of Germany.svg 1,752
III201611 June 2016 [7] Frankfurt, Germany Frankfurt Universe Flag of Germany.svg 35–21 Amsterdam Crusaders Flag of the Netherlands.svg 6,056 [8] Jesse Lewis (FU)
IV201710 June 2017 [9] Thonon-les-Bains, France Thonon Black Panthers Flag of France.svg 29–20 Rhinos Milano Flag of Italy.svg 2,500 [10] Stephen Yepmo (TBP)
V20189 June 2018 Sesto San Giovanni, Italy Potsdam Royals Flag of Germany.svg 43–42 Seamen Milano Flag of Italy.svg 2,500 [11] Kahlif Rector (SM)

Records and statistics

By club

ClubWonRunner-upYears won†Years runner-up†
Flag of Austria.svg Vikings Vienna 552004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 20132001, 2003, 2008, 2010, 2012
Flag of Austria.svg Swarco Raiders Tirol 312008, 2009, 20112013
Flag of Italy.svg Bergamo Lions 332000, 2001, 20021994, 2004, 2005
Flag of Germany.svg Hamburg Blue Devils 321996, 1997, 19981999, 2000
Flag of the Netherlands.svg Amsterdam Crusaders 241991, 19921988, 1989, 1993, 2016
Flag of Germany.svg Braunschweig Lions 211999, 20032002
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg London Olympians 211993, 19941995
Flag of Germany.svg Kiel Baltic Hurricanes 202014, 2015
Flag of Germany.svg Berlin Adler 1220101991, 2011
Flag of Italy.svg Legnano Frogs 1119891990
Flag of Germany.svg Potsdam Royals 102018
Flag of France.svg Thonon Black Panthers 102017
Flag of Germany.svg Frankfurt Universe 102016
Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg Calanda Broncos 102012
Flag of Germany.svg Düsseldorf Panther 101995
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Manchester Spartans 101990
Flag of Finland.svg Helsinki Roosters 101988
Flag of Finland.svg Taft Vantaa 101986
Flag of France.svg La Courneuve Flash 031998, 2006, 2009

By country

ChampionshipsCountryYear
11 Flag of Germany.svg Germany 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2003, 2010, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2018
8 Flag of Austria.svg Austria 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2013
4 Flag of Italy.svg Italy 1989, 2000, 2001, 2002
3 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg United Kingdom 1990, 1993, 1994
2 Flag of the Netherlands.svg Netherlands 1991, 1992
2 Flag of Finland.svg Finland 1986, 1988
1 Flag of France.svg France 2017
1 Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg Switzerland 2012

See also

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References

  1. ↑ BIG6 European Football League starts 2014 www.eurobowl.com, published: 20 November 2013, accessed: 5 December 2013
  2. ↑ EFL 2014 teams announced Archived 2014-10-18 at the Wayback Machine www.efaf.info, published: 11 February 2014, accessed: 8 July 2014
  3. ↑ Kiel Baltic Hurricanes win EFL Bowl I! www.efaf.info, published: 20 July 2014, accessed: 14 October 2014
  4. ↑ Regulations for Club-Team Competitions Archived 19 April 2022 at the Wayback Machine eurobowl.efaf.info, published: 15 October 2016, accessed: 2 November 2016
  5. ↑ EFL Bowl I am 19.07.2014 in Kiel (in German) www.efaf.info, published: 6 July 2014, accessed: 8 July 2014
  6. ↑ EFL Bowl II on June 27, 2015 at Kiel www.efaf.info, published: 3 June 2015, accessed: 21 June 2015
  7. ↑ Frankfurt zieht ins Finale ein und richtet EFL-Bowl aus Archived 2016-05-30 at the Wayback Machine (in German) www.eurobowl.info, published: 29 May 2016, accessed: 30 May 2016
  8. ↑ Samsung Frankfurt Universe ist EFL-Champion Archived 2016-12-02 at the Wayback Machine (in German) www.frankfurt-universe.de, published: 11 June 2016, accessed: 23 November 2016
  9. ↑ EFL-Bowl: Thonon Black Panthers receive Rhinos Milano www.eurobowl.info, published: 7 June 2017, accessed: 11 June 2017
  10. ↑ "Thonon Black Panthers win the EFL Bowl". eurobowl.info. 10 June 2017. Retrieved 12 June 2017.
  11. ↑ "EFL Bowl: Dramatic End with a points festival". eurobowl.info. 11 June 2018. Archived from the original on 13 June 2018. Retrieved 13 June 2018.
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