{{Short description|UK sports league}} {{refimprove|date=September 2014}} {{Use British English|date=May 2026}} {{Use dmy dates|date=May 2026}} {{Infobox sports league | title = British American Football League | current_season = | logo = BAFL Logo.png | pixels = 100 | caption = | sport = American football | founded = 1987 | fame = | motto = | inaugural = | teams = 50 (across three divisions) | country = United Kingdom | champion = London Blitz | folded = 2010 | website = | singles = | ceo = | TV = }} 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.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.britballnow.co.uk/History/Years/2005.html |title=Alltime British American Football results: Highlights of 2005 |publisher=Britball Now |access-date=2009-01-21 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080927031710/http://www.britballnow.co.uk/History/Years/2005.html |archive-date=September 27, 2008 }}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://wck2.companieshouse.gov.uk/5d5a964f1528c512b9c8aa2a0cef1356/insolvency | title=Insolvency history, Companies house webcheck | access-date=2010-06-20}}</ref>
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. Only clubs from England, Scotland and Wales played; clubs in Northern Ireland competed against Republic of Ireland clubs in an all-Ireland Irish American Football League.
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,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bafl.org.uk/artman2/publish/BritBowl_46/BBXXII_in_doubt_at_DVS.asp |title=BBXXII in doubt at DVS |date=2008-06-16 |publisher=BAFL |access-date=2008-06-19 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080624044110/http://www.bafl.org.uk/artman2/publish/BritBowl_46/BBXXII_in_doubt_at_DVS.asp |archive-date=2008-06-24 |url-status=dead }}</ref> with the match instead being played at the Keepmoat Stadium in Doncaster.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bafl.org.uk/artman2/publish/BritBowl_46/BritBowl_XXII_at_the_Keepmoat.asp |title=BritBowl XXII at the Keepmoat |date=2008-07-16 |publisher=BAFL |access-date=2008-07-18 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080807020517/http://www.bafl.org.uk/artman2/publish/BritBowl_46/BritBowl_XXII_at_the_Keepmoat.asp |archive-date=August 7, 2008 }}</ref>
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.
==Britbowl champions== *'''2010''' London Blitz *'''2009''' London Blitz *'''2008''' Coventry Cassidy Jets *'''2007''' London Blitz *'''2006''' London Olympians *'''2005''' London O's *'''2004''' Farnham Knights *'''2003''' London O's *'''2002''' London O's *'''2001''' London O's *'''2000''' London O's *'''1999''' London O's *'''1998''' London O's *'''1997''' Redbridge Fire *'''1996''' Leicester Panthers *'''1995''' Birmingham Bulls *'''1994''' London O's *'''1993''' London O's *'''1992''' London O's *'''1991''' Birmingham Bulls *'''1990''' Manchester Spartans *'''1989''' Manchester Spartans<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.britballnow.co.uk/history-index/british-champions-list.html|title=British Champions List - BritballNow|website=www.britballnow.co.uk}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.britballnow.co.uk/History/Championslist.html | title=Alltime British American Football Champions | publisher=Britball Now | access-date=2009-01-21}}</ref>
==References== {{reflist}}
{{British American Football}} {{BAFL seasons}}
Category:British American Football League Category:American football leagues in the United Kingdom Category:Sports leagues established in 1987 Category:Sports leagues disestablished in 2010 Category:Defunct American football leagues in Europe Category:Defunct sports leagues in the United Kingdom Category:1987 establishments in the United Kingdom Category:2010 disestablishments in the United Kingdom