1988 – Two Touch
The 1988 season of the Junior American Football League (JAFL) was a landmark in scale and competition. With over 70 youth teams across 12 regional conferences, it reflected the rapid expansion of the sport throughout the UK. From defensive masterclasses to offensive juggernauts, this season had it all.
đź“Š Eastern Conference
| Team | PYD | W | L | T | F | A |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tiptree Titans | 10 | 9 | 0 | 1 | 343 | 10 |
| Cherokee Braves | 10 | 7 | 2 | 1 | 251 | 33 |
| Colchester Eagles | 10 | 7 | 3 | 0 | 194 | 146 |
| Southend Wildcats | 10 | 3 | 7 | 0 | 69 | 147 |
| Basildon Wildcats | 10 | 2 | 7 | 1 | 45 | 244 |
| Colchester Tridents | 10 | 0 | 9 | 1 | 0 | 322 |
Summary:
The Titans were utterly dominant, conceding just 10 points all season. The Braves and Eagles followed strongly, but Tiptree looked every inch the national contenders from start to finish.
đź“Š East Anglian Conference
| Team | PYD | W | L | T | F | A |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cambridge Coyotes | 8 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 129 | 60 |
| Norwich Demons | 8 | 5 | 1 | 2 | 96 | 50 |
| Ipswich Cardinals Jnrs | 8 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 92 | 34 |
| North Sea Tigers | 8 | 3 | 5 | 0 | 63 | 110 |
| Peterborough Hustlers | 8 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 16 | 142 |
Summary:
A tight three-way battle saw Cambridge edge out Norwich and Ipswich in a strong showing for the region. Peterborough struggled to gain traction in a tough division.
đź“Š Home Counties Conference
| Team | PYD | W | L | T | F | A |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Luton Junior Flyers | 8 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 244 | 0 |
| Bedford Yearlings | 8 | 5 | 3 | 0 | 151 | 52 |
| Herts Spirits | 8 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 124 | 82 |
| Oxford Jnr Bulldogs | 8 | 3 | 5 | 0 | 38 | 182 |
| Chiltern Cheetahs | 8 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 16 | 257 |
Summary:
Luton were flawless, going unbeaten and unscored upon—an extraordinary defensive feat. Bedford and Herts kept it competitive behind them.
đź“Š London Central Conference
| Team | PYD | W | L | T | F | A |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| London Acorn Lasers | 8 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 326 | 6 |
| Ealing Eagles | 8 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 146 | 80 |
| Heathrow Jets | 8 | 3 | 5 | 0 | 103 | 101 |
| Westminster Warriors | 8 | 2 | 6 | 0 | 36 | 168 |
| Kingston Bengals | 8 | 1 | 7 | 0 | 37 | 293 |
Summary:
The Lasers were lights-out on both sides of the ball, posting one of the highest point totals in the country. Ealing were solid runners-up, but nobody could match London Acorn’s firepower.
đź“Š London & East Conference
| Team | PYD | W | L | T | F | A |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maidstone Pumas | 8 | 6 | 0 | 2 | 216 | 22 |
| Kent Rams Jnrs | 8 | 5 | 1 | 2 | 235 | 22 |
| Elm Park Eagles | 8 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 99 | 60 |
| Medway Mustangs | 8 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 111 | 140 |
| Biggin Hill Flyers | 8 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 8 | 425 |
Summary:
A strong defensive conference led by undefeated Maidstone and high-scoring Kent. The top two teams were separated by just a single win in a close-fought division.
đź“Š London & West Conference
| Team | PYD | W | L | T | F | A |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Basingstoke Ironsides | 8 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 101 | 22 |
| Thames Valley Razorbacks | 8 | 5 | 1 | 2 | 50 | 16 |
| Farnham Knights Jnrs | 8 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 38 | 26 |
| White Horse Warriors | 8 | 2 | 5 | 1 | 14 | 131 |
| Silverbacks Jnrs | 8 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 8 |
Summary:
A tight three-horse race, with Basingstoke narrowly outlasting Thames Valley and Farnham in a defensively disciplined group.
đź“Š Midlands Conference
| Team | PYD | W | L | T | F | A |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Northants Stormbringers | 8 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 218 | 58 |
| Wrekin Giants Jnrs | 8 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 154 | 54 |
| Burton Barons Jnrs | 8 | 3 | 5 | 0 | 49 | 123 |
| Locomotive Derby Jnrs | 8 | 1 | 7 | 0 | 30 | 164 |
Summary:
Northants and Wrekin were inseparable in the standings, both finishing 7–1. Their playoff push would decide who reigned supreme in the Midlands.
đź“Š North East Conference
| Team | PYD | W | L | T | F | A |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lincoln Bombers | 8 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 160 | 30 |
| Nottingham Caesars | 8 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 113 | 84 |
| Nottingham Outlaws | 8 | 2 | 6 | 0 | 104 | 170 |
| Newark Vulcan Jnrs | 8 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 28 | 173 |
Summary:
Lincoln cruised to an unbeaten record and one of the league’s top defenses. Behind them, it was a dogfight for second, with all teams showing flashes of potential.
đź“Š North West Conference
| Team | PYD | W | L | T | F | A |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wirral Wolves | 8 | 7 | 0 | 1 | 166 | 58 |
| Rotherham Braves | 8 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 130 | 66 |
| Fylde Falcons Jnrs | 8 | 3 | 5 | 0 | 48 | 143 |
| Lancashire Braves | 8 | 2 | 5 | 1 | 58 | 70 |
| Stockport Falcons Jnrs | 8 | 1 | 6 | 1 | 44 | 109 |
Summary:
Wirral stood tall in the North West, with a strong push from Rotherham. The rest of the pack struggled to break even in a tough division.
đź“Š Southern Conference
| Team | PYD | W | L | T | F | A |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bournemouth Jnr Bobcats | 8 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 143 | 26 |
| Portsmouth Warriors | 8 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 108 | 48 |
| Fortek Falcons | 8 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 36 | 84 |
| Eastleigh Royals | 8 | 2 | 6 | 0 | 4 | 125 |
| Cornwall Corvettes | 8 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 8 |
Summary:
A tale of two titans—Bournemouth and Portsmouth dominated the South, both going 7–1 and preparing for playoff success.
đź“Š Western Conference
| Team | PYD | W | L | T | F | A |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cardiff Celts | 8 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 231 | 32 |
| Swansea Dragons | 8 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 126 | 30 |
| Cheltenham Chieftains | 8 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 146 | 47 |
| Hereford Charger Colts | 8 | 1 | 7 | 0 | 15 | 217 |
| Avalon Knights | 8 | 1 | 7 | 0 | 49 | 241 |
Summary:
Cardiff swept the West, finishing perfect with both power and poise. Swansea and Cheltenham kept pace, but none could topple the Celts.
🔹 Wild Card Round
The Wild Card round featured tightly contested regional runners-up and top wild card teams vying for a place in the main playoff bracket. Kent Rams narrowly edged out Thames Valley, and Cherokee Braves put on a defensive masterclass. Northants and Wrekin advanced convincingly, while Cambridge battled to a gritty win.
Wild Card Results:
- Kent Rams Jnrs 12–8 Thames Valley Razorbacks
- Basingstoke Ironsides 0–28 Ealing Eagles
- Rotherham Braves 6–18 Wrekin Giants Jnrs
- Northants Stormbringers 24–6 Nottingham Caesars
- Cherokee Braves 26–0 Norwich Demons
- Cambridge Coyotes 6–0 Bedford Yearlings
🔹 1st Round Playoffs
The first official playoff round featured some of the season’s strongest teams. Bournemouth and Swansea clashed in a defensive double-overtime thriller. London Acorn Lasers continued their rampage with a strong win over Kent. Meanwhile, Luton Junior Flyers, Tiptree Titans, and Maidstone Pumas advanced confidently, with Northants taking down Wirral and Wrekin upsetting the unbeaten Lincoln Bombers.
1st Round Playoff Results:
- Bournemouth Jnr Bobcats 3–0 Swansea Dragons (Double OT)
- Wirral Wolves 6–14 Northants Stormbringers
- Cardiff Celts 12–6 Portsmouth Warriors
- London Acorn Lasers 24–14 Kent Rams Jnrs
- Luton Jnr Flyers 9–0 Cherokee Braves
- Wrekin Giants Jnrs 19–7 Lincoln Bombers
- Maidstone Pumas 14–8 Ealing Eagles
- Tiptree Titans 32–0 Cambridge Coyotes
🔹 Quarter-Finals
Things began to tighten in the quarters. Bournemouth continued their unlikely run with a one-point win over Cardiff in one of the round’s most intense games. Tiptree Titans barely edged undefeated Luton Flyers in a true clash of titans. Meanwhile, the Lasers dispatched Maidstone with ease, and Northants advanced on a forfeit due to Wrekin’s pitch being ruled unplayable.
Quarter-Final Results:
- Cardiff Celts 6–7 Bournemouth Jnr Bobcats
- Luton Jnr Flyers 13–16 Tiptree Titans
- London Acorn Lasers 16–6 Maidstone Pumas
- Wrekin Giants Jnrs 0–1 Northants Stormbringers (forfeit awarded)
🔹 Semi-Finals (at Cambridge)
The final four gathered in Cambridge for the semi-finals. Tiptree’s run remained unbroken, overcoming a resilient Bournemouth side 14–6. The Lasers, as dominant as ever, blanked Northants 10–0 to secure their place in the final. Both games were high-stakes, physical matchups showcasing disciplined defense and playoff-hardened offenses.
Semi-Final Results:
- Tiptree Titans 14–6 Bournemouth Jnr Bobcats
- London Acorn Lasers 10–0 Northants Stormbringers
🏆 JAFL National Final
Tiptree Titans 10–6 London Acorn Lasers
In a showdown between two undefeated juggernauts, the Tiptree Titans triumphed over the London Acorn Lasers in a tense, low-scoring final. Tiptree’s relentless defense proved the difference, frustrating the Lasers’ usually potent offense and securing the Titans’ first national title. It was a fitting end to one of the most competitive and expansive seasons in UK youth football history.
🧩 Final Thoughts
- Tiptree Titans finished the season unbeaten with the national crown.
- London Acorn Lasers allowed just 16 points all season—including the final—but fell short.
- New contenders like Bournemouth, Wrekin, and Northants added regional strength.
- The 1988 JAFL season was a showcase of explosive growth, elite competition, and rising standards across the board.