As British youth American football continued to evolve, the 1988 BYAFA kitted season showcased some of the most competitive play yet, with standout performances, emerging rivalries, and a final that delivered on all expectations. Two conferences battled it out for supremacy, culminating in a national showdown at Saffron Lane Stadium, Leicester.
📊 North Eastern Conference
Team
PYD
W
L
T
F
A
Steel City Titans
7
6
1
0
159
92
Bradford Dolphins
7
3
3
1
115
138
Leeds Cougars
7
2
4
1
142
123
Summary: The Steel City Titans led the way in the North East, combining a strong defensive unit with a potent offense. Bradford and Leeds each had their moments, but neither could match the Titans’ consistency.
📊 North Western Conference
(Note: Crewe Missiles pulled out before the season and were replaced by the Stoke Spitfires.)
Team
PYD
W
L
T
F
A
Delyn Valley Heroes
7
6
1
0
241
89
Manchester Allstar Colts
7
3
4
0
116
103
Stoke Spitfires
7
0
7
0
26
254
Summary: Delyn Valley dominated the North West with the league’s most explosive offense. Manchester battled hard, while Stoke faced a challenging season stepping in as a late replacement.
🏆 BYAFA Final
4th September 1988 – Saffron Lane, Leicester
Steel City Titans 26–18 Delyn Valley Heroes
In a hotly contested final, the Titans overcame the high-powered Heroes to claim the 1988 national title. Their resilience and balanced play proved too much for Delyn Valley, despite the latter’s impressive scoring record throughout the season.
⚡ Season Highlights & Legacy
Steel City Titans secure national glory after a strong 6–1 campaign.
Delyn Valley Heroes finish as runners-up with a league-best 241 points.
Stoke Spitfires step in after Crewe Missiles’ late withdrawal, adding depth to the league.
Continued momentum for kitted youth football as regional rivalries intensify.
The 1988 BYAFA season added new chapters to the UK’s youth football history, setting the stage for more structured and competitive play in years to come.
1987 – Two Touch
The 1987 season of the Junior American Football League (JAFL) saw a sharp increase in competition with a total of 33 English and Welsh teams entering the season, and culminating in a landmark two-touch final held at Loftus Road—home of top-flight football club Queens Park Rangers.
EASTERN CONFERENCE
PYD
W
L
T
%
CHELMSFORD CHEROKEE
8
8
0
0
TIPTREE TITANS
8
6
2
0
COLCHESTER TRIDENTS
8
3
5
0
BIRCHGLEN EAGLES
8
2
6
0
IPSWICH IMPERIALS
8
1
7
0
Summary: Chelmsford Cherokee dominated the Eastern Conference with an unblemished record, while the Tiptree Titans proved a strong second-place team. The rest of the conference struggled to match their pace.
HOME COUNTIES CONFERENCE
PYD
W
L
T
%
LUTON JNR FLYERS
10
9
1
0
NORTHANTS STORMBRINGERS
10
8
2
0
MILTON KEYNES YEARLINGS
10
2
5
3
WEEDON WARRIORS
10
2
5
3
HERTS SPIRITS
10
3
7
0
HUNTINGDON HAWKS
10
2
7
1
Summary: Luton Junior Flyers emerged as one of the strongest teams in the league, with only one defeat. Northants Stormbringers were a close second, setting up both for deep playoff runs.
WESTERN CONFERENCE
PYD
W
L
T
%
SWANSEA DRAGONS JNRS
6
4
1
1
BRISTOL BOMBERS
6
4
1
1
SWINDON SAMAURI
6
2
2
2
SHIREWAY SHARKS
7
1
6
0
Summary: A tightly contested group at the top, the Swansea Dragons and Bristol Bombers led the way—although both benefited from the withdrawal of the Frome Oakfield Express and Gloucester Meteors.
MIDLANDS CONFERENCE
PYD
W
L
T
%
COVENTRY BEARS
8
7
1
0
BIRMINGHAM BULLS
8
6
2
0
SOLIHULL SHARKS
8
3
4
1
WEST BROM COMETS
8
3
4
1
WORCESTER SORCERORS
8
0
8
0
Summary: Coventry and Birmingham proved strong in the Midlands, but Coventry’s lone loss made them slight favorites heading into the playoffs. Worcester’s winless campaign marked a tough year for them.
SOUTHERN CONFERENCE
PYD
W
L
T
%
PORTSMOUTH WARRIORS
6
6
0
0
BOURNEMOUTH BENGALS
6
3
3
0
SOUTH STAR SCORPIONS
6
3
3
0
HAMPSHIRE KNIGHTS
6
0
6
0
Summary: Portsmouth were flawless in this smaller conference and looked dangerous going into the playoffs.
LONDON EASTERN CONFERENCE
PYD
W
L
T
%
KENT RAMS
6
4
1
1
ELM PARK EAGLES
6
4
2
0
ACORN INVADERS
6
2
3
1
GRAVESEND LIONS
6
1
5
0
Summary: Kent Rams narrowly edged out Elm Park to top the division and proved their mettle through the playoffs.
LONDON WESTERN CONFERENCE
PYD
W
L
T
%
STREATHAM OLYMPIANS
8
8
0
0
RENEGADE CRUISERS
7*
4
3
0
LONDON RAVENS
8
4
4
0
EALING EAGLES
7*
3
4
0
WINDSOR MONARCHS
8
0
8
0
Summary: The Olympians were dominant, but their playoff campaign ended controversially after they were removed by JAFA’s disciplinary committee.
PLAYOFF RESULTS
1st Round:
Tiptree Titans 6–9 Swansea Dragons
London Ravens 0–10 Streatham Olympians
South Star Scorpions 0–18 Chelmsford Cherokee
Bournemouth Bengals 0–19 Portsmouth Warriors
Elm Park Eagles 10–6 Coventry Bears
Renegade Cruisers 0–7 Luton Jnr Flyers
Birmingham Bulls 0–2 Northants Stormbringers
Kent Rams 5–0 Bristol Bombers
Quarter-Finals:
Kent Rams 14–13 Portsmouth Warriors
Swansea Dragons 1–0 Streatham Olympians*
Elm Park Eagles 2–18 Chelmsford Cherokee
Northants Stormbringers 0–14 Luton Jnr Flyers
* Olympians were disqualified post-match.
Semi-Finals:
Swansea 3–12 Chelmsford Cherokee
Kent Rams 6–0 Luton Jnr Flyers
Sound & Vision Championship Game (at Loftus Road, QPR’s Ground)
Kent Rams 24 – 8 Chelmsford Cherokee
In a grand finale at Loftus Road, the Kent Rams sealed their first national title, overpowering the previously undefeated Chelmsford Cherokee. The event, played just before the senior national final, marked a major milestone in the development of youth American football in Britain.
A Season Not Without Its Troubles
However, the season also faced serious challenges. A persistent shortage of referees caused numerous early games to be postponed. The situation was eventually resolved when teams were allowed to appoint referees from within their own ranks—raising concerns about impartiality.
There were also financial concerns: some teams had reportedly not received any benefit from their £25 registration fees, sparking questions about how the JAFA’s finances were being managed.
The biggest controversy surrounded the disqualification of the Streatham Olympians, who were removed from the playoffs after a player was suspected of having a knife in his kit-bag. This prompted a disciplinary hearing. Despite only 7 of the league’s 32 teams participating in the meeting, the Olympians were removed from the play-offs. Streatham’s manager, Larry Weaver, described the ruling as a “concerted effort to remove us from the league.”
📈 Looking Ahead
Despite the turbulence, plans are now underway to launch a fully kitted and sponsored Junior League next season. The increasing involvement of local clubs, volunteers, and sponsors is a sign that junior American football is beginning to take firm root in the UK.
As one official put it: “Football here has at last arrived.”
