European Junior Championship 1994 — Berlin, Germany

Dates: 4–13 August 1994
Venue: Berlin (Eichkamp, Maifeld, Westend)
Divisions: U19

The Tournament

Ten days before the big NFL game, the Junior European Championship begins in Berlin, with ten nations competing: Austria, Switzerland, Italy, Great Britain, Spain, Sweden, Finland, Denmark, France, and host Germany.

Organised by the AFVD (German federation) together with NFL Europe, the event runs 4–13 August 1994. Each squad has 37 players aged up to 19.

Games were staged at Eichkamp Stadium and Maifeld (Olympic complex). Each group plays a round-robin, with the top team advancing to the final at Maifeld.

Last year the Wilson World Partnership trained over 1,000 coaches in ten countries. More than 10,000 players took part in clinics and camps led by coaches like Chuck Noll (four-time Super Bowl winner). Over 30,000 posters were distributed, and 25 youth football clubs were founded across Europe.

In 1994, the programme expanded further: Ray Willsey (two-time Super Bowl winner) and Bob Beier (NFL/Galaxy O-line coach) led training camps, with clinics in 16 countries. In May, Anthony Muñoz (Cincinnati Bengals Hall of Famer) toured Europe as an ambassador.

The Junior European Championship in Berlin is financed by the partnership, the AFVD, and the Senate of Berlin. Special thanks were given to Wilson for equipment and support.

🏅 Medal Summary

U19

Champions : Finland — beat Germany 37–16
3rd/4th place: Sweden — beat France 30–0
5th/6th place: GB 20 – 0 Austria

👥 Participants

Group A (Germany • Sweden • Italy • Spain • Switzerland)

Group B (Finland • France • Austria • Denmark • Great Britain)

📊 Known Results — All Games (U19)

(based on tournament programme and contemporary reports

Date	Stage	Home	Away	HomeScore	AwayScore	Venue
13/08/1994	Championship	Finland	Germany	37	16	Maifeld
13/08/1994	3rd.4th	Sweden	France	30	0	Maifeld
13/08/1994	5th/6th	Great Britain	Austria	20	0
04/08/1994	Group A	Germany	Spain	72	0	Maifeld
	Group A	Sweden	Switzerland	37	0
	Group A	Sweden	Italy	28	0
	Group A	Sweden	Spain	45	6
06/08/1994	Group A	Germany	Switzerland			Maifeld
08/08/1994	Group A	Italy	Spain			Maifeld
10/08/1994	Group A	Germany	Italy			Maifeld
	Group B	Finland	Austria	41	7
	Group B	Finland	France	30	7
	Group B	Finland	Denmark	68	0
	Group B	Great Britain	Denmark	13	12
	Group B	Great Britain	Austria	6	6
	Group B	France	Great Britain	44	28
08/08/1994	Group B	Denmark	France			Eichkamp
10/08/1994	Group B	Great Britain	Finland			Eichkamp

🧑‍🤝‍🧑 Squads & Staff

Great Britain — U17 Crusaders

(from squad sheet, July 1994)

Head Coach: Gary Marshall
Coordinators & Staff: Mike Reeves, Ian Feeley, Dave Barham, Dave Green, Paul Owen, Graham Jessett, Allan McMillan, Albert Lambert, Jason Mellet
Players: L Fraser (Gateshead Senators), A Ennis (Leeds Cougars), D Yems (London Ravens), C Barker (Nottingham Hoods), J Harrison (Gateshead Senators), B Summerfield (North West Spartans), … (full list available from scanned roster)

Austria — U19

(from programme roster; Vienna Vikings / Graz Giants / Salzburg Bulls core)

France — U19

(roster published in programme; included players from Flash La Courneuve, Argonautes Aix, etc.)

Germany — U19

(roster published in programme; included players from Cologne Crocodiles, Düsseldorf Panther, Berlin Adler, etc.)

Finnish Dominance

In Berlin, Finland was again led by QB Petrus Penkki (Vantaa TAFT), now coached by Hannu Koivusalo. Facing Austria in a rough opener that saw six injuries, Finland still clocked a 41–7 win.

Training at Volkspark’s sand pitch – between a Pakistani cricket squad and German women’s kickballers – became a part of the story. Finland then throttled France’s option offense in a 30–7 win.

With standings decided by point difference, Finland was on game mode: they pummeled Denmark 68–0 (41–0 at half), while Sweden beat Spain 45–6.

In front of 5,000 at Maifeld, Finland’s slick passing game (with two TDs to receiver Eero Vuorensola) propelled them past a big German team in the final, 37–16.

Though tournament winners were denied medals (they received bowls instead, rumored due to misengraving), the team still celebrated by attending an NFL preseason at Olympiastadion. Swiss and French observers praised Finland’s youth system and began planning similar programs.

Offense:

QB Petrus Penkki TAFT Vantaa
QB Pyry Seppä, Roosters Helsinki
WR Eero Vuorensola, Roosters Helsinki
WR Jussi Salmi, Turku Trojans
WR Jussi Kähönen, East City Giants Helsinki
TE Juha Suoniemi, Turku Trojans
TE Aarno Sjöblom, TAFT Vantaa
RB Jussi Niinikoski, Turku Trojans
RB Riku Seppänen, Bulldogs Kerava
RB Pasi Nerontie, Tigers Hämeenlinna
RB Ronnie Merikanto, Sun City Hanko
RB Andreas Taalas, Rangers Jyväskylä
OL Teemu Asikainen, Reds Kouvola
OL Petri Piirainen, TAFT Vantaa
OL Mikko Kesti, Northern Lights Oulu
OL Marko Pyhälä, TAFT Vantaa
OL Tomi Metsäniemi, Roosters Helsinki
OL Mikko Mäkinen, Trojans Turku
OL Ake Halttunen, Roosters Helsinki

Defense:

DB Toni Haukkamaa, Butchers Porvoo
DB Jukka Toivola, Roosters Helsinki
DB Joonas Mäkilä, Roosters Helsinki
DB Joni Syrjä, TAFT Vantaa
DB Teemu Kuusisto, Roosters Helsinki
DB Tero Virtanen, TAFT Vantaa
LB Markku Hakala, Trojans Turku
LB Juha-Pekka Laurila Roosters Helsinki
LB Tuomo Loukomies, Roosters Helsinki
LB Antti Ratsula, Colts Espoo
LB Sami Sillgren, Trojans Turku
DL Matias Widjeskog, Trojans Turku
DL Roope Piipponen, Colts Espoo
DL Lauri Pajunen, East City Giants Helsinki
DL Kalle Koivisto, Trojans Turku
DL Henri Puromäki, TAFT Vantaa
DL Marko Timonen, TAFT Vantaa
DL Matti Djateu, East City Giants Helsinki

Coaches

Head coach (RB) Hannu Koivusalo
H assistant coach (WR) Matti Sorsa
H assistant coach (OL) Teuvo Arolainen
P coordinator Ari-Pekka Tenko
P assistant coach (DL) Pauli Anttila
P assistant coach (DB) Jaakko Lehto
Video coach Mikko Niemelä

Maintenance

Team leader Matti Kauppinen
Doctor Juha-Matti Leppävuori
Guardian Markku Syrjä
Guardian Kari Huhtaoja
Guardian Petri Lehikoinen

Ranking: European Championship gold
Finland-Austria 41-7
Finland – France 30-7
Finland-Denmark 68-0
Final: Germany-Finland 16-37 (16-21)

European Championship MVP Petrus Penkki, TAFT