1990 NDMA Kitted League

The 1990 season marked the second and final outing for the NDMA Youth Kitted League, a competition that helped nurture a generation of young British American football players. Divided across three regional conferences—Northern, Central, and Southern—the league delivered high-scoring clashes, rising stars, and a dominant champion in Northants Storm.

📊 NDMA Youth Kitted League 1990 – Final Standings

Northern Conference

TeamWLT
Fylde Falcons420*
Leeds Cougars321*
Glasgow Lions330*
Manchester Allstars141

Central Conference

TeamWLT
Northants Storm602*
Birmingham Bulls530*
Nottingham Hoods431*
Leicester Panthers251
Bristol Packers170

Southern Conference

TeamWLT
Portsmouth Warriors600*
London Olympians420*
Chelmsford Cherokee240
Brighton B-52s060

🏆 Regular Season Overview

Northern Conference

The Fylde Falcons emerged top of the Northern standings with a 4–2 record, edging out Leeds Cougars and Glasgow Lions, who remained hot on their heels. The Falcons were consistent throughout, but both Leeds and Glasgow were formidable opponents. Manchester Allstars, despite flashes of potential, managed only one win.

Central Conference

The Central Conference proved to be the league’s most competitive. Northants Storm were unbeaten, finishing 6–0–2, blending explosive offense with defensive solidity. Birmingham Bulls followed closely with five wins, while Nottingham Hoods also impressed, finishing third. Leicester Panthers and Bristol Packers rounded out the standings, with Bristol struggling to find form.

Southern Conference

Portsmouth Warriors swept the Southern Conference with a perfect 6–0 record, powered by a disciplined defense and efficient offense. London Olympians stayed in playoff contention with four wins. Chelmsford Cherokee and Brighton B-52s lagged behind, with Brighton failing to notch a victory.

🏟️ Playoff Drama

First Round

  • Fylde Falcons 20–0 Leeds Cougars
    A comprehensive shutout by the Falcons sent them through in style.
  • Birmingham Bulls 30–18 London Olympians
    The Bulls survived a shootout against a determined Olympians side.
  • Northants Storm 58–8 Nottingham Hoods
    The Storm put on an offensive clinic, steamrolling into the semifinals.
  • Portsmouth Warriors 6–8 Glasgow Lions
    Glasgow produced the shock of the round, knocking out the previously undefeated Warriors.

Semi-Finals

  • Northants Storm 54–0 Glasgow Lions
    The Storm showed no mercy, dominating Glasgow to book their place in the final.
  • Fylde Falcons 12–30 Birmingham Bulls
    The Bulls powered their way past Fylde to set up a championship clash with the Storm.

Final – Saffron Lane, Leicester

  • Northants Storm 32–12 Birmingham Bulls
    The Storm capped off a perfect season with a commanding victory in the final. Their double-wing attack and lockdown defense overwhelmed the Bulls, securing the 1990 NDMA title and cementing their legacy in youth Britball history.

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

PYDWLT%
CHELMSFORD CHEROKEE8800
TIPTREE TITANS8620
COLCHESTER TRIDENTS8350
BIRCHGLEN EAGLES8260
IPSWICH IMPERIALS8170

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

PYDWLT%
LUTON JNR FLYERS10910
NORTHANTS STORMBRINGERS10820
MILTON KEYNES YEARLINGS10253
WEEDON WARRIORS10253
HERTS SPIRITS10370
HUNTINGDON HAWKS10271

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

PYDWLT%
SWANSEA DRAGONS JNRS6411
BRISTOL BOMBERS6411
SWINDON SAMAURI6222
SHIREWAY SHARKS7160

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

PYDWLT%
COVENTRY BEARS8710
BIRMINGHAM BULLS8620
SOLIHULL SHARKS8341
WEST BROM COMETS8341
WORCESTER SORCERORS8080

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

PYDWLT%
PORTSMOUTH WARRIORS6600
BOURNEMOUTH BENGALS6330
SOUTH STAR SCORPIONS6330
HAMPSHIRE KNIGHTS6060

Summary:
Portsmouth were flawless in this smaller conference and looked dangerous going into the playoffs.

LONDON EASTERN CONFERENCE

PYDWLT%
KENT RAMS6411
ELM PARK EAGLES6420
ACORN INVADERS6231
GRAVESEND LIONS6150

Summary:
Kent Rams narrowly edged out Elm Park to top the division and proved their mettle through the playoffs.

LONDON WESTERN CONFERENCE

PYDWLT%
STREATHAM OLYMPIANS8800
RENEGADE CRUISERS7*430
LONDON RAVENS8440
EALING EAGLES7*340
WINDSOR MONARCHS8080

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.

Front Cover of the 1987 JAFL two touch Championship game

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.”

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