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.”
