Article by Alex Underwood
In Part Two of our German review we will have a quick look
into the Northern Division. Historically the North has dominated German
football with the bulk of wins coming from Northern teams. In the last ten
years only the Unicorns have collected the German Bowl. For some of the following clubs its been
relitivly quiet, others have rather alot going on.
Berlin Rebels, EST 1987;
Home ground and capacity: Mommsen stadium, 15,005
Despite the Adler’s poor season in 2016 the Rebels are still considered by
many to be Berlin’s second team. QB Darius Outlaw (who had a stint with the
Adler before returning to the Rebels) will lead the offence gain this year
with, American running back Lawrence McCoy alongside him. The Rebels are a team
that sticks together, a recent article the club stated that added together, the
veterans of the club had been together for 62 years.
Berlin Adler, EST
1979; Home ground and capacity:
Friedrich-Ludwig-Jahn Sports park, 19,708
This year the Adler will want to put to bed last season’s
financial and on field woes. Devon Francois’s arrival from the US to play
safety is a major boost. Francois will play alongside 23 year veteran lineman
Robert Zwanzig who joined the Adler in 1993. The Adler have put a vast amount
of resources in recent months developing their flag team ready for a new
national league format being put together for 2016. Meanwhile the fans of the
Adler can only hope that 2015 was just a blip and the club can return to the
top.
Hamburg Huskies, EST
1994; Home ground and capacity:
Hammer Park, 9,000
The Days of the Hamburg Blue Devils playing as one of
Europe’s elite are well and truly over with that club now playing in the
regional leagues. It’s been a while coming but the Huskies are a strong
replacement and are a team well worth watching. This year the club signed new
quarterback Jordan Perry from Northern Arizona University
(NCAA DIV. I). Not to be out done the defence picked up Jonathan Perkins from UC Davis (University of California, Davis - NCAA
DIV I). He was signed from Ferrara Aquile of the Italian Football League. This
team has made massive out of season moves and has real potential to compete for
the German bowl.
Kiel Baltic
Hurricanes; EST 1988; Home ground and
capacity: K ilia Stadium, 1,400
90 Kilometres north of the Huskies are the Hurricanes, one
of Europe’s big boys. Like the Huskies the Hurricanes have also been actively
improving the roster with signing former Kentucky
Wesleyan College receiver Xavier Mitchell. The big news however is not the
signings; it’s the unfolding news of head coach Dan Disch leaving for his
native America due to family related reasons. Furthermore he looks unlikely to
return, having taken a job at the University of South Miss. This could have
major implications on the division opening the door for the Huskies and
Monarchs. Meanwhile the team must prepare for their EFL group game with the
Amsterdam Crusaders with a make shift coaching unit.
Next up are the
New Yorker Lions, Europe’s number one club, and with the sponsorship they
receive it may not be changing any time soon. The Club has dominated German
domestic football for years and has made Europe their own as well. American
Grant Enders will line up under center again in 2016 after he seamlessly took
over from Casey Therriault in 2015. It’s been a quiet year by the Lions
standards although signing German national team WR Jan Hilgenfeldt from
Dresden is an eye opener.
Dresden Monarchs; EST 1992; Home
ground and capacity: Heinz-Steyer-Stadium, 3,000
Losing Jan
Hilgenfeldt to the Lions was a sharp blow to the Monarchs, so the Monarchs
looked to Finland and brought in two of their internationals, 22-year-old Sebastien Sagne and the 23-year-old Micky Kyei
(nothing like a little retail therapy). The Monarchs have a very international
feel to it with players from across Europe, America and DB Isaac Summerfield
from Australia.
Dusseldorf Panther; EST 1978; Home
ground and capacity: VfL Benrath Stadium, 10,000
The panther are
part of the old guard of Germany and are one of Europe’s founding teams and the
oldest in the GFL. Like the Adler, Dusseldorf has been playing in the top
flight for decades and has history with the London Olympians in the form of
their 1995 Eurobowl win. In recent years success has been hard to come by with
the club generally being found in the bottom half of the table. Now times could
be changing with new sponsor Avantum consulting. They are
not only providing investment, but also business consultancy with a view to
developing the Panther into the most professional, stream lined back office in
European football. On the field, Hunter C. Kelley from Missouri is the big signing. He has played at every
position on the defensive line as well as linebacker so far in his career and
is going to pose problems for offensive lines in the north all year.
Hildesheim Invaders; EST 1983; Home
ground and capacity: Eintracht Homefield, 9,000
The Invaders are going to find
life hard in the GFL, especially when you have to call your derby game a match
with the Lions. The Invaders are the underdogs of the GFL and for good reason.
The club simply don’t have the big game experience as their opponents. On the
plus side for the Invaders they have kept the bulk of their successful GFL2
squad together and still have outstanding American running back Reggie Bullock
on the roster.
