Manchester Spartans

The second oldest civilian team in Britain, Formed by Bernard McDerra they began as the Northwich Spartans in 1983 and came to Manchester a year later. In 1985, the first season of formally organized leagues in the U.K, the Spartans under George Aguado finished first in the Northern Division of the American Football League with a 10-2 record but lost to their neighbours Manchester Allstars in the first round of the playoffs.[2] In 1986 they again finished with a 10-2 record and this time won their first round playoff only to suffer a 35-7 defeat to Birmingham Bulls in the British American Football League semi-final playoffs. In 1988 they won more games than any other team in one season (15), but fell in the playoffs semifinals.[3]

In 1989 player and coach, Terry Smith - who also coached GB at the time), they won the 1989 Budweiser title where they defeated Birmingham Bulls 21-14.[4]

Under former Atlanta Falcons starter Roy Harris, the defense produced youngsters the calibre of LB's Martin Owen and Dave Egan and linemen Rick Hughes, Keith Marsh and Warren Billingham

In 1990 they were National Champions for the second time, NDMA Coke Bowl I, Manchester Spartans 27-25 Northants Storm.[4]

As the Champions of Great Britain, the Spartans entered the European Football League tournament in 1990 against the national champions from each of the other European countries. The final championship game was called the Eurobowl. In the European Championships, the Spartans defeated the Dublin Celts, the champions of Ireland, 28-14 in the Final 16 Round played in Dublin, Ireland. Then, in the European Quarter-Final, the Spartans defeated the Amsterdam Crusaders, the champions of the Netherlands, 25-20 in a game played in England. In the European Semi-Final, the Spartans defeated the Berlin Adler, the champions of the German Football League, 35-33, in a game played in Italy. Then, in the European Final Eurobowl, the Spartans fell behind 14-0 in the first quarter against the Legnano Frogs, the champions of Italian Football League. However, the Spartans made some strategic adjustments, and the Spartans dominated the rest of the way as they came back to score 34 straight points to defeat Legnano 34-22 in the European Championship Game played in Rimini, Italy.[4] By winning the European Championship, the Manchester Spartans became the first team in Great Britain history to ever win the Eurobowl Championship. In fact, prior to the Spartans’ European Championship win, no team from Great Britain had ever even won a single game in European competition, which made the Spartans’ winning the entire European Championship even more of an amazing achievement for both the Spartans team and for Great Britain as a country.