American football in the Netherlands
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American football in the Netherlands has been on the map both nationally and internationally since the 1980s. However, it took almost 40 years before the first
Koningferander had been introduced to the sport by his gymnastics teacher Guus Annokkee who would go on to be the founder and inaugural chairman of the NAFF (Nederlandse American Football Federatie). Koningferander's TV plea instigated the founding of the Netherlands' first domestic club: the Amsterdam Rams.
History
1981–1984: Growth of interest
The first game played by an American football team from the Netherlands was on
Meanwhile, initiatives were springing up all over the Netherlands via exhibition games and the broadcasting of college football by the fledgling
The Rams returned to the Netherlands and, along with the new teams, formed the Nederlandse American Football Federatie (NAFF).[3]
1985–1989: Dutch competition
The first Dutch American Football season took place in 1985. Eight teams in a single division would compete against each other for a place in the Dutch championship game initially called the "Super Bowl". The first championship game saw the Amsterdam Rams face their former teammates the Amsterdam Crusaders. The Rams won the only Super Bowl - from 1986 the championship game was renamed the Tulip Bowl.
Many factors combined to produce explosive growth in this new sport which had been imported from the United States. The number of teams grew from 8 in 1985 to around 40 by the end of the 1980s.[4] In addition, the teams from larger cities were able to professionalise further by obtaining large sponsors, attracted by the freshness of the sport and the considerable media attention both in the TV and press, which enabled them to hire American players and coaches.
In 1986 the Netherlands organised Eurobowl I - the final of the European championship for national champions. The Amsterdam Rams achieved a respectable 3rd place in the Olympic Stadium in Amsterdam, with the Finnish Taft Vantaa claiming 1st place.
1987 saw the NAFF run a full Dutch competition with no less than 3 divisions. This season also saw the debut of Dutch officiating crews, supported by officials from the US airbase in Soesterberg.
Early 1990s: Dutch Dynasty?
The early 1990s saw the growth of American Football in the Netherlands settle down. The obvious next step was to look to the future. Youth teams and a youth competition were formed, and flag teams for the youngest participants. The top division of senior competition saw an enormous increase of quality, aided by the import of US players and coaches. By this time the Dutch competition was considered one of the strongest in the whole of
Late 1990s: Challenging Times
The mid-nineties saw the growth of the sport stagnate in the Netherlands, bringing about the demise of several clubs. The novelty of the sport wore off and it was evident in the diminishing interest of sponsors. Television exposure was no longer to be taken for granted and the growth of the youth competition was suffering. Conversely the sport was undergoing a renaissance in the rest of Europe, with media interest and crowds growing. This situation forced the decision by the Amsterdam Crusaders to pull out of the Dutch competition and instead compete in the ill-fated Football League of Europe in 1994 and 1995
While the sport was struggling in the Netherlands, bigger thing were afoot for American Football on a global scale. 1991 saw the birth of the
By the end of the 1990s
See also
References
- Het Vrije Volk. 1986-04-24. p. 21. Retrieved 2022-01-18 – via Delpher.
- ^ Gersen, Peter (1985-03-25). "American football in Nederland voorlopig een gespleten opzet". Trouw. p. 10. Retrieved 2022-01-18 – via Delpher.
- ^ Gersen, Peter (1985-04-01). "American Football onder een ander licht bekeken". Trouw. Retrieved 2022-01-18 – via Delpher.
- ^ Velthuis, Rob (1994-05-02). "American football in Nederland gespleten kruimel". Trouw. Retrieved 2022-01-18 – via Delpher.
- ^ a b "Brons voor footballers op EK". De Telegraaf. 1991-08-19. p. 18. Retrieved 2022-01-18 – via Delpher.