London Olympians - A brief history

In 1983 a group of men training at the Olympians Gym in Streatham, South London discovered a mutual interest in American Football, they began to meet and train on Streatham Common and one of Britain’s founding teams, The London Olympians, were born.

Initially known as The Streatham Olympians, they learnt quickly and began to dominate the British American Football League and in 1986 they went unbeaten. In 1987 the Olympians went to Dallas, Texas where they won the Whitbread Bowl and were runners up in the Texas football league challenge, The Olympians also won the Amsterdam Bowl series against tough opposition from both Germany and Holland in 1987. The championship in England was to elude them, despite dominating in regular season, until 1992 when they finally won the championship against the Leicester Panthers (with QB Sean Payton now head coach of the New Orleans Saints). The Olympians proved they were the best side in the country and with the national title under their belt they were automatically placed in the Euro Bowl in 1993 which they won easily and also retained the National Championship back in the domestic game.

1994 saw them retain the Euro Bowl title against Bergamo Lions of Italy, a game that has been hailed as one of the best games between 2 European sides ever seen. Sadly due to the loss of a number of key players in 1995 the side failed to retain their titles and in November 1995 the owner of The Olympians decided to withdraw from the game, a new management team was put in place and Coach Riq Ayub was appointed as Head Coach.

The O’s, as they were now known, dropped out of the league and rejoined in Division 2 allowing them to develop at a sensible pace, the team won the Second Division Championship at the first attempt. In 1998, the team returned to the British Senior League and won the championship on 30 August 1998 after going undefeated throughout the season. A feat they repeated in 1999 and 2000. They had now won five consecutive national championships – a British record. They had last lost a game on July 6th 1997 at Milton Keynes Pioneers (0-26).

They won the British title again in 2001 with a 37-20 win over the East Kilbride Pirates and won the 2002 BSL title with a 42-15 win over the PA Knights to keep their unbeaten run going. The winning run continued in 2003, as they went 8-0-0 in the regular season and then beat East Kilbride 35-7 in Britbowl 2003.

The London Olympians unbeaten run finally came to an end in week 1 of the 2004 season, when the PA Knights defeated them. Despite this they finished second in the Southern Conference and soundly defeated Ipswich and East Kilbride in the playoffs, before relinquishing their national title to the PA Knights in Britbowl 2004. The London Olympians won the national title twice more in 2005 and 2006 and then relinquished the title in 2007.

In 23 years of British American Football the London Olympians under their various guises have played in 18 finals, won 12 and lost 6, giving them the best record of any British team.

Making New History

Realising that it was time to re-build the Olympians are once again rebuilding and re-establishing links with their South East London community. A new youth program has been launched and a major re-organization of the administration has taken place. Coach Ayub has taken the development of the youth program under his wing and Coach Warren Smart has been appointed as Head Coach of the Senior Squad.

After a summer of recruitment, training and hard work the London Olympians completed 2 qualifying games against well established BUAFL competition.

At the time of writing (10th August 2008) The Senior Team are awaiting confirmation that they will once again re-enter the British American Football League (BAFL) at Division ll in time for the 2009 BAFL season.

National Championships involving the Olympians

2006 - Britbowl XX, London Olympians 45-30 London Blitz 2005 - Britbowl XIX, London O's 21-19 PA Knights 2004 - BSL Div.1 Bowl, PA Knights 28-14 London O's 2003 - BSL Div.1 Bowl, London O's 35-7 East Kilbride Pirates 2002 - BSL Div.1 Bowl, London O's 42-15 PA Knights 2001 - BSL Div.1 Bowl, London O's 37-20 East Kilbride Pirates 2000 - BSL Div.1 Bowl, London O's 34-26 Birmingham Bulls 1999 - BSL Div.1 Bowl, London O's 9-6 Birmingham Bulls 1998 - BSL Div.1 Bowl, London O's 20-0 Sussex Thunder 1997 - BIG C Final, London O's 26-20 Milton Keynes Pioneers (OT) 1995 - BAFA Div.1 Bowl, Birmingham Bulls 34-30 London Olympians 1994 - BAFA Div.1 Bowl, London Olympians 24-23 Birmingham Bulls 1993 - NDMA Bowl, London Olympians 40-14 Glasgow Lions 1992 - NDMA Coke Bowl III, London Olympians 34-6 Leicester Panthers 1991 - NDMA Coke Bowl II, Birmingham Bulls 39-38 London Olympians 1988 - Bud Bowl III, Birmingham Bulls 30-6 London Olympians 1986 - Bud Bowl I, London Ravens 20-12 London Olympians* 1985 - Summerbowl I, London Ravens 45-7 Streatham Olympians * The national title in 1986 was disputed due to 2 rival leagues.