About the BFL
The British Football League (BFL) is a fantasy football league created by Alex Thomas. It draws inspiration from the NFL and features team names from historic and defunct franchises as a tribute to his love of Gridiron Football. All team names and logos are used for entertainment purposes only, and no rights are claimed.
More details can be found under the Teams section.
Quick Access
| LEAGUE LOGOS |
| TEAMS |
| SEASONS |
| PLAYOFFS |
Logos
 |
2015-2019 |
|---|---|
 |
2020-2024 |
|
2025- |
2025 BFL logo is AI generated.
Teams
The BFL features 16 teams, divided into two conferences, each containing two divisions of four teams. Every BFL team is “affiliated” with an NFL franchise based on the final NFL standings from the previous season. Affiliations follow alphabetical order by BFL/NFL city or region, using the final eight teams from both the AFC and NFC. This system ensures that, over time, every NFL team can be linked to a BFL team. However, fans are encouraged to support their local BFL team regardless of the NFL affiliate.
Click the conferences below to view its dedicated page, including logo, colours, stadium details, and historical information.
CONFERENCES
All BFL stadiums must have a minimum capacity of 10,000 seats. When considering expansion, new cities or regions are prioritised before any location can host a second team. If a city were ever to host two teams, each would require its own dedicated BFL stadium rather than sharing a venue.
Initial team locations were chosen around UK capital cities (Cardiff, Edinburgh, London) and major population centres (Birmingham, Brighton, Leeds, Manchester, Newcastle). Expansion then focused on nearby northern and southern regions to encourage natural rivalries. This approach will continue for any future growth beyond the current 16 teams.
Expansion is deliberately limited to maintain competitive balance and to prevent the same NFL affiliates from being repeatedly linked to the same BFL teams, which could affect playoff opportunities.
Team names are primarily inspired by historic or defunct football leagues, with some reflecting local identity (e.g., Sherwood Forest, Tyneside, Yorkshire). The Welsh Dragons, while using a logo inspired by the former New York Dragons of the Arena Football League, also draw from the national Welsh dragon emblem. To strengthen the league’s identity, redesigned logos were introduced for the 2025 season, with further refinements made for 2026.
Teams are based in England (13), Scotland (2) and Wales (1) which collectively make up Great Britain. Northern Ireland is part of the United Kingdon, excludes Republic of Ireland, but is not represented in the BFL. Expansion would be within the current divisions or new divisions as long as there is sufficient teams of at least 4 for the new division and teams to replace those in the other divisions.
ENGLAND
By far the most stadiums are in England due to its size compared to the Scotland and Wales. There are several candidates but would be to introduce new BFL rivalries that exist in other leagues especially the Premier League. Therefore there are too many to name.
SCOTLAND
Caledonian represents western Scotland and Scottish represent Scotland as a whole but primarily Eastern Scotland. In order to expand further into Scotland, Aberdeen would be the obvious choice and Midltohian (region around Edinburgh) and would mean a possibility of having a Scottish Division. Out of the current Scottish cities/regions that host sports teams, there are 8 that would be suitable of which 5 (Aberdeen, Dundee, Falkirk, Kilmarnock & Motherwell) would be new BFL cities. Furthermore, the Highlands and Lowlands regions could be used as potential expansion sites although this would mean that Edinburgh & Glasgow may have duplicate representation.
WALES
Out of suitable stadiums for expansion, 4 stadiums are based in Cardiff, which leaves Llanelli, Swansea and Wrexham as suitable candidates.
EXPANSION HISTORY
| 2015-2018 | 8 | Birmingham Bandits London Monarchs MANCHESTER DEMONS SCOTTISH CLAYMORES Sussex Pirates TYNESIDE MARINERS Welsh Dragons YORKSHIRE VIKINGS |
|---|---|
| 2019-2020 | |
| 10 | Birmingham Bandits London Monarchs MANCHESTER DEMONS SCOTTISH CLAYMORES Sussex Pirates TYNESIDE MARINERS Welsh Dragons YORKSHIRE VIKINGS |
CALEDONIAN KNIGHTS (E) Sherwood Forest Outlaws (E) |
|
| 2021-2024 | |
| 12 | Birmingham Bandits CALEDONIAN KNIGHTS London Monarchs MANCHESTER DEMONS SCOTTISH CLAYMORES Sherwood Forest Outlaws Sussex Pirates TYNESIDE MARINERS Welsh Dragons YORKSHIRE VIKINGS |
Merseyside Centurions (E) Thames Valley Thunder (E) |
|
| 2025- | |
| 16 | Avon Fire Birmingham Bandits CALEDONIAN KNIGHTS Humberside Destroyers London Monarchs MANCHESTER DEMONS Merseyside Centurions SCOTTISH CLAYMORES Sherwood Forest Outlaws Sussex Pirates Thames Valley Thunder TYNESIDE MARINERS Welsh Dragons YORKSHIRE VIKINGS |
Avon Fire (E) Humberside Destroyers (E) LEICESTER STALLIONS (E) SHEFFIELD SURGE (E) |
|
PLAYOFFS
Tyneside Mariners remain the only Playoff team yet to win a game and leaves expansion teams Avon Fire and Sheffield Surge yet to qualify based on 14 teams now having qualified overall.
 |
BRITISH CONFERENCE PLAYOFFS |
|---|---|
 |
UNITED CONFERENCE PLAYOFFS |
 |
BFL Bowl |
| TEAMS | # |
|---|---|
| 2015-2019 | 4 |
| 2019-2024 | 6 |
| 2025- | 8 |
Since the 2025 season, and unlike the format used before 2020, the top two teams in each division no longer advance directly to a Division Final. Instead, eight teams qualify overall, with Division champions now hosting the Conference Semi‑Finals rather than receiving a bye (as they did from 2015–2018). From 2015–2019 the playoffs featured four teams, expanding to six teams from 2019–2024.
For the 2025 season, the top four teams in each conference (eight teams total) qualify for the playoffs, which consist of the Conference Semi‑Finals and Conference Championships. The winners advance to the BFL Bowl, previously known as the BFL Championship Game (2015–2024).
Further details can be found in BFL Rules 2–4.
The BFL Standings are available here, and each team’s NFL affiliate is shown beneath the BFL team name.
All playoff pages use ‘@’ to indicate away games and ‘VS’ for home games. Home and away designations follow conference (formerly division) affiliation, beginning with the North Division in 2015.
Dates listed on the Conference Playoffs pages, including the BFL Bowl, follow the NFL season schedule. Updates on the BFL site may occasionally be delayed due to time‑zone differences.
BFL BOWL
2025 BFL Bowl Champions
The 2025 BFL Bowl will feature the two‑time BFL Champions, the Birmingham Bandits (last title in 2016), against first‑time finalists, the Humberside Destroyers.
December 7, 2025 coincides with NFL Week 14, including the Bills and Packers games.
The BFL Bowl was introduced for the 2025 season, replacing the BFL Championship Game name used from 2015–2024.
Wembley Stadium in London is the designated host venue, with the home team determined by conference rotation and highest seed.
The game is contested by the champions of the British and United Conferences.
Dates listed follow the order of the winning team, followed by the NFL affiliate of the losing team.
BFL Championship Game |
|||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GAME | DATE | WINNER | SCORE | LOSER | STADIUM |
1 |
DECEMBER 6, 2015 |  BIRMINGHAM BANDITS (1)  |
27 @ 17 |  MANCHESTER DEMONS  |
 WEMBLEY STADIUM LONDON,UK |
2 |
DECEMBER 4, 2016 | BIRMINGHAM BANDITS (2) |
31 VS 20 |  SCOTTISH CLAYMORES |
|
3 |
DECEMBER 3, 2017 | SCOTTISH CLAYMORES (1)  |
23 VS 9 | BIRMINGHAM BANDITS  |
|
4 |
DECEMBER 3, 2018 | SCOTTISH CLAYMORES (2)  |
40 @ 30 | BIRMINGHAM BANDITS  |
|
5 |
DECEMBER 2, NOVEMBER 28, 2019 |
SCOTTISH CLAYMORES (3) |
23 VS 12 |  WELSH DRAGONS  |
|
6 |
DECEMBER 25 & 27, 2020 |
 SHERWOOD FOREST OUTLAWS (1)  |
52 VS 27 |  CALEDONIAN KNIGHTS  |
|
7 |
DECEMBER 26 & 25, 2021 |
SCOTTISH CLAYMORES (4) |
36 VS 24 |  LONDON MONARCHS  |
|
8 |
DECEMBER 24, 2022 | LONDON MONARCHS (1)  |
40 VS 35 | CALEDONIAN KNIGHTS  |
|
9 |
DECEMBER 25 & 24, 2023+ |
 SUSSEX PIRATES (1)  |
40 @ 36(OT) | CALEDONIAN KNIGHTS |
|
10 |
DECEMBER 22, 2024 | LONDON MONARCHS (2)  |
34 VS 24 | MANCHESTER DEMONS |
|
BFL Bowl |
|||||
11 |
DECEMBER 7, 2025 |  HUMBERSIDE DESTROYERS (1) |
39 VS 28 | BIRMINGHAM BANDITS |
WEMBLEY STADIUM LONDON,UK |
12 |
DECEMBER TBC, 2026 | ||||
OVERTIME
2023 + - Both teams were drawn 33-33 at the end of regular time, therefore both teams' 1st quarter points were used to decide OT - Caledonian Knights (3) & Sussex Pirates (7)
STANDINGS
| Team | REC | A | RT | RA | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
SCOTTISH CLAYMORES | 4-1 | 5 | 2021 | 2021 |
|
LONDON MONARCHS | 2-1 | 3 | 2024 | 2024 |
|
BIRMINGHAM BANDITS | 2-3 | 5 | 2016 | 2025 |
|
humberside destroyers | 1-0 | 1 | 2025 | 2025 |
|
SUSSEX PIRATES | 1-0 | 1 | 2023 | 2023 |
|
SHERWOOD FOREST OUTLAWS | 1-0 | 1 | 2020 | 2020 |
|
MANCHESTER DEMONS | 0-2 | 2 | 0 | 2024 |
|
CALEDONIAN KNIGHTS | 0-3 | 3 | 0 | 2023 |
|
WELSH DRAGONS | 0-1 | 1 | 0 | 2019 |
| No Appearances | |||||
 |
AVON FIRE | 0 | 0 | 0 | - |
 |
leicester Stallions | 0 | 0 | 0 | - |
 |
Merseyside Centurions | 0 | 0 | 0 | - |
 |
Sheffield Surge | 0 | 0 | 0 | - |
 |
Thames Valley Thunder | 0 | 0 | 0 | - |
 |
Tyneside Mariners | 0 | 0 | 0 | - |
 |
Yorkshire Vikings | 0 | 0 | 0 | - |
LEGEND
BFL BOWL RECORDS
- Most victories: 4* Scottish Claymores (2017,2018,2019,2021)
- Most losses: 3* Caledonian Knights (2020,2022,2023)
- Most appearances: 5* Scottish Claymores (2016,2017,2018,2019,2021)
- Most consecutive appearances: 4* Birmingham Bandits (2015,2016,2017,2018)
- Most consecutive victories: 3* Scottish Claymores (2017,2018,2019)
- Most consecutive losses: 2**
- Birmingham Bandits (2017,2018)
- Caledonian Knights (2022,2023)
- Most common matchups:
- Scottish Claymores vs Birmingham Bandits (2016,2017,2018)
- Longest Title drought (in seasons): 8* Birmingham Bandits (2016)
- *Tied for BFL record
- **BFL record
Notes: