German Football League 2

German Football League 2

Sport	American football
Founded	1982
No. of teams	16
Country	Germany
Most recent champion(s)	North: Hildesheim Invaders South: Frankfurt Universe
Official website	gfl.info

The German Football League 2 (GFL) is the second tier of American football in Germany, below the German Football League. Until 2007, the league was known as the 2. Bundesliga.^[1]

League structure

The GFL 2, formerly the 2. Bundesliga, which was formed in 1982,^[2] is divided into a northern and southern division, which eight teams in each division. Unlike the GFL, there are no inter conference games and no GFL 2 champion is determined.

For the 2011 season, both the northern and the southern champions were promoted, while the runners-up of the two divisions played the last placed team in the GFL division above for another spot in the league in 2012.^[3] Since then the two division champions play a home-and-away series for a place each in the northern and southern division of the GFL.

Below the GFL 2, five Regionalligas, Regional Leagues, are set, North, South, West, Central and East. Four teams each are promoted each season from the Regionalliga to the GFL 2. However, additional spots may become available if teams resign from either the GFL or the GFL 2.^[2]

Promotion to the GFL 2 is achieved through a promotion round at the end of the Regionalliga season which includes the best Regionalliga teams. For the southern division of the GFL 2 the champions of the southern and central division of the Regionalliga play the runners-up from the other division with the winners of each contest being promoted. For the northern GFL 2 division the champions of the Regionalliga divisions north, west and east play each other once to determine the two promoted teams.

League history

The league was formed as the 2nd American Football Bundesliga in 1982, consisting of 16 clubs in three regional divisions. League strength varied from season to season after this, but the three division format was retained until 1986, when a fourth regional group was added.^[2]

In 1995, the league was reduced to two divisions with seven clubs each. The strength was increased to eight teams per division in 1998 but continued to fluctuate because of teams withdrawing.^[2]

Promotion to the GFL 2 is achieved through the promotion round of the best Regionalliga clubs whereby the champions from the south plays the runners-up from central division and the champions from central the runners-up from the south. The winners of these two contests earn a place in the southern division of the GFL 2 for the following season. In the north the champions Of the Regionalliga divisions North,

GFL 2 Teams in 2016

Bulldogs

Royals

Gamecocks

Badgers

Golden Dragons

Razorbacks

Location of teams in the German Football League 2 in 2016

GFL 2 North

Team	City	State
Assindia Cardinals	Essen	North Rhine-Westphalia
Bielefeld Bulldogs	Bielefeld	North Rhine-Westphalia
Bonn Gamecocks	Bonn	North Rhine-Westphalia
Cologne Crocodiles	Cologne	North Rhine-Westphalia
Lübeck Cougars	Lübeck	Schleswig-Holstein
Ritterhude Badgers	Ritterhude	Lower Saxony
Troisdorf Jets	Troisdorf	North Rhine-Westphalia
Paderborn Dolphins	Paderborn	North Rhine-Westphalia
Potsdam Royals	Potsdam	Brandenburg

GFL 2 South

Team	City	State
Franken Knights	Rothenburg	Bavaria
Gießen Golden Dragons	Gießen	Hesse
Ingolstadt Dukes	Ingolstadt	Bavaria
Kirchdorf Wildcats	Kirchdorf am Inn	Bavaria
München Rangers	Munich	Bavaria
Nürnberg Rams	Nuremberg	Bavaria
Ravensburg Razorbacks	Ravensburg	Baden-Württemberg
Wiesbaden Phantoms	Wiesbaden	Hesse

GFL 2 season placings

The placings in the league since 2000:^[2]^[4]^[5]^[6]

North

GFL 2 North	00	01	02	03	04	05	06	07	08	09	10	11	12	13	14	15	16
New Yorker Lions	GFL	GFL	GFL	GFL	GFL	GFL	GFL	GFL	GFL	GFL	GFL	GFL	GFL	GFL	GFL	GFL	GFL
Berlin Adler	3	1	GFL	GFL	GFL	GFL	GFL	GFL	GFL	GFL	GFL	GFL	GFL	GFL	GFL	GFL	GFL
Dresden Monarchs	4	2	1	GFL	GFL	GFL	GFL	GFL	GFL	GFL	GFL	GFL	GFL	GFL	GFL	GFL	GFL
Kiel Baltic Hurricanes	GFL	GFL	GFL		2	1	1	GFL	GFL	GFL	GFL	GFL	GFL	GFL	GFL	GFL	GFL
Düsseldorf Panther	GFL	GFL	GFL	1	GFL	GFL	GFL	4	4	5	2	GFL	GFL	GFL	GFL	GFL	GFL
Berlin Rebels						2	5	5	6	1	GFL	2	GFL	GFL	GFL	GFL	GFL
Hamburg Huskies ¹	2	4	6	4	5	4	2	1	2	7			4	3	1	GFL	GFL
Hildesheim Invaders	7									8			7		5	1	GFL
Lübeck Cougars			4	3	3	6	6	3	5	3	5	3	GFL	5	2	2	x
Paderborn Dolphins																3	x
Cologne Crocodiles	GFL	GFL	GFL	GFL											3	4	x
Potsdam Royals																5	x
Bonn Gamecocks									7	6	7		6	4	6	6	x
Bielefeld Bulldogs					8									1	4	7	x
Assindia Cardinals	1	GFL	GFL	GFL	7		7		1	GFL	GFL	GFL	8				x
Ritterhude Badgers																	x
Elmshorn Fighting Pirates															8	8
Cologne Falcons					1	GFL	GFL	GFL	GFL	2	6	6	1	GFL	GFL
Troisdorf Jets		7					3	6	8			4	3	2	7
Hamburg Blue Devils	GFL	GFL	GFL	GFL	GFL	GFL	GFL	GFL	GFL			1	GFL	GFL
Osnabrück Tigers													5	6
Cottbus Crayfish													2	7
Rostock Griffins														8
Mönchengladbach Mavericks											1	GFL
Magdeburg Virgin Guards		6	5								4	5
Langenfeld Longhorns		5	3	5	6	3	4	2	3	4	3
Recklinghausen Chargers											8
Frankfurt Red Cocks								7
Weyhe Vikings					4	7		8
Hannover Musketeers			2	2	GFL	5
Bochum Cadets	6					8
Dortmund Giants	5	3

In the 2000, 2001 and 2006 seasons, only seven clubs played in the league.
In the 2002 and 2011 seasons, only six clubs played in the league.
In the 2003 season, only five clubs played in the league.
¹ Played as the Hamburg Wild Huskies until 2003, then as the Hamburg Eagles from 2004 to 2009 before becoming the Hamburg Huskies from 2010.

South

GFL 2 South	00	01	02	03	04	05	06	07	08	09	10	11	12	13	14	15	16
Stuttgart Scorpions	GFL	GFL	GFL	GFL	GFL	GFL	GFL	GFL	GFL	GFL	GFL	GFL	GFL	GFL	GFL	GFL	GFL
Schwäbisch Hall Unicorns	2	GFL	GFL	GFL	GFL	GFL	GFL	GFL	GFL	GFL	GFL	GFL	GFL	GFL	GFL	GFL	GFL
Marburg Mercenaries	3	1	1	GFL	GFL	GFL	GFL	GFL	GFL	GFL	GFL	GFL	GFL	GFL	GFL	GFL	GFL
Munich Cowboys	GFL	GFL	GFL		1	GFL	GFL	1	GFL	GFL	GFL	GFL	GFL	GFL	GFL	GFL	GFL
Saarland Hurricanes	1	GFL	GFL	GFL	GFL	GFL	GFL	GFL	5	4	1	GFL	GFL	GFL	GFL	GFL	GFL
Rhein Neckar Bandits										5	4	2	GFL	GFL	GFL	GFL	GFL
Allgäu Comets		3	3	3	6								1	1	GFL	GFL	GFL
Frankfurt Universe													2	2	3	1	GFL
Franken Knights	GFL	GFL	GFL	GFL	GFL	4	4	2	2	1	3	1	GFL	GFL	GFL	GFL	x
Ingolstadt Dukes																2	x
Kirchdorf Wildcats ¹				1	2	5	5	6	6			5	6	5	1	3	x
Nürnberg Rams													4	3	4	4	x
Wiesbaden Phantoms					4	2	2	4	3	2	2	GFL	GFL	GFL	2	5	x
München Rangers																8	x
Ravensburg Razorbacks														4	6		x
Gießen Golden Dragons																	x
Holzgerlingen Twister											6	3	7		5	6
Darmstadt Diamonds	4	2	6	2	3	1	GFL	GFL	GFL	3	5	4	8		7	7
Frankfurt Pirates												6	5	6	8
Starnberg Argonauts														7
Kaiserslautern Pikes										6	8		3	8
Plattling Black Hawks							3	3	1	GFL	GFL	GFL
Badener Greifs	7											7
Weinheim Longhorns						3	1	GFL	GFL	GFL	GFL	8
Hanau Hornets	8			5	5	6	6	8			7
Montabaur Fighting Farmers									4	7
Stuttgart Silver Arrows						7			7	8
Königsbrunn Ants						8	7	5	8
Aschaffenburg Stallions	GFL							7
Jena Hanfrieds							8
Franken Timberwolves	5	5	4	6	7
Rhein Main Razorbacks	GFL	GFL	GFL	GFL
Mainz Golden Eagles			5	4
Fursty Razorbacks			2	7
Rottenburg Red Knights		4	7
Straubing Spiders	6	6	8
Landsberg Express	GFL

GFL = Team played in GFL	Divisional champion

In the 2003 and 2004 seasons, only seven clubs played in the league.
In the 2001 season, only six clubs played in the league.
¹ Played as the Simbach Wildcats until 2003.

Divisional champions

The winners of the regional divisions of the GFL:^[2]

Year	North	Central	South
1982	Hamburg Dolphins	Red Barons Cologne	Noris Rams
1983	Bonn Jets	Mannheim Redskins	Kempten Comets
1984	Dortmund Giants	Mainz Golden Eagles	Kempten Comets
1985	Cologne Crocodiles II	Stuttgart Scorpions	Rothenburg Knights

Year	North	West	Central	South
1986	Hildesheim Invaders	Recklinghausen Chargers	Schwäbisch Hall Unicorns	München Rangers
1987	Bremerhaven Seahawks	Ratingen Raiders	Schwäbisch Hall Unicorns	Würzburg Pumas
1988	Bremen Buccaneers	Recklinghausen Chargers	Rüsselsheim Crusaders	Königsbrunn Ants
1989	Hildesheim Invaders	Recklinghausen Chargers	Darmstadt Diamonds	Fürth Buffalos
1990	Hamburg Silver Eagles	Cologne Bears	Stuttgart Scorpions	Regensburg Royals
1991	Berlin Rebels	Cologne Bears	Stuttgart Scorpions	Regensburg Royals
1992	Hamburg Silver Eagles	Solingen Hurricanes	Hanau Hawks	Rothenburg Knights
1993	Braunschweig Lions	Cologne Bears	Frankfurt Gamblers	Erding Bulls
1994	Kiel Baltic Hurricanes	Tecklenburg Silverbacks	Stuttgart Scorpions	Simbach Wildcats

Year	North	South
1995	Kiel Baltic Hurricanes	Rüsselsheim Razorbacks
1996	Berlin Rebels	Landsberg Express
1997	Paderborn Dolphins	Saarland Hurricanes
1998	Berlin Rebels	Aschaffenburg Stallions
1999	Bremen Bravehearts	Franken Knights
2000	Assindia Cardinals	Saarland Hurricanes
2001	Berlin Adler	Marburg Mercenaries
2002	Dresden Monarchs	Marburg Mercenaries
2003	Düsseldorf Panther	Simbach Wildcats
2004	Cologne Falcons	Munich Cowboys
2005	Kiel Baltic Hurricanes	Darmstadt Diamonds
2006	Kiel Baltic Hurricanes	Weinheim Longhorns
2007	Hamburg Eagles	Munich Cowboys
2008	Assindia Cardinals	Plattling Black Hawks
2009	Berlin Rebels	Franken Knights
2010	Mönchengladbach Mavericks	Saarland Hurricanes
2011	Hamburg Blue Devils	Franken Knights
2012	Cologne Falcons	Allgäu Comets
2013	Bielefeld Bulldogs	Allgäu Comets
2014	Hamburg Huskies	Kirchdorf Wildcats
2015	Hildesheim Invaders	Frankfurt Universe

References

↑ German Football League 2 (German) AFVD website, accessed: 20 January 2011
1 2 3 4 5 6 Football History(German) Historic American football tables from Germany, accessed: 2 January 2010
↑ Spielplan der GFL für 2011 steht (German) GFL website, published: 8 December 2010, accessed: 29 December 2010
↑ GFL 2008 www.football-aktuell.de, accessed: 2 January 2011
↑ GFL 2009 www.football-aktuell.de, accessed: 2 January 2011
↑ GFL 2010 www.football-aktuell.de, accessed: 2 January 2011

External links

(German) German Football League official website
(German) German American Football Association website
(German) Football History Historic American football tables from Germany

German Football League · 2016 clubs

GFL

North	Berlin Adler Berlin Rebels Dresden Monarchs Düsseldorf Panther Hamburg Huskies Hildesheim Invaders Kiel Baltic Hurricanes New Yorker Lions

South	Allgäu Comets Frankfurt Universe Marburg Mercenaries Munich Cowboys Rhein-Neckar Bandits Saarland Hurricanes Schwäbisch Hall Unicorns Stuttgart Scorpions

GFL 2

North	Assindia Cardinals Bielefeld Bulldogs Bonn Gamecocks Cologne Crocodiles Lübeck Cougars Paderborn Dolphins Potsdam Royals Ritterhude Badgers

South	Franken Knights Gießen Golden Dragons Ingolstadt Dukes Kirchdorf Wildcats München Rangers Nürnberg Rams Ravensburg Razorbacks Wiesbaden Phantoms

Seasons

Bundesliga	1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999

GFL	2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016

American football in Germany

Governing body

American Football Association of Germany

National teams

Men	Germany

Women	Germany Women's

Juniors	Germany Youth

Competitive leagues

Men	GFL GFL 2 Regionalliga Oberliga Verbandsliga Landesliga Aufbauliga

Women	Bundesliga 2nd Bundesliga

Juniors	GFL Juniors

Defunct	NFL Europe Nordwestdeutsche Football-Liga

Bowls

Men	German Bowl Flag Bowl Indoor Flag Bowl

Women	Ladies Bowl

Juniors	Junior Bowl Junior Flag Bowl

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