AFL London is one of the largest organised Australian Rules Football leagues outside Australia.
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The competition provides a competitive and fun game of football to the many Australian’s that live and work in London, as well as spreading the game to residents of non-AFL playing nations including, England, Scotland, Ireland, South Africa, New Zealand, the United States, Canada, Italy and other European countries.
The league is currently made up of eight clubs, across three levels of competition (Premiership, Conference and Social) that participate in a competition running from May to August.
History
First formed in 1989, AFL London was formerly known as the British Australian Rules Football League (BARFL). The inaugural season was held in 1990 and featured eight teams; the London Hawks, West London Wildcats, North London Lions, Earls Court Kangaroos, Lea Valley Saints, Thames Valley Magpies, Wandsworth Demons and the Leicester-based East Midland Eagles. Of these eight foundation teams, West London, North London, Wimbledon (formerly the London Hawks) and Wandsworth continue to compete in the league [1].
In 2001 AFL London was expanded to incorporate two levels of competition, known as the Premiership and Conference competitions. In addition, due to growing interest and numbers, a Social grade competition was added in 2007.
2008 saw an organisational restructure of Australian Rules Football in the UK, with the BARFL redeveloped to become AFL Britain. This change came about as a way of focusing the efforts of the organisation on supporting the growth of the game both in and outside the capital [2]. It was at this time that the London competition was rebranded as AFL London.
In 2015 a women's competition [3][4] was introduced, including three of the foundation teams; Wandsworth Demons, North London Lions and Wimbledon Hawks, and the Peckham-based South East London Giants. This was expanded in 2017 into two divisions of four teams, with the addition of teams from the West London Wildcats, London Swans, Putney Magpies, and a second side from Wandsworth.
Teams
North London Lions
Putney Magpies
South East London Giants
Wandsworth Demons
West London Wildcats
Wimbledon Hawks