The Northern European Football League (NEFL) was a short-lived organization involving American football in the Nordic countries and England. The league formed in 2017 following the collapse of the IFAF Europe Champions League in 2016. Former teams of this league rallied together to form the NEFL, eventually forming ties with the Central European Football League. While the league met its end in 2018, many teams would end up joining the CEFL, continuing the NEFL's legacy.
History
2017 The inaugural season of the NEFL featured three former teams of the IFAF Europe Champions League: the Carlstad Crusaders, Copenhagen Towers, and Helsinki Roosters. Joining these teams were the London Warriors from the BAFA National Leagues and the Uppsala 86'ers. The 86'ers and Roosters were placed in Group 1, while the Crusaders, Towers, and Warriors were slotted into Group 2.
Group 1
Group 2
Final NEFL Final I was held at Sola Arena in Carlstad, where the Roosters would outclass the Crusaders in overtime 21–15.
2018 The 2018 season marked the final season of the league's existence. The league ditched its championship game and two conferences in favor of a single conference, with the top team becoming the 2018 champion and qualifying for the Superfinal. The Roosters, NEFL Final I champions, departed from the league due to scheduling conflicts, while the 86'ers and Warriors dropped out to pursue other opportunities, being replaced by the Oslo Vikings and Tamworth Phoenix. The Gdynia Seahawks were also a potential candidate to join the league for 2018, but instead shifted their attention to joining the CEFL Cup. The Copenhagen Towers would take home the gold after going undefeated on the season.
Final A final matchup colloquially called the Superfinal between the NEFL champion and the CEFL champion, the Swarco Raiders Tirol, was held on June 30 at Gentofte Sportspark in Copenhagen. The Swarco Raiders beat the Towers 45–20, claiming the Superfinal title.
Collapse The NEFL since its founding was plagued by the 2015 IFAF leadership division. Legitimacy issues surrounding the ownership of IFAF would lead to many independent American football leagues in Europe being sanctioned, including the CEFL. This threat, combined with scheduling issues surrounding NEFL teams would lead to the league's demise following the 2018 season. While the Phoenix and Vikings returned to their respective leagues, the Crusaders and Towers later joined the CEFL, cementing the NEFL as an important cornerstone in the CEFL's development. Membership of NEFL Team NatSeasons 2017 2018 Carlstad Crusaders 2017–2018 Copenhagen Towers 2017–2018 Helsinki Roosters 2017 London Warriors 2017 Uppsala 86'ers 2017 Oslo Vikings 2018 Tamworth Phoenix 2018
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