Hamburg Blue Devils
Encyclopedia
The Hamburg Blue Devils are an American football
team in Hamburg
, Germany
. The Blue Devils are one of the most successful American football clubs in Germany, having won four German Bowl
s as well as three Eurobowl
s. During the late 1990s and early 2000s, the clubs rivalry with the Braunschweig Lions
dominated the game in Germany, with the two sides meeting in six German Bowls between 1998 and 2005 as well as the 1999 Eurobowl.
In the late 1990′s, the club had become the most financially successful American football club in Europe, but by 2003, the club had to declare insolvency.
.
In 1994, the Blue Devils took part in the Football League of Europe
, where they lost the final to the Stockholm Nordic Vikings, played in front of 18,000 in Hamburg.
Unusually, the club was admitted to the American Football Bundesliga, the later GFL, without having worked its way up through the league system in 1995 and reached the German Bowl in its first attempt. There however, the Düsseldorf Panther
s proved too strong and Hamburg lost 10-17.
The club's second season in the league brought triumphs and sadness. The team won both the German Bowl and the Eurobowl, however, the teams head coach since 1992, George White, died two days before the play-off semi finals. In 1997, the Blue Devils were able to defend their European crown but lost in the semi finals of the national championships. Finally, in 1998, the club won the Eurobowl for a third consecutive time, as the first club ever, but once more lost the German Bowl, to future bitter rival Braunschweig Lions.
The 1999 season was all about the Blue Devils versus the Lions, the two teams meeting both in the Eurobowl and the German Bowl. On both occasions, the Lions kept the upper hand, but the 30,000 that turned out to see the German Bowl at Hamburgs Volksparkstadion were a new record for the game in Germany.
The following season was a disaster for the club. With new coach and quarter back, the club played its first losing season in its short history and missed the play-offs. It did reach the Eurobowl once more but this time lost to the Bergamo Lions
.
With a new coach and playing at the Millerntor-Stadion
, the club began a new era of success in 2001. Three German Bowl victories were to follow, all against the Braunschweig Lions. However, not all went well for the club. Midway through the 2002 season, the coach left but the Blue Devils remained successful. In 2003, the club experienced financial trouble, having to declare insolvency. Despite this, the German Bowl was won in extra time in a narrow 37-36 victory.
The club somewhat declined from 2004 onwards, only reaching the quarter finals that year. In 2005, a last appearance in the German Bowl was made, but this time the Lions came out as the winners. Additionally, the clubs marketing agency had to declare insolvency, too, but the Blue Devils survived theirs and moved into their own stadium, the eVendi Arena. From 2005 to 2007, the club also faced some local competition in the form of NFL Europe
team Hamburg Sea Devils
.
From 2006 onwards, the performances of the Blue Devils dropped off. In 2006, the play-off semi finals could still be reached, in 2007 it was only the quarter finals and, in 2008, a fifth place meant the club did not play a post season at all. What followed was the withdrawal to the tier-three Regionalliga Nord, where the club played the 2009 and 2010 season without ever suffering a league defeat. However, in the promotion round, things were not as easy and the Blue Devils missed out on promotion in 2009 but were successful in 2010. In 2011, the club has risen to the second tier of German football, the GFL 2, a league it never played in before.
On 5 January 2011, the club announced that it would start a cooperation with the Hamburger SV
with the aim of becoming a department of the club and, eventually, from 1 January 2012, all teams of the Blue Devils would become part of the multi-sports club HSV. The idea was floated as early as 1992 and the club will, in future, be known as the HSV Hamburg Blue Devils.
was the first success for a European team against an US college team.
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
team in Hamburg
Hamburg
-History:The first historic name for the city was, according to Claudius Ptolemy's reports, Treva.But the city takes its modern name, Hamburg, from the first permanent building on the site, a castle whose construction was ordered by the Emperor Charlemagne in AD 808...
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
. The Blue Devils are one of the most successful American football clubs in Germany, having won four German Bowl
German Bowl
The German Bowl is the annual national championship game in the sport of American football in Germany. It is contested by the two best teams of the German Football League....
s as well as three Eurobowl
Eurobowl
The Eurobowl is both the final game and the trophy of the European Football League , a European American football contest.-Eurobowls:-Champions:...
s. During the late 1990s and early 2000s, the clubs rivalry with the Braunschweig Lions
Braunschweig Lions
The New Yorker Lions are an American Football team from Braunschweig, Germany. Until late 2010, the team was known as the Braunschweig Lions....
dominated the game in Germany, with the two sides meeting in six German Bowls between 1998 and 2005 as well as the 1999 Eurobowl.
In the late 1990′s, the club had become the most financially successful American football club in Europe, but by 2003, the club had to declare insolvency.
History
The Hamburg Blue Devils were formed in 1992 and began playing non-league football in September 1992. It continued to take part in tournaments in 1993, defeating a number of European top clubs, including the German champions, the Munich CowboysMunich Cowboys
The Munich Cowboys are an American football team based in Munich, Germany. The club, together with the Düsseldorf Panther and the Ansbach Grizzlies, is one of the oldest in Germany. The team refers to itself as The Grand Old Team of the South....
.
In 1994, the Blue Devils took part in the Football League of Europe
Football League of Europe
The Football League of Europe was an European semi-professional American football league. It was founded in 1994, renamed 1995 in American Football League of Europe and dissolved after the 1995 season...
, where they lost the final to the Stockholm Nordic Vikings, played in front of 18,000 in Hamburg.
Unusually, the club was admitted to the American Football Bundesliga, the later GFL, without having worked its way up through the league system in 1995 and reached the German Bowl in its first attempt. There however, the Düsseldorf Panther
Düsseldorf Panther
The Düsseldorf Panther are an American football team from Düsseldorf, Germany. The club is the oldest still existing American football club in Europe, having been formed on 1 May 1978....
s proved too strong and Hamburg lost 10-17.
The club's second season in the league brought triumphs and sadness. The team won both the German Bowl and the Eurobowl, however, the teams head coach since 1992, George White, died two days before the play-off semi finals. In 1997, the Blue Devils were able to defend their European crown but lost in the semi finals of the national championships. Finally, in 1998, the club won the Eurobowl for a third consecutive time, as the first club ever, but once more lost the German Bowl, to future bitter rival Braunschweig Lions.
The 1999 season was all about the Blue Devils versus the Lions, the two teams meeting both in the Eurobowl and the German Bowl. On both occasions, the Lions kept the upper hand, but the 30,000 that turned out to see the German Bowl at Hamburgs Volksparkstadion were a new record for the game in Germany.
The following season was a disaster for the club. With new coach and quarter back, the club played its first losing season in its short history and missed the play-offs. It did reach the Eurobowl once more but this time lost to the Bergamo Lions
Bergamo Lions
The Bergamo Lions is an American football team from Bergamo, Italy. They won the Eurobowl in 2000, 2001 and 2002, while losing to the Chrysler Vikings in the finals of 2004 and 2005. In Italy they have been unbeaten since 1998...
.
With a new coach and playing at the Millerntor-Stadion
Millerntor-Stadion
The Millerntor-Stadion is a multi-purpose stadium in Hamburg St. Pauli, Germany. It is mainly used for football matches and is the home stadium of FC St. Pauli. It is on the Heiligengeistfeld, near the Reeperbahn, the red light district of Hamburg. The stadium had a capacity of 32 000 when it...
, the club began a new era of success in 2001. Three German Bowl victories were to follow, all against the Braunschweig Lions. However, not all went well for the club. Midway through the 2002 season, the coach left but the Blue Devils remained successful. In 2003, the club experienced financial trouble, having to declare insolvency. Despite this, the German Bowl was won in extra time in a narrow 37-36 victory.
The club somewhat declined from 2004 onwards, only reaching the quarter finals that year. In 2005, a last appearance in the German Bowl was made, but this time the Lions came out as the winners. Additionally, the clubs marketing agency had to declare insolvency, too, but the Blue Devils survived theirs and moved into their own stadium, the eVendi Arena. From 2005 to 2007, the club also faced some local competition in the form of NFL Europe
NFL Europe
NFL Europe was an American football league which operated in Europe from 1991 until 2007. Backed by the National Football League , the largest professional American football league in the United States, it was founded as the World League of American Football to serve as a type of spring league...
team Hamburg Sea Devils
Hamburg Sea Devils
The Hamburg Sea Devils were an American football team that began play in NFL Europa from 2005 to 2007. They played their home games at Hamburg's AOL Arena . They played their first game on April 2, 2005 losing 24-23 to the Cologne Centurions...
.
From 2006 onwards, the performances of the Blue Devils dropped off. In 2006, the play-off semi finals could still be reached, in 2007 it was only the quarter finals and, in 2008, a fifth place meant the club did not play a post season at all. What followed was the withdrawal to the tier-three Regionalliga Nord, where the club played the 2009 and 2010 season without ever suffering a league defeat. However, in the promotion round, things were not as easy and the Blue Devils missed out on promotion in 2009 but were successful in 2010. In 2011, the club has risen to the second tier of German football, the GFL 2, a league it never played in before.
On 5 January 2011, the club announced that it would start a cooperation with the Hamburger SV
Hamburger SV
Hamburger Sport-Verein, usually referred to as HSV in Germany and Hamburg in international parlance, is a German multi-sport club based in Hamburg, its largest branch being its football department...
with the aim of becoming a department of the club and, eventually, from 1 January 2012, all teams of the Blue Devils would become part of the multi-sports club HSV. The idea was floated as early as 1992 and the club will, in future, be known as the HSV Hamburg Blue Devils.
Teams
Apart from the senior men's team, the Blue Devils also operate a reserve side, a junior team, the Hamburg Junior Devils, ladies team, the Hamburg Blue Devilyns and a flag team, the Hamburg Flag Devils.Honours
- EurobowlEurobowlThe Eurobowl is both the final game and the trophy of the European Football League , a European American football contest.-Eurobowls:-Champions:...
- Champions: 1996–1998
- Runners-up: 1999, 2000
- German BowlGerman BowlThe German Bowl is the annual national championship game in the sport of American football in Germany. It is contested by the two best teams of the German Football League....
- Champions: 1996, 2001–2003
- Runners-up: 1995, 1998, 1999, 2005
- EFLEuropean Football LeagueThe European Football League is a European Cup style tournament for European American Football teams affiliated to EFAF...
- Participations: (7) 1996–2000, 2000, 2006
- GFLGerman Football LeagueThe German Football League is the elite league for American football in Germany. Playing rules are based on those of the American NCAA....
- Northern Division champions: 1997, 2001
- Play-off qualification : (12) 1995–1999, 2001–2008
- League membership : (14) 1995–2008
- GFL 2German Football League 2The German Football League 2 is the second tier of American football in Germany, below the German Football League. Until 2007, the league was known as the 2nd Bundesliga.-League structure:...
- Northern Division champions: 2011
- Junior BowlGerman Junior BowlThe German Junior Bowl, usually only referred to as Junior Bowl, is the annual national championship game for junior teams in the sport of American football in Germany. It is contested by the two best teams of the GFL Juniors....
- Champions: 1999
German Bowl appearances
The clubs appearances in the German Bowl:| Bowl | Date | Champions | Runners-Up | Score | Location | Attendance |
| XVII | September 16, 1995 | Düsseldorf Panther | Hamburg Blue Devils | 17-10 | Braunschweig Braunschweig Braunschweig , is a city of 247,400 people, located in the federal-state of Lower Saxony, Germany. It is located north of the Harz mountains at the farthest navigable point of the Oker river, which connects to the North Sea via the rivers Aller and Weser.... |
12,125 |
| XVIII | October 5, 1996 | Hamburg Blue Devils | Düsseldorf Panther | 31-12 | Hamburg Hamburg -History:The first historic name for the city was, according to Claudius Ptolemy's reports, Treva.But the city takes its modern name, Hamburg, from the first permanent building on the site, a castle whose construction was ordered by the Emperor Charlemagne in AD 808... |
19,700 |
| XX | October 3, 1998 | Braunschweig Lions | Hamburg Blue Devils | 20-14 | Hamburg | 22,100 |
| XXI | October 9, 1999 | Braunschweig Lions | Hamburg Blue Devils | 25-24 | Hamburg | 30,400 |
| XXIII | October 6, 2001 | Hamburg Blue Devils | Braunschweig Lions | 31-13 | Hanover Hanover Hanover or Hannover, on the river Leine, is the capital of the federal state of Lower Saxony , Germany and was once by personal union the family seat of the Hanoverian Kings of Great Britain, under their title as the dukes of Brunswick-Lüneburg... |
23,193 |
| XXIV | October 12, 2002 | Hamburg Blue Devils | Braunschweig Lions | 16-13 | Braunschweig | 21,097 |
| XXV | October 11, 2003 | Hamburg Blue Devils | Braunschweig Lions | 37-36 (aet Overtime (sports) Overtime or extra time is an additional period of play specified under the rules of a sport to bring a game to a decision and avoid declaring the match a tie or draw. In most sports, this extra period is only played if the game is required to have a clear winner, as in single-elimination... ) |
Wolfsburg Wolfsburg Wolfsburg is a town in Lower Saxony, Germany. It is located on the River Aller northeast of Braunschweig , and is mainly notable as the headquarters of Volkswagen AG... |
20,517 |
| XXVII | October 8, 2005 | Braunschweig Lions | Hamburg Blue Devils | 31-28 | Hanover | 19,512 |
Recent seasons
Recent seasons of the Blue Devils:| Year | Division | Finish | Points | Pct. | Games | W | D | L | PF | PA | Postseason |
| 2005 | GFL German Football League The German Football League is the elite league for American football in Germany. Playing rules are based on those of the American NCAA.... (North) |
2nd | 14–6 | 0.700 | 10 | 7 | 0 | 3 | 224 | 119 | Won QF: Stuttgart Scorpions Stuttgart Scorpions The Stuttgart Scorpions are an American football team from Stuttgart, Germany.The clubs greatest success came in 2007, when it reached the German Bowl but lost to the Braunschweig Lions.-History:The Stuttgart Scorpions were formed in December 1982... (30–0) Won SF: Marburg Mercenaries Marburg Mercenaries The Marburg Mercenaries are an American football team from Marburg, Germany.Internationally, the clubs greatest success came in 2005, when it won the EFAF Cup, followed by a losing appearance in the Eurobowl in 2007... (42–41 aet Overtime (sports) Overtime or extra time is an additional period of play specified under the rules of a sport to bring a game to a decision and avoid declaring the match a tie or draw. In most sports, this extra period is only played if the game is required to have a clear winner, as in single-elimination... ) Lost GB: Braunschweig Lions Braunschweig Lions The New Yorker Lions are an American Football team from Braunschweig, Germany. Until late 2010, the team was known as the Braunschweig Lions.... (28–31) |
| 2006 | 2nd | 16–8 | 0.667 | 12 | 8 | 0 | 4 | 356 | 215 | Won QF: Schwäbisch Hall Unicorns Schwäbisch Hall Unicorns The Schwäbisch Hall Unicorns are an American football team from Schwäbisch Hall, Germany.The clubs greatest successes were winning the southern division title in the German Football League in 2009 and 2011, followed up by winning the German Bowl in 2011.... (34–13) Lost SF: Marburg Mercenaries Marburg Mercenaries The Marburg Mercenaries are an American football team from Marburg, Germany.Internationally, the clubs greatest success came in 2005, when it won the EFAF Cup, followed by a losing appearance in the Eurobowl in 2007... (20–33) |
|
| 2007 | 4th | 14–10 | 0.583 | 12 | 7 | 0 | 5 | 305 | 219 | Lost QF: Stuttgart Scorpions Stuttgart Scorpions The Stuttgart Scorpions are an American football team from Stuttgart, Germany.The clubs greatest success came in 2007, when it reached the German Bowl but lost to the Braunschweig Lions.-History:The Stuttgart Scorpions were formed in December 1982... (17–27) |
|
| 2008 | 5th | 12–12 | 0.500 | 12 | 6 | 0 | 6 | 201 | 185 | — | |
| 2009 | Regionalliga Nord | 1st | 24–0 | 1.000 | 12 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 466 | 53 | Lost PR: Mönchengladbach Mavericks Mönchengladbach Mavericks The Mönchengladbach Mavericks are an American football team from Mönchengladbach, Germany.The club won promotion to the German Football League in 2010, and qualified for the semi finals of the play-offs the following year, its greatest success.-History:... (13–19 & 12–21) |
| 2010 | 1st | 20–0 | 1.000 | 10 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 333 | 104 | Lost PR: Potsdam Royals (26–27) Won PR: Troisdorf Jets (28–7) | |
| 2011 | GFL 2 German Football League 2 The German Football League 2 is the second tier of American football in Germany, below the German Football League. Until 2007, the league was known as the 2nd Bundesliga.-League structure:... (North) |
1st | 18–2 | 0.900 | 10 | 9 | 0 | 1 | 260 | 80 | — |
- PR = Promotion round.
- QF = Quarter finals.
- SF = Semi finals.
- GB = German Bowl.
Charity Bowls
The victory against the St. Xavier UniversitySt. Xavier University
Saint Xavier University is a four-year, coeducational institution of higher learning located in the southwest side of Chicago, Illinois.- History :...
was the first success for a European team against an US college team.
- 1993 - Hamburg Blue Devils vs. Pacific Lutheran UniversityPacific Lutheran UniversityPacific Lutheran University is located in Parkland, a suburb of Tacoma, Washington. In September 2009, PLU had a student population of 3,582 and approximately 280 full-time faculty...
18 : 42 - 1993 - Findlay OilersUniversity of FindlayThe University of Findlay is a private university located in the city of Findlay in Hancock County, Ohio, United States. It was affiliated with the Churches of God, General Conference, and was founded in 1882 by the city of Findlay and the Churches of God, General Conference. Findlay offers more...
vs. Hamburg Blue Devils 28 : 7 - 1994 - Hamburg Blue Devils vs. Findlay OilersUniversity of FindlayThe University of Findlay is a private university located in the city of Findlay in Hancock County, Ohio, United States. It was affiliated with the Churches of God, General Conference, and was founded in 1882 by the city of Findlay and the Churches of God, General Conference. Findlay offers more...
14 : 21 - 1995 - Hamburg Blue Devils vs. St. Xavier CougarsSt. Xavier UniversitySaint Xavier University is a four-year, coeducational institution of higher learning located in the southwest side of Chicago, Illinois.- History :...
20 : 0 - 1996 - Hamburg Blue Devils vs. Illinois Wesleyen TitansIllinois Wesleyan UniversityIllinois Wesleyan University is an independent undergraduate university located in Bloomington, Illinois. Founded in 1850, the central portion of the present campus was acquired in 1854 with the first building erected in 1856...
7 : 37 - 1997 - Hamburg Blue Devils vs. Benedictine RavensBenedictine CollegeBenedictine College is a co-educational university in Atchison, Kansas, founded in 1971 by the merger of St. Benedict's College for men and Mount St. Scholastica College for women. It is a Roman Catholic, Benedictine, liberal arts, and residential college located on bluffs overlooking the...
18 : 13 - 1997 - Florida State Seminoles alumniFlorida State Seminoles footballThe Florida State Seminoles football team represents Florida State University in college football. The Florida State Seminoles compete in NCAA Division I-FBS and are members of the Atlantic Division of the Atlantic Coast Conference...
vs. Hamburg Blue Devils 20 : 15 - 1998 - Hamburg Blue Devils vs. Team USA 17 : 10
- 1999 - Hamburg Blue Devils vs. Kristianstad C4 Lions (Sweden) 72 : 0
- 2000 - Hamburg Blue Devils vs. Notre Dame Fighting Irish alumniNotre Dame Fighting Irish footballNotre Dame Fighting Irish football team is the football team of the University of Notre Dame. The team is currently coached by Brian Kelly.Notre Dame competes as an Independent at the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision level, and is a founding member of the Bowl Championship Series coalition. It is an...
10 : 14