Sirmium Legionaries
Encyclopedia
The Sirmium Legionaries is the oldest American football
team in Serbia
, founded in 2002 in Sremska Mitrovica
. From its inception the team grew rapidly, becoming one of the most organized and successful clubs in the region.
The home town of the Legionaries, the city of Sremska Mitrovica (previously Sirmium
), has its historical roots in the Roman
period. This led to the club name (they were brave and fearless roman soldiers).
During the 2003 season, the club played only friendly games. First, the National League of Serbia
took place in 2004. The Legionaries finished third in the regular season, reaching the playoffs, where they were beaten by Vukovi Beograd
. Next year, the National League wasn’t played, but the National Cup was. The Legionaries finished third again, behind the Kragujevac
Wild Boars
and Vukovi Belgrade.
In 2006 the club entered the regional Southeastern European League of American Football, losing seven games and winning one game in Slovenia
. At the end of the season the club won its first trophy – Crobowl in Zagreb
, Croatia
. The Legionaries beat the Ljubljana Silverhawks in the semifinal and the Trieste Mustangs in the final of the tournament.
In 2007 the team played in the National Championship of Serbia. In that competition the Legionaries finished second in regular season, but lost the semifinal playoff game against the Klek Knights.
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 Serbia
Serbia
Serbia , officially the Republic of Serbia , is a landlocked country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeast Europe, covering the southern part of the Carpathian basin and the central part of the Balkans...
, founded in 2002 in Sremska Mitrovica
Sremska Mitrovica
Sremska Mitrovica is a city and municipality located in the Vojvodina province of Serbia, on the left bank of the Sava river. As of 2002 the town had a total population of 39,041, while Sremska Mitrovica municipality had a population of 85,605...
. From its inception the team grew rapidly, becoming one of the most organized and successful clubs in the region.
The home town of the Legionaries, the city of Sremska Mitrovica (previously Sirmium
Sirmium
Sirmium was a city in ancient Roman Pannonia. Firstly mentioned in the 4th century BC and originally inhabited by the Illyrians and Celts, it was conquered by the Romans in the 1st century BC and subsequently became the capital of the Roman province of Lower Pannonia. In 294 AD, Sirmium was...
), has its historical roots in the Roman
Roman Empire
The Roman Empire was the post-Republican period of the ancient Roman civilization, characterised by an autocratic form of government and large territorial holdings in Europe and around the Mediterranean....
period. This led to the club name (they were brave and fearless roman soldiers).
During the 2003 season, the club played only friendly games. First, the National League of Serbia
Savez Americkog Fudbala Srbije
The Nacionalna Liga Srbije is a league of American football in Serbia.- League 2004 :The national league was founded 26 October 2003. First league game in Serbia was played in 2004 and 5 teams competed that year. Those teams were: Belgrade Vukovi, Kragujevac Wild Boars, Niš Steeds, Pančevo...
took place in 2004. The Legionaries finished third in the regular season, reaching the playoffs, where they were beaten by Vukovi Beograd
Vukovi Beograd
Vukovi Beograd is the American football club from Belgrade, Serbia. After establishing in 2003, in just few years Vukovi have become one of the best organized and most successful American football teams in Eastern Europe...
. Next year, the National League wasn’t played, but the National Cup was. The Legionaries finished third again, behind the Kragujevac
Kragujevac
Kragujevac is the fourth largest city in Serbia, the main city of the Šumadija region and the administrative centre of Šumadija District. It is situated on the banks of the Lepenica River...
Wild Boars
Wild Boars
The Kragujevac Wild Boars are an American football team from Kragujevac, Serbia.As a team, Wild Boars arose from friendly tossing on the field...
and Vukovi Belgrade.
In 2006 the club entered the regional Southeastern European League of American Football, losing seven games and winning one game in Slovenia
Slovenia
Slovenia , officially the Republic of Slovenia , is a country in Central and Southeastern Europe touching the Alps and bordering the Mediterranean. Slovenia borders Italy to the west, Croatia to the south and east, Hungary to the northeast, and Austria to the north, and also has a small portion of...
. At the end of the season the club won its first trophy – Crobowl in Zagreb
Zagreb
Zagreb is the capital and the largest city of the Republic of Croatia. It is in the northwest of the country, along the Sava river, at the southern slopes of the Medvednica mountain. Zagreb lies at an elevation of approximately above sea level. According to the last official census, Zagreb's city...
, Croatia
Croatia
Croatia , officially the Republic of Croatia , is a unitary democratic parliamentary republic in Europe at the crossroads of the Mitteleuropa, the Balkans, and the Mediterranean. Its capital and largest city is Zagreb. The country is divided into 20 counties and the city of Zagreb. Croatia covers ...
. The Legionaries beat the Ljubljana Silverhawks in the semifinal and the Trieste Mustangs in the final of the tournament.
In 2007 the team played in the National Championship of Serbia. In that competition the Legionaries finished second in regular season, but lost the semifinal playoff game against the Klek Knights.