London Monarchs
Encyclopedia
The London Monarchs were a professional American football
team in NFL Europe
and its predecessor league, the World League of American Football
(WLAF). The Monarchs played their final season in 1998 as the England Monarchs. In 1999, they were replaced by the new Berlin Thunder
.
season of autumn and early winter.
In 1991 and 1992 the Monarchs played their home games at the famed Wembley Stadium. In the 1991 season the team won the first World Bowl at Wembley, beating the Barcelona Dragons 21–0, the only team to have beaten them in the entire season. In the first season of the World League, crowds at Wembley averaged 40,483 for the five games. However dwindling interest – even with the advent of a new "local" rivalry with the Edinburgh
based Scottish Claymores
– forced the team to shift its home ground to White Hart Lane
, home of Tottenham Hotspur F.C.
, when the league resumed play in 1995, and that year average attendance fell to 16,343.
Because of the comparatively small size of the pitch at White Hart Lane, special dispensation had to be applied for to use a shortened field and it was granted: the pitch at White Hart Lane measured 93 yards. In 1996, the Monarchs were forced to find an alternative venue for their final home game and chose Stamford Bridge
, where they would play all of their home games in 1997.
Towards the end of the 1997 season, the WLAF was starting to re-evaluate the team's situation in its market, believing that the return to London had not been as big a success as hoped. In conjunction with general manager Alton Byrd
, the team was rebranded the England Monarchs and travelled the country, playing home games at the Crystal Palace National Sports Centre
in London, Ashton Gate (home of Bristol City F.C.
) and Alexander Stadium
, an athletics stadium in Birmingham
– another step down in the size and quality of the stadiums used. This venture divided opinion dramatically amongst the Monarchs support and rather than increase interest in the team, attendances slumped to an average of 5,944. The announcement at the end of the 1998 season that the league would add a new team, the Berlin Thunder
, led to weeks of speculation that either one of the existing teams would be shut down, or that the Monarchs and Claymores would be amalgamated into a single British team. Confirmation that the Monarchs were to close down came in July that year.
Like other WLAF/NFL Europe teams, most of the Monarchs' players were young American "developmental" players assigned from teams in the National Football League
. The league paid these players' salaries, as well of that of the coaches, who tended also to be Americans, though there were exceptions – in the early Monarchs Walter McKone, D.O. was a team osteopath and Stewart Parkinson a team manager. A few players of European extraction also participated, primarily as kicking specialists, although league rules required the participation of at least one player of European extraction on every other series of four downs. The league's points leader in 1991 was Phil Alexander
, kicker with the Monarchs, who is currently Managing Director of Crystal Palace
football club. One exception to the "kicker phenomenon" was Victor Ebubedike
(later Victor X Ebubedike, and later still Victor Muhammad) who played as running back for the Monarchs for a number of years, and who became the first European to score a touchdown (versus the Orlando Thunder) in 1991. Notable players for the Monarchs included Stan Gelbaugh
, William Perry, Obafemi Ayanbadejo
, Steve "Hollywood" Brooks, Kevin "Roly Poly" O'Brien, Tim Simpson, and Brad Johnson
, a quarterback who would go on to win Super Bowl XXXVII
with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
. Also of note was Dedrick Dodge
, a special teams maven, who went on to win a number of Super Bowl
rings with teams including the Denver Broncos
.
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 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...
and its predecessor league, the World League of American Football
World League of American Football
The World League of American Football was founded in 1990 with support from the National Football League to play professional American football in North America, Europe and later possibly Asia...
(WLAF). The Monarchs played their final season in 1998 as the England Monarchs. In 1999, they were replaced by the new Berlin Thunder
Berlin Thunder
The Berlin Thunder were a professional American football team in NFL Europe, which was a springtime American football league serving primarily as a developmental league for the National Football League. Most of the players were young American professional players assigned by NFL teams to receive...
.
Early years
The WLAF operated in 1991 and 1992 and included six US teams, one Canadian team, and three European-based teams, including the Monarchs, that was organised in three divisions (North American West, North American East, and European Divisions). The WLAF suspended operations prior to the 1993 season, but was revived in 1995 as the World League, featuring six European-based teams, again including the Monarchs. The World League was renamed "NFL Europe League" in 1998. This league played its games in the spring so as not to conflict with the traditional American footballAmerican 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...
season of autumn and early winter.
In 1991 and 1992 the Monarchs played their home games at the famed Wembley Stadium. In the 1991 season the team won the first World Bowl at Wembley, beating the Barcelona Dragons 21–0, the only team to have beaten them in the entire season. In the first season of the World League, crowds at Wembley averaged 40,483 for the five games. However dwindling interest – even with the advent of a new "local" rivalry with the Edinburgh
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
based Scottish Claymores
Scottish Claymores
The Scottish Claymores were an American football team from Scotland. The franchise played in the World League of American Football between 1995 and 2004, initially playing all home games at Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh and latterly sharing home games with Hampden Park, Glasgow...
– forced the team to shift its home ground to White Hart Lane
White Hart Lane
White Hart Lane is an all-seater football stadium in Tottenham, London, England. Built in 1899, it is the home of Tottenham Hotspur and, after numerous renovations, the stadium has a capacity of 36,230....
, home of Tottenham Hotspur F.C.
Tottenham Hotspur F.C.
Tottenham Hotspur Football Club , commonly referred to as Spurs, is an English Premier League football club based in Tottenham, north London. The club's home stadium is White Hart Lane....
, when the league resumed play in 1995, and that year average attendance fell to 16,343.
Because of the comparatively small size of the pitch at White Hart Lane, special dispensation had to be applied for to use a shortened field and it was granted: the pitch at White Hart Lane measured 93 yards. In 1996, the Monarchs were forced to find an alternative venue for their final home game and chose Stamford Bridge
Stamford Bridge (stadium)
Stamford Bridge is a football stadium in Fulham, in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham, West London, and is the home of Chelsea Football Club. The stadium is located within the Moore Park Estate also known as Walham Green and is often referred to as simply The Bridge...
, where they would play all of their home games in 1997.
England Monarchs
Alton Byrd
Joseph Alton Byrd is an American basketball player who also holds British citizenship. He grew up in the San Francisco area, where he was a high school basketball star. He continued to be a basketball star at Columbia University, where he was one of the best point guards in the country in spite...
, the team was rebranded the England Monarchs and travelled the country, playing home games at the Crystal Palace National Sports Centre
Crystal Palace National Sports Centre
The National Sports Centre at Crystal Palace in south London, England is a large sports centre and athletics stadium. It was opened in 1964 in Crystal Palace Park, close to the site of the former Crystal Palace, in the former parkland and also usurping part of the former grand prix circuit.It was...
in London, Ashton Gate (home of Bristol City F.C.
Bristol City F.C.
Bristol City Football Club is one of two football league clubs in Bristol, England . They play at Ashton Gate, located in the south-west of the City...
) and Alexander Stadium
Alexander Stadium
Alexander Stadium is an international athletics stadium located within Perry Park in Perry Barr, Birmingham, England, at . It has staged the Amateur Athletics Association Championships, and was the venue of the 1998 Disability World Athletics Championships...
, an athletics stadium in Birmingham
Birmingham
Birmingham is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands of England. It is the most populous British city outside the capital London, with a population of 1,036,900 , and lies at the heart of the West Midlands conurbation, the second most populous urban area in the United Kingdom with a...
– another step down in the size and quality of the stadiums used. This venture divided opinion dramatically amongst the Monarchs support and rather than increase interest in the team, attendances slumped to an average of 5,944. The announcement at the end of the 1998 season that the league would add a new team, the Berlin Thunder
Berlin Thunder
The Berlin Thunder were a professional American football team in NFL Europe, which was a springtime American football league serving primarily as a developmental league for the National Football League. Most of the players were young American professional players assigned by NFL teams to receive...
, led to weeks of speculation that either one of the existing teams would be shut down, or that the Monarchs and Claymores would be amalgamated into a single British team. Confirmation that the Monarchs were to close down came in July that year.
Like other WLAF/NFL Europe teams, most of the Monarchs' players were young American "developmental" players assigned from teams in the National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
. The league paid these players' salaries, as well of that of the coaches, who tended also to be Americans, though there were exceptions – in the early Monarchs Walter McKone, D.O. was a team osteopath and Stewart Parkinson a team manager. A few players of European extraction also participated, primarily as kicking specialists, although league rules required the participation of at least one player of European extraction on every other series of four downs. The league's points leader in 1991 was Phil Alexander
Phil Alexander
Phillip "Phil" Alexander is a retired association footballer and American footballer. He is now the Chief Executive of Crystal Palace.-Association football:...
, kicker with the Monarchs, who is currently Managing Director of Crystal Palace
Crystal Palace F.C.
Crystal Palace Football Club are an English Football league club based in South Norwood, London. The team plays its home matches at Selhurst Park, where they have been based since 1924. The club currently competes in the second tier of English Football, The Championship.Crystal Palace was formed in...
football club. One exception to the "kicker phenomenon" was Victor Ebubedike
Victor Ebubedike
Victor Ebubedike was an English American football player who played as a running back for NFL Europe's London Monarchs from 1991–1992 and 1995-1998...
(later Victor X Ebubedike, and later still Victor Muhammad) who played as running back for the Monarchs for a number of years, and who became the first European to score a touchdown (versus the Orlando Thunder) in 1991. Notable players for the Monarchs included Stan Gelbaugh
Stan Gelbaugh
Stanley Morris Gelbaugh is a former professional American football quarterback. Although he played several seasons in the National Football League, he attained his greatest success in the World League of American Football with the London Monarchs, where he was the league's Offensive Most Valuable...
, William Perry, Obafemi Ayanbadejo
Obafemi Ayanbadejo
Obafemi Devin Ayanbadejo [] is an American football fullback who is currently a free agent. He was signed by the Minnesota Vikings as an undrafted free agent in 1997. He played college football at San Diego State....
, Steve "Hollywood" Brooks, Kevin "Roly Poly" O'Brien, Tim Simpson, and Brad Johnson
Brad Johnson (American football)
James Bradley Johnson is a former National Football League Super Bowl-winning quarterback. He was drafted by the Minnesota Vikings in the ninth round of the 1992 NFL Draft. He played college football at Florida State.-Early years:Brad went to Charles D...
, a quarterback who would go on to win Super Bowl XXXVII
Super Bowl XXXVII
Super Bowl XXXVII was an American football game played on January 26, 2003 at Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego, California to decide the National Football League champion following the 2002 regular season...
with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are a professional American football franchise based in Tampa, Florida, U.S. They are currently members of the Southern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League – they are the only team in the division not to come from the old NFC West...
. Also of note was Dedrick Dodge
Dedrick Dodge
Dedrick Allen Dodge , is a former American football safety. He played college football at Florida State University and then in eight seasons in the National Football League from 1991-1998. He played in Super Bowl XXIX for the San Francisco 49ers and in Super Bowl XXXII for the Denver Broncos...
, a special teams maven, who went on to win a number of Super Bowl
Super Bowl
The Super Bowl is the championship game of the National Football League , the highest level of professional American football in the United States, culminating a season that begins in the late summer of the previous calendar year. The Super Bowl uses Roman numerals to identify each game, rather...
rings with teams including the Denver Broncos
Denver Broncos
The Denver Broncos are a professional American football team based in Denver, Colorado. They are currently members of the West Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
.
Season-by-season
| Season | Division | Regular season | Post season results | Awards | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Finish | |||||||||
| London Monarchs | |||||||||
| 1991 1991 London Monarchs season The 1991 London Monarchs season was the inaugural season for the team in the World League of American Football.-Staff:-Roster:-Schedule:-Standings:... |
European | 1st | 9 | 1 | 0 | .900 | Won Semifinal (Knights New York/New Jersey Knights New York/New Jersey Knights was a franchise in the World League of American Football for the 1991 and 1992 seasons. They played in the North American East division, which they won in the 1991 season. They were coached by Mouse Davis, an architect of the Run & Shoot offense.After 1992 the NFL ... ) 42–26 Won World Bowl '91 World Bowl 91 World Bowl '91, also commonly referred to as World Bowl I, was the first annual championship game of the World League of American Football. It took place June 9, 1991 at London's Wembley Stadium. The game featured a matchup between the Barcelona Dragons and the London Monarchs... (Dragons Barcelona Dragons The Barcelona Dragons were a team originally in the World League of American Football and later in the resurrected NFL Europe. Their home field in Barcelona was the Estadi Olímpic de Montjuic, the 1992 Olympic Stadium, and later the Mini Estadi. The Dragons were successful on the field, making it... ) 21–0 |
Larry Kennan Larry Kennan Larry Kennan is a former American football coach. He is currently the staff director of the NFL Coaches Association.-Coaching career:Kennan's coaching career began at his alma mater La Verne in 1966... (Coach of the Year) Stan Gelbaugh Stan Gelbaugh Stanley Morris Gelbaugh is a former professional American football quarterback. Although he played several seasons in the National Football League, he attained his greatest success in the World League of American Football with the London Monarchs, where he was the league's Offensive Most Valuable... (Offensive MVP) Danny Lockett (Tri-Defensive MVP) |
|
| 1992 1992 London Monarchs season The 1992 London Monarchs season was the second season for the team in the World League of American Football.-World League Draft:-Staff:-Roster:-Standings:... |
European | 3rd | 2 | 7 | 1 | .250 | — | — | |
| 1993 | WLAF suspended operations from 1993–1994 | ||||||||
| 1994 | |||||||||
| 1995 1995 London Monarchs season The 1995 London Monarchs season was the third season for the team in the World League of American Football.-Staff:-Roster:-Schedule:-Week 1: at Frankfurt Galaxy:-Week 2: at Rhein Fire:-Week 3: vs Amsterdam Admirals:... |
League | 4th | 4 | 6 | 0 | .400 | — | — | |
| 1996 1996 London Monarchs season The 1996 London Monarchs season was the fourth season for the team in the World League of American Football.-World League Draft:-Staff:-Roster:-Schedule:-Week 1: vs Scottish Claymores:-Week 2: at Frankfurt Galaxy:-Week 3: at Rhein Fire:... |
League | 5th | 4 | 6 | 0 | .400 | — | — | |
| 1997 1997 London Monarchs season The 1997 London Monarchs season was the fifth season for the team in the World League of American Football.-World League Draft:-Staff:-Roster:-Schedule:-Honors:* Richard Newbill, All-World League Team selection... |
League | 6th | 4 | 6 | 0 | .400 | — | — | |
| England Monarchs | |||||||||
| 1998 1998 England Monarchs season The 1998 England Monarchs season was the sixth and final season for the team in the NFL Europe League.-Staff:-Roster:... |
League | 5th | 3 | 7 | 0 | .300 | — | — | |
| Total | 26 | 33 | 1 | .442 | (1991–1998, includes only regular season) | ||||
| 2 | 0 | 0 | 1.000 | (1991–1998, includes only playoffs) | |||||
| 28 | 33 | 1 | .460 | (1991–1998, includes both regular season and playoffs) | |||||
External links
- kenn.com – source of the attendance figures mentioned in the article.
- Team's WLAF Info.
- Team old official web site