Potsdam Royals

Potsdam Royals
Founded2005
LeagueGerman Football League
Based inPotsdam, Germany
StadiumSportpark Luftschiffhafen
ColorsRed, Black and Yellow
     
Head coachMichael Vogt
ChampionshipsGFL Bowl: 2023, 2024
Eurobowl: 2019
EFL Bowl: 2018
Division titlesGFL North: 2022, 2023, 2024
GFL2 North: 2017
Websitepotsdamroyals.de

The Potsdam Royals are an American football team from Potsdam, Germany.

The club's greatest achievements are winning the (2023) German Bowl championship, and the last Eurobowl (2019) against the Amsterdam Crusaders. The Royals currently play in the top tier American Football league in Germany the German Football League.

History

The Royals were formed in 2005 and entered league competition one year later in the fifth tier. Getting promoted after the seasons 2008 and 2009, the Royals finished season 2010 by winning the championship in the third tier league Regionalliga Ost. Winning the subsequent qualification they earned a spot in the German Football League 2. The club rejected the spot and withdrew the football team.

In 2012 the Royals re-entered the competition and had to start again in the fifth tier. With two succeeding perfect seasons the Royals were 2014 back in the Regionalliga Ost. They finished the season with the championship and were promoted to the GFL2. In 2017 the Royals became champions of the GFL2 North with a perfect seasons and won the play-offs to qualify for the German Football League, the highest level in Germany.

Honours

  • German Bowl
    • Champions: (2) 2023, 2024
  • GFL
    • Northern Division champions: (3) 2022–2024
    • Play-off qualification: (4) 2021–2024
    • League membership: (6) 2018–present
  • GFL2
    • Northern Division champions: 2017

German Bowl appearances

The club's appearances in the German Bowl:[1]

Bowl Date Champions Runners-Up Score Location Attendance
XLIII October 8, 2022 Schwäbisch Hall Unicorns Potsdam Royals 44–27 Frankfurt 9,637
GFL Bowl 2023 October 14, 2023 Potsdam Royals Schwäbisch Hall Unicorns 34–7 Essen 9,516
GFL Bowl 2024 October 12, 2024 Potsdam Royals Dresden Monarchs 27–21 Essen 9,721

Recent seasons

Recent seasons of the Royals:[2][3][4]

Year Division Finish Points Pct. Games W D L PF PA Postseason
2013 Oberliga Ost (4th) 1st 20–0 1.000 10 10 0 0 249 61 —
2014 Regionalliga Ost (3rd) 1st 16–4 0.800 10 8 0 2 296 130 PR: Osnabrück Tigers (24–38), Paderborn Dolphins (15–38)
2015 GFL2 (North) 5th 14–14 0.500 14 7 0 7 369 321 —
2016 3rd 18–10 0.643 14 9 0 5 422 352 —
2017 1st 28–0 1.000 14 14 0 0 714 172 Won PR: Berlin Adler (55–12 & 42–7)
2018 GFL (North) 5th 12–16 0.429 14 6 0 8 402 360 —
2019 6th 9–19 0.321 14 4 1 9 243 360 —
2020 No season played because of the COVID-19 pandemic
2021 2nd 14–6 0.700 10 7 0 3 312 191 Won QF: Munich Cowboys (36–23)
Lost SF: Schwäbisch Hall Unicorns (18–28)
2022 1st 20–0 1.000 10 10 0 0 514 278 Won QF: Straubing Spiders (66–25)
Won SF: Cologne Crocodiles (49–21)
Lost GB: Schwäbisch Hall Unicorns (27–44)
2023 1st 22–2 0.917 12 11 – 1 599 236 Won QF: Ingolstadt Dukes (54–0)
Won SF: New Yorker Lions (41–28)
Won GB: Schwäbisch Hall Unicorns (34–7)
2024 1st 24–0 1.000 12 12 – 0 733 136 Won QF: Allgäu Comets (84–20)
Won SF: New Yorker Lions (25–6)
Won GB: Dresden Monarchs (27–21)
  • PR = Promotion round
  • QF = Quarter finals
  • SF = Semi finals
  • GB = German Bowl/GFL Bowl

References

  1. ^ German Bowl German Bowl website, accessed: 13 October 2022
  2. ^ Football History (in German) Historic American football tables from Germany, accessed: 10 April 2018
  3. ^ GFL (in German) www.football-aktuell.de, accessed: 10 April 2018
  4. ^ GFL2 (in German) www.football-aktuell.de, accessed: 10 April 2018