2021 Britball League Structure Imagined!
Britball with the Breen’s take a look at what the 2021 Britball league structure could look like as we emerge from the pandemic!
With the easing of lockdown beginning and the faint hope of some football being played this season, the optimism got the better of us. BAFA statements have covered the fact that competition will likely have to be more localised and places like Scotland which is currently running on a different timeline may have to be kept together and that the likelihood of a full season is virtually non-existent and as such there won’t be promotions and relegations in whatever the season may look like. So, with that in mind while we were feeling a bit hopeful, we decided to take a look at how exactly BAFA could restructure the entire British Leagues in order to create a season that reduces the need for travel as much as possible whilst sill keeping as much of a competitive balance as could be achieved.
Some points of note before we get started, we did this with the view of trying to create as close to as many 4 team conferences as possible to allow 3 home and away games giving teams a 6-game season, making it more plausible. In instances of 5 and 6 team conferences, schedules could be balanced to reduce travel as much as possible.
So, let us take a look at what I think could demonstrate an alignment for games in 2021.
Scotland
Premier – Edinburgh Wolves
D1 – Aberdeen Roughnecks, East Kilbride Pirates, Glasgow Tigers, Inverclyde Goliaths
D2 – Clyde Valley Blackhawks, Dumfries Hunters, Dunfermline kings
Predicted
League A
| Aberdeen Roughnecks |
| East Kilbride Pirates |
| Edinburgh Wolves |
| Glasgow Tigers |
League B
| Clyde Valley Blackhawks |
| Dumfries Hunters |
| Dunfermline Kings |
| Inverclyde Goliaths |
Justification: As Inverclyde were promoted from D2 in 2019 they would remain with the D2 teams as to create an even split and in turn avoid a newly promoted team facing off against the Premier Division Wolves. Although ideally keeping the premier division as it is would be better, given the unclear timeline difference between Scotland and England it would be more sensible to keep Scottish teams together.
England and Wales
Premiership North & South
Predicted
North
| Manchester Titans |
| Merseyside Nighthawks |
| Sandwell Steelers |
| Sheffield Giants |
| Tamworth Phoenix |
South
| Bristol Aztecs |
| Kent Exiles |
| London Blitz |
| London Olympians |
| London Warriors |
Justification: With Edinburgh being placed in a Scottish Division instead of the North, rather than replacing them, the teams remaining don’t have a huge amount of travel between them, therefore allowing them to remain together. This keeps balanced Competition without excessive travel and prevents them facing teams from lower divisions.
In the South, as much as Bristol were the ideal candidates to drop out in order to reduce travel and keep 5 teams in the South therefore matching the North, Bristol do not have sufficient even competition surrounding them in order to make a sensible division. Therefore, they have remained in and Solent drop out and become part of a South Coast division which I will come to later
North
North East
D1 – Northumberland Vikings
D2 – Gateshead Senators, Darlington Steam
West
Prem – Manchester Titans, Merseyside Nighthawks
D1 – Lancashire Wolverines, Halton Spartans, Chester Romans
D2 – Morcambe Bay Storm
Central
Prem – Sheffield Giants
D1 – Yorkshire Rams
D2 – Leeds Bobcats, Knottingley Raiders, Doncaster Mustangs, Scunthorpe Alphas, Humber Warhawks
Predicted
League A
| Darlington Steam |
| Gateshead Senators |
| Morecambe Bay Storm |
| Northumberland Vikings |
League B
| Chester Romans |
| Halton Spartans |
| Lancashire Wolverines |
| Yorkshire Rams |
League C
£4.00 153 tickets remaining Justification: These splits were pretty tough Morecambe bay have closer competition but would leave them solely in a division with D1 teams. Having Northumberland in an All D2 division isn’t ideal either but is the best fit for travel and competition balance. Putting Yorkshire in another conference to Leeds may seem unusual however it allows a pure D1 division and a pure D2 division as well as having low travel. Premier: Tamworth Phoenix, Sandwell Steelers League A League B Justification: The Midlands is a bit trickier with a more of an East/West coast situation, however doing so Allows for one division of purely D2 teams with the other having a mixture of both, with the Bombers and Bulls joining up with three D1 teams. Premier: None Justification: The 5 teams are a combination of D1 and D2 teams so would likely go together as one division. Premier: None Justification: Essex having just been promoted would fill back in with D2 teams to create an East Coast Essex Division. Although Hastings are nearer the South Coast, moving them in with the teams there would leave them as the only D2 team surrounded by D1 Opposition and a Premier Division opponent. Which quite frankly is unreasonable and not a smart move. As the division features 6 teams, its most likely a team wouldn’t face one of the others. For example, having Hastings and Ipswich avoid each other would drastically reduce travel. Premiership: Kent Exiles, London Blitz, London Olympians, London Warriors Justification: Although Blitz B are D2 they would take their place within D1 teams for the season. This will keep a local Division and Blitz B could get a free opportunity to show themselves. Premier: Bristol Aztecs League A League B Justification: There isn’t too much to say here. This division will look similar to what it did in 2019, with SWW fitting back in with Familiar Opponents. The only one moved will be the Apache. They will move with the Renegades, Saints and Swindon. Premier: Solent Thrashers Justification: Although I’m sure Solent are keen to cut their teeth in the premier division and are Geographically much closer than Bristol, with them just being promoted, it made much more sense to have them in a south coast division with D1 teams and reduce the Premiership by 1 team similar to the North. This would allow for Hastings to go into the Eastern side of things into a much more competition viable division. Although this is a tough ride for Bournemouth having just been promoted, they will have 3 D1 foes they likely would have faced. Let us know what you think in the comments. What would you have done differently and what do you think the structures may look like? 
18 Signed NFL Items Fundraiser Mega-Raffle
Doncaster Mustangs Humber Warhawks Knottingley Raiders Leeds Bobcats Scunthorpe Alphas Midlands
D1: Shropshire Revolution, Nottingham Caesers, Leicester Falcons
D2: Crewe Railroaders, Staffordshire Surge, Hereford Stampede, Worcester Black Knights, Lincolnshire Bombers, Birmingham Bulls Predicted
Birmingham Bulls Leicester Flacons Lincolnshire Bombers Nottingham Caesars Shropshire Revolution Crewe Railroaders Hereford Stampede Staffordshire Surge Worcester Black Knights East Coast
D1: Bury Saints, Cambridgeshire Cats
D2: Northant Knights, Ouse Valley Eagles, Norwhich Devils Predicted
Bury Saints Cambridgeshire Cats Northant Knights Norwich Devils Ouse Valley Eagles South East Coast/Essex
D1: Essex Spartans
D2: Ipswich Cardinals, Colchester Gladiators, East Essex Sabres, East Kent Mavericks, Hastings Conquerors Prediction
Colchester Gladiators East Essex Sabres East Kent Mavericks Essex Spartans Hastings Conquerors Ipswich Cardinals London and Surround
D1: Hertfordshire Cheetahs, London Hornets, Rushmoor Knights, Wembley Stallions
D2: London Blitz BPrediction
Hertforshire Cheetahs London Hornets Rushmoor Knights Wembley Stallions London Blitz B West Coast and Wales
D1: South Wales Warriors, Oxford Saints, Berkshire Renegades
D2: Jurassic Coast Raptors, Cornwall Monarchs, Somerset Wyverns, Bristol Apache, Torbay Trojans, Swindon StormPrediction
Cornwall Monarchs Jurassic Coast Raptors Somerset Wyverns South Wales Warriors Torbay Trojans Berkshire Renegades Bristol Apache Oxford Saints Swindon Storm South Coast
D1: Bournemouth Bobcats, Sussex Thunder, Portsmouth Dreadnaughts Prediction
Bournemouth Bobcats Portsmouth Dreadnaughts Solent Thrashers Sussex Thunder
1 Comment
Leave a Comment
You must be logged in to post a comment.
A very thoughtful and interesting look at what may happen this season.
Am sure there will be other ideas thrown into the mixing pot.
With this blooming coronavirus totally wiping out the season last year am sure most teams just want to play, even if it is a shortened more regional season.