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And that's good. It's a start, a good start, but we can't let it stop there.
Right now the World League is trying to fill in the gap between the home grown European Teams and the NFL. That's a huge gap. Across Europe the width of gap varies but right now the one nation that really needs to sort itself out is Britain.
It's all well and good with the Claymores and Monarchs showing the potential of American Football but they are let down by the minefield of British Amateur Teams.
If Britian is to ever supply quality players like Scott Cooper on a regualar basis to the WLAF or even the NFL, there must be the grassroots support. How many teams are playing in Britian? I don't know they fold and spring up all the time. Who is playing where and for whom? No idea there isn't the interest anymore. Who is the best team in Britian? Well thats for debate.....
There needs to be a single force incharge of British Football, no splinter leagues. There should be a simple ladder of achevement.
Youth should lead to Flag, Flag to College, College to Seniors, Seniors to SuperLeague, Superleague to WLAF.
Yes Seniors and Superleague should not be the same thing. A seperate Superleague run by one organisation who owns ALL teams is needed. Perhaps a 12 team League. This would be THE league to play in. The League would be owned by a constortium of people (including current top teams owners). Poor profit making teams would be supported by the bigger teams. Each of the SuperLeague Teams would be given a region to represent. No player living outside that region can play for that team thus poaching of the best players will be stopped.
Why is this needed you ask. Simple it should stop the rot. With a SuperLeague co-ordinating everything league wide sponsership should be easier, a promise to regions that they will have a team for a minimum period (3-4 years). This should help raise the profile of the game. No more will games be abandoned for lack of players as each team should have a full roster.
Think of it as a World League on a smaller scale. Britian needs something. We've got the WLAF model as evidence of how to run a league, lets learn from it.
This wouldn't mean the end of smaller teams if they are needed they will continue, act as a feeder teams. The college game will become vital in teaching skills before players can move onto the Superleague. It's worked in the USA for years. We can't afford to allow the current state of play to continue in Britian. Something must be done, if we do nothing then how can we ever supply players to the WLAF? There has to be a target.
In 2020 I want to see a totally European WLAF squad who could even take on an NFL team. It won't be a British team unless steps are taken now.
Side note :- True Superleague... 12 possible teams....
Northern
Central
Southern