Rotterdam Trojans

Afbn_team | name = Rotterdam Trojans
logo =
founded = 1984
city = Rotterdam, Netherlands
colors = Green and White
nicknames = Trojans
Head_coach = Jose "Pepe" Perez Luque
Offensive_Coordinator = Joost vd Bogert
Defensive_Coordinator = Jose "Pepe" Perez Luque
Running_Backs_Coach = Michel "Moose" Storm
Wide_Receivers_Coach = Corne Heijnen
Offensive_Line_coach = vacant
Defensive_Line_coach = Jarno Pelt
Linebackers_coach = Kenny Franklin
Defensive_Backs_Coach = Jesus "Tutti" Conde
Special_Teams_coach = Michel "Moose" Storm
coach_youth = Danny Jansen
coach_

chairman = Michel Boerman
hist_yr = 1984
AFBN_start_yr = 2001
AFLN_start_yr = 1998
AFLN_end_yr = 2000
NAFF_start_yr = 1984
NAFF_end_yr = 1997
BNL_start_yr = 1999
BNL_end_yr = 2000
AFBN_division_hist =
* AFBN Division One (2001–present)
AFLN_division_hist =
* AFLN Division One (1998–2000)
NAFF_division_hist =
* NAFF Premier Division (1989,1993–2000)
* NAFF Division One (1984–1988,1990–1992)
no_tb_champs = 2
no_tb_loss = 2
no_afln_champs = 2
no_bnl_champs = 3
tb_champs = 1996, 1997
tb_loss = 1995, 2002
afln_champs = 1998, 1999
bnl_champs = 1995,1999,2000
stadium_years =
* Charloisse Lagedijk (2004–present)

History

Founded in 1984, the Rotterdam Trojans are the second oldest surviving team in the Netherlands (only the Amsterdam Crusaders are older. Upon foundation, the Trojans immediately joined the national American Football body at the time, the NAFF (Nederlandse American Football Federatie).

After beginning in the second tier (NAFF Division One), the Trojans managed an undefeated championship season (12-0) in 1988 and gained promotion to the Premier Division. However, this step proved too much for the Trojans who were immediately relegated.

After a divisional reorganisation the Trojans moved back to the highest division, where they remain to this day. National Tulip Bowl titles were won in 1996 and 1997. Outside the NAFF, the Rotterdam Trojans also competed in the Eurobowl competitions in 1995 (losing in the first round to Birmingham Bulls) and reached the Eurobowl B final in 1996, losing 7-0 in the final to St. Gallen Seaside Vipers.

In 1998 the Trojans joined the breakaway AFLN (American Football League Nederland) and won two AFLN "National" championships. In addition, partipation in the Dutch-Belgian Benelux League saw Rotterdam pick up two Benelux Bowl titles in 1999 and 2000 to add to their first (non-official) win in 1995.

In 2001 the NAFF and AFLN put aside their differences to merge into the current organisational structure: the AFBN (American Football Bond Nederland).

A large re-building operation over the last 6 years has seen Rotterdam have intermittent success, reaching the Tulip Bowl final in 2002 and the semi-finals several times. The Trojans have been very successful in recruitment recently and look to be on their way to becoming a challenger once more for the national championship of the Netherlands.

In 2006 the Rotterdam Trojans returned to wearing their original team colours of green and white after several years of red and yellow. the play their home games at the renovated "City of Troje".

See also

*List of American football teams in the Netherlands
*Rotterdam

External links

* [http://www.rotterdamtrojans.nl Rotterdam Trojans Official Website]
* [http://www.afbn.nl American Football Bond Nederland Website]