Cologne Bears
Cologne Bears 
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| City: | Cologne | ||
| Founded: | 1987 | ||
| Resolved: | 1994 | ||
| Team colors: | Blue, white, orange | ||
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| Greatest successes | |||
| First 2nd Bundesliga West / promotion to 1st Bundesliga | 1991 | ||
| Participation in the 1st Bundesliga North | 1992 | ||
| First 2nd Bundesliga West | 1993 | ||
| Contact | |||
| Internet: | www.cologne-bears.com | ||
| Data status | |||
| October 26, 2010 | |||
| Eternal GFL balance | |||||||||||
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| year | total | home | Selection | TD ratio | |||||||
| S. | N | U | S. | N | U | S. | N | U | |||
| 1992 | 0 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 6th | 0 | 0 | 6th | 0 | 108: 395 | |
| total | 0 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 6th | 0 | 0 | 6th | 0 | 108: 395 | |
The Cologne Bears were from its founding in 1987 until its dissolution in 1994 an American football club in Cologne .
history
Established in 1987
The Cologne Bears were founded on December 10, 1987 in the Cologne district of Ehrenfeld with 28 members. The admission to the American Football Association Germany (AFVD) followed 40 days later.
State League West 1988
In the first year of its existence, the Cologne Bears took part directly in the game operations of the American Football State League West. This was possible because the team strength required by the association of 30 men, 15 of them with league experience, could be provided. The newly formed team finished the 1988 season in first place and achieved promotion to the American Football Association West.
Association League West 1989
1989 was a perfect season in which all games were won. This meant the first place and the renewed promotion to the American Football Regionalliga West. At the end of the season, the Cologne Bears took part in an international tournament in Lyon , France . The "Liberty Bowl" could be won through victories over the Swiss champions Bern Grizzlies and the host, the Villeurbanne Samourais from the French first division.
Regionalliga West 1990
The year 1990 in the American Football Regionalliga West was also a sporting success. It succeeded again a season without defeat, synonymous with the first place in the table. However, due to a league reform in the following year, in which the 1st Bundesliga was reduced from four to two groups, no direct promotion to the top division was possible. That is why the Cologne Bears competed in the newly formed 2. Bundesliga West (today GFL 2 ). Another success in 1990 was winning the NRW Cup with a 22:14 win against the Tecklenburg Silverbacks.
2nd Bundesliga West 1991
In the 1991 season the Cologne Bears achieved first place in the 2nd Bundesliga West with just one defeat. This enabled the Bears to move up to the top German league, the 1st Bundesliga (today GFL ). The Cologne Bears were the first team that had made the direct "march through" from the lowest to the top division of American football in Germany. The 1991 season ended with victories in the self-organized “Bears Bowl” and in the “Cambodunum Cup” of the Kempten Comets (today Allgäu Comets).
1st Bundesliga North 1992
The club and its environment could not keep up with the team's rapid sporting successes. The 1992 season in the 1st Bundesliga North turned into a disaster , despite a high level of fighting and significant reinforcements by players from the previously disbanded Red Barons Cologne . Deficiencies in coaching and key player positions led to a season without a single success. At the end of the 1992 season, the Cologne Bears were relegated to the 2nd Bundesliga West as the last of the North Group. At least the “Bears Bowl” and the “Cambodunum Cup” could be won at the end of the season this year.
2nd Bundesliga West 1993
In 1993, the core of the team was retained and the positions of head coach and quarterback were filled. This led to a strong season performance without defeat and reaching first place in the 2nd Bundesliga West. Due to another league reform, the first place was no longer enough for direct promotion to the 1st Bundesliga. So it came to the showdown against the first from the 2nd Bundesliga North, the Braunschweig Lions . After playing back and forth in front of a large crowd, in the end only two points decided on the promotion in favor of the Lions, who in the following years became German series champions.
Dissolution in 1994
Despite a narrow win of 13:12 in the last game against the Braunschweig Lions and the strong season performance in 1993, the failure of promotion to the 1st Bundesliga meant the end of the Cologne Bears. Sponsors who had assumed promotion to the first division dropped out. Financially at the end of the day, the team broke up in early 1994.
Veteran Bowl 2010
At the beginning of 2010 there was a call for a special project: as many veterans of the Cologne Bears as possible should be excited for one last game. A total of 44 former players finally said "I'm in". Many of them hadn't worn American football equipment in over 15 years, and almost all were well over 40 years old.
On Saturday, October 23, 2010 the "Veteran Bowl" took place in Cologne. The Cologne Bears Veterans took on the challenge of playing against the current team of the old city rival Cologne Crocodiles in front of 1500 spectators . The numerically superior Cologne Bears were ultimately defeated by the much younger and much better established team of the Cologne Crocodiles. For most of the Cologne Bears players, it wasn't the end result of the game that counted that evening, but the fact that they had managed to bring the team together again after so many years.
The Veteran Bowl was held as part of a benefit event for the German bone marrow donor database. During the game, numerous spectators took the opportunity to register as potential bone marrow donors. Against this background, the event was a success.
Overview of all successes
- First Landesliga West and promotion in 1988
- First Association League West and promotion in 1989
- Winner of the Liberty Bowl in Lyon, France 1989
- First Regionalliga West 1990
- NRW Cup winner 1990
- First 2nd Bundesliga West and promotion in 1991
- 1991 Bears Bowl winner
- Winner of the Kempten Bowl in 1991
- Participation in the 1st Bundesliga North 1992
- 1992 Bears Bowl winner
- Winner of the Kempten Bowl in 1992
- First 2nd Bundesliga West 1993
- Runner-up in the 2010 Veteran Bowl
Web links
- Homepage of the Cologne Bears