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{{Short description|American football team from Cologne, Germany}}
{{Infobox sports team
{{Infobox sports team
| team = Cologne Crocodiles
| team = Cologne Crocodiles
| color1 = Yellow
| logo = Cologne Crocodiles Logo.svg
| color2 = Green
| pixels = 200px
| logo = Cologne Crocodiles.jpg
| pixels = 120px
| founded = 1980
| founded = 1980
| league = [[German Football League 2]]
| league = [[German Football League]]
| history =
| history =
| arena =
| arena =
Line 12: Line 11:
| stadium =
| stadium =
| city = [[Cologne]], [[Germany]]
| city = [[Cologne]], [[Germany]]
| colors = Green and Yellow {{Clear}} {{Color box|Green}} {{Color box|Yellow}}
| colors = Green and Yellow {{Clear}} {{Color box|Green}} {{Color box|#FFB612}}
| owner =
| owner =
| president =
| president =
| coach =
| coach =
| manager =
| manager =
| championships = '''[[German Bowl]]:''' 2000 {{Clear}} '''[[German Junior Bowl|Junior Bowl]]:''' 1983, 1993, 2014
| championships = '''[[German Bowl]]:''' 2000 {{Clear}} '''[[German Junior Bowl|Junior Bowl]]:''' 1983, 1993, 2014, 2015, 2019
| titles = '''GFL North:''' 1982, 1993, 2000
| titles = '''GFL North:''' 1982, 1993, 2000 <br/> '''GFL2 North:''' 2016
| cheerleaders =
| cheerleaders =
| dancers =
| dancers =
Line 24: Line 23:
| broadcasters =
| broadcasters =
| media =
| media =
| website = [http://www.cologne-crocodiles.de/ www.cologne-crocodiles.de/]
| website = [https://cologne-crocodiles.de/ cologne-crocodiles.de]
| uniforms =
| uniforms =
}}
}}
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The club's greatest success came in 2000, when it won the [[German Bowl]] for the first and, so far, only time. Prior to this, the club had made five losing appearances in the championship game, stretching from 1982 to 1997.<ref name="Bowl" />
The club's greatest success came in 2000, when it won the [[German Bowl]] for the first and, so far, only time. Prior to this, the club had made five losing appearances in the championship game, stretching from 1982 to 1997.<ref name="Bowl" />


The club, a long-term member of the [[German Football League]], became insolvent in 2003, folded and reformed. For a number of years after that it operated a youth department before fielding a senior team once more beginning in 2009.<ref name="Thirty" >[http://www.football-aktuell.de/cgi-bin/news.pl?artikel=127227265950231820&rubrik=50231820 30 Jahre Cologne Crocodiles] {{de icon}} football-aktuell.de, published: 26 April 2010, accessed: 22 January 2011</ref>
The club, a long-term member of the [[German Football League]], became insolvent in 2003, folded and reformed. For a number of years after that it operated a youth department before fielding a senior team once more beginning in 2009.<ref name="Thirty" >[http://www.football-aktuell.de/cgi-bin/news.pl?artikel=127227265950231820&rubrik=50231820 30 Jahre Cologne Crocodiles] {{in lang|de}} football-aktuell.de, published: 26 April 2010, accessed: 22 January 2011</ref>


==History==
==History==
Line 43: Line 42:
The club remained a strong side in the northern division of the ''Bundesliga'' the following seasons, but had the misfortune of being in the same division with the all-dominating Düsseldorf Panther. Finishing second behind the team from [[Düsseldorf]], the club then had to face southern power house Ansbach Grizzlies in the semi-finals and was knocked out on each occasion in 1981, 1983 and 1984.<ref name="Fhist" />
The club remained a strong side in the northern division of the ''Bundesliga'' the following seasons, but had the misfortune of being in the same division with the all-dominating Düsseldorf Panther. Finishing second behind the team from [[Düsseldorf]], the club then had to face southern power house Ansbach Grizzlies in the semi-finals and was knocked out on each occasion in 1981, 1983 and 1984.<ref name="Fhist" />


In 1985, the ''Crocodiles'' were less successful, finishing only third and being knocked out in the quarter finals, the year after the club didn't qualify for the play-offs at all, something it experienced only three times in its 23 seasons at the elite level. The 1987 season saw another quarter final exit, followed by missing the post season once more in 1988. To make matters worse, local rival [[Red Barons Cologne]] defeated the Düsseldorf Panther in the German Bowl that year and brought home the first senior national title in the sport to Cologne.<ref name="Fhist" />
In 1985, the ''Crocodiles'' were less successful, finishing only third and being knocked out in the quarter-finals, the year after the club didn't qualify for the play-offs at all, something it experienced only three times in its 23 seasons at the elite level. The 1987 season saw another quarter final exit, followed by missing the post season once more in 1988. To make matters worse, local rival [[Red Barons Cologne]] defeated the Düsseldorf Panther in the German Bowl that year and brought home the first senior national title in the sport to Cologne.<ref name="Fhist" />


===Golden era===
===Golden era===
In 1989, the ''Crocodiles'' exited the play-offs in the round of 16, while the ''Red Barons'' made another, this time losing, Bowl appearance. With this, however, the tables would turn, with the local rival disappearing from the league in 1991 and the ''Crocodiles'' reaching the play-off semi finals, as a minimum, in every one of the next eleven seasons. In 1990 and 1991, the club reached the German Bowl but lost both times to the [[Berlin Adler]], close at the first attempt (interception late in the game called back which led to a late Adler score) and by a point at the second. After a semi final defeat to the [[Munich Cowboys]] in 1992, the team faced the same opposition in the 1993 German Bowl. The ''Crocodiles'' were leading for most of the game but the ''Cowboys'' equalised shortly before the end and eventually won the game in extra time.<ref name="Fhist" />
In 1989, the ''Crocodiles'' exited the play-offs in the round of 16, while the ''Red Barons'' made another, this time losing, Bowl appearance. With this, however, the tables would turn, with the local rival disappearing from the league in 1991 and the ''Crocodiles'' reaching the play-off semi finals, as a minimum, in every one of the next eleven seasons. In 1990 and 1991, the club reached the German Bowl but lost both times to the [[Berlin Adler]], close at the first attempt (interception late in the game called back which led to a late Adler score) and by a point at the second. After a semi final defeat to the [[Munich Cowboys]] in 1992, the team faced the same opposition in the 1993 German Bowl. The ''Crocodiles'' were leading for most of the game but the ''Cowboys'' equalised shortly before the end and eventually won the game in extra time.<ref name="Fhist" />


In 1994, the ''Adler'' were once more the stronger side in the two teams semi final encounter, the following two years after it was the Düsseldorf Panther. In 1997, the club made its fifth German Bowl appearance, but the [[Braunschweig Lions]] took home the title with a 26-23 victory. The same team also defeated the club in the 1998 semi finals, followed by a semi final loss to the [[Hamburg Blue Devils]] in 1999.<ref name="Fhist" />
In 1994, the ''Adler'' were once more the stronger side in the two teams semi final encounter, the following two years after it was the Düsseldorf Panther. In 1997, the club made its fifth German Bowl appearance, but the [[Braunschweig Lions]] took home the title with a 26–23 victory. The same team also defeated the club in the 1998 semi finals, followed by a semi final loss to the [[Hamburg Blue Devils]] in 1999.<ref name="Fhist" />


The 2000 season was to be the ''Crocodiles'' best-ever. Suffering only one defeat all season, to the ''Panther'', the team reached the German Bowl for the sixth time and, this time, won the upper hand, defeating the ''Lions'' by two points. It was also the end of an era, with the ''Crocodiles'' rapidly declining from here.<ref name="Fhist" />
The 2000 season was to be the ''Crocodiles'' best-ever. Suffering only one defeat all season, to the ''Panther'', the team reached the German Bowl for the sixth time and, this time, won the upper hand, defeating the ''Lions'' by two points. It was also the end of an era, with the ''Crocodiles'' rapidly declining from here.<ref name="Fhist" />


===Decline===
===Decline===
In 2001, the club came only fourth in its division and suffered its first quarter final exit since 1989, losing to the ''Cowboys''. Doing better in the league in 2002, the team nevertheless lost in the quarter finals once more, this time to the [[Stuttgart Scorpions]]. The final season in the league now renamed the [[German Football League]] saw the team win only one game all season and finish in fifth place, a point and a rank above the relegation spot.<ref name="Fhist" />
In 2001, the club came only fourth in its division and suffered its first quarter final exit since 1989, losing to the ''Cowboys''. Doing better in the league in 2002, the team nevertheless lost in the quarter-finals once more, this time to the [[Stuttgart Scorpions]]. The final season in the league now renamed the [[German Football League]] saw the team win only one game all season and finish in fifth place, a point and a rank above the relegation spot.<ref name="Fhist" />


Despite having qualified on the field for the 2004 GFL season, the club was unable to participate, instead becoming insolvent. The senior team was withdrawn altogether but the ''Crocodiles'' survived and continued, fielding youth teams only for the next five years.<ref name="Thirty" /> The following year, Cologne received a [[NFL Europe]] team, the [[Cologne Centurions]], keeping American football at top level alive.
Despite having qualified on the field for the 2004 GFL season, the club was unable to participate, instead becoming insolvent. The senior team was withdrawn altogether but the ''Crocodiles'' survived and continued, fielding youth teams only for the next five years.<ref name="Thirty" /> The following year, Cologne received an [[NFL Europe]] team, the [[Cologne Centurions (NFL Europe)|Cologne Centurions]], keeping American football at top level alive.


===Revival===
===Revival===
The club re-entered senior football in 2009, joining the lowest regional league, the tier-six ''Landesliga North Rhine-Westphalia South''. It won all its eight games there and earned promotion to the ''Verbandsliga'' for 2010. With only one defeat at that level, the club was able to move up once more and played in the tier-four ''Oberliga'' in 2011.<ref name="Fhist" />
The club re-entered senior football in 2009, joining the lowest regional league, the tier-six ''Landesliga North Rhine-Westphalia South''. It won all its eight games there and earned promotion to the ''Verbandsliga'' for 2010. With only one defeat at that level, the club was able to move up once more and played in the tier-four ''Oberliga'' in 2011.<ref name="Fhist" />


In 2012 the club experienced some further success, its youth team making a losing appearance in the Junior Bowl while the senior side won the Oberliga and earned promotion to the [[American football Regionalliga|Regionalliga]]. In the 2013 Regionalliga season the club won its division and earned the right to promotion to the GFL 2. The club competed in the northern division of the GFL 2 in 2014.
In 2012, the club experienced some further success, its youth team making a losing appearance in the Junior Bowl while the senior side won the Oberliga and earned promotion to the [[American football Regionalliga|Regionalliga]]. In the 2013 Regionalliga season the club won its division and earned the right to promotion to the GFL 2. The club competed in the northern division of the GFL 2 in 2014. After two seasons at that level with records of 8–6, they posted a record of 13–1 in the 2016 season, easily qualifying for the promotion round against the Düsseldorf Panther.


After a losing the 2012 and 2013 [[German Junior Bowl]] finals the Crocodiles won the 2014 edition against old rival Düsseldorf Panthers and defended their title in 2015.
After a losing the 2012 and 2013 [[German Junior Bowl]] finals the Crocodiles won the 2014 edition against old rival Düsseldorf Panthers and defended their title in 2015.
Line 71: Line 70:
** '''Runners-up''': 1998
** '''Runners-up''': 1998
* '''[[German Junior Bowl|Junior Bowl]]'''
* '''[[German Junior Bowl|Junior Bowl]]'''
** '''Champions''': 1983, 1993
** '''Champions''': 1983, 1993, 2014, 2015, 2019
** '''Runners-up''': 1982, 2012, 2013, 2014
** '''Runners-up''': 1982, 2012, 2013, 2016
* '''[[European Football League|EFL]]'''
* '''[[European Football League|EFL]]'''
** '''Participations''': 1999, 2000
** '''Participations''': 1999, 2000
* '''[[German Football League|GFL]]'''
* '''[[German Football League|GFL]]'''
** '''Northern Division champions''': 1982, 1993, 2000
** '''Northern Division champions''': 1982, 1993, 2000
** '''Play-off qualification''': (20) 1981&ndash;1985, 1987, 1989&ndash;2002
** '''Play-off qualification''': (23) 1981–1985, 1987, 1989–2002, 2018, 2021, 2022
** '''League membership''': (23) 1981&ndash;2003
** '''League membership''': (28) 1981–2003, 2017–present


==German Bowl appearances==
==German Bowl appearances==
The club's appearances in the German Bowl:<ref name="Bowl" >[http://www.gfl.info/text.php?Inhalt=bowls#German_Bowl Bowls] GFL website, accessed: 22 January 2011</ref>
The club's appearances in the German Bowl:<ref name="Bowl">[http://www.gfl.info/text.php?Inhalt=bowls#German_Bowl Bowls] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150929171113/http://www.gfl.info/text.php?Inhalt=bowls |date=2015-09-29 }} GFL website, accessed: 22 January 2011</ref>
{| class="wikitable"
{| class="wikitable"
|- align="center" bgcolor="silver"
| '''Bowl'''
| '''Date'''
| '''Champions'''
| '''Runners-Up'''
| '''Score'''
| '''Location'''
| '''Attendance'''
|-
|-
! Bowl || Date
| [[German Bowl IV|IV]] || November 2, 1982 || '''Ansbach Grizzlies''' || Cologne Crocodiles || 12-6 || [[Essen]] || 10,000
! Champions || Runners-Up || Score
! Location || Attendance
|-
|-
| [[German Bowl XII|XII]] || October 20, 1990 || '''Berlin Adler''' || Cologne Crocodiles || 50-38 || [[Düsseldorf]] || 10,000
| [[German Bowl IV|IV]] || November 2, 1982
| '''Ansbach Grizzlies''' || Cologne Crocodiles || 12–6 || [[Essen]] ||style="text-align:right;"| 10,000
|-
|-
| [[German Bowl XIII|XIII]] || October 5, 1991 || '''Berlin Adler''' || Cologne Crocodiles || 22-21 || [[Hamburg]] || 13,000
| [[German Bowl XII|XII]] || October 20, 1990
| '''Berlin Adler''' || Cologne Crocodiles || 50–38 || [[Düsseldorf]] ||style="text-align:right;"| 10,000
|-
|-
| [[German Bowl XIII|XIII]] || October 5, 1991
| [[German Bowl XV|XV]] || September 25, 1993 || '''Munich Cowboys''' || Cologne Crocodiles || 42-36 ([[Overtime (sports)|aet]]) || [[Munich]] || 9,000
| '''Berlin Adler''' || Cologne Crocodiles || 22–21 || [[Hamburg]] ||style="text-align:right;"| 13,000
|-
|-
| [[German Bowl XIX|XIX]] || October 4, 1997 || '''Braunschweig Lions''' || Cologne Crocodiles || 26-23 || Hamburg || 14,800
| [[German Bowl XV|XV]] || September 25, 1993
| '''Munich Cowboys''' || Cologne Crocodiles || 42–36 ([[Overtime (sports)|aet]]) || [[Munich]] ||style="text-align:right;"| 9,000
|-
|-
| [[German Bowl XXII|XXII]] || October 7, 2000 || '''Cologne Crocodiles''' || Braunschweig Lions || 31-29 || [[Braunschweig]] || 20,312
| [[German Bowl XIX|XIX]] || October 4, 1997
| '''Braunschweig Lions''' || Cologne Crocodiles || 26–23 || Hamburg ||style="text-align:right;"| 14,800
|-
| [[German Bowl XXII|XXII]] || October 7, 2000
| '''Cologne Crocodiles''' || Braunschweig Lions || 31–29 || [[Braunschweig]] ||style="text-align:right;"| 20,312
|}
|}
* Champions in '''bold'''.
* Champions in '''bold'''.


==Recent seasons==
==Recent seasons==
Recent seasons of the club:<ref name="Fhist" >[http://www.football-history.de/ Football History] {{de icon}} Historic American football tables from Germany, accessed: 22 January 2010</ref>
Recent seasons of the club:<ref name="Fhist" >[http://www.football-history.de/ Football History] {{in lang|de}} Historic American football tables from Germany, accessed: 22 January 2010</ref>
{| class="wikitable"
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|- style="background:#DFDFDF; font-weight:bold"
|- align="center" bgcolor="#dfdfdf"
| '''Year'''
| Year || Division
| Finish || Points || Pct.
| '''Division'''
| Games || W || D || L
| '''Finish'''
| PF || PA
| '''Points'''
| Postseason
| '''Pct.'''
|-
| '''Games'''
| 2003 || [[German Football League|GFL]] <small>(North)</small>
| '''W'''
| 5th || 3–21 || 0.125
| '''D'''
| 12 || 1 || 1 || 10
| '''L'''
| 114 || 342
| '''PF'''
| —
| '''PA'''
|-
| '''Postseason'''
|colspan=11|
|- align="center"
|-
| 2009
| Landesliga NRW South
| 2009 || Landesliga NRW South
| 1st
| 1st || 16–0 || 1.000
| 8 || 8 || 0 || 0
| 16&ndash;0
| 244 || 31
| 1.000
|style="text-align:left"| '''Won''' PR: [[Sauerland Mustangs]] (24–28 & 19–0)
| 8
| 8
|-
| 2010 || Verbandsliga NRW
| 0
| 1st || 14–2 || 0.875
| 0
| 8 || 7 || 0 || 1
| 244
| 251 || 99
| 31
| —
| align="left"| '''Won''' PR: [[Sauerland Mustangs]] (24&ndash;28 & 19&ndash;0)
|-
|- align="center"
| 2011 ||rowspan=2| Oberliga NRW
| 2010
| 4th || 6–14 || 0.300
| Verbandsliga NRW
| 10 || 3 || 0 || 7
| 1st
| 178 || 187
| 14&ndash;2
| 0.875
| —
| 8
|-
| 2012 || 1st
| 7
| 18–2 || 0.900
| 0
| 10 || 9 || 0 || 1
| 1
| 236 || 79
| 251
| 99
| —
|-
| &mdash;
| 2013 || [[American football Regionalliga|Regionalliga West]]
|- align="center"
| 1st || 16–4 || 0.800
| 2011
| 10 || 8 || 0 || 2
| rowspan=2| Oberliga NRW
| 384 || 109
| 4th
| —
| 6&ndash;14
|-
| 0.300
| [[2014 German Football League|2014]] ||rowspan=3| [[German Football League 2|GFL2]] <small>(North)</small>
| 10
| 3rd || 16–12 || 0.571
| 3
| 14 || 8 || 0 || 6
| 0
| 489 || 402
| 7
| 178
| —
|-
| 187
| [[2015 German Football League|2015]]
| &mdash;
| 4th || 16–12 || 0.571
|- align="center"
| 14 || 8 || 0 || 6
| 2012
| 379 || 329
| 1st
| —
| 18&ndash;2
|-
| 0.900
| 10
| 9
| 0
| 1
| 236
| 79
| &mdash;
|- align="center"
| 2013
| [[American football Regionalliga|Regionalliga West]]
| 1st
| 16&ndash;4
| 0.800
| 10
| 8
| 0
| 2
| 384
| 109
| &mdash;
|- align="center"
| 2014
| rowspan=3| [[German Football League 2|GFL 2]] <small>(North)</small>
| 3rd
| 16&ndash;12
| 0.571
| 14
| 8
| 0
| 6
| 489
| 402
| &mdash;
|- align="center"
| 2015
| 4th
| 16&ndash;12
| 0.571
| 14
| 8
| 0
| 6
| 379
| 329
| &mdash;
|- align="center"
| [[2016 German Football League|2016]]
| [[2016 German Football League|2016]]
| 1st
| 1st || 26–2 || 0.929
| 26&ndash;2 || 1.000
| 14 || 13 || 0 || 1
| 14 || 13 || 0 || 1
| 560 || 183
| 560 || 183
| PR: [[Düsseldorf Panther]]
|style="text-align:left"| '''Won''' PR: [[Düsseldorf Panther]] (34–0 & 28–0)
|-
| [[2017 German Football League|2017]] ||rowspan=7| GFL <small>(North)</small>
| 5th || 12–16 || 0.429
| 14 || 6 || 0 || 8
| 373 || 390
| —
|-
| [[2018 German Football League|2018]]
| 4th || 15–13 || 0.536
| 14 || 7 || 1 || 6
| 376 || 403
|style="text-align:left"| Lost QF: [[Schwäbisch Hall Unicorns]] (37–14)
|-
| [[2019 German Football League|2019]]
| 5th || 14–14 || 0.500
| 14 || 7 || 0 || 7
| 251 || 314
| —
|-
| [[2020 German Football League|2020]]
|colspan=10 style="background:#C0C0C0"| ''No season played because of the [[COVID-19 pandemic]]''
|-
| [[2021 German Football League|2021]]
| 3rd || 12–8 || 0.600
| 10 || 6 || 0 || 4
| 319 || 278
|style="text-align:left"| Lost QF: [[Saarland Hurricanes]] (35–16)
|-
| [[2022 German Football League|2022]]
| 3rd || 14–6 || 0.700
| 10 || 7 || 0 || 3
| 386 || 243
|style="text-align:left"| '''Won''' QF: [[Munich Cowboys]] (34–31) {{-}} Lost SF: [[Potsdam Royals]] (21–49)
|-
| [[2023 German Football League|2023]]
|colspan=10 style="background:#C0C0C0"| ''Crocodiles did not compete. Withdrawal before the season started.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.sport1.de/news/us-sport/gfl/2023/04/german-football-league-traditionsklub-am-abgrund-crocodiles-ziehen-team-zuruck |title=Chaos bei Kölner Traditionsklub! |date=2023-04-15 |access-date=2023-06-06 |lang=de}}</ref>''
|}
|}
* PR = Promotion round.
* PR = Promotion round
* QF = Quarter finals
* SF = Semi finals


==References==
==References==
Line 225: Line 217:


==External links==
==External links==
* {{de icon}} [http://www.cologne-crocodiles.de/ Official website]
* {{in lang|de}} [https://cologne-crocodiles.de/ Official website]
* {{de icon}} [http://www.gfl.info/ German Football League official website]
* {{in lang|de}} [http://www.gfl.info/ German Football League official website]
* {{de icon}} [http://www.football-history.de/ Football History] Historic American football tables from Germany
* {{in lang|de}} [http://www.football-history.de/ Football History] Historic American football tables from Germany


{{German Football League clubs}}
{{Former German Football League clubs}}
{{Former German Football League clubs}}
{{Authority control}}


[[Category:American football teams in Germany]]
[[Category:American football teams in Germany]]
[[Category:Sports clubs established in 1980]]
[[Category:American football teams established in 1980]]
[[Category:Sport in Cologne]]
[[Category:Sport in Cologne]]
[[Category:1980 establishments in West Germany]]
[[Category:1980 establishments in West Germany]]

Latest revision as of 10:17, 9 April 2024

Cologne Crocodiles
Founded1980
LeagueGerman Football League
Based inCologne, Germany
ColorsGreen and Yellow
   
ChampionshipsGerman Bowl: 2000
Junior Bowl: 1983, 1993, 2014, 2015, 2019
Division titlesGFL North: 1982, 1993, 2000
GFL2 North: 2016
Websitecologne-crocodiles.de

The Cologne Crocodiles are an American football team from Cologne, Germany.

The club's greatest success came in 2000, when it won the German Bowl for the first and, so far, only time. Prior to this, the club had made five losing appearances in the championship game, stretching from 1982 to 1997.[1]

The club, a long-term member of the German Football League, became insolvent in 2003, folded and reformed. For a number of years after that it operated a youth department before fielding a senior team once more beginning in 2009.[2]

History

[edit]

Early years

[edit]

The Cologne Crocodiles were formed in 1980, making it one of the oldest American football clubs in Germany.[2] The club, in its first season, took part in the Nordwestdeutsche Football Liga, a renegade league which only existed for two seasons, 1980 and 1981.

The club joined the American Football Bundesliga in 1981, in the third year of the league's existence, and were an instant success in this league, finishing second in their division and reaching the play-off semi finals. The club's second season was even more successful, winning their division with only one loss all season, against future arch-rival Düsseldorf Panther, and reaching their first-ever German Bowl. In this game however, the Ansbach Grizzlies were the stronger side and the Crocodiles would suffer their first of five German Bowl defeats.[3]

The club remained a strong side in the northern division of the Bundesliga the following seasons, but had the misfortune of being in the same division with the all-dominating Düsseldorf Panther. Finishing second behind the team from Düsseldorf, the club then had to face southern power house Ansbach Grizzlies in the semi-finals and was knocked out on each occasion in 1981, 1983 and 1984.[3]

In 1985, the Crocodiles were less successful, finishing only third and being knocked out in the quarter-finals, the year after the club didn't qualify for the play-offs at all, something it experienced only three times in its 23 seasons at the elite level. The 1987 season saw another quarter final exit, followed by missing the post season once more in 1988. To make matters worse, local rival Red Barons Cologne defeated the Düsseldorf Panther in the German Bowl that year and brought home the first senior national title in the sport to Cologne.[3]

Golden era

[edit]

In 1989, the Crocodiles exited the play-offs in the round of 16, while the Red Barons made another, this time losing, Bowl appearance. With this, however, the tables would turn, with the local rival disappearing from the league in 1991 and the Crocodiles reaching the play-off semi finals, as a minimum, in every one of the next eleven seasons. In 1990 and 1991, the club reached the German Bowl but lost both times to the Berlin Adler, close at the first attempt (interception late in the game called back which led to a late Adler score) and by a point at the second. After a semi final defeat to the Munich Cowboys in 1992, the team faced the same opposition in the 1993 German Bowl. The Crocodiles were leading for most of the game but the Cowboys equalised shortly before the end and eventually won the game in extra time.[3]

In 1994, the Adler were once more the stronger side in the two teams semi final encounter, the following two years after it was the Düsseldorf Panther. In 1997, the club made its fifth German Bowl appearance, but the Braunschweig Lions took home the title with a 26–23 victory. The same team also defeated the club in the 1998 semi finals, followed by a semi final loss to the Hamburg Blue Devils in 1999.[3]

The 2000 season was to be the Crocodiles best-ever. Suffering only one defeat all season, to the Panther, the team reached the German Bowl for the sixth time and, this time, won the upper hand, defeating the Lions by two points. It was also the end of an era, with the Crocodiles rapidly declining from here.[3]

Decline

[edit]

In 2001, the club came only fourth in its division and suffered its first quarter final exit since 1989, losing to the Cowboys. Doing better in the league in 2002, the team nevertheless lost in the quarter-finals once more, this time to the Stuttgart Scorpions. The final season in the league now renamed the German Football League saw the team win only one game all season and finish in fifth place, a point and a rank above the relegation spot.[3]

Despite having qualified on the field for the 2004 GFL season, the club was unable to participate, instead becoming insolvent. The senior team was withdrawn altogether but the Crocodiles survived and continued, fielding youth teams only for the next five years.[2] The following year, Cologne received an NFL Europe team, the Cologne Centurions, keeping American football at top level alive.

Revival

[edit]

The club re-entered senior football in 2009, joining the lowest regional league, the tier-six Landesliga North Rhine-Westphalia South. It won all its eight games there and earned promotion to the Verbandsliga for 2010. With only one defeat at that level, the club was able to move up once more and played in the tier-four Oberliga in 2011.[3]

In 2012, the club experienced some further success, its youth team making a losing appearance in the Junior Bowl while the senior side won the Oberliga and earned promotion to the Regionalliga. In the 2013 Regionalliga season the club won its division and earned the right to promotion to the GFL 2. The club competed in the northern division of the GFL 2 in 2014. After two seasons at that level with records of 8–6, they posted a record of 13–1 in the 2016 season, easily qualifying for the promotion round against the Düsseldorf Panther.

After a losing the 2012 and 2013 German Junior Bowl finals the Crocodiles won the 2014 edition against old rival Düsseldorf Panthers and defended their title in 2015.

Honours

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  • German Bowl
    • Champions: 2000
    • Runners-up: 1982, 1990, 1991, 1993, 1997
  • Ladies Bowl
    • Runners-up: 1998
  • Junior Bowl
    • Champions: 1983, 1993, 2014, 2015, 2019
    • Runners-up: 1982, 2012, 2013, 2016
  • EFL
    • Participations: 1999, 2000
  • GFL
    • Northern Division champions: 1982, 1993, 2000
    • Play-off qualification: (23) 1981–1985, 1987, 1989–2002, 2018, 2021, 2022
    • League membership: (28) 1981–2003, 2017–present

German Bowl appearances

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

Bowl Date Champions Runners-Up Score Location Attendance
IV November 2, 1982 Ansbach Grizzlies Cologne Crocodiles 12–6 Essen 10,000
XII October 20, 1990 Berlin Adler Cologne Crocodiles 50–38 Düsseldorf 10,000
XIII October 5, 1991 Berlin Adler Cologne Crocodiles 22–21 Hamburg 13,000
XV September 25, 1993 Munich Cowboys Cologne Crocodiles 42–36 (aet) Munich 9,000
XIX October 4, 1997 Braunschweig Lions Cologne Crocodiles 26–23 Hamburg 14,800
XXII October 7, 2000 Cologne Crocodiles Braunschweig Lions 31–29 Braunschweig 20,312
  • Champions in bold.

Recent seasons

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Recent seasons of the club:[3]

Year Division Finish Points Pct. Games W D L PF PA Postseason
2003 GFL (North) 5th 3–21 0.125 12 1 1 10 114 342 —
2009 Landesliga NRW South 1st 16–0 1.000 8 8 0 0 244 31 Won PR: Sauerland Mustangs (24–28 & 19–0)
2010 Verbandsliga NRW 1st 14–2 0.875 8 7 0 1 251 99 —
2011 Oberliga NRW 4th 6–14 0.300 10 3 0 7 178 187 —
2012 1st 18–2 0.900 10 9 0 1 236 79 —
2013 Regionalliga West 1st 16–4 0.800 10 8 0 2 384 109 —
2014 GFL2 (North) 3rd 16–12 0.571 14 8 0 6 489 402 —
2015 4th 16–12 0.571 14 8 0 6 379 329 —
2016 1st 26–2 0.929 14 13 0 1 560 183 Won PR: Düsseldorf Panther (34–0 & 28–0)
2017 GFL (North) 5th 12–16 0.429 14 6 0 8 373 390 —
2018 4th 15–13 0.536 14 7 1 6 376 403 Lost QF: Schwäbisch Hall Unicorns (37–14)
2019 5th 14–14 0.500 14 7 0 7 251 314 —
2020 No season played because of the COVID-19 pandemic
2021 3rd 12–8 0.600 10 6 0 4 319 278 Lost QF: Saarland Hurricanes (35–16)
2022 3rd 14–6 0.700 10 7 0 3 386 243 Won QF: Munich Cowboys (34–31)
Lost SF: Potsdam Royals (21–49)
2023 Crocodiles did not compete. Withdrawal before the season started.[4]
  • PR = Promotion round
  • QF = Quarter finals
  • SF = Semi finals

References

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  1. ^ a b Bowls Archived 2015-09-29 at the Wayback Machine GFL website, accessed: 22 January 2011
  2. ^ a b c 30 Jahre Cologne Crocodiles (in German) football-aktuell.de, published: 26 April 2010, accessed: 22 January 2011
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i Football History (in German) Historic American football tables from Germany, accessed: 22 January 2010
  4. ^ "Chaos bei Kölner Traditionsklub!" (in German). 2023-04-15. Retrieved 2023-06-06.
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