Frogs_Legnano

Legnano Frogs

Legnano Frogs

American football team in Legnano, Lombardy, Italy


The Legnano Frogs established in 1977, are an American football team from the city of Legnano, in the Metropolitan City of Milan, in Lombardy, Italy. It has black and silver as its social colors, while it has a frog as a symbol, hence the name of the team.

Quick Facts Established, Based in ...

In 2023, The Frogs will be back playing at the top level of the Italian Football League IFL.

Among the most successful American football teams in Italy, they were European Football League champions in 1989 (with two participations in the Eurobowl final), won six Italian Football League titles (with 11 participations in the Italian Bowl) and a Coppa Italia Bowl (1993). The youth team has won two Youngbowls (1991, 1992).[1]

History

Legnano Frogs celebrate victory after winning the XV Italian Bowl in 1995

The team was founded by a group of boys from Gallarate in 1977. They decided to practice this sport after seeing it while vacationing in the United States.[2]

The founders organized three small teams, with reference to as many bars in the area.[2] From the spring of 1978 one of these teams, called Frogs (in reference to the 1972 horror film Frogs) from the Bianchi bar, who had gone there for work, began training with the Pink Panthers of Piacenza.[2]

In Piacenza there were several players from the NATO base who taught the children the fundamentals of the sport. From the Pink Panthers, the Rhinos Milano was formed, one of the most important Italian football teams.[2]

From 1978 to 1980, the Frogs played many friendlies, also participating in tournaments organized in NATO bases.[2] Among the games played there was the first official match played between Italian American football teams in preparation for the first championship officially recognized by the federation; played on 24 June 1978 at the Stadio Carlo Speroni in Busto Arsizio, it was won 36–0 by the Rhinos Milano over the Gallarate Frogs.[2]

In 1981, the first official championship was organized by the Italian American Football Association, consisting of five teams: the Frogs, the Rhinos Milano, the Jaguars Turin, the Rams Milano and the Eagles Ferrara.[2] In 1984 the team moved to Busto Arsizio and changed its name to Busto Arsizio Frogs. In 1984 the Frogs beat an American team for the first time, the Derby Rangers of the NATO Naval Air Station in Tirrenia, 7–0.[2]

In 1987 the Frogs were close to being absorbed by the Milano Seamen.[2] However, it was decided by president Ulrico Lucarelli to move the team to Legnano and merge with the local Legnano Vikings instead.[2] On this occasion the team changed its name to Legnano Frogs.

In 2001 the team moved to Milan and changed its name to Milano Frogs, while in 2002 they merged with the Kings Gallarate, moving the headquarters to Gallarate and changing its name to Gallarate Frogs. In 2003 the team returned to Legnano and changed its name back to Legnano Frogs.

In 2004 the Blue Storms Gorla Minore was formed from a corporate split and the Legnano Frogs did not participate in the championships. Following the 2008 federal demerger, they enrolled in the NFLI, later merging into the FIF; in these seasons the team has always taken part in the top league of their home federation, reaching the semi-final on two occasions.

In November 2010 they announced that they had applied for affiliation with FIDAF and signed up for the LENAF championship, in which they played from the year following 2016 (but never managed to reach the playoffs).

In 2017 they suspended their operations to carry out a major restructuring and did not participate in the championships. In 2018 they returned to participate in the Second Division championship, the second level of the Italian American football championship.[3]

In 2023, after a long absence, the Frogs are back playing in the top level of the Italian Football League IFL.

Name

Honours

  • Italian Bowl
    • Champions: (6) 1984, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1994, 1995
  • Coppa Italia
    • Champions: (1) 1993
  • Youngbowl
    • Champions: (2) 1991, 1992
  • Eurobowl
    • Champions: (1) 1989

National tournaments

Championship

First division

More information Season, Regular season ...

Source: Enciclopedia del Football (In Italian)

Second division

More information Season, Regular season ...

Source: Enciclopedia del Football (In Italian)

Third division

More information Season, Regular season ...

Source: Enciclopedia del Football (In Italian)

Coppa Italia

More information Season, Regular season ...

Source: Enciclopedia del Football (In Italian)

Youth tournaments

Under-21

More information Season, Regular season ...

Source: Enciclopedia del Football (In Italian)

Under-20

More information Season, Regular season ...

Source: Enciclopedia del Football (In Italian)

Under-18

More information Season, Regular season ...

Source: Enciclopedia del Football (In Italian)

Under-17

More information Season, Regular season ...

Source: Enciclopedia del Football (In Italian)

International tournaments

European Football League

More information Season, Regular season ...

Source: Enciclopedia del Football (In Italian)

Summary of the final stages played

Year Place Event Tournament stage Match Result
1981 Santa Margherita Ligure Superbowl Final Rhinos Milano – Gallarate Frogs 24–8
1982 Pesaro Superbowl Final Rhinos Milano – Gallarate Frogs 11–0
1984 Rimini Superbowl Final Warriors BolognaBusto Arsizio Frogs 6–16
1985 Busto Arsizio Superbowl Semi-final Frogs Busto Arsizio – Angels Pesaro 12–13
1987 Rimini Superbowl Final Seamen MilanoLegnano Frogs 24–27
1988 Ancona Superbowl Final Warriors BolognaLegnano Frogs 0–17
1988 Brighton Eurobowl Semi-final Legnano Frogs – Helsinki Roosters 33–35
1989 Parma Superbowl Final Seamen MilanoLegnano Frogs 33–39
1989 Legnano Eurobowl Final Legnano FrogsAmsterdam Crusaders 27–23
1990 Rimini Superbowl Final Rhinos Milano – Legnano Frogs 33–6
1990 Rimini Eurobowl Final Legnano Frogs – Manchester Spartans 22–34
1991 Rome Youngbowl Final Gladiatori RomaLegnano Frogs 26–42
1991 Berlin Eurobowl Semi-final Berlin Adler – Legnano Frogs 41–37
1992 Bienate Youngbowl Final Legnano FrogsPythons Milano 28–15
1992 Sesto San Giovanni Coppa Italia Final Legnano FrogsGladiatori Roma 25–24
1993 Rome Youngbowl QF o SF Gladiatori Roma – Legnano Frogs 34–24
1994 Legnano Superbowl Final Legnano FrogsRhinos Milano 37–27
1995 Düsseldorf Eurobowl Semi-final Düsseldorf Panther – Legnano Frogs 35–31
1995 Cesenatico Superbowl Final Legnano FrogsGladiatori Roma 32–26
1996 Legnano Eurobowl Semi-final Legnano Frogs – Aix-en-Provence Argonautes 17–20
1996 San Lazzaro di Savena Superbowl Semi-final Phoenix San Lazzaro – Legnano Frogs 35–34
1997 Monza Superbowl Final Legnano Frogs – Phoenix San Lazzaro 35–42
1998 Catania Superbowl Final Legnano Frogs – Lions Bergamo 28–29
1999 Bolzano Superbowl Semi-final Giants Bolzano – Legnano Frogs 30–18
1999 Hamburg Eurobowl Semi-final Hamburg Blue Devils – Legnano Frogs 41–21
2001 Milan Superbowl Semi-final Milano Frogs – Dolphins Ancona 9–21
2002 Osio Sotto Superbowl Semi-final Lions Bergamo – Milano Frogs 49–7
2003 Osio Sotto Superbowl Semi-final Lions Bergamo – Gallarate Frogs 47–0
2007 Molinella Ninebowl Final Angels Pesaro – Legnano Frogs 29–8
2008 Reggio Emilia Youngbowl Semi-final Hogs Reggio Emilia – Legnano Frogs 42–16
2009[4] La Spezia Superbowl Semi-final Red Jackets Sarzana – Legnano Frogs 42–28
2010[4] Villaggio Sereno Superbowl Semi-final Bengals Brescia – Legnano Frogs 14–8

Source: Enciclopedia del Football (In Italian)

MVP of the Italian Bowl

Frogs inducted into the Italian American Football Hall of Fame

See also


References

  1. "I titoli". Archived from the original on 30 March 2014. Retrieved 10 October 2017.
  2. "La storia" (in Italian). Archived from the original on 30 March 2014. Retrieved 10 October 2017.
  3. "Tranquilli: i Frogs Legnano sono tornati!" (in Italian). Retrieved 17 December 2017.
  4. Following the entry of FIDAF into CONI these tournaments – despite being of the highest level of their federation – are not considered official.

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