Always on
This project successfully funded on 16th March 2026, you can still support them with a donation.
Help the Belfast Trojans travel to Europe
Belfast, United Kingdom
Aim
Defending AFI champions become the first Irish team in history to take on the CEFL. Help the Belfast Trojans compete in Europe.
Trojan Nation — and supporters of Irish sport everywhere — we are incredibly proud to announce that the Belfast Trojans, reigning American Football Ireland Champions, have accepted an invitation to compete in the 2026 Central European Football League (CEFL)
The CEFL is the highest level of amateur American football in Europe, featuring elite clubs from across the continent. For the first time, an Irish team will line up in this competition, and we are honoured to represent Belfast, Northern Ireland, and Irish American football on the European stage.
Our opening matchup will see us travel to face the defending BAFA Brit Bowl Champions, the Bristol Aztecs, with the tournament running in a single-elimination format. Success could mean up to four rounds, each requiring travel at short notice to destinations across Europe.
Why We Need Your Support
Unlike professional teams, amateur football at this level is entirely self-funded. Our players, coaches, and volunteers already commit countless hours year-round — training, travelling, and competing — all driven by passion and pride in our club.
Competing in the CEFL brings significant additional costs, including:
- International travel and accommodation
- Transport of equipment
- Meals, logistics, and recovery
- Short-notice bookings as fixtures are confirmed
This Crowdfunder is dedicated to helping our team get to Europe and compete at the highest level possible, without placing an unsustainable financial burden on the players who have earned this opportunity on the field.
What This Means for the Club
General Manager Mark McGrath:
“This is a monumental moment for our club, our players, and our entire Trojan Nation. It’s a recognition of years of hard work, sacrifice, and belief that have brought us to the forefront of Irish football — and now to the European stage.”
Head Coach Phil Gunning:
“We are incredibly excited to continue expanding the process that drives Trojan football, to keep getting better at getting better, and challenging ourselves as much as possible.
Our club provides a platform like no other in Ireland, and we can’t wait to take our first steps into European competition, to take stock of where we stand in it, and continue that journey of growth and improvement in 2026 and beyond.”
This campaign isn’t just about one season — it’s about raising the standard of Irish American football, and proving that clubs from Ireland belong on the biggest amateur stages in Europe.
How You Can Help
Every donation — big or small — helps us:
- Represent AFI and Belfast
- Compete against Europe’s best
- Continue building a sustainable future for Trojan football
If you can’t donate, sharing this page is just as valuable. Your support helps spread our story and brings the Trojan brand to a wider audience.
You can find our club on social media here:
- https://www.instagram.com/belfasttrojans/
- https://www.facebook.com/TheBelfastTrojans/
Together, we’ll take Trojan football further than ever before.
⚔️ All In ⚔️
Should we fail to progress in the CEFL, all donated funds will be redirected to expanding our club's outreach programs, specifically by recruiting Youth Development Officers to engage with schools and programs for young people. To bring American Football to the wider community in Belfast, and create future generations of Trojans to compete for the club.
Funding method
Keep what you raise – this project will receive all pledges made