Bristol Aztecs

The SGS Bristol Aztecs are an American football team based in Filton, South Gloucestershire, England, who operate in the BAFA National Leagues Premier South, the highest level of British American football. They are the south-west's only Premiership team. They operate from the South Gloucestershire and Stroud College in Filton, and they represent the City of Bristol which is where the team was formed.

History
Founded in 1990, The Aztecs are two-time BritBowl runners-up having missed out on the prize in 1999 and 2004.

In 2020 the Aztecs football programme merged with the Filton Academy Pride setup, basing their full Academy setup at the SGS College, which has some of the best facilities in the country.

In 2010, the club founded a B Team called the SGS Bristol Apache, who play in the BAFA National Leagues SFC 1 West, the second tier of American football in Britain. Like the Aztecs, the Apache play out of South Gloucestershire and Stroud College.

In 2017 The Apache were promoted to the SFC Division 1, spending a season in the second tier before being relegated back to SFC 2 for the following year. In 2022, they won the Division 2 title.

Setup
The Aztecs field a senior team in the Premier Division, as well as youth teams and a second adult contact team Apache who play in Division Two. The team was formed in 1990 and has played in all BAFL divisions and been in four Britbowl Finals. They remained in the Premier division following the 2007 BAFL re-alignment, and have competed at the top national level since.

Prior to the 2020 Season Bristol Aztecs announced they were formally joining the SGS College's Academy Setup and Joining the Bristol Academy Pride Branding with new colours, uniforms, helmets and logo's.

Stadium
The SGS Bristol Aztecs operate from the South Gloucestershire and Stroud College in Filton, Bristol. SGS invested £680,000 to create the UK’s first American Football only 4G field, with stitched in coloured End-zones and field markings.

Coaching Staff
American football teams have a large coaching staff, from the Head Coach and Offensive /defensive /Special teams coordinators to the many positional coaches. This is the Coaching Staff line-up so far in sight of the 2023 season:

Team colours
Following a re-branding prior to the 2020 Season the Bristol Academy Aztecs Play in Silver helmets with the new team logo with a Navy and white stripe, silver Jerseys with navy numbers, Silver pants with navy details and white socks. A Change uniform will involve The same helmet, pants and socks with a Navy Jersey with White Numbers. Bristol Apache will also play in the same uniforms.

Previously, the Bristol Aztecs played in Black Helmets (with the Aztecs 'Feathered A' Decal), orange jerseys with black numbers, black pants, and orange and white socks. In previous seasons, the Aztecs have worn grey jerseys with orange numbers and black jerseys with orange numbers. Throughout these uniform changes, the Helmet with the Feathered A decal has been consistent. Bristol Apache Previously played in Orange Jerseys with White Numbers, Black Pants with White socks and the same Black 'Feathered A' Decal.

2022 Season
The Aztecs went 7-3 in the regular season and made it to the National Semi-Finals. The Aztecs played each Premiership team in the South Division twice, they beat the Kent Exiles, the Solent Thrashers and the London Olympians on both occasions. The Aztecs defeated the London Blitz once and lost to the north London side once, and lost on both occasions to the London Warriors. This winning record earned the Aztecs a spot in the National Playoffs, and therefore cementing the Bristol side as a top 4 team in the entire country. Bristol faced the Manchester Titans at the National Speedway Stadium in the semi-finals and lost by 5 points, ending their 2022 campaign.

BAFA Premier Division Regular Season
London Warriors 34 - 17 Bristol Aztecs

Bristol Aztecs 46 - 0 Kent Exiles

Bristol Aztecs 43 - 13 Solent Thrashers

Bristol Aztecs 10 - 8 London Blitz

Bristol Aztecs 44 - 18 London Olympians

Kent Exiles 12 - 36 Bristol Aztecs

London Olympians 0 - 47 Bristol Aztecs

Bristol Aztecs 14 - 28 London Warriors

Solent Thrashers 0 - 11 Bristol Aztecs

London Blitz 22 - 20 Bristol Aztecs

BAFA Premier Division Semi Final
Manchester Titans 32 -27 Bristol Aztecs

Season records
The Aztecs had their strongest start in many seasons, winning their first seven games straight and beating the Sussex Thunder, the Coventry Jets and the Farnham Knights both home and away. Two defeats against the London Blitz and a home-win reverse against the London Cobras secured second place in the BAFA standings; Ultimately the Aztecs could not capitalise on their season record, losing again to the Jets in the playoffs.

The youth team fared better however, blanking the Kent Exiles 30–0 in the quarter final, then coming from 28–6 down to overcome the London Blitz in the semi-final to make the national finals at Worcester's Sixways stadium. Meeting the undefeated Lancashire Wolverines in the bowl game, the Aztecs rolled to an impressive 36–14 victory to become youth national champions for the first time.