The Kingston Cougar’s American Football Team (AMF) are now sitting pretty in first division, after a decade long climb up the league.
The team roared into Division one after they were crowned the 2024-25 British Universities & Colleges Sport (BUCS) South East Division two champions, with the new promotion now seeing them at the top of their game since their inception.
Led by head coach Clark Gardener, the team is combining recruits and returning talent with experienced alumni as mentors. Known for their unbreakable defence and unwavering discipline, the cougars train countless hours each week, striving to not only secure their spot in the league but also win the title.
“Making it to Division 1 felt like such a distant dream for us all,” said Stef Atizdah, the Cougars’ 2024–2025 MVP and alumni coach. “Talking about it after training in our locker room since my first year, I knew we were going to make it somehow, but it still felt surreal.
“Going from MVP last year to mentoring this year’s team to push even further than ever is such a privilege and an experience I will deeply cherish for the rest of my career.
The Cougars’ rise to the top showcases how the American sport is growing its audience and popularity across UK universities, with high team spirit and intense, complex strategies. According to AmericanFootball.org.uk, the British Universities American Football League (BUAFL), now under BUCS, grew from 42 teams and (around 2,460 participants) in 2007 to 75 teams and (around 4,000 participants) by 2014. BUCS American football leagues have become more competitive than ever, making Kingston’s promotion even more impressive.
With the promotion giving the Cougars immense pride and celebrations, it also brings on immense challenges. Now facing the best UK university sport programs, the Cougars are now preparing them for unexpected trials, testing their athleticism and their adaptability as a team.
“We’ve shifted our focus more onto making sure we build a stronger sense of teamwork while strengthening our strategies on both offence and defence and continuously improving our fitness,” returning player and social secretary, Welch Noussi Kamdem said.
“We’re making sure that we prove to not only our community but the whole league that we aren’t the underdogs and that we are here to fight for that title.”
