WOLVERHAMPTON VIPERS

Based: The Home Ground, West Bromich
Career record: 13-13-2
Colours: Burgundy and white
Website: www.geocities.com/vipersafc/
Honours: None

2000 BSL Division Two Northern Conference 2-6-0
1999 BSL Division Two Northern Conference 5-1-2*
1998 BSL Division Two North Western Conference 6-4-0*

Team notes: The Wolverhampton Vipers were originally formed as The West Bromwich Vipers in 1991 by Tom and Jean Chambers from the remnants of The Wolverhampton Outlaws and The West Bromwich Fireballs. The Vipers entered The British Senior American Football League (BSAF) in division three (out of four in total). The Vipers finished in third place with a record of Won 4, Lost 6. In 1992 we were place in division 2 due to re-structuring and again managed third place. Our 1993 campaign saw us win the division (Won 9, Lost 1), but we were defeated in the quarter-final of the League Bowl. In 1994 we again took the title before losing by a single point in the quarter-final again to Staffordshire Surge. Our fifth season in 1995 saw us finish in second place behind Gwent Mustangs who again defeated us in the quarter-final. During the 1995 season some of our players were poached by The Birmingham Bulls and coupled with a spate of injuries, left us very short of players for the 1996 season. We lost nine out of ten games but still managed to avoid finishing bottom. Our team performances during this hard time gave us the impetus to re-build the team for the following year.The Vipers relocated to Wolverhampton after the 1996 season due to a fire which destroyed all our facilities at the home ground in West Bromwich. Further re-structuring of the league saw us retain division two status for the 1997 season when we took the division title for the third time. The curse of the quarter-finals struck again when we lost by a single point to The Yorkshire Rams. The Vipers finished second of division two in 1998 and in 1999, only narrowly missing out on a finals place to Chester Romans. Played in the BSL between 1998 and 2000, making the playoffs in 1998 and 1999. Folded at the beginning of the 2001 season due to low numbers. Were sponsored by Peppers Wine Bar, Goodyears and Blakemores Ltd. (from www.geocities.com/vipersafc/).  2 years in a row they hosted a one day 7-a-side tournament in which teams from all over the UK came to play in. The pitches were as long as a normal field is wide, and the game length was 20 minutes. It is believed the Bulls won it the second time it was played. The Vipers were knocked out in the first round of the playoffs by two last minute TD passes by Richard Large who was playing as a guest QB for the Leicester Huntsmen.