Britball 2026 Deep Dive: Ipswich Cardinals
By Peter Mann
It’s been a long time since the Ipswich Cardinals tasted any real success, but, if ever there was a time for them to rekindle former glories, it is now, with their current crop of players.
National Champions back in 1990, the Cardinals, so named after Sir Thomas Wolsey, a Roman Catholic Cardinal and former Lord High Chancellor of England back in the 1500s, and a resident of these East Anglian parts, have this past summer celebrated the fortieth anniversary of their founding.
The Cardinals state on their website (www.ipswichcardinals.co.uk/club-history) that; “The name comes from one of Ipswich’s most famous sons, Cardinal Thomas Wolsey, who was Henry VIII’s Lord Chancellor.
“It is a play on the traditional name for some American sports teams, whereas theirs is generally a reference to the cardinal bird, ours is a tribute to this local historical figure.”
Forty years of American football that was brought forth by a pair of footballing enthusiasts of America’s Game, Colin Cox and Mark Leport, and, with the first training session coming in the January of ’86, at the Gainsborough Sports Centre, in Ipswich, and the Ipswich Cardinals soon took to the field.
Their first season, way back in 1987, was in the then-named, ‘United Kingdom Football League Championship,’ which saw the Cardinals finish undefeated and boasting a 12-0 record, losing out in the post-season to St Helens Cardinals, 28-26.
It would be that way in each of their first three seasons, losing out to Harts Phantoms (48-34; 1988), and eternal rivals, Norwich Devils (18-9; 1989), having posted regular season records of 9-1 and 7-2-1 in the ‘Budweiser Division 1 Championship’ and ‘BNGL Division 1 Championship’ respectively.
Finally, in 1990, and at the fourth time of asking, the Cardinals would eventually claim the Division 1 National Championship; registering a 9-1 regular season, before seeing off Clydesdale Colts, 34-22, under the guidance of a local, ex-US serviceman, JJ Johnson.
Numerous highlights, and lowlights, followed over the ensuing years, finding themselves relegated to Division 3 in 1994; the climb though, was worth it and, following an undefeated, 8-0 season in 2000, losing out in the Division 2 play-offs to Farnham Knights, the Cardinals went one better twelve months later.
Posting a 5-2-1 record in the 2001 ‘British Senior League Division 2’ Championship, the Cardinals went all the way to claiming the National title, avenging the loss of ’89 with a 47-15 success over the Devils.
Former Cardinals wide receiver, and long-time coach, Ian ‘Iggy’ Girling, has been with the franchise since its inception way back when; a font of all-knowledge relating to the Cardinals, and with the scrapbooks to back it all up, he was more than happy to chat about his longevity with them.
“I answered a newspaper advert back in ’85, and we met up at a pub called the ‘Drunken Docker,’” said Girling of his beginnings.
“That was basically two barges joined together, and over a hundred people turned up.
“Every town back then wanted a football team (because of the channel 4 show), and the history we’ve built up, it’s important.
“I was mostly a wide receiver when I played (he’s been on the Cardinals coaching set-up for near two decades), occasionally a quarterback, when we didn’t have any Americans playing.
“We’ve been blessed though, very fortunate to have had US military bases in the vicinity; this game, is like a chess game, and that’s what appealed to me.”
Regular visits to the play-offs continued and, following reformations and realignments within the British American Football Association (BAFA) structure, the Cardinals found themselves playing Premier Division South Conference football (2012 and 2013), being relegated to the National Division in 2014, plying their trades in recent seasons in the Southern Conference Division 2 East, alongside those rivalling Devils.
Following the devastating passing of Ralph Alexander in the summer of 2019 (the Cardinals also lost legendary coach, Herman Hicks, last April), someone who went by the moniker of ‘Mr Cardinals’ and was their Owner and General Manager, being connected to the organisation for more than twenty-five years, the baton was eventually passed to the current Chairman, Lee Austin, he soon taking the reins from Ralph’s widow, Jan, and is now hoping to build a new legacy in Ipswich.
“We’ve not been in a better position than we are now,” explained Austin, whose sons Keaton and Kai have also both had spells in Cardinals colours.
“I’ve around 17+ years connection through my family to the Cardinals, and have coached our youth teams.
“It just seemed natural though, when Ralph (Alexander) passed away, and his widow, Jan took on things for a brief period, that I would take it over, and I’m fully expecting a Championship Ring this year.
“With the work we’ve put in, on-and-off the field, this is our best opportunity to succeed.
“We’ve got some seriously good prospects, strength in depth (form their U16s and U19s sides), so there’s no reason we can’t have a really positive season.
“There’s always a really good show put on at (home) games and, if we can get to three or four without a loss, then the crowds will come even more.”
Players Johnny Rodgers, running back, and Ryan Caley, outside linebacker/defensive captain, both have longevity with the Cardinals franchise – combined it’s close to 25 years; both players support the words of their chairman in what this season needs to bring.
“I’d love for us to go 8-0 this season,” added Rodgers.
“We’ve got the talent, so really just need to bring our A-game. Once we make the play-offs, anything can happen.”
Caely meanwhile continued in saying; “Keeping most of last season’s roster, the expectations is nothing less than a ring, and promotion.
“We have the players, and the coaches, so just need to click on the field.
“We’re notoriously slow starters but, facing the (Norwich) Devils in the first game, that has added incentive.”
Last season the Cardinals went 5-3 in the BAFA SFC2 East division, their first winning season since 2019s 4-2-2, going 6-2 the season before, losing out in the playoff quarter-finals on both occasions. This time around was a similar scenario, making the playoffs before dropping a 33-20 game with Hereford Stampede.
In playing their East Anglian rivals, Norwich Devils, three times during the regular season, the Cardinals racked up three straight successes, much to the delight of coaches, players, and fans alike.
That campaign also began with a trip to Norwich, a little over twelve months ago, the Cardinals winning 21-6, they then won 29-6 in early-June, before the home fixture in mid-July resulted in a 24-0 washout success in favour of the Cardinals.
“Norwich is a major game, and one we don’t need to overhype,” explained Rodgers, who’s been with the Cardinals for some thirteen years now.
“It’s a game that you love to play, and for bragging rights. We’ve had the upper-hand recently, but it’s one of those you have to win, so we’re looking forward to game one.”
“It’s definitely a game no side has been really dominant in down the years,” added Caley.
“We just need to be quietly confident, about the season as a whole as Berkshire (Renegades) will be hard to judge and can be quite good on their day.
“Ouse Valley (Eagles), they’re usually one-score games as well, so the who division is rather competitive.”
The game itself has changed a lot over the years, the decades though, and that has certainly been noticed by all connected to the Cardinals, both players and coaches alike.
From their very first games back in 1986, tied games with Stevenage Aerostars (12-12), and Fulham Cardinals (7-7), right up to the present day, but the aim has been the same and, looking ahead to the new season, the Cardinals chair, Lee Austin, added: “We’ve been in pre-season for a long time now.
“There’s been plenty happening of the field as well as on it, and success breeds success.
“Our youth set-up is feeding the seniors, and it’s providing stability for what is a very accessible club at all levels.
“Now, we’re looking to reaffirm ourselves, to be recognised again, and to have the bigger clubs coming here to play us.
“It’s achievable, and we can only get stronger and stronger.”
Having seen the good, the bad, and the downright ugly of America’s Game on British soil over the years, Girling is perhaps best placed for it all.
“We’ve played in some places over the years, good and bad,” motioned Girling.
“Ralph Alexander kept this club going for years, when we were playing at Northgate, and always aimed to fill the grandstand.
“Meanwhile, Lee (Austin) has been hugely influential, one of those blokes who works hard to get the results, he gets things done.
“Moving to the rugby club has been a great move for us as well, whilst on the field, repping Britball in Europe in ’91 against the Aix-en-Provence Argonauts (Eurobowl V qualifier), and those two season playing in the Prem, they were great, yet exhausting.”
One other family that isn’t too far from Cardinals’ thoughts is the Butcher family, with Ipswich Town, Glasgow Rangers, and England defensive legend (77 caps between 1980 and 1990) a Cardinals Ambassador.
Christopher Butcher, one of Terry and Rita’s sons, who was a Captain in the Royal Artillery, and a former Cardinals player, died in October 2017 whilst suffering with PTSD.
The Butcher’s, and the Cardinals, often raising funds and awareness for Combat2Coffee, a not-for-profit organisation helping military veterans, families, and the wider community.
Meanwhile, Cardinals defensive captain, Caley, continued in saying of last seasons disappointment, and this seasons’ hopes that; “This is my tenth year with the Cardinals, and eighth with the seniors, and I wouldn’t play anywhere else.
“There was an influx of rookies and we started on a high, then we dipped and nothing changed much.
“It’s difficult though, both at this level, and with the catchment area, so we have struggled for numbers and as soon as we lose players, it’s a little harder to replace them.
“We have kept the most of last season’s roster so the expectation is just that, nothing less than a ring and promotion.
“There are the players, and the coaches here, we just need to click.”
On the flipside meanwhile is the current Cardinals Head Coach, Liam Smith, another who has had more than a dozen years with the club, and has been at the helm since the latter stages of the 2024 season.
Leading them back into the playoffs last season, Smith, like those around him, is certainly hoping to go that extra mile this time around as well, they adamant that promotion is on the cards.
It’s perhaps hard to see past that as well, keeping the majority of last seasons roster intact, whilst bringing forth some fresh, new blood for the challenge ahead.
Like his chairman, Smith spoke of the last few months before looking ahead, saying; “Even though we’ve been back training since January, I could have really done with an extra couple of weeks,
“I took my coaching badges before covid having played as a guard for the club; when I played though, we had what, nineteen players and one coach.
“We had really good numbers last season although lost a couple to injury, I guess we just ran out of steam in the playoffs.
“Now we have coaches for all positional groups which is great, and player-wise, we’re growing massively.
“The players coming through (the youth set-up), they know the club, and its values; although we’re starting the same as last season (away to Norwich Devils), it’ll be good to get a game out of the way and see where we’re at, as a unit.
“Although I’m a bit more cautious and grounded, we do have the players to potentially go all the way; we have the talent to go far, and do what we want to, to achieve what we can, but overall, it’s just one game at a time.”
Ahead of the new season, the Cardinals have now also announced their team captains for the campaign – Joseph Chilvers, Oliver Walne, Johnny Rodgers, Niall Simmons, and Ryan Caley; meanwhile, amongst the new arrivals at the Cardinals is former Hertfordshire Cheetahs wide receiver, and D1 National champion, Nana Sakyi.
The season begins on 19 April when Ipswich Cardinals travel to rivals Norwich Devils, followed by the following outings versus Berkshire Renegades (h, 3 May), Norwich Devils (h, 17 May), Berkshire Renegades (a, 31 May), Ouse Valley Eagles (a, 7 June & h, 21 June), Norwich Devils (a, 5 July), Berkshire Renegades (h, 19 July).
PETER MANN
NFL ANALYST
PETER IS A LIFELONG SPORTS FAN, JOURNALIST AND AUTHOR BASED IN COUNTY DURHAM. HE HAS FOLLOWED THE NFL AND THE RAIDERS SINCE THE 1980s, AND LOVES BOTH SPORTS AND FAMILY HISTORY. PETER HAS A DEGREE IN SPORT & EXERCISE PSYCHOLOGY, AND CAN BE FOUND ON TWITTER @petermannwriter