Draft:Sofia Knights

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The Sofia Knights are an American football club based in Sofia, Bulgaria, founded on the 4th of November, 2018 by Ivaylo Simov, Martin Doychev and Emil Dimitrov with the motto "Respect All, Fear None".[1]

Sofia Knights
FoundedNovember 4, 2018
Based inSofia, Bulgaria
Head coachIvaylo Simov, Martin Doychev
LeagueBFAF (Bulgarian Federation Of American Football) - (2021), (2024) and BFL (Balkan Football League) - (2023)
ColorsBlack, Yellow
Nickname(s)The Knights
Websitehttps://sofiaknights.com/

Season 2018-2019[edit]

The team started weekly practice a month later in December 2018. In 2019 it had it's first friendly matches in Eight-man football format (without special teams). The team also had joint trainings with other Bulgarian teams and undocumented friendly Flag football matches.[2]

Season 2019
Team 1 Score Team 2 Date Type
Sofia Knights (Lost) 18 to 26 Blagoevgrad Griffins (Won) 21st of September Friendly 8vs8 (N/A)
Sofia Knights (Lost) 0 to 63 Sofia Bulldozers (Won) 28th of September[3] Friendly 8vs8 (N/A)
Sofia Knights (Won) 23 to 14 Blagoevgrad Griffins (Lost) 5th of October[4] Friendly 8vs8 (H)
Sofia Knights (Lost) 0 to 18 Blagoevgrad Griffins (Won) 10th of November[5] Friendly 8vs8 (N/A)
1 Win and 3 Losses 41 to 121 41 Points For 121 Points Against Points diff. (-80)

Season 2020[edit]

During the 2020 season, the number of players in the Knights noticeably increased, contributing to the team's success. Their first international match was hosted at home soil against the Bucharest Titans followed by 3 national friendlies. The Knights also played the Varna Sharks and Sofia Bears for the first time.

Other:[edit]

The Knights also participated in two events. The first with Touch team Serdi Touch called "Touch (sport) meets Flag football".[6] The other with American Football team Black Sea Pirates from Burgas hosting a one day training camp which invited all active teams in the country. The camp included joint training, flag football math and a full-tackle match.[7][8][9]

Season 2020
Team 1 Score Team 2 Date Type
Sofia Knights (Lost) 0 to 20 Bucharest Titans (Won) 18th of July[10][11] Friendly 8vs8 (H)
Sofia Knights (Won) 36 to 14 Varna Sharks (Lost) 17th of September[12][13] Friendly 8vs8 (A)
Sofia Knights (Won) 40 to 6 Sofia Bears (Lost) 17th of October[14][15] Friendly 8vs8 (N/A)
Sofia Knights (Won) 24 to 6 Sofia Bulldozers (Lost) 14th of November[16] Friendly 8vs8 (N/A)
3 Wins and 1 Loss 100 to 46 100 Points For 46 Points Against Points diff. (+54)

Season 2021[edit]

Sofia Knights take part and win the newly established BFAF (Bulgarian Federation of American Football)[17][18], which is played in Eight-man football format without special teams. In the divisional matches three of them did not happen because of a forfeit from Blagoevgrad Griffins, Shumen Brewers and Sofia Bulldozers, reasons stated were lack of players and finances. They also traveled abroad for the first time to face off the Bucharest Titans in Bucharest for a friendly game. That year for the first time they faced Old Dogs Sofia and Black Sea Pirates Burgas as well.

Flag Football:[edit]

Brewers Cup: On the 11th of April the first BFAF's flag football tournament was hosted in Shumen. Teams that participated were (Sofia Knights, Hidden Lemons (Second Sofia Knights Team), Sofia Squires (Third Sofia Knights Team), Old Dogs Sofia, Sofia Bears, Sofia Bears 2, Gabrovo Eagles, Sofia Bulldozers, Black Sea Pirates Burgas, Shumen Brewers, Varna Sharks, Ruse Dragons). The tournament could not be finished as it went on for longer than expected and the final matches were played in the next tournament in Plovdiv were first place was awarded to Varna Sharks, second to Sofia Bears and third to Sofia Knights.[19][20][21][22]

On the 15th and 16th of May Sofia Knights participated in BFAF's second flag tournament of the year hosted in Plovdiv. The tournament included the teams (Varna White Sharks (Representing Varna Sharks), Sofia Knights, Hidden Lemons (2nd team of Sofia Knights), Sofia Bulldozers, Shumen Brewers, Tiger Sharks (2nd team of Varna Sharks), Sofia Bears Juniors, Gabrovo Eagles, Ruse Dragons, Sofia Bears). With Varna White Sharks placing first, followed by Sofia Knights and Hidden Lemons third.[23][24][25]

On the 9th of October 2021 "Flag Football - Knights & Friends" is hosted in Sofia for the first time including the teams (Serdi Touch, Gabrovo Eagles, Zagora Titans, Varna Dolphins (Varna Sharks), Old Dogs Sofia, Sofia Knights, Hidden Lemons (2nd Team Sofia Knights and Chameleons). With Old Dogs winning the tournament, Eagles getting second place and Serdi third.[26][27]

Other:[edit]

During 2021 the team starts using personalized helmets with the colors black and yellow and later on the year in they debut in personalized jerseys[28] again in black and yellow on 2nd of October facing Black Sea Pirates Burgas. Merch of the team is available for sale for fans from this year.[29]

On the 13th of March and on the 12th of June a Training Camp was hosted in Sofia by BFAF in which a number of players of the Knights participated in. Later there were national team tryouts for a United Bulgarian Team which participated in the BFL, a few Knights players were selected.

The Knights acquire their first sponsor - Proof Nutrition Bulgaria.[30][31]

Emanouel Milanov wins Knight of the Year.[32]

Season 2021
Team 1 Score Team 2 Date Type
Sofia Knights (Lost) 7 to 18 Old Dogs Sofia (Won) 25th of April[33][34] Friendly 8vs8 (N/A)
Sofia Knights (Won) 55 to 13 Black Sea Pirates Burgas (Lost) 30th of May[35][36] Friendly 8vs8 (A)
Sofia Knights (Won) 38 to 12 Bucharest Titans (Lost) 21st of August[37][38] Friendly 8vs8 (A)
Sofia Knights (Won) 20 to 14 Old Dogs Sofia (Lost) 12th of September[39][40][41] BFAF Quarter-final (N/A)
Sofia Knights (Won) 46 to 6 Black Sea Pirates Burgas (Lost) 2nd of October[42][43] BFAF Semi-final (A)
Sofia Knights (Won) 20 to 6 Sofia Bears (Lost) 11th of November[44][45] BFAF Final (N/A)
5 Wins and 1 Loss 186 to 69 186 Points For 69 Points Against Points diff. (+117)

Season 2022[edit]

In 2022 a women's flag football team Sofia Witches is established as part of the Sofia Knights organization and a kids team was also created called Sofia Knights Juniors. Sofia Witches is active in flag tournaments since. The Knights went undefeated for the season winning 4 friendlies and the Entractive Bowl (named after the sponsors of the match) in Malta versus Malta Phoenix marking the Maltese team its first ever match.

Other:[edit]

On the 20th of April Sofia Knights resigns from the BFAF due to personal reasons and abstains from participating in events with the team Sofia Bears.

A training camp in Stara Zagora was held on the 19th of March with coaches and players attending from Sofia Knights and numerous Bulgarian teams.

Knights & Friends was held for a second consecutive year on the 10th of September. 8 teams participate.

Old Dogs Sofia and Sofia Knights participate in ALL22 Global Scouting Network's two day camp for players and coaches which included foreign scouts and coaches on the 26th-27th of November.

An announcement is made that the Knights will be participating in the 2023 BFL (Balkan Football League), which would mark the first time the team would play 11vs11 full-tackle with special teams. Tryouts for players who wanted to join to Knights in the following season were held on the 19th and 20th of November in the form of a intrasquad game marked the first time the Knights played 11vs11 tackle football.

The Knights renew with their sponsor - Proof Nutrition Bulgaria.

Ivan Dochev wins Knight of the Year.

Team 1 Score Team 2 Date Type
Sofia Knights (Won) 40 to 0 Blagoevgrad Griffins (Lost) 16th of April Friendly 8vs8 (H)
Sofia Knights (Won) 39 to 7 Old Dogs Sofia (Lost) 30th of April Friendly 8vs8 (N/A)
Sofia Knights (Won) 12 to 0 Black Sea Pirates Burgas (Lost) 11th of June Friendly 8vs8 (A)
Sofia Knights (Won) 48 to 6 Malta Pheonix (Lost) 25th of June Entractive Bowl (A)
Sofia Knights (Won) 32 to 0 Old Dogs Sofia (Lost) 22th of October Friendly 8vs8 (N/A)
5 Wins and 0 Losses 171 to 13 Points for 158 Points Against 13 Point Diff (+158)

2023 Season[edit]

In 2023 Sofia Knights played 9 games of which 5 were in the BFL (Balkan Football League) the rest were friendlies. This season marked the first official 11vs11 matches with special teams the Knights played. The first match of the season called "Remember the Titan" was a memorial match for the recently passed away coach of the Zagora Titans Nikolai Dinev.

Other:[edit]

Knights' Flag Football Spring Tournament was held on the 29th of April with 10 teams participating. First place was taken by "MBA" (Sofia Knights Team), second place was taken by Wolves Burgas. The flag tournament also included a "1v1 Skills Challenge" which was won by Roberto Barakov of the Knights.

Knights' Flag Football Autumn Tournament was also held on the 7th of October. Wolves Burgas took the gold this time, Sofia Knights got second place with third going to Shopski Otryad. Nikolay Georgiev from Sofia Wolves won the "1v1 Skills Challange"

Sofia Knights participated in joint training with Blagoevgrad Griffins, PARK FEST (A sport event)

Team 1 Score Team 2 Date Type
Sofia Knights (Won) 28 to 8 Varna Sharks (Lost) 11th of March Remember the TItan Memorial Match 8vs8 (H)
Sofia Knights (Won) 35 to 0 Old Dogs Sofia (Lost) 26th of March Friendly 11vs11 (N/A)
Sofia Knights (Won) 21 to 8 Sofia Bears (Lost) 8th of April BFL Group Stage 11vs11 (N/A)
Sofia Knights (Lost) 20 to 42 Blue Dragons Zemun (Won) 22nd of April BFL Group Stage 11vs11 (H)
Sofia Knights (Lost) 7 to 13 Sofia Bears (Won) 7th of May BFL Group Stage 11vs11 (N/A)
Sofia Knights (Lost) 7 to 23 Blue Dragons Zemun (Won) 13th of May BFL Group Stage 11vs11 (A)
Sofia Knights (Lost) 0 to 6 Sarajevo Spartans (Won) 1st of June BFL Semi-Final (A)
Sofia Knights (Lost) 10 to 18 Kraljevo Royal Crowns (Won) 9th of September Friendly 11vs11 (H)
Sofia Knights (Lost) 13 to 68 Kraljevo Royal Crowns (Won) 4th of November Friendly 11vs11 (A)
3 Wins and 6 Losses 141 to 186 Points For 141 Points Against 186 Points diff. (-45)

2024 Season[edit]

Sofia Knights re-enter BFAF's championship in the 2024 season. The championship is played in a 8vs8 format with special teams.

The Knights also participate in flag tournaments.

Season 2024
Team 1 Score Team 2 Date Type
Sofia Knights (Won) 66 to 0 Black Sea Pirates Burgas (Lost) 23rd of March BFAF 8vs8 (A)
Sofia Knights (Won) 29 to 6 Bucharest Titans (Lost) 6th of April BFAF 8vs8 (H)
Sofia Knights To be played Sofia Bears 21st of April BFAF 8vs8 (N/A)
Sofia Knights To be played Stara Zagora Titans 12th of May BFAF 8vs8 (A)
Sofia Knights To be played Shumen Brewers 18th of May BFAF 8vs8 (H)
Sofia Knights To be played Varna Sharks 1st of June BFAF 8vs8 (A)
2 wins and 0 losses (so far) 95 to 6 Points For 95 Points Against 6 Points diff. (+89)


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