Spring 1991
With the lauch of the WLAF (World League of American Football), Preston puts his support behind the London Monarchs - the UK's sole team. Shuggie meanwhile is not impressed and abstains.

June 1991
Preston is on hand at Wembley as the Monarchs win the 1st ever World Bowl by beating the Barcelona Dragons 21-0. A crowd of 61,000 is on hand. Honestly.

Wembley 1991 - The WLAF is born

Winter 1992
A fateful Scottish snow storm in Stirling cancels the BCAFL game that would have seen Shuggie and the Stirling Clansmen take on Preston and the Leeds Celtics. It is declared a tie. Leeds go on to make the playoffs at 5-1-2, while Stirling finish 1-6-1.

Spring 1992
WLAF returns for its second season. Crowds are down at Wembley but Preston returns. Shuggie still couldn't care less.

Sep 1992
Preston goes to his 1st NFL game on Opening Weekend in Seattle. It's dreadful. (QB matchup=David Klingler vs. Kelly Stouffer). The Bengals win Dave Shula's coaching debut 21-3 scoring 2 TD's on fumble returns to beat the hapless Seahawks. The 1st TD is scored by Bengals LB Ray Bentley on a 75 yard fumble return - he will later be "cheddared" in 1999.

The following week he sees the Rams beat the Patriots 14-0 thanks to a late Todd Lyght interception for a TD. Only 25,000 are on hand to watch the Rams home opener. Pats QB Tommy Hodson tosses 4 INT's while playing with a seperated shoulder.

These events are not a good introduction to NFL football.

Late Sep 1992
Later in September, the news from the NFL owners meetings is not good. The WLAF is to be suspended, mainly due to lack of success within the North American franchises.

Kingdome 1992 - What's going on?

Anaheim 1992 - This is NFL Football?

The league suspended operations after the 1992 season

March 1993
Preston's Leeds Celtics make the BCAFL final at Saffron Lane, but his final game as a collegiate 'athlete' sees Southampton shut down the Celtics passing game in winning 19-0. Preston is held without a catch. Again.

Preston's 3 year record at Leeds is 17-3-4 (.792 winning pct). Shuggie ends his Stirling career with a 3-18-3 (.182 winning pct).

WR Preston in rare action shots from his Leeds Celtics days

Spring 1995
The WLAF is re-launched with the 3 European teams supplemented by new franchises in Edinburgh, Dusseldorf and Amsterdam. Preston, now living in London - stays loyal to the Monarchs. Shuggie attends 1st WLAF game in Week 1 in Edinburgh, a last second loss to the Fire.

June 1995
Shuggie's first road trip see the Claymores knock off the Monarchs 22-9 at White Hart Lane to finish 2-8. No official meeting between the two clowns yet ...

Autumn 1995
Shuggie starts his NFL trips, visiting San Francisco and San Diego among other places. Preston is at a CFL game meanwhile, watching a certain Yo Murphy play for the BC Lions.

WLAF re-lauched in 1995 with 3 new teams - including the Claymores

Vancouver 1995 - Preston tries CFL football

May 1996
Shuggie makes his European debut, flying out to Frankfurt to watch the Claymores stun the unbeaten Galaxy 20-0 and clinch the hosting of World Bowl 96.

Preston is still labouring in London.

June 1996
Preston acquires ex-Monarchs QB Preston Jones shirt.

Takes it to up Murrayfield the following week for World Bowl 96 where, despite some abuse for wearing said item, he cheers the Claymores to a 32-27 victory over the Frankfurt Galaxy. Shuggie and Preston still do not meet.

Autumn 1996
Shuggie and Preston do finally meet (in a London sports bar) and agree to go to Amsterdam in Week 1 of the 1997 to cheer on the Claymores in the 1st ever game in the Amsterdam ArenA.

Preston's halftime oranges at Monarchs home game were an alleged factor in their poor 2nd half showings

World Bowl 1996 - Great Day Out

April 1997
Shuggie and Preston are in Amsterdam to see the Claymore open their title defense with a 16-3 victory. The night before, Preston's love for Amsterdam 'coffee' has him attempting to walk on water before a bout of 'sickness' intervenes. Is officially re-named 'Preston'.

May 1997
Shuggie and Preston's first trip to Dusseldorf. Very significant cultural event. First taste of Schlosser Alt. Also, Claymores win 23-20. It proves to be their only victory in 8 visits to the Rheinstadion.

June 1997
At World Bowl 97 in Barcelona, Preston (who is Scottish) denoucnes the Monarchs who are changing their name to "England Monarchs". Shuggie meanwhile falls in love with Yvi - a Rhein Fire cheerleader. Meanwhile the Dragons led by MVP Jon Kitna beat the Fire 38-24. The Fire fans make their mark on this day however - singing and dancing long after the game had ended ...

December 1997
Shuggie and Preston tour the US for the 1st time together. One highlight was our discovery of a Barcelona Dragons ball in San Francisco, which we subsequently get Jon Kitna to sign right after he has led the Seahawks to a come from behind 22-21 win in his 1st NFL start.

Also on this trip we purchase two cheeseheads from a little shop at Fisherman's Wharf in San Francisco. The initial idea is to paint them Claymore Silver and Blue ....

World Bowl 97 - Dragons beat Fire 38-24 in Barcelona.

WB 97 - Shuggie falls in love with a Fire cheerleader called Yvi.

Oakland 97 - Jon Kitna wins his 1st NFL start for the Seahawks

 Click here to go back to the main menu!