League | BAFA National Leagues |
---|---|
Division | NFC 1 Midlands |
Team history | Leicester Panthers (1983–1996) Leicester Falcons (2006–2023) Leicester Panthers (2023–) |
Location | Leicester, Leicestershire |
Stadium | Leicester Forest East RFC |
Managing director | Richard "Sweede" Swain |
Head coach | Mitz Mistry |
Division titles | 4: 2009, 2016, 2017, 2018 |
Playoff berths | 8: 2009, 2010, 2011, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2022 |
The Leicester Panthers are an American football team based in Leicester, England, that competes in the BAFA National Leagues Premier Division North, the top level of British American football. Their current home ground is at Aylestone Park F.C., having previously played at De Montfort Park and Leicester Forest RFC.
The Panthers were originally formed in 1983 and played until 1996, before a new club the Leicester Falcons were formed ten years later in 2006. The Falcons men's team were four-time divisional champions, last winning a Division 1 National Championship in 2018 and a NFC1 South Conference Championship in 2022. Leicester Falcons Academy U16s and Leicester Falcons Women are also part of the club, while the academy field a U19s team in partnership with Rugby Rhinos AFC. In 2023 following the departure of general manager Guy Kersey, the team reverted to the Panthers name.