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Member Monday: London Beefeaters

By Ryan Watters (@ryan2tswatters), 02/01/21, 10:15AM PST

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The Ontario Conference defending champs

Photos courtesy of Joanna Kurowski Photography

The London Beefeaters have been a long standing franchise in the Canadian Junior Football League.  They first joined the Ontario Conference (OFC) in 1975 when the Conference had three divisions and 14 teams.  In that first season they finished with a 5-3-2 record and qualified for the post season, where they would fall in the quarterfinal.   The very next year the Beefs finished on top of the Western Division and won their first playoff game.

Since entering the CJFL the Beefeaters seem to be always in the mix and pushing for a Conference title running stride for stride with perennial powerhouses the Hamilton Hurricanes and Windsor Fratmen.    In their 38 playing seasons in the CJFL the Beefeaters have compiled a record of 141-191-2.   On three different occasions they have missed a season(s) in the OFC; 1984, 1993-1995 and 1999-2000.

As the Beefeaters have changed and grown in the CJFL so have their home fields.   They have had seven official homes since 1975 and most would argue their current home field is the best they have played at.  For the last several years they have played at TD Stadium in London on the campus of Western University as they share the field with the Mustangs.  They have also played at Labatt Park, Beck Secondary School, Montcalm Secondary School, JW Little Stadium, John Paul II Secondary School, Regina Mundi College and City-Wide Sportsfield.

Throughout their time in the CJFL the Beefeaters have finished first three times and have a pair of Conference titles.  The first in 2012 and are currently the defending Ontario champs after winning the title in 2019, then hosted the National Semi-Final game.  Oddly, their only two national game appearances have come against the Saskatoon Hilltops.

That 2019 title is arguably the greatest moment in Beefeaters history, winning the title on the road in Windsor against their bitter rival the Fratmen 28-20.

Over time there have been several talented players to come through the Beefeaters system including Tom Cudney (1976-1979) who played for the Kansas City Chiefs, Winnipeg Blue Bombers and Toronto Argos, Ian Sinclair (1979) who won a NCAA national championship with the Miami Hurricanes and a Grey Cup with the BC Lions and Shaq Johnson (2015) who currently plays for the Lions.

Two other Beefs’ alum have seen action with the Lions including Hakeem Johnson and Josh Woodman.  Defensive back Tanner Gaskill-Cadwallader was selected by the Bombes in the 2020 CFL Draft.

Quick Beefeaters Facts:
Conference - Ontario Conference
Location – 100 Philip Aziz Ave, London, ON
Team President – Rob Annen
Head Coach – Gavin Lake (entering his first in 2021)
Stadium – TD Stadium
Social Handle - @LondonBeefeaters, @BeefeatersFtbl, @londonbeefeatersfootball
Motto – “Committed to Excellence”
Primary Colours – Blue / Red / White