Cliff Stroughter was one of the first top class imports to play Britball. Having arrived on these shores in 1986 after playing for the University of Illinois, he tore up the record books with 3,104 yards rushing and 51 TDs in a single season. Both records are unlikely to ever be beaten.

Interview conducted December 2006.

What High School and College did you attend?

I attended Vallejo High School (Vallejo, Calif), then Contra Costa College (San Pablo, Ca) and the finally onto the University of Illinois

Did Illinois win any bowl games in your time there?

We made it to two bowl games, but we lost both. Firstly in the 1982 Liberty Bowl in Bear Bryant’s last game for Alabama. Alabama won 21-15 (Tony Eason passed for over 400 yards that day for Illinois). Illinois also made it to the 1984 Rose Bowl, but UCLA beat us 45-9.

Did you ever try out for the USFL/World League of American Football or get any NFL trials after leaving Illinois?

No, after leaving Illinois my first professional football after college was in the British American Football League.

How and when did you come to join the Nottingham Hoods in 1986?

Mr.Dave Parson recruited me to play in the British American Football League in 1986, following a try out in Bellingham, Washington with an associate of his.

Your first couple of games featured a tight 14-12 win over Milton Keynes followed by a loss to Leicester. Did the standard of football here surprise you?

No I was not surprised as I expected any pro football would very competitive.

Mid season the Hoods had hit their stride, and you rushed for close to 300 yards vs the Birmingham Bulls in a 40-35 win. You must have been thinking about winning the national title in 1986 after that game?

Of course, we’d just beaten one of the top teams in the country so we thought we had every chance then.

What was the best game you have ever had?

In 1986, we played the Bulls. I ran for almost 300 yards and 5 TDs that day.


Stroughter in action vs Birmingham in 1986

In the playoffs the wheels seemed to come off in the abandoned 44-14 loss to Glasgow. What exactly happened in that game, as reports say you pulled the Hoods out of the game?

Yes that’s true. The officiating in the game was extremely poor, as the referees called back every TD that I ran in. I had about 7 TD’s called back in all and enough was enough.

Why did you leave the Hoods at the end of the 1986 season?

I had opportunities in the N.F.L and the C.F.L league.

What clubs did you move to after you left the Hoods? Did you play when you moved back to the States?

I moved back to the States and was signed by the San Diego Chargers in the NFL, and I later moved onto play in the Italian football league.

Which British players stood out at the Hoods for you?

Our offensive line were great – the best in the league at the time

Have you been back to the UK since 1986?

I came back in 1987, and played a further 3 games for the Hoods but I had to return to the States soon after.

Are you still involved with American Football in any capacity?

Yes, I am coaching at present, and previously I have coached both High School and Community College teams

What are your favourite NFL and NCAA teams?

I like the Chicago Bears and Oregon State whom my nephew plays for.

Where do you currently live?

I still live in my home town – Vallejo, Ca