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Victor Ebubedike

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Victor Ebubedike
Medal record
Men’s American football
Representing  United Kingdom
European Championship
Gold medal – first place 1989 West Germany Team

Victor Ebubedike (born 1 February 1966), also known as Victor X Ebubedike and Victor Muhammad,[1] is an English former gridiron football player who played as a running back for London Ravens, from 1983 to 1990, then onto the NFL Europe's London Monarchs from 1991 to 1992 and 1995 to 1998.

Early life and career

Ebubedike was born and raised in London, England, and is of Nigerian descent.[2][3] He played association football in his youth.[4] On his 16th birthday, while on a walk through Hyde Park, he stumbled upon the London Ravens – the U.K.'s first ever American football team.[5] Ebubedike joined the team and quickly became one of the best players in Europe.[2][6] He led the team to a win over the Streatham Olympians in the 1985 Summer Bowl at Villa Park to close the inaugural AFL UK season.[7] In 1986, Ebubedike helped the team win the first-ever Budweiser Bowl before joining the Harper Hawks football team at Harper College in Palatine, Illinois.[3] Ebubedike flew back to England to help the Ravens win the 1987 Budweiser Bowl, rushing for 176 yards and three touchdowns in their 40–23 win over the Manchester All-Stars.[8][9] Overall, he rushed for 3,770 yards and 66 touchdowns in his three competitive seasons with the Ravens, averaging 8.9 yards per carry.[5]

Professional career

In May 1990, Ebubedike was signed by the New York Jets.[10] However, he was cut that July to free up a roster spot for Mike Martin.[11] Regardless, Ebubedike was the first British player, other than a kicker, to make an NFL training camp.[12]

Ebubedike joined the London Monarchs ahead of the inaugural 1991 season of the World League of American Football (WLAF) after a tryout in Orlando, Florida.[13] He was a part of Operation Discovery, a talent search program that placed homegrown European players on WLAF rosters.[2] Ebubedike was one of four British players named to the final 40-man roster in March.[14] He played exclusively on special teams in his first two games, and even made the first tackle in league history in their season-opening win over the Frankfurt Galaxy.[15][16] He was put in at running back for the first time in the fourth quarter of their week three win over the Orlando Thunder at Wembley Stadium and become the first Operation Discovery player to record a carry when he ran for a ten-yard first down.[2][15] Five plays later, he became the first Operation Discovery player to score a touchdown, and finished the game with six carries for 44 yards and the score.[2][15] Ebubedike won the inaugural World Bowl with the Monarchs when they defeated the Barcelona Dragons 21–0.[16] Ebubedike was later named a second-team all-World League selection via a spot designated for an Operation Discovery player, with fellow Englishman Phil Alexander earning the first-team nod.[17]

Ebubedike returned to the London Monarchs in 1992. However, he suffered damage to his knee ligaments in a preseason win over the Birmingham Fire.[18] Ebubedike signed with the North West Spartans later that year, ahead of the European Challenge Bowl final.[19] He scored two touchdowns in their 42–25 defeat to the Hamburg Blue Devils.[20] The WLAF suspended operations in 1993. Consequently, Ebubedike played with the Great Britain Spartans in the inaugural 1994 season of the Football League of Europe.[21] When the London Monarchs returned in 1995, Ebubedike was one of seven British players named to the Monarchs roster.[22] He rushed for a franchise-record 46-yard touchdown run in a 34–14 win over the Rhein Fire.[23] Muhammad played with Monarchs the until their final season in 1998, finishing his career with 116 carries for 416 yards and four touchdowns.[5] He played in several leagues around Europe before returning to England, where he played his final game in 2013.[5]

National team career

On 29 September 1985, Ebubedike represented the Great Britain national team in the side's first-ever international fixture, scoring the sole touchdown in their 7–0 win over France.[24] He scored two touchdowns in a 59–2 victory over France during qualifiers for the 1987 European Championship.[25]

Ebubedike led Great Britain to a gold medal at the 1989 European Championships.[26]

Personal life

After joining the Nation of Islam, Ebubedike changed his name to Victor X and then Victor Muhammad.[5][27] He later worked as a coach and a firefighter.[5]

References

  1. ^ "(No Headline) Victor Muhammad will be lining up for the London Monarchs...". The Independent. 5 March 1997. Archived from the original on 17 August 2022. Retrieved 2 April 2014.
  2. ^ a b c d e Scott, Richard (13 April 1991). "Home-grown Monarch is king for a moment (I)". Birmingham Post-Herald. p. 23. Retrieved 1 September 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. ^ a b Stengle, Marty (10 October 1986). "London transfer makes impact". Daily Herald. p. 26. Retrieved 31 August 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ^ "The real story?". San Francisco Examiner. 25 June 1990. p. 18. Retrieved 1 September 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ^ a b c d e f Cassidy, Alex (20 October 2014). "An American Football Player in London: The Journey of Victor X". Vice. Retrieved 2 September 2023.
  6. ^ Smith, Brian (14 April 1991). "To the victor... Ebubedike proves a major discovery". Sunday Sun. p. 56. Retrieved 1 September 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. ^ Crosby, Dave (31 August 1985). "Ravens grab glory". Sports Argus. p. 4. Retrieved 31 August 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. ^ Dyer, Ken (18 September 1987). "Victor's flying back". Evening Standard. p. 60. Retrieved 1 September 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. ^ Goff, Tom (22 September 1987). "Roberts, Ravens take another title". The Post-Crescent. p. 26. Retrieved 1 September 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. ^ "Transactions". Hartford Courant. 9 May 1990. p. 178. Retrieved 31 August 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. ^ Resnick, Rick (25 July 1990). "McMillan joins teammates in camp". North Jersey Herald & News. p. 24. Retrieved 1 September 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  12. ^ Elliott, Ken (6 August 1990). "Benson the key to World League future". Evening Standard. p. 46. Retrieved 1 September 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  13. ^ "Monarchs pick British hopefuls". Evening Standard. 25 February 1991. p. 51. Retrieved 1 September 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  14. ^ "London faith in gang of four". Evening Standard. 22 March 1991. p. 142. Retrieved 1 September 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  15. ^ a b c Scott, Richard (13 April 1991). "Home-grown Monarch is king for a moment (II)". Birmingham Post-Herald. p. 25. Retrieved 1 September 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  16. ^ a b Halling, Nick (10 June 1991). "Monarchs secure the crown". p. 28. Retrieved 1 September 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  17. ^ "1991 All-World League Team". Boca Raton News. 25 May 1991. p. 39. Retrieved 1 September 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  18. ^ Elliott, Ken (27 March 1992). "Oliver asks for more to make his mark". Evening Standard. p. 213. Retrieved 1 September 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  19. ^ Burke, David (23 September 1992). "Spartans seek Euro glory". Manchester Evening News. p. 51. Retrieved 1 September 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  20. ^ "Sparts out". Manchester Evening News. 29 September 1992. p. 43. Retrieved 1 September 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  21. ^ Dickinson, Matt (23 May 1994). "Victor jets in to inspire Spartans". Daily Express. p. 45. Retrieved 1 September 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  22. ^ "Monarchs pick British best". Western Daily Press. 14 December 1994. p. 32. Retrieved 1 September 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  23. ^ McKinlay, Alan (30 May 1995). "King Brad". Daily Mirror. p. 37. Retrieved 1 September 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  24. ^ "First down". Leicester Mercury. 30 September 1985. p. 3. Retrieved 31 August 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  25. ^ "Grid-iron glory". Grimsby Evening Telegraph. 24 March 1987. p. 13. Retrieved 31 August 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  26. ^ "Valuable". Coventry Evening Telegraph. 4 September 1989. p. 26. Retrieved 31 August 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  27. ^ Wetherell, Richard (13 April 1997). "Monarchs rely on X factor". The Observer. p. 60. Retrieved 1 September 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
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