Royal Oaks Knights: from Madrid's American community to Spanish champions

Before 1972: the school, the teacher and flag football

According to the club's account, it all begins in 1953, when the Pacts of Madrid bring US forces to the Torrejón de Ardoz air base and Madrid High School opens, a school run by the United States Department of Defense. [10]

In 1956 teacher Joe Blackstead introduces flag football to the students, with a four-team internal competition — Mustangs, Dragons, Sabres and Bloodhounds — and a traditional teachers-versus-students game. Coached by Blackstead, Knights play their first match as a team on 15 November 1958 in Zaragoza against the Zaragoza Zebras, losing 13-6. [10]

A year later, with Jim Leary as sporting director and Don Mitchell as coach, the national flag competition begins. The first Spanish championship in the discipline is played in Seville, at the Santa Clara ground, between Knights, Sevilla High School Toros, Zaragoza HS Zebras and Rota HS Admirals, all schools tied to the American military presence. [10]

The club claims seven outright championships during that decade. [10]

The origins: from Madrid High School to Royal Oaks

The Royal Oaks Knights trace their origins to 1972, when the Madrid High School district—linked to the American community living on military bases in the area—was divided into two zones: Torrejón Base and Royal Oaks, now El Encinar de los Reyes. One of Spain's first organised American football teams emerged from that split, though documentation of those early years is still pending primary sources. [1]

The current club, Club Deportivo Elemental Royal Oaks Knights Football, is based in Alcobendas (Madrid) and runs several programmes: tackle football under the Cavaliers (senior) and Knights (youth) brands, flag football, and cheerleading. [9]

The Cavaliers: the senior team

Alcobendas Cavaliers is the club's first team and competes in the Liga Nacional de Fútbol Americano (LNFA). According to Wikipedia, they debuted in the Liga Madrileña de Fútbol Americano (LMFA) in 2017, though the exact founding year of the senior team awaits confirmation. [8]

In 2022 the Cavaliers were crowned LNFA 2 champions and were promoted to the top tier (Serie A). However, their stay in the elite was short-lived: they were relegated and returned to Serie B (LNFA 2). [6]

2026: the year of titles

The 2025-26 season has been historic for Royal Oaks Knights. The club has won two important titles that demonstrate the strength of the project at both youth and senior level.

The youth Knights: back-to-back Madrid champions

On 20 April 2026 the youth Royal Oaks Knights beat Black Demons 35-21 in the regional final at El Cantizal (Las Rozas), retaining the Madrid championship they had won the previous season. Quarterback Martín Rebollo led the offence, connecting twice with receiver Iván Escudero for decisive touchdowns. [2] [3]

The Cavaliers: LNFA 2 champions and return to Serie A

On 13 June 2026 Alcobendas Cavaliers sealed their return to the top tier of Spanish American football with a resounding 35-0 victory over Alcorcón Smilodons in the LNFA 2 final. The game, played in Alcorcón, showed the Cavaliers' total dominance—they did not concede a single point. [6] [4] [5]

This is the Cavaliers' second LNFA 2 title, after the one won in 2022. The 2026-27 season will see them compete again in LNFA Serie A, the top tier of national American football. [6]

Spain in Indianapolis: the NFL FLAG Championships

In July 2026, the club's U-15 flag football team travelled to Indianapolis (USA) to represent Spain at the NFL FLAG Championships, the world championship organised by the NFL. The Knights had qualified after being crowned Spanish champions in November 2025, defeating Camioneros de Coslada in the national final. [12]

The tournament, held from 24–26 July at the Grand Park Sports Campus in Westfield, brought together teams from 12 countries, including Mexico, Brazil, Canada, United Kingdom, Germany and the United States. The Knights roster included Spanish U-15 national team players such as quarterbacks Álvaro Campos and Ariadna Mabanag, linebacker José Martínez and receiver Mauro Sánchez. Captain Bernardo Ruiz led the group under head coach Diego Fernández del Rivero. [12]

A club with a youth development structure

Royal Oaks Knights stands out for its commitment to development. The club runs flag football and tackle programmes at youth level, in addition to the junior team (Knights) and the senior team (Cavaliers). Its motto, 'Education in values through sport', reflects an approach that goes beyond sporting results. [9]

The club's facilities are located at the José Caballero Sports Complex in Alcobendas, where the Estadio José Caballero hosts the Cavaliers' home games.

Honours

• LNFA 2 champion: 2022, 2026 (Cavaliers)
• LNFA Junior champion: 2025, 2026 (Knights)
• Madrid regional youth champion: 2025, 2026 (Knights)
• Spain Flag U-15 champion: 2025 (Knights)
• NFL FLAG Championships participant: 2026 (Knights U-15)

What we are going to ask the club

We have an interview pending with Marco Chamón, the club's head coach. We are publishing our questions in advance, because an archive that asks others for transparency should start with its own.

1. 15 October 1960 against 19 March 1988: how do the two dates for the first game in Spain fit together?
2. Do they read it as the first game in Spain, or the first between American schools based in Spain? Where is the line?
3. What documentation survives from those years: Madrid High School yearbooks, minutes, photographs, base newspapers?
4. Joe Blackstead, Jim Leary and Don Mitchell. Where do those names come from, and is there anyone left who remembers them?
5. Between the 1977 championship and the 2014 restoration there are almost forty untold years. What happened?
6. Is there real continuity between that school team and today's club, or are they two different things sharing a name?
7. Five titles in 2026, at senior, junior, cadet, regional and flag level. What did they do differently?