Writer, analyst, podcaster, Spurs fan. Three out of four is not bad. If there is a data angle, I will find it.
Manchester United, LA Lakers, Real Madrid, Dallas Cowboys, the list goes on. They may be a snapshot of some of the biggest global sporting institutions and favourites with bookmakers, but sometimes it is not all about reality, sometimes it is about the world of sporting fantasy.
Be it movie franchise, comic book or tv series, sports have provided some of the most exciting fictional content over the years and with this in mind, we have taken it upon ourselves to rank the top 10 of all-time.
Using the four criteria of:
Cultural Impact (10 points)
Storytelling (10 points)
Relatability (10 points)
Symbolism (10 points)
With the criteria it is time to reveal our top 10 of all-time
THE TOP 10
| Team | Cultural Impact (10) | Storytelling (10) | Relatability (10) | Symbolism (10) | Total (40) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Richmond AFC | 9 | 10 | 10 | 9 | 38 |
| Mighty Ducks | 9 | 9 | 8 | 9 | 35 |
| Average Joe's Gym | 8 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 34 |
| Melchester Rovers | 9 | 8 | 8 | 9 | 34 |
| Hounslow Harriers | 7 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 33 |
| Warbury Warriors | 7 | 8 | 8 | 9 | 32 |
| Renford Rejects | 7 | 7 | 9 | 8 | 31 |
| Tune Squad | 9 | 7 | 8 | 7 | 31 |
| Springfield Isotopes | 8 | 6 | 8 | 7 | 29 |
| Flint Tropics | 7 | 6 | 8 | 7 | 28 |
From table toppers to those bringing up the rear, it is time to look at the reasoning by our ranking:
Richmond afc
Richmond AFC (The Greyhounds) - Ted Lasso: 38 Points
Top of the table are Richmond AFC, known as The Greyhounds - a fictional football team from the Apple TV+ series Ted Lasso. The club is initially struggling in the English Premier League, with poor performance and internal turmoil throughout the squad.
Step forward Ted Lasso. Under the guidance of the American coach Lasso (Jason Sudekis), who has no prior football experience (of the association persuasion), the team undergoes a transformation both on and off the pitch.
While Lasso's unconventional coaching methods are somewhat frowned upon at first, a positive attitude, and emphasis on camaraderie throughout the squad helps the Greyhounds build a strong, cohesive unit.
Bookmakers were even offering odds on how Richmond would get on!
Mighty Ducks
Mighty Ducks (Ice Hockey) - The Mighty Ducks franchise – 35 Points
Sitting second in the standings are none other than The Mighty Ducks - a youth ice hockey team that first appeared in the 1992 film ‘The Mighty Ducks’. Initially a ragtag group of misfits coached by the disillusioned Gordon Bombay (Emilio Estevez), the team evolves from a bunch of underdogs to a competitive force in youth hockey.
Their dynamic is rooted in teamwork, overcoming personal struggles, and the mentoring of young athletes. This team symbolises determination, camaraderie, and the spirit of sport. While their journey continues through sequels and a TV series, where they transition into a competitive squad.
Not only that, but the franchise's success led to the creation of the National Hockey League team, the Anaheim Ducks and although they are now a fixture of the NHL, we are yet to see the infamous ‘Flying V’ in a professional environment.
Average Joe's gym
Average Joe's Gym (Dodgeball) - Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story – 34 Points
Sharing third place is Average Joe’s Gym - the team in the 2004 film Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story. The gym's members, a quirky and mismatched group of individuals, band together to compete in a high-stakes dodgeball tournament to save their gym from being bought by the flashy Globo Gym.
The team is led by Peter LaFleur (Vince Vaughan), who, despite his lack of athleticism and drive, inspires the group to overcome their insecurities and challenges. The team’s victory over the superior Globo Gym players symbolizes the power of resilience, teamwork, and believing in oneself.
The film’s comedic tone and eccentric characters made Average Joe's Gym an enduring symbol of unlikely success and although Ben Stiller’s character is not on the winning side, there is no doubt he steals the show throughout.
Melchester Rovers
Melchester Rovers (Football) - Roy of the Rovers – 34 Points
Sharing third place is our first animated entry and this is where Melchester Rovers enter the conversation. Known as the fictional football team from the Roy of the Rovers comic strip, which first appeared in 1954, the Rovers are a historically successful club winning many trophies along the way
The team’s fortunes are intertwined with the legendary character Roy Race, whose football career with the Rovers has been marked by numerous on-field triumphs and personal challenges. The Rovers are depicted as a symbol of professionalism, grit, and ambition.
Over the years, the Rovers have faced various rivalries and internal struggles, but their standing as a top-tier team remains a central theme of the Roy of the Rovers series. Who would win in a game between them and Warbury Warriors? A question that may unfortunately go unanswered.
Bend it Like Beckham
Hounslow Harriers (Football) - Bend It Like Beckham – 33 Points
Back to the big screen now as the Hounslow Harriers are the fictional women’s football team from the 2002 film ‘Bend It Like Beckham’. Based in the London suburb of Hounslow, the team plays an important role in the story of lead character Jess Bhamra.
Jess, who as a young woman has an insatiable appetite for football but unfortunately for her, it clashes with the traditional expectations that are placed upon her by her family and this is where plenty of underlying tension is created throughout the film.
The Harriers serve as a platform for Jess to showcase her talent while navigating cultural and familial pressures and in doing so, the team represents diversity, ambition, and the breaking of gender and cultural barriers.
Warbury Warriors comic strip
Warbury Warriors (Football) - Warbury Warriors – 32 Points
Not a direct rival to Melchester Rovers but Warbury Warriors are the fictional football team featured in the Warbury Warriors comic strip. The team is based in the small, working-class town of Warbury and is often portrayed as a battling underdog in the competitive world of football.
Facing challenges such as financial troubles to fierce rivalries with other clubs, it is their determination and team spirit that keeps them in the hunt for success and like Ted Lasso above, their charismatic manager, uses unconventional methods to keep the team together.
The Warbury Warriors symbolise the heart and soul of lower-league English football, and their story is one of resilience, hard work, and community pride – a story that resonated with so many fans for so many years with the comic running from 1985 through to 2019.
Renford Rejects
Renford Rejects (Football) - Renford Rejects – 31 Points
Just behind the Warbury Warrios are the Renford Rejects who sit joint-seventh. A fictional football team from the UK TV series of the same name. Based in the town of Renford, the Rejects are made up of a group of misfit teenagers who fail to make the school football team.
Despite their lack of talent, they form their own squad and compete against more established teams in their local league. The Rejects' charm lies in their quirky personalities, determination, and unshakable belief in themselves.
With a mix of humour, heartwarming moments, and occasional on-pitch success, the series explores themes of teamwork, friendship, and perseverance. The Renford Rejects represent the spirit of underdog stories among the backdrop of an excellent 1990’s soundtrack.
Space Jam 1996 // Pictorial Press Ltd / Alamy Stock Photo
The Tune Squad (Basketball) - Space Jam – 31 Points
Sharing seventh place with the Renford Rejects are the best that Looney Tunes have to offer. The Tune Squad is the fictional basketball team from the 1996 film ‘Space Jam’ and its 2021 sequel ‘Space Jam: A New Legacy’ and in both we see a mixture of sporting prowess and amination genius combined.
Comprising popular cartoon characters like Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, and other Looney Tunes characters they are tasked with competing in a high-stakes basketball game against the evil alien team, the Monstars.
The Tune Squad relies on their cartoonish antics and unconventional skills to level the playing field against their opponents. Then again, the team’s success is largely driven by the help of NBA star Michael Jordan (and later LeBron James) and not the likes of Bugs or Daffy.
Springfield Isotopes
Springfield Isotopes (Baseball) - The Simpsons – 29 Points
Sitting ninth are the Springfield Isotopes - the fictional minor league baseball team from The Simpsons. Based in the town of Springfield, the Isotopes are a source of local pride, often providing a backdrop for various episodes involving family and community dynamics.
Despite their lack of real success, the team is deeply beloved by the citizens of Springfield, who rally around them in moments of triumph or defeat. The team is a satirical take on small-town sports culture, often depicted humorously, reflecting the quirkiness of the town's everyday life.
The Isotopes remain a staple of Springfield’s pop culture, symbolizing community spirit and the pursuit of dreams and not to forget there was also Mr Burns’ ill-fated attempt to win as owner after bringing in some of Major League Baseball’s best-ever talents – only for it to go badly wrong.
Flint Tropics
Flint Tropics (Basketball) - Semi-Pro – 28 Points
Rounding out the top 10 are the Flint Tropics. Serving as the fictional basketball team featured in the 2008 film ‘Semi-Pro’, set during the ABA’s final season in the 1970s. The team is led by the brash and overconfident Jackie Moon (Will Ferrell), who also acts as the owner, coach, and star player.
The Tropics are one of the least successful teams in the league, but they strive for a chance to be part of the NBA merger. Despite their lack of skill and cohesion, the team’s charm lies in their offbeat personalities and willingness to go to extreme lengths for glory.
Like so many other fictional sporting teams, it is fair to say that the Tropics are an embodiment of underdog spirit and when connected to the humour of mismatched athletes trying to make it big in professional sports, it makes for quite an endearing story.
METHODLOGY
Initial Pool: A broad list of 20+ fictional teams was drafted based on popularity and impact.
Narrowing Down: The teams were scored against the criteria above, prioritising cultural impact, sport representation, and media diversity.
Final List: The top 10 teams were chosen to reflect a balance of familiarity, influence, and variety.
