Editing Bob Long's Ironmen (section)

=== Formation and the Ironmen split (1996–1997) ===

Bob Long had been a prominent member and captain of the original Ironmen, one of America's leading tournament teams during the late 1980s and early 1990s.

Following a division within the organisation in late 1996, Long departed and assembled a separate team under the Bob Long's Ironmen name. [1]

The original Ironmen continued competing independently, subsequently becoming known as the Southern California Ironmen and Los Angeles Ironmen.

Bob Long's new team entered professional competition during the 1997 NPPL season.

At the 1997 NPPL Las Vegas tournament, the team reached the professional 10-man finals and finished third behind the All Americans and Chicago Aftershock. Contemporary WARPIG coverage identified the result as the new team's first professional tournament placing. [1]

The organisation also fielded a second squad, known as Bob Long's Ironmen II, in amateur tournament competition during 1997. [5]