American Football Association

The American Football Association (AFA) was the first attempt in the United States to form an organizing association football body. It was the second oldest sports league to form, behind the National League of baseball in 1876, as well as being the oldest association football league in the United States. The Association was formed in 1884 in an attempt to standardize rules and procedures.[1] It was allied with The Football Association, becoming a member on 22 February 1909, at an FA meeting chaired by Charles Clegg,[2] and drew on that organisation's approach to the game. As part of its efforts, the AFA directly organized both league and cup competitions as well as overseeing the operations of member leagues. In 1884, it established the American Cup, which for several decades was the highest competitive soccer competition in the United States. The weakness of the AFA lay in its refusal to expand outside the southern New England region. When a movement began to create a national governing body in 1911, the AFA found itself confronting the newly established American Amateur Football Association (AAFA), a body which quickly became national. The AFA argued that it should be recognized by FIFA. However, several member organizations defected from the AFA to the AAFA in 1912. The AAFA quickly moved to reform itself as the United States Football Association, receiving FIFA recognition in 1913. The AFA continued to run the American Cup until 1925, but by that time it had been superseded by the National Challenge Cup and National Amateur Cup.

For the later professional American football league, see American Football Association (1978–1983).

Teams

The original 13 teams in the AFA, 1884

TeamCity
Clark O.N.T.Newark, New Jersey
AlmasNewark, New Jersey
Tiffany RoversNewark, New Jersey
ThistlesNewark, New Jersey
DomesticsNewark, New Jersey
RiversidesNewark, New Jersey
Kearny RangersKearny, New Jersey
New York Football ClubNew York, New York
New York ThistlesNew York, New York
Paterson Football ClubPaterson, New Jersey
Ansonia FCAnsonia, Connecticut
Fall River RoversFall River, Massachusetts
East End Football ClubFall River, Massachusetts
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References
  1. Murray, C.K. (1910). "History and Progress of the AFA", Spalding's Official "Soccer" Association Foot Ball Guide, 27.
  2. (23 February 1909). "Football: The Association Cup Draw", The Manchester Guardian, 10.
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