APFA (NFL) 1920

	P	NFL	AAA	Regular	All Games
APFA
*Akron Pros	11	5-0-1	2-0-0	7-0-1	8-0-3
*Decatur Staleys	13	2-1-1	4-0-0	6-1-1	10-1-2
*Buffalo All-Americans	11	3-1-0	5-0-0	8-1-0	9-1-1
*Chicago Cardinals	10	3-1-1	3-0-0	6-1-1	6-2-2
Rock Island Independents	10	3-2-0	2-0-1	5-2-1	6-2-2
Dayton Triangles	10	2-3-2	1-0-0	3-3-2	5-3-2
Rochester Jeffersons	11	0-1-0	5-1-1	5-2-1	6-3-2
*Canton Bulldogs	13	6-1-1	1-0-0	7-1-1	7-4-2
Detroit Heralds	8	1-2-1	1-0-1	2-2-2	2-3-3
Cleveland Tigers	9	1-5-2	0-0-0	1-5-2	2-5-2
Chicago Tigers	8	2-4-1	0-0-0	2-4-1	2-5-1
Hammond Pros	7	2-5-0	0-0-0	2-5-0	2-5-0
Columbus Panhandles	10	0-4-0	0-2-0	0-6-0	2-6-2
Muncie Flyers	6	2-1-0	1-0-0	2-1-0	5-1-0

Note: *Qualify for Playoffs

Independent (AAA) Teams

	P	AAA	NFL	Regular	All Games
Mid-Western Circuit
Minneapolis Marines +		0-0-0	0-1-0	5-1-2	5-1-2
Fort Wayne Friars		1-2-1	1-0-1	4-2-2	4-2-2
Chicago Pullman Thorns		0-0-0	0-1-0	0-1-0	0-1-0
Lansing Oldsmobiles		0-0-1	0-1-1	0-1-2	0-1-2
Youngstown Patricians		1-1-0	1-0-0	2-1-0	3-1-0
Cincinnati Celts +		0-1-0	0-3-0	0-4-0	0-4-0
Cleveland Panthers		0-2-0	0-2-0	0-2-0	0-4-0
Toledo Maroons +		1-0-0	0-3-0	1-3-0	1-3-0
Moline Athletics/Tractors		0-0-0	0-2-0	0-2-0	0-2-0
Rockford AC		0-0-0	0-1-0	0-1-0	0-1-0
Kewanee Walworths		0-0-0	0-1-0	0-1-0	0-1-0
Wheeling Stogies		0-0-0	0-1-0	0-1-0	0-1-0
Eastern Circuit
All-Tonawanda Lumberjacks		3-1-0	1-1-0	6-1-0	7-1-0
Rochester Scalpers		0-0-0	0-2-0	0-2-0	0-2-1
Utica Knights of Columbus		0-0-0	0-1-1	0-1-1	0-1-1
Syracuse Stars		0-0-0	0-1-0	0-1-0	0-1-0
Pitcairn Quakers		0-2-0	0-1-0	0-3-0	0-3-0
McKeesport Olympics		0-0-0	0-1-0	0-1-0	0-1-0
All-Buffalo		0-0-0	0-2-0	0-2-0	0-2-0
West Buffalo		0-1-0	0-1-0	0-2-0	0-2-0

Minor League Teams

	P	NFL	AAA	Regular	All Games
Mid-Western Minor Teams
Thorn Tornadoes					0-0-1
Detroit Maroons					0-1-1
Chicago Stayms					0-0-1
St. Edwards Saints					0-1-0
St. Paul’s Ideals					0-1-0
Akron Independents					1-0-0
Sharon					0-1-0
Indiana Minor Circuit
Muncie Tigers		0-1-0		9-0-0	9-2-0
Gas City Tigers		0-2-0		9-0-0	9-2-0
Muncie Offers More AC					0-1-0
Ohio Valley Minor Teams
Evansville Ex-Collegians					4-1-0
Jasper Independents					0-1-0
Goldsberg AA Louisville					0-1-0
Paducah All-Stars					1-0-0
Eastern Minor Teams
Fort Porter				0-1-0	0-1-0
Phoenixville Union AA					0-1-0
New Haven Washington Glees					0-1-0
College Teams
Notre Dame Fighting Irish Freshmen					1-0-0
Pittsburgh All-Collegians					0-1-0

City Championships

Date	Home Team		Away Team
	City Championships
21.11.1920	Youngstown Patricians	10	St. Edward’s Saints	0
28.11.1920	Muncie Flyers	24	Muncie Offers More AC	0
05.12.1920	Detroit Heralds	7	Detroit Maroons	7
05.12.1920	Rochester Jeffersons	0	Rochester Scalpers	0
19.12.1920	Chicago Stayms	14	Chicago Cardinals	14

Playoffs

Date	Home Team		Away Team
	Round 1
04.12.1920	Buffalo All-Americans	7	Canton Bulldogs	3
	Semi-Finals
05.12.1920	Buffalo All-Americans	0	Akron Pros	0
05.12.1920	Decatur Staleys	10	Chicago Cardinals	0
	Championship
12.12.1920	Decatur Staleys	0	Akron Pros	0

Note: On a vote on 21 April 1921 the APFA members gave the 1920 Championship to Akron Pros on the basis they were undefeated during the season.

Results

Date	Home Team		Away Team
	Week 1		Pre-Season
26.09.1920	Rock Island Independents	48	St. Paul’s Ideals	0
	Week 2
03.10.1920	Dayton Triangles	14	Columbus Panhandles	0
03.10.1920	Rock Island Independents	45	Muncie Flyers	0
03.10.1920	Canton Bulldogs	48	Pitcairn Quakers	0
03.10.1920	Decatur Staleys	20	Moline Tractors	0
03.10.1920	Rochester Jeffersons	10	All-Buffalo	0
03.10.1920	Akron Pros	43	Wheeling Stogies	0
03.10.1920	Buffalo All-Americans	32	West Buffalo	0
03.10.1920	Youngstown Patricians	21	Sharon	0
03.10.1920	All-Tonawanda	38	Cleveland Panthers	0
03.10.1920	Fort Wayne Friars	0	Cincinnati Celts	6
	Week 3
10.10.1920	Chicago Tigers	0	Chicago Cardinals	0
10.10.1920	Rock Island Independents	26	Hammond Pros	0
10.10.1020	Akron Pros	37	Columbus Panhandles	0
10.10.1920	Dayton Triangles	0	Cleveland Tigers	0
10.10.1920	Detroit Heralds	40	Cleveland Panthers	14
10.10.1920	Canton Bulldogs	42	Toledo Maroons	0
10.10.1920	Rochester Jeffersons	66	Fort Porter ^	0
10.10.1920	Decatur Staleys	27	Kewanee Walworths	7
10.10.1920	Buffalo All-Americans	51	All-Buffalo	0
10.10.1920	All-Tonawanda	65	All-Syracuse	0
10.10.1920	Youngstown Patricians	15	Akron Independents	14
10.10.1920	Fort Wayne Friars	1	Dayton Counting Scales	0#
	Week 4
17.10.1920	Moline Athletics	3	Chicago Cardinals	33
17.10.1920	Rock Island Independents	0	Decatur Staleys	7
17.10.1920	Canton Bulldogs	7	Cleveland Tigers	0
17.10.1920	Dayton Triangles	44	Hammond Pros	0
17.10.1920	Chicago Tigers	12	Detroit Heralds	0
17.10.1920	Akron Pros	13	Cincinnati Celts	0
17.10.1920	Buffalo All-Americans	28	McKeesport Olympics	7
17.10.1920	Rochester Jeffersons	0	Utica Knights of Columbus	0
17.10.1920	All-Tonawanda	10	Detroit Maroons	0
17.10.1920	Fort Wayne Friars	14	Columbus Panhandles	0
	Week 5
24.10.1920	Rock Island Independents	7	Chicago Cardinals	0
24.10.1920	Chicago Tigers	0	Decatur Staleys	10
24.10.1920	Akron Pros	7	Cleveland Tigers	0
24.10.1920	Dayton Triangles	20	Canton Bulldogs	20
24.10.1920	Buffalo All-Americans	38	Toledo Maroons	0
24.10.1920	Detroit Heralds	6	Columbus Panhandles	0
24.10.1920	Rochester Jeffersons	21	Syracuse Stars	7
24.10.1920	All-Tonawanda Lumberjacks	42	West Buffalo	0
24.10.1920	Fort Wayne Friars	1	Cleveland Panthers	0#
	Week 6
31.10.1920	Chicago Cardinals	21	Detroit Heralds	0
31.10.1920	Canton Bulldogs	0	Akron Pros	10
31.10.1920	Rock Island Independents	20	Chicago Tigers	7
31.10.1920	Rockford AC	0	Decatur Staleys	29
31.10.1920	Buffalo All-Americans	17	Rochester Jeffersons	6
31.10.1920	Cleveland Tigers	7	Columbus Panhandles	0
31.10.1920	Cleveland Tigers	0#	Muncie Flyers	1
31.10.1920	Detroit Armadas	0	Toledo Maroons	10
31.10.1920	All-Tonawanda Lumberjacks	12	Pitcairn Quakers	3
31.10.1920	Fort Wayne Friars	0	Lansing Oldsmobiles	0
31.10.1920	Evansville Ex-Collegians	52	Jasper Independents	0
	Week 7
07.11.1920	Chicago Tigers	3	Chicago Cardinals	6
07.11.1920	Rock Island Independents	0	Decatur Staleys	0
07.11.1920	Akron Pros	R	Detroit Heralds	R
07.11.1920	Buffalo All-Americans	35	All-Tonawanda Lumberjacks	0
07.11.1920	Rochester Jeffersons	27	Utica Knights of Columbus	7
07.11.1920	Dayton Triangles	R	Muncie Flyers	R
07.11.1920	Evansville Ex-Collegians	1	??	0#
	Mid-Week		Exhibition
11.11.1920	Champaign	0	Decatur Staleys	20
13.11.1920	Thorn Tornadoes	7	Rock Island Independents	7
	Week 8
14.11.1920	Cleveland Tigers	7	Akron Pros	7
14.11.1920	Cincinnati Celts	0	Chicago Cardinals	20
14.11.1920	Minneapolis Marines	0	Decatur Staleys	3
14.11.1920	Rock Island Independents	0	Dayton Triangles	21
14.11.1920	Buffalo All-Americans	43	Columbus Panhandles	7
14.11.1920	Fort Wayne Friars	0	Detroit Heralds	0
14.11.1920	Rochester Jeffersons	0	All-Tonawanda Lumberjacks	6
14.11.1920	Youngstown Patricians	CT	Pitcairn Quakers	CT
14.11.1920	Evansville ex-Collegians	23	Goldberg AA Louisville	0
	Week 9
21.11.1920	Akron Pros	13	Dayton Triangles	0
21.11.1920	Decatur Staleys	28	Hammond Pros	7
21.11.1920	Canton Bulldogs	3	Buffalo All-Americans	0
21.11.1920	Rochester Jeffersons	16	Rochester Sclapers	0
21.11.1920	Lansing Oldsmobile	0	Chicago Cardinals	14
21.11.1920	Detroit Heralds	C	Detroit Armada	C
21.11.1920	Rock Island Independents	48	Pittsburgh All-Collegians	7
21.11.1920	Cleveland Tigers	14	Toledo Maroons	0
11.1920	Fort Wayne Friars	7	Pitcairn Quakers	0
21.11.1920	Youngstown Patricians	10	St. Edward’s Saints	0
21.11.1920	Evansville Ex-Collegians	W	??	L
	Mid-Week		Exhibition
25.11.1920	Akron Pros	7	Canton Bulldogs	0
25.11.1920	Chicago Tigers	0	Decatur Staleys	6
25.11.1920	Dayton Triangles	28	Detroit Heralds	0
25.11.1920	Rochester Jeffersons	3	All-Tonawanda Lumberjacks	14
25.11.1920	Gas City Tigers	7	Muncie Flyers	19
	Week 10
28.11.1920	Chicago Cardinals	7	Decatur Staleys	6
28.11.1920	Dayton Triangles	0	Akron Pros	14
28.11.1920	Detroit Heralds	0	Lansing Oldsmobiles	0
28.11.1920	Rock Island Independents	14	Chicago Pullman Thorns	7
28.11.1920	Buffalo All-Americans	7	Cleveland Panthers	0
28.11.1920	Youngstown Patricians	2	Columbus Panhandles	0
28.11.1920	Rochester Jeffersons	7	Rochester Scaplers	6
28.11.1920	Muncie Offers More AC	0	Muncie Flyers	24
11.1920	Fort Wayne Friars	6	Notre Dame Fighting Irish Freshmen	18
28.11.1920	Evansville Ex-Collegians	0	Paducah All-Stars	6
	Week 11		Post-Season
04.12.1920	Buffalo All-Americans	7	Canton Bulldogs	3
05.12.1920	Buffalo All-Americans	0	Akron Pros	0
05.12.1920	Decatur Staleys	10	Chicago Cardinals	0
05.12.1920	New Haven Washington Glees	0	Canton Bulldogs	0
	Week 11		City Championships
05.12.2020	Detroit Heralds	7	Detroit Maroons	7
05.12.1920	Rochester Jeffersons	0	Rochester Scalpers	0
05.12.1920	Gas City Tigers	7	Muncie Flyers	13
	Week 12		Post-Season
11.12.1920	Phoenixville Union AA	13	Canton Bulldogs	7
12.12.1920	Decatur Staleys	0	Akron Pros	0
	Week 13		City Championships
19.12.1920	Chicago Stayms	14	Chicago Cardinals	14
	Unknown Week
1920	Dayton Triangles	W	Cincinnati Celts	L
1920	Cleveland Tigers	0	??	7

Notes

Note: R = Cancelled due to Rain. # Cancelled by the team with the (#) after its score. Considered a forfeit win for the other team by Eirball – Awarded 1-0 (#) CT = Cancelled due to train crash involving visiting Pitcairn team on way to match, no Pitcairn player was hurt. ^ Minor league Opposition thus not counted towards NFL Standings by Eirball.

Note 2: Cincinnati Celts and Minneapolis Marines joined the APFA in 1921 and the Toledo Maroons joined the NFL in 1922.

Note 3: Teams labelled Independent played matches against Official APFA teams. Teams labelled Minor League played matches against “Independents”.

Note 4: While an Official member of the APFA, Muncie Flyers failed the schedule another game after losing heavily to Rock Island Independents on the opening day of the season. Players signed on with other Indiana teams (in particular Muncie Tigers and Wabash AA) as well as APFA team Dayton Triangles. At the end of the season they scheduled three games against Gas City Tigers and Muncie Tigers who both finished the Indiana State Football season with 9-0 records, and the Flyers won all three matches claiming the Indiana State Football Championship in the process. whether their record is to be considered a 3-1 APFA half-season, or an Indiana State Championship season is open to debate. Other APFA teams (Rochester Jeffersons, Hammond Pros, Decatur Staleys, Buffalo All-Americans, Columbus Panhandles, Detroit Heralds and Chicago Cardinals) all also played more non-APFA teams than APFA teams, and other teams in the two seasons the NFL was known as the APFA played a half-schedule: Cincinnati Celts (1-3 in 1920 and 0-4 in 1921), Toledo Maroons (1-3 in 1920) and Tonawanda Kardex (0-2-1 in 1921 with one game cancelled).

Irish Players

Bertie Maher, DE, who was born in Co. Mayo, played Defensive End for the Detroit Heralds in 1920. [2][3]

Bob Nash, DE/OT, who was born in Collinstown, Ireland, Played Defensive End & Offensive Tackle for the Akron Pros in 1920 [2][7]

Allen “Pat” McGinnis, who has an Irish name, was player-manager for the Evansville Ex-Collegians in 1920

Youngstown Patricians appear to be named after St. Patrick. On the 22 November 1920, the day the Patricians defeated St. Edwards Saints for the City Championship, the Youngstown Daily Vindicator’s Front Page Headline was ” Battles in Ireland Follow Bloody Day” (Monday, November 22, 1920). They started off as the Church team in St. Patrick’s Parish, before becoming the city’s team. The team was made up of Irish, Poles and Italians, tough men who worked in the steel mills. [Reference: 45]

Cincinnati Celts are another team with an Irish name,albeit one referencing all Celts. George Roudebush was Quarterback for the Cincinnati Celts and his revolutionary use of the foward pass changed football. He remembered the Celts as a team run “by a bunch of wild Irishmen” and was 93 years old in 1988 when interviewed, with his wits still sharp, remembering dates, names nicknames, figures, events and conversations from the era, making him the oldest living NFL player at the time. [Reference: 42]

Report

After spirallaing wages threatened to destroy the game with players continually jumping from team to team in the Ohio, Pennsylvania & New York Pro Football Circuits, looking for the best pay packet, four teams from Ohio – the Akron Pros, Canton Bulldogs, Cleveland Indians & Dayton Triangles, met in Canton, Ohio, to form a Pro Football League, and invited the top teams from Ohio, New York & Pennsylvania to join them in order to play under a common set of rules, and better organise finances. These states were the hotbed of Pro Football in USA, and the League they formed, the American Professional Football Association, changed its’ name for the 1922 season to the National Football League, laying the foundations for the hugely popular, and lucrative NFL of today.

In its early days, the NFL was still a Minor League, second to College Football in terms of status in the eyes of the Media & fans, and far less popular than Baseball. In 1926 it decided to consolidate the best players on the rosters of a fewer teams, reducing the league from 22 teams to 12.

Bert Maher, born in Co. Mayo, played in the first season for the Detroit Heralds. Bob Nash, played six seasons (1920-1925) for the Akron Pros, Buffalo All-Americans, Rochester J effersons & New York Giants. There was an Player-Manager for the Evansville Ex-Collegians in 1920 with an Irish name: Allen “Pat” McGinnis.

Akron Pros won the APFA Championship in 1920 after a series of games at the end of the season between four teams still with Championship aspirations – Akron, Canton Bulldogs, Decatur Staleys and Buffalo all-Americans left them the only undefeated team.

What is interesting about the early seasons of the APFA / NFL is that the teams continued to play against other Pro teams and leagues not officially connected to the NFL, with inter-locking schedules making it possible to create a “Major League Football” season record, with results from both the NFL and AFL / Independent schedules.

References

Websites

[1] National Football League (2014) “Past Standings | 1920-1926” 2014 Official NFL Record & Factbook” pg. 398-399. National football League, Time Home Entertainment. 2014.

[2] The Growth of a Game (2015) The Complete List of European NFL Players [Internet] Available from: https://www.growthofagame.com/2015/03/the-complete-list-of-european-nfl-players/ [Accessed 11 October 2019]

[3] Pro Football Archives (2019) Detroit Heralds 1920 [Internet] Available from: https://www.profootballarchives.com/1920apfadet.html [Accessed 11 October 2019]

[4] Arizona Cardinals (2020) Schedule [1920] [Internet] Available from: https://www.azcardinals.com/schedule/1920/ [Accessed 19 September 2020]

[5]  Marc S. Maltby, The Coffin Corner Vol. 14 No. 4, Pro Football Researchers Association (1992) Evansville 1920-1922: The Early Stuggles of Professional Football – [Internet] Available from: http://www.profootballresearchers.org/archives/Website_Files/Coffin_Corner/14-04-466.pdf   [Accessed 18 September 2020]

[6] Arizona Cardinals | Wayback Machine (2009) All-Time Results [Internet] Available from: https://web.archive.org/web/20090914231608/http://www.azcardinals.com/history/all-time-results.html [Accessed 19 september 2020]

[7] Bob Carroll, The Coffin Corner Vol. 4 No. 12, Pro Football Researchers Association (1982) Akron Pros 1920 – [Internet] Available from: https://www.webcitation.org/65r52lUNU?url=http://www.profootballresearchers.org/Coffin_Corner/04-12-119.pdf  Accessed 18 September 2020]

[8] Chicago Bears (2020) Schedule [1920] [Internet] available from: https://www.chicagobears.com/schedule/1920/ [Accessed 19 September 2020]

[10] Google News: Youngsown Vindicator, October 4, 1920. Canton Trims Pitcairn Team [Internet] Available from: https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=dGxKAAAAIBAJ&sjid=QYYMAAAAIBAJ&pg=2868%2C2793544 [Accessed 19 September 2020]

[11] Google News: Youngsown Vindicator, October 11, 1920. pg. 10 Canton Stops Toledo Eleven [Internet] Available from: https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=pqgf-8x9CmQC&dat=19201011&printsec=frontpage&hl=en [Accessed 19 September 2020]

[12] Google News: Youngsown Vindicator, October 11, 1920. pg. 10 Panhandles lose to Akron [Internet] Available from: https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=pqgf-8x9CmQC&dat=19201011&printsec=frontpage&hl=en [Accessed 19 September 2020]

[13] Google News: Toledo News-Bee, October 18, 1920. Canton beats Cleveland [Internet] Available from: https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=-u9XAAAAIBAJ&sjid=BEUNAAAAIBAJ&pg=4221%2C2532398 [Accessed 19 September 2020]

[14] Google News: Youngstown Vindicator, October 25, 1920. pg. 11 Thorpe saves Canton Eleven with 2 Goals [Internet] Available from: https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=pqgf-8x9CmQC&dat=19201025&printsec=frontpage&hl=en [Accessed 19 September 2020]

[15] Google News: Youngstown Vindicator, November 1, 1920. pg. 15 Akron Takes Canton in Great Game [Internet] Available from: https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=MC1KAAAAIBAJ&sjid=_YUMAAAAIBAJ&pg=3302%2C1526680 [Accessed 19 September 2020]

[16] Google News: Youngstown Vindicator, November 22, 1920. pg. 15 Canton Downs Buffalo Team [Internet] Available from: https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=pqgf-8x9CmQC&dat=19201122&printsec=frontpage&hl=en [Accessed 19 September 2020]

[17] Google News: The Sunday Chronicle, December 5, 1920. pg. 15 Tigers tame Thorpe’s Bulldogs [Internet] Available from: https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=aO9WAAAAIBAJ&sjid=fkINAAAAIBAJ&pg=1212,1102615&dq=canton+bulldogs&hl=en [Accessed 19 September 2020]

[18] NFL | WAyback Machine (2010) Thanksgiving serves up classic games [Internet] Available from: https://web.archive.org/web/20100410093827/http://www.nfl.com/thanksgiving/story?id=09000d5d8045a5e3&template=without-video&confirm=true [accessed 19 september 2020]

[19] New York Times December 5, 1920 All-Americans win Pro Gridiron Game [Internet] Available from: https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1920/12/05/102991292.pdf [acessed 19 september 2020] [See PDF]

[20] Pro Football Archives (2020) New Haven Washington Glees [Internet] available from: https://www.profootballarchives.com/1920newhwa.html [Accessed 19 September 2020]

[21] Pro Football Archives (2020) Phoenixville Union AA [Internet] available from: https://www.profootballarchives.com/1920uni.html [Accessed 19 September 2020]

[22] Rochester Jeffersons (2020) 1920 Season {Internet] Available from: http://kencrippen.com/Jeffersons/1920_Rochester_Jeffersons.pdf [Accessed 19 September 2020][See PDF]

[23] Dayton Triangles (2020) Dayton APFA / NFL Summary [Internet] Available from: https://daytontriangles.com/dayton-apfa-nfl-franchise-summary/ [Accessed 19 September 2020]

[24] Dayton Triangles (2020) Dayton APFA / NFL Summary [Internet] Available from: https://daytontriangles.com/dayton-apfa-nfl-franchise-summary/ [Accessed 19 September 2020]

[25] Dayton Triangles (2020) Dayton APFA / NFL Clubs Official Games [Internet] Available from: https://daytontriangles.com/dayton-apfa-nfl-clubs-official-games-1920-1929/ [Accessed 19 September 2020]

[26] Bills Backers | Wayback Machine (2001) History of Pro football in Western New York 1920-1939 [Internet] Available from: https://web.archive.org/web/20010425091533/http://www.billsbackers.com/1920s.htm [accessed 19 September 2020]

[27] Sports Encyclopedia (2020) Muncie Flyers [Internet] Available from: https://sportsecyclopedia.com/nfl/muncie/flyers.html [Accessed 19 September 2020]

[28] Roy Sye, The Coffin Corner Vol. 24 No. 3, Pro Football Researchers Association (2002) Muncie Flyers 1920 – [Internet] Available from: http://www.profootballresearchers.org/archives/Website_Files/Coffin_Corner/24-03-937.pdf  Accessed 18 September 2020]

[29] Google News: Toledo News-Bee, November 1, 1920 pg. 11. Brickley Boy Wins for Cleveland [Internet] Available from: https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=k_8v9Q84L5sC&dat=19201101&printsec=frontpage&hl=en [Accessed 19 September 2020]

[30] Google News: Youngstown Vindicator, November 29, 1920. pg. 15 Pat’s defeat Panhandles in last game [Internet] Available from: https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=pqgf-8x9CmQC&dat=19201129&printsec=frontpage&hl=en  [Accessed 19 September 2020]

[31] Case Western Reserve University (2020) Cleveland Tigers [Internet] Available from: https://case.edu/ech/articles/c/cleveland-tigers [Accessed 19 September 2020]

[32] Google News: Youngstown Vindicator, November 15, 1920. pg. 15 Patricians defeat St. Edwards at Idora 10-0 [Internet] Available from: https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=pqgf-8x9CmQC&dat=19201122&printsec=frontpage&hl=en [Accessed 19 September 2020]

[33] Detroit Free Press. October 11, 1920. p. 13. “Heralds Trim Panthers 40-14: Vogel, Cleveland Star Right Halfback, in Hospital From Injuries”. 

[34] Detroit Free Press. October 18, 1920. p. 11. “FLUKY KICKS GIVE CHICAGO THE GAME: Detroit Heralds Lose Hard Fought Game, 12 to 0”. 

[35] Detroit Free Press. October 25, 1920. p. 12. “Heralds Get Lonely Tally: Fitzgerald Intercepts Forward Pass, Runs 85 Yards to Beat Pan Handles; Local Team Plays Good Game as Do the Visitors; Big Crowd Out”. 

[36] Detroit Free Press. November 1, 1920. p. 15. “HERALDS BEATEN BY LARGE SCORE: Three Blocked Punts Turn Detroit Team Back”. 

[37] Detroit Free Press. November 15, 1920. p. 14. “Heralds Draw at Ft. Wayne”. 

[38] Detroit Free Press. November 29, 1920. p. 11. “No Scoring in Title Battle: Neither Lansing Nor Champion Heralds Are Able to Tally on Muddy Gridiron; Visitors Outgain Locals but Long Forward Pass Almost Beats Them”. 

[39]  Detroit Free Press. December 6, 1920. p. 11. “EACH ELEVEN SCORES ONCE: Heralds and Maroons Go to 7-7 Tie on Muddy Grid Sunday Afternoon”. 

[40] Rock Island Independents (2020) 1920 R.I. Independents [Read All About It][1920] [Internet] Available from: http://www.rockislandindependents.com/index_frame.htm [Accessed 18 September 2020]

[41] Decatur Staleys (2020) Staleys [Internet] Available from: https://web.archive.org/web/20050517205446/http://home.comcast.net/~esterneman/sternaman/football.htm [accessed 19 September 2020]

 [42] Bob Carroll, The Coffin Corner Vol. 10 No. 4, Pro Football Researchers Association (1988) George Roudebush – [Internet] Available from: https://web.archive.org/web/20101127053406/http://profootballresearchers.org/Coffin_Corner/10-04-344.pdf  Accessed 19 September 2020]

[43] Jim Quirk, The Coffin Corner Vol. 20 No. 1, Pro Football Researchers Association (1998) The Minneapolis Marines – Minnesota’s Forgotten NFL Team – [Internet] Available from:  https://web.archive.org/web/20101218204303/http://profootballresearchers.org/Coffin_Corner/20-01-732.pdf Accessed 19 September 2020][Also Available at: https://web.archive.org/web/20071210085947/http://footballresearch.com/articles/frpage.cfm?topic=marines [Accessed 19 September 2020]

[44] Website (2009) Toledo Maroons [Internet] Available from: https://www.webcitation.org/query?url=http://www.geocities.com/krd4052/FootballResearch/ohio/ohtolmar.htm&date=2009-10-26+01:32:02 [Accessed 19 September 2020]

[45] Cleveland (2015) 100 Years ago, were Youngstown Patricians pro football’s world champs? (photos) [Internet] available from: https://www.cleveland.com/browns/2015/11/100_years_ago_youngstown_patri.html [Accessed 20 September 2020]

[46] Google News: Youngsown Vindicator, October 11, 1920 pg. 10. Akron downs “Pats” in close contest [Internet] Available from: https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=eGxKAAAAIBAJ&sjid=QYYMAAAAIBAJ&pg=1462%2C4224078 [Accessed 19 September 2020]

[47] Google News: Youngstown Vindicator, October 4, 1920. pg. 14 Sharon beaten by Patricians [Internet] Available from: https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=dGxKAAAAIBAJ&sjid=QYYMAAAAIBAJ&pg=3879%2C2787954  [Accessed 20 September 2020]

Acknowledgements

Thanks to Decy Maher.

About this document

Researched, compiled and written by Enda Mulcahy for the

Eirball | Irish, North American & World Sports Archive

Last Updated: 20 September 2020

(c) Copyright Enda Mulcahy and Eirball 2020

You may quote this document in part provided that proper acknowledgement is given to the authors. All Rights Reserved.

Standings

	P	W	L	T	PF	PA	Pct
APFA Pro Team
*Muncie Flyers	3	3	0	0	56	14	1.000
Northern Indiana
*South Bend Arrows (C)	9	9	0	0			1.000
Goshen Delts
Michigan City Nepos
Rum Village
Mishiwaka Pastimes
Fort Wayne Pyramids
Southern Indiana
*Gas City Flyers	9	9	2	0	457	41	.818
Muncie Offers More AC
Muncie Tigers
Wabash AA
Jonesboro AC
Portland-Redkey Legion

Playoffs

Date	Home Team		Away Team
	City Championships
05.12.1920	Muncie Offers More AC	0	Muncie Flyers	24
	Challenge Game
28.11.1920	Gas City Tigers	7	Muncie Flyers	19
12.12.1920	Muncie Flyers	13	Gas City Tigers	7
	Muncie Flyers won series 2-0
	Championship
1920	South Bend Arrows	6	Gas City	0

Results

Date	Home Team		Away Team
1920	Chicago ?	L	South Bend Arrows	W
1920	??	L	South Bend Arrows	W
1920	South Bend Arrows	W	Goshen Delts	L
1920	South Bend Arrows	41	Michigan City Nepos	0
1920	South Bend Arrows	20	Wabash AA	0
1920	South Bend Arrows	18	Rum Village	0
1920	South Bend Arrows	12	Michiwaka Pastimes	0
1920	South Bend Arrows	13	Fort Wayne Pyramids	0

Report North Indiana

The South Bend Arrows, who were sponsored by the alcoholic drink, Arrow, were hurt badly by the prohibition on alcohol, which came into effect in 1920. In order to survive without sponsorship they decided to focus mainly on home matches as well as only playing away matches within a 50 km radies of South Bend.

The two away matches they played in 1920 they won, though who against has gone unrecorded, one was possiblyy against a Chicago team, and the other against another Indiana team.

The rest of the season they played at home, winning all six matches against Goshen Delts, Michigan City Nepos, Wabash AA, Rum Village, Mishiwaka Pastimes and then a final match 13-0 against Fort Wayne Pyramids, giving them the right to call themselves Northern Indiana Champions.

Meanwhile, in Southern Indiana, a team from Gas City had also gone undefeated so a post-season Championship Game, which the the press called the Indiana State Football Championship was organised, with South Bend winning 6-0.

The South Bend Arrows, from the same city as the Irish Catholic University, Notre Dame. with its famed Fighting Irish Football Team, featured on their squad a player with an Irish name, Cavanaugh, who played Right End.

Note: Total Record including Playoffs. *Qualify for Championship Series

Report South Indiana

Who won the Indiana State Football Championship in 1920 is a matter of debate. For starters there was no Official League, and secondly the State’s best team in 1919, the Muncie Flyers, signed up to play in the American Professional Football Association (APFA) – the first National Football League for Pro teams, adopting the name NFL in 1992.

The Flyers, however, were to lose their first game in the APFA on opening weekend 45-0 to the Rock Island Independents of Illinois, and had trouble scheduling matches after that. No team was willing to play them for the next three weeks, and players signed on with the Dayton Triangles in the APFA, Fort Wayne Friars (AAA – National Division 2) or Indiana State Football Circuit teams such as the Wabash AA and Muncie Tigers.

By the end of the season after scheduling three more games and having their opponents cancel to play more lucrative teams (and one cancelled due to rain), the Muncie Flyers were then challenged to a game for the Indiana State Championship by Gas City Tigers, who had won all nine games they had played.

The Flyers won 19-7 and then in a game the Gas City Journal described as “a team of college stars” (Flyers) versus “a team of highly skilled players” (Muncie Offers More AC), the Flyers won 24-0 against the MOM FC to win the City Championship for the second year running. In a rematch for the State Championship, this tome on home ground in Muncie, the Flyers defeated Gas City 13-7 to take the series 2-0.

After playing at AAA (National Division 2) in 1919 against the likes of the Cincinnati Celts and Dayton Oakwoods and finishing the season with a respectable 4-1-1 record, the Flyers found the jump to the APFA (NFL) in 1920 too much, but by the end of the season, having dropped back down to play the Indiana State Championship went 3-0, including two wns against the Gas City Tigers who had won all 9 games they had played, out-scoring opponents 443 points to 9.

References

References

Websites

[1] Emil Klosinski, The Coffin Corner Vol. 14 No. 3, Pro Football Researchers Association (1992) Inflation of 1920; A Tale of Two Cities – [Internet] Available from: http://www.profootballresearchers.org/archives/Website_Files/Coffin_Corner/14-03-463.pdf  [Accessed 18 September 2020]

[2] National Football League (2014) “Past Standings | 1920-1926” 2014 Official NFL Record & Factbook” pg. 398-399. National football League, Time Home Entertainment. 2014.

[3] The Growth of a Game (2015) The Complete List of European NFL Players [Internet] Available from: https://www.growthofagame.com/2015/03/the-complete-list-of-european-nfl-players/ [Accessed 11 October 2019]

[4] Sports Encyclopedia (2020) Muncie Flyers [Internet] Available from: https://sportsecyclopedia.com/nfl/muncie/flyers.html [Accessed 19 September 2020]

[5] Roy Sye, The Coffin Corner Vol. 24 No. 3, Pro Football Researchers Association (2002) Muncie Flyers 1920 – [Internet] Available from: http://www.profootballresearchers.org/archives/Website_Files/Coffin_Corner/24-03-937.pdf  Accessed 18 September 2020]

Acknowledgements

Thanks to Rose McCabe, Ann Hanley, Gabriel McCloyne, Peter Lemass, Ciaran Simms, Gerry Tully.

About this document

Researched, compiled and written by Enda Mulcahy for the

Eirball | Irish North American and World Sports Archive

Last Updated: 18 September 2020

(c) Copyright Enda Mulcahy and Eirball 2020

You may quote this document in part provided that proper acknowledgement is given to the authors. All Rights Reserved.

Results

Date	Home Team		Away Team
	Regular Season
03.10.1920	Fort Wayne Friars	0	Cincinnati Celts (OH)	6
10.10.1920	Fort Wayne Friars	1	Dayton Counting Scales (OH)	0 #
17.10.1920	Fort Wayne Friars	14	Columbus Panhandles (OH)	0
24.10.1920	Fort Wayne Friars	1	Cleveland Panthers (OH)	0 #
31.10.1920	Fort Wayne Friars	0	Lansing Oldsmobiles (MICH)	0
11.1920	Fort Wayne Friars	0	Detroit Heralds (MICH)	0
11.1920	Fort Wayne Friars	7	Pitcairn Quakers (PA)	0
	Championship Game
11.1920	Fort Wayne Friars	6	Notre Dame Fighting Irish Freshmen	18

Note: Teams in Italics played in the American Professional Football Association in 1920. The APFA changed its name to the National Football League in 1922.

Report

While the National Football League had just started up in 1920 (as the American Professional Football Association), the country was in the midst of war inflation as a hangover from World War I, as well as the imposition of the abolition on alcohol which affected many sports teams as they relied on sponsorship from the brewing companies.

Fort Wayne Friars in Indiana decided to combat this by playing a home-only schedule and take on all-comers, thus saving money. They lost their first game 0-6 to the Cincinnati Celts, one of four Ohio teams they had scheduled to play in October. The next game against Dayton Computing Scales was forfeited by the Dayton team, as did the Friars fourth opponent Cleveland Panthers.

In between the Friars defeated Columbus Panandles, an APFA team (the name of the NFL from 1920 to 1921), before then embarking on a series of matches against Michigan teams, tying with both Lansing Oldsmobiles and Detroit Heralds (another APFA team) 0-0. The Friars finished off the season undefeated by triumphing 7-0 against the Pitcairn Quakers from Pennsylvania.

After the season a match was arranged with Knute Rockne’s Notre Dame Fighting Irish, although on the day the match was arranged the Fighting Irish were playing Michigan Aggies, so the Fighting Irish sent their Freshmen team, which came from 6-0 down to defeat the Fort Wayne Friars, in a post-season Championship Game of sorts. The Fort Wayne Friars finished the season 4-2-2 including two forfeit wins, and the post-season game with the Fighting Irish Freshmen.

References

Websites

[1] Emil Klosinski, The Coffin Corner Vol. 14 No. 3, Pro Football Researchers Association (1992) Inflation of 1920; A Tale of Two Cities – [Internet] Available from: http://www.profootballresearchers.org/archives/Website_Files/Coffin_Corner/14-03-463.pdf  [Accessed 18 September 2020]

Acknowledgements

Thanks to Rose McCabe, Ann Hanley, Gabriel McCloyne, Peter Lemass, Ciaran Simms, Gerry Tully.

About this document

Researched, compiled and written by Enda Mulcahy for the

Eirball | Irish North American and World Sports Archive

Last Updated: 18 September 2020

(c) Copyright Enda Mulcahy and Eirball 2020

You may quote this document in part provided that proper acknowledgement is given to the authors. All Rights Reserved.

Teams

West	East
Phoenix	Toronto
Seattle	New York
Chicago	Tampa
Anaheim	Memphis
Mexico City	Birmingham

Report

The Universal Football League was announced as yet another “Major” Football league on October 5, 1973 with intentions to begin play in Fall (Autumn) 1974. Two men fro Dayton (Ohio) had planned to start the league: Tony Rizzano and Louis S. Goldman.

The league never made it past the planning stages, presumably because of the appearance of the World Football league which played from 1974 to 1975, but also possibly because there was another attempt at a World Football league at the same time: the National Football Leagues attempts to start a league in Europe: the Intercontinental Football League.

References

Websites

Origins of the WLAF

[2] Tod Maher, The Coffin Corner Volume 14 No. 2, Pro Football Researchers Association (1992) Origins of the WLAF  [Internet] Available from: http://www.profootballresearchers.org/archives/Website_Files/Coffin_Corner/14-02-455.pdf  [Accessed 18 September 2020]

Acknowledgements

Thanks to Louise Wills (Kenny) and John Wills and Karl & Clive Saab.

About this document

Researched, compiled and written by Enda Mulcahy for the

Eirball | Irish North American and World Sports Archive

Last Updated: 18 September 2020

(c) Copyright Enda Mulcahy and Eirball 2020

You may quote this document in part provided that proper acknowledgement is given to the authors. All Rights Resereved.

Finals

Year	Winners		Runners-Up
2013	South Kildare Soldiers	0	Carrickfergus Knights	0 *
2014	Craigavon Cowboys	34	Carrickfergus Knights	0
2015	Craigavon Cowboys	3-1 +	South Kildare Soldiers	3-1 *
2016	South Kildare Soldiers	6-0 +	Westmeath Minotaurs	3-3
2017	South Kildare Soldiers	5-0 +	Westmeath Minotaurs	1-3
2018	Cork Admirals	36	South Kildare Soldiers	16
2019	Cork Admirals	44	Belfast Knights	7

Note: *Title Shared in 2013 and 2015

Note 2: + Title decided on Wins Percentage from 2015 to 2017 (Wins-Losses Records of Winners and Runners-Up Shown)

Report

The first Irish American Football Association Youth League Final took place in 2013 and was shared between South Kildare Soldiers and Carrickfergus Knights after a 0-0 tie. Craigavon Cowboys won the 2014 edition defeating the Knights 34-0, and repeated in 2015, sharing the title with South Kildare Soldiers after both teams finished with 3-1 wins-losses records.

From 2015 to 2017 the Youth Kitted League was decided on a league basis, with South Kildare Soldiers going undefeated in 2016 and 2017 to win their three-in-a-row. Cork Admirals then won the first two Finals played at the end of a League stage, triumphing 36-16 over South Kildare Soldiers in 2018 and then gaining a big win over Belfast Knights, 44-7, in 2019.

References

Images

[66] American Football Ireland (2020) AFI-Youth-Logo-2 [Internet] Available from: https://www.americanfootball.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/AFI-Youth-Logo-2.png [Accessed 17 September 2020]

Websites (2013)

[1] Irish American Football Association (2013) Junior Blitz 2013 – U19 kitted football tournament on 13th October. [Internet] Available from: http://www.americanfootball.ie/junior-blitz-2013-u19-kitted-football-tournament-on-13th-october/ [Accessed 17 March 2017]

[2] Irish American Football Association (2013) Carrickfergus & South Kildare share first Youth Kitted Blitz [Internet] Available from: http://www.americanfootball.ie/carrickfergus-south-kildare-share-first-youth-kitted-blitz/ [Accessed 17 March 2017]

Social Media (2013)

[3] Tube – Ted Elston (Dec 24 2013) South Kildare Soldiers: Carrickfergus Youth Blitz 15/12/13 [1:10][2:20][3:15] [Internet] Available from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=crU3eJMqHBk [Accessed 5 November 2017]

[4] Carrickfergus Knights Facebook Page (2013) Post December 15 2013 [Internet] Available from: https://www.facebook.com/BelfastKnightsNI/photos/a.381190102015434.1073741844.229667953834317/381189848682126/?type=3&theater [Accessed 6 December 2017]

[5] Carrickfergus Knights Facebook Page (2013) Post December 15 2013 [Internet] Available from: https://www.facebook.com/BelfastKnightsNI/posts/381297688671342 [Accessed 6 December 2017]

[6] Craigavon Cowboys Facebook Page (2013) Post December 15 2013 [Internet] Available from: https://www.facebook.com/CraigavonCowboys/posts/719403958069803 [Accessed 6 December 2017]

Websites (2014)

[7] Double Coverage – Wayback Machine (2014) Carrickfergus Host First Irish Youth Blitz Tournament [Internet] Available from: http://web.archive.org/web/20140221174435/http://dblcoverage.com/carrickfergus-host-first-irish-youth-blitz-tournament/ [Accessed 4 september 2018]

[8] NFL Ireland (2014) IAFL Weekly – 13/12/14 [Internet] Available from: http://nfl-ireland.com/flag-football/7407-iafl-weekly-131214/ [Accessed 28 February 2017]

[9] NFL-Ireland (2017) IAFL Weekly – 13/12/14. [Internet] Available from: http://nfl-ireland.com/flag-football/7407-iafl-weekly-131214/ [Accessed 28 February 2017]

Social Media (2014)

[10] Irish American Football Association Facebook Page (2017) Post November 9 2014 [Internet] Available from: https://www.facebook.com/iafaireland/posts/862683297098905 [Accessed 6 December 2017]

[11] OTS Irish Gridiron Facebook Page (2017) Post November 28 2014 [Internet] Available from: https://www.facebook.com/irishgridiron/posts/1492741517658786 [Accessed 6 December 2017]

[12] Craigavon Cowboys Facebook Page (2016) Post October 26 2014 [Internet] Available from: https://www.facebook.com/CraigavonCowboys/posts/880722438604620 [Accessed 6 December 2017]

[13] Craigavon Cowboys Facebook Page (2016) Post October 26 2014 [Internet] Available from: https://www.facebook.com/CraigavonCowboys/posts/880722438604620 [Accessed 6 December 2017]

[14] Irish American Football Association Facebook Page (2017) Post November 9 2014 [Internet] Available from: https://www.facebook.com/iafaireland/posts/862683297098905 [Accessed 6 December 2017]

[15] OTS Irish Gridiron Facebook Page (2017) Post November 28 2014 [Internet] Available from: https://www.facebook.com/irishgridiron/posts/1492741517658786 [Accessed 6 December 2017]

Websites (2015)

[16] Irish American Football Association (2015) Youth football kicks off this Sunday [Internet] Available from: http://www.americanfootball.ie/youth-football-kicks-off-this-sunday [Accessed 17 March 2017]

[17] Irish American Football Association (2015) Junior Kitted Result – 18th October 2015 [Internet] Available from: http://www.americanfootball.ie/junior-kitted-results-18th-october-2015/ [Accessed 23 December 2016]

[18] Irish American Football Association – Wayback Machine (2015) 2015 Junior League [Internet] Available from: http://web.archive.org/web/20151218200615/http://www.americanfootball.ie/ [Accessed 4 September 2018]

[19] Hogan, Sean (2016) “Kildare’s American football team crowned All Ireland champs”. Kildare Now. 26 October, 2016. [Internet] Available from: https://www.kildarenow.com/gallery/sport/392501/kildare-s-american-football-team-crowned-all-ireland-champs.html [Accessed 30 January 2020]

[20] Craigavon Cowboys (2020) History: Honours [Internet] Available from: https://www.craigavoncowboys.co.uk/history.html [Accessed 13 February 2020]

Videos (2015)

[21] You Tube (2015) Youth game – Published by FelipsDazza on Sep 15, 2015 [4:36] [4:47] [5:55] [8:50] [Internet] Available from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oltt9F7mfiM [Accessed 31 October 2017]

[22] You Tube (2015) Craigavon Cowboys Juniors Blitz 1 2015 Highlights [1:33] [2:27] – Published by CannonMedia on Sep 14, 2015 [Internet] Available from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Be3WxXKGil4 [Accessed 24 October 2017]

[23] You Tube (2015) Craigavon Cowboys Juniors Blitz 2 2015 Highlights [1:49] [4:28] – Published by Cannon Media on Oct 29, 2015 [Internet] Available from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c9UNpqtutq4 [Accessed 24 October 2017]

Social Media (2015)

[24] Irish American Football Association Facebook Page (2015) Post November 28 2015 [Internet] Available from: https://www.facebook.com/iafaireland/posts/1057091924324707 [Accessed 4 September 2018]

[25] Craigavon Cowboys Facebook Page (2015) Post September 12 2015 [Internet] Available from: https://www.facebook.com/CraigavonCowboys/photos/a.701990129811186.1073741830.701486486528217/1050487744961421/?type=3&theater [Accessed 6 December 2017]

[26] South Kildare Soldiers Facebook Page (2015) Post October 18 2015 [Internet] Available from: https://www.facebook.com/SouthKildareSoldiers/posts/754465811346366 [Accessed 6 December 2017][Broken Link]

[27] Westmeath Minotaurs Facebook (2015) Photo, October 18, 2015″Another hard fought day for our lads in purple today. Despite fantastic performances from all our players,” [Internet] Available from: https://www.facebook.com/westmeathminotaurs/photos/a.659626717382731.1073741828.311169445561795/1073439316001467/?type=3&theater [Accessed 6 December 2017]

Websites (2016)

[28] Irish American Football Association (2016) 2016 Junior Football season Kicked Off [Internet] Available from: http://www.americanfootball.ie/2016-junior-football-season-kicked-off/ [Accessed 23 December 2016]

[29] Irish American Football Association – Wayback Machine (2016) Junior Kitted Football Dates Announced. Rules details [Internet] Available from: http://web.archive.org/web/20160304234537/http://www.americanfootball.ie/junior-kitted-football-dates-announced/ [Accessed 4 September 2018]

[30] Irish American Football Association (2016) Junior Football 2016 Champions [Internet] Available from: http://www.americanfootball.ie/junior-football-2016-champions/ [Accessed 23 December 2016]

[31] Irish American Football Association – Wayback Machine (2016) Junior Kitted Football Dates Announced. Rules details [Internet] Available from: http://web.archive.org/web/20160304234537/http://www.americanfootball.ie/junior-kitted-football-dates-announced/ [Accessed 4 September 2018]

Social Media (2016)

[32] South Kildare Soldiers Facebook Page (2016) Post September 18 2016 [Internet] Available from: https://www.facebook.com/SouthKildareSoldiers/photos/a.240354999424119.55089.227676250691994/954895121303433/?type=3&theater [Accessed 6 December 2017]

[33] South Kildare Soldiers Facebook Page (2016) Post October 3 2016 [Internet] Available from: https://www.facebook.com/SouthKildareSoldiers/posts/969317006527911 [Accessed 6 December 2017]

[34] South Kildare Soldiers Facebook Page (2016) Post October 23 2016 [Internet] Available from: https://www.facebook.com/SouthKildareSoldiers/posts/988006751325603 [Accessed 6 December 2017]

[35] Westmeath Minotaurs Facebook Page (2016) Post September 18 2016 [Internet] Available from: https://www.facebook.com/westmeathminotaurs/photos/a.400391443306261.97658.311169445561795/1287843521227711/?type=3&theater [Accessed 6 December 2017]

[36] Westmeath Minotaurs Facebook Page (2016) Post October 3 2016 [Internet] Available from: https://www.facebook.com/westmeathminotaurs/posts/1300888999923163 [Accessed 6 December 2017]

[37] Westmeath Minotaurs Facebook Page (2016) Post October 23 2016 [Internet] Available from: https://www.facebook.com/westmeathminotaurs/posts/1319966001348796 [Accessed 6 December 2017]

[38] Republic of Edenderry Facebook Page (2016) Post October 25 2016 [Internet] Available from: https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=990627224417147&id=230818513731359 [Accessed 6 December 2017]

Websites (2017)

[39] Irish American Football Association (2017) Junior Football Schedule [Internet] Available from: http://www.americanfootball.ie/schedule/junior-football/ [Accessed 23 September 2017]

[40] Cork Admirals [2017] Cork Admirals Youth Team Open Their Season [Internet] Available from: https://www.corkadmirals.ie/single-post/2017/11/06/Cork-Admirals-Youth-Team-Open-Their-Season [Accessed 6 December 2017]

Social Media (2017)

[41] Westmeath Minotaurs Facebook Page (2017) Post October 15 2017 [Internet] Available from: https://www.facebook.com/westmeathminotaurs/posts/1703316189680440 [Accessed 17 October 2017]

[42] Craigavon Cowboys Facebook Page (2017) Post October 15 2017 [Internet] Available from: https://www.facebook.com/CraigavonCowboys/posts/1681077225235800 [Accessed 17 October 2017]

[43] Cill Dara Crusaders Facebook Page (2017) Post October 29 2017 [Internet] Available from: http://www.facebook.com/CillDaraCrusaders/posts/155163938425523 [Accessed 1 November 2017]

[44] Cill Dara Crusaders Facebook Page (2017) Post November 26 2017 [Internet] Available from: https://www.facebook.com/CillDaraCrusaders/posts/162700431005207 [Accessed 6 December 2017]

[45] Cill Dara Crusaders Facebook Page (2017) Post November 26 2017 [Internet] Available from: https://www.facebook.com/CillDaraCrusaders/posts/162725277669389 [Accessed 6 December 2017]

[46] Cork Admirals Facebook Page (2017)Video November 26 2017 [Internet] Available from: https://www.facebook.com/corkadmiralsAFC/videos/779020282296065/ [Accessed 6 December 2017]

[47] Cork Admirals Twitter Account (2017) Tweet 29 Oct 2017 [Internet] Available from: https://twitter.com/corkadmiralsAFC/status/924637237127667712 [Accessed 1 November 2017]

[48] Cork Admirals Twitter Account (2017) Tweet 29 Oct 2017 [Internet] Available from: https://twitter.com/corkadmiralsAFC/status/924646713591296000 [Accessed 1 November 2017]

[49] Westmeath Minotaurs Facebook Page (2017) Post November 9 2017 [Internet] Available from: https://www.facebook.com/westmeathminotaurs/posts/1728567953821930 [Accessed 15 November 2017]

[50] Westmeath Minotaurs Facebook Page (2017) Post November 11 2017 [Internet] Available from: https://www.facebook.com/westmeathminotaurs/posts/1730985910246801 [Accessed 15 November 2017]

[51] Westmeath Minotaurs Facebook Page (2017) Post November 24 2017 [Internet] Available from: https://www.facebook.com/westmeathminotaurs/posts/1744529465559112 [Accessed 28 November 2017]

[52] Westmeath Minotaurs Facebook Page (2017) Post November 27 2017 [Internet] Available from: https://www.facebook.com/westmeathminotaurs/posts/1747392558606136 [Accessed 28 November 2017]

Websites (2018)

[53] Irish American Football Association (2018) Youth League [Internet] Available from: https://www.americanfootball.ie/american-football/youth-league/ [Accessed 15 October 2018]

Social Media (2018)

[54] Irish American Football Association Facebook Page (2018) Post October 29, 2018: “Some great photos from yesterdays youth game by Eddie Smyth!” [Internet] Available from: https://www.facebook.com/iafaireland/posts/2159617004072188 [Accessed 3 November 2018]

Websites (2019)

[55] Irish American Football Association (2019) Youth Season 2019 [Internet] Available from: https://www.americanfootball.ie/home/youth-football/youth-kitted/ [Accessed 17 October 2019]

[56] Irish American Football Association (2019) Youth Football [Internet] Available from: https://www.americanfootball.ie/home/youth-football/ [Accessed 17 October 2019]

Social Media (2019)

[57] Irish American Football Association | Facebook (2019) Event, October 20, 2019: “Youth Championship Day” [Internet] Available from: https://www.facebook.com/events/1649354321868116/ [Accessed 21 October 2019]

[58] Irish American Football Association | Facebook (2019) Post, October 20, 2019: “ Congratulations to Cork Admirals American Football Club who are this years IAFA Youth Champions after defeating the Belfast Knights 44-7 in the final! “ [Internet] Available from: https://www.facebook.com/iafaireland/posts/2768526973181185 [Accessed 21 October 2019]

[59] Louth Mavericks | Facebook (2019) Post, October 20, 2019: “ Results are in from Dublin for the Louth Mavericks Youths and we have finished 3rd overall in the country. “ [Internet] Available from: https://www.facebook.com/louthmavericks/posts/2484428128341527 [Accessed 21 October 2019]

[60] Cork Admirals| Facebook (2019) Post, October 20, 2019: ” Admirals Youth Team won back to back National Championships with a 44-7 win over Belfast Knights. MVP for the final was Michael Hand. “ [Internet] Available from: https://www.facebook.com/corkadmiralsAFC/posts/1218765021654920 [Accessed 21 October 2019]

[61] Cork Admirals| Facebook (2019) Post, October 20, 2019: ” Admirals Youth team won 26-6 in semi final vs South Dublin Panthers. They now take on Belfast Knights in a National Final “ [Internet] Available from: https://www.facebook.com/corkadmiralsAFC/posts/1218675291663893 [Accessed 21 October 2019]

Images

[62] Irish American Football Association (2010) IAFA logo [Internet] Available from: http://www.americanfootball.ie/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/IAFA.jpg [Accessed 23 February 2017

[63] Irish American Football association (2018) IAFA Youth Logo 2018 [Internet] Available from: https://www.americanfootball.ie/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/IAFA-Logos-2018_Youth-R-e1565538368665.png [Accessed 13 September 2019]

[64] Hogan, Sean (2016) “Kildare’s American football team crowned All Ireland champs”. Kildare Now. 26 October, 2016. [Internet] Available from: https://www.kildarenow.com/upload/2016/10/26122252/IMG_1564-e1477481286183.jpg [Accessed 30 January 2020]

[65] Irish American Football Association | Facebook (2019) Photo, October 20, 2019: “ Congratulations to Cork Admirals American Football Club who are this years IAFA Youth Champions after defeating the Belfast Knights 44-7 in the final! “ [Internet] Available from: https://www.facebook.com/iafaireland/photos/pcb.2768526973181185/2768526746514541/?type=3&theater [Accessed 21 October 2019]

Acknowledgements

Thanks to Conor Connolly-Mulcahy & Dara Connolly-Mulcahy

About this document

Reaerched, compiled and written by Enda Mulcahy for the

Eirball | Irish North American and World Sports Archive

Last Updated: 17 September 2020

(c) Copyright Enda Mulcahy and Eirball 2020

You may quote this document in part provided that proper acknowledgement is given to the authors. All Rights Reserved.

Teams

Pro Football League 1917	Pro Football League 1917
Chicago	Cleveland
Indianapolis	Columbus
Detroit Wolverines	Pittsburgh
	New York

Report

An attempt at a Pro Football League (American Football) was made in 1917 by a Detroit representative (unnamed but possibly the Wolverines) that approached the owners of Major League Baseball teams such as Charles Comiskey (Chicago) and Frank Nevin.

Comiskey was interested in the idea, if it could be shown there was money in the College Game. At the time Baseball was still America’s Favorite Sport, with two Pro Leagues (National League and American League) and Football was still only big the Colleges.

The teams, based in Baseball Cities, and owned by Baseball Team Owners, would play in Major League Baseball Parks such as the Polo Grounds in New York, Navin Field, Forbes Field and Comiskey Park in Chicago, at the end of the Baseball season in October when the Stadiums were empty.

The League never happened in the end, the Philadelphia Inquirer called it unworkable, perhaps remembering the previous attempt in 1902, and the brief World Series of Football in 1902-1903. The Los Angeles Times also discussed the possibilty, although they were the only newspapers to do more than just reprint the original wire.

The League failed to get off the ground because of a number of factors: World War I, the cold weather in November and December putting fans off, and College Football still being by far the more popular version of the game than Pro Football.

In 1920, however, Pro Football would arrive in the form of the American Professional Football association, which in 1922 changed its name to the National Football League and by 1933 had become established as a Major League to rival the National League and American League in Baseball.

References

[1] Wagner, Bill (1992) “A missed Opportunity: The 1917 Pro Football League”. The Coffin Corner (1992) Professional Football Researchers Association.14 (1) http://www.profootballresearchers.org/archives/Website_Files/Coffin_Corner/14-01-449.pdf   [Accessed 15 September 2020]

Acknowledgements

Thanks to Rose McCabe, Ann Hanley, Gabriel McCloyne, Peter Lemass, Ciaran Simms, Gerry Tully.

About this document

Researched, compiled and written by Enda Mulcahy for the

Eirball | Irish North American and World Sports Archive

Last Updated: 15 September 2020

(c) Copyright Enda Mulcahy and Eirball 2020

You may quote this document in part provided that proper acknowledgement is given to the authors. All Rights Reserved.