Semi-Pro State Football

Semi-Pro State Football

– Photo by Jean Daniel Francouer on Pexels.com

The first Professional American Football League in America that openly paid its players was the Ohio League (1902-1919). Four of its leading teams, including the Canton Bulldogs asked teams in Pennsylvania and New York State to form a National League in 1920 – thus the NFL was born.

Semi-Pro Leagues exist all over USA, organised roughly on state lines. Below you will find a link to Irish Connections throughout the USA

New York-Penn Football Leagues

– Picture Credit: 1920s football action. Thousands of spectators watch from double decker stadium seats. By Everett Collection[Shutterstock]

New York-Penn Football Leagues

Picture Credit: 1920s football action. Thousands of spectators watch from double decker stadium seats. By Everett Collection[Shutterstock]

New York Metropolitan Area

Semi-Pro State American Football | Five Star Football League 2010-2017

Pennsylvania League

Western Penn Pro Football Circuit (Seasons): 1895 1896

National Football League (Seasons): 1902

Eastern Mid-West Football Leagues

Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

Ohio League

Ohio League | Champions 1903-1919

Ohio League 1915-1919 (Irish Players)

Ohio League (Seasons): 1904 1905

Indiana

Indiana State Football Championship (Seasons): 1920

Western Midwest Football Leagues

Photo by Juan Salamanca on Pexels.com

Minnesota, South Dakota & Iowa

Southern Plains Football League 2021

green grass across beige red open sports stadium during daytime

Upper South Football Leagues

Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

Kentucky

Armco Semi-Pro Football Teams 1924-1929

Virginia-Carolina

Virginia-Carolina Football League 1937

Texas and Southwest Football Leagues

Photo by Muhammad-taha Ibrahim on Pexels.com

Texas

Sevenman Tackle Football League (Texas) 1999-2005

ethnic woman in helmet and earphones holding equipment for playing american football

Mountain West Football Leagues

Picture Credit: 1920s football action. Thousands of spectators watch from double decker stadium seats. By Everett Collection[Shutterstock]

Montana Leagues

Butte Independent League 1920-1928

North West Football Leagues

Football on Field by Jean-Daniel Francouer

Northwest Leagues (Washington & Oregon)

Pacific Northwest Football League 1980

Northwest International Alliance 1980-1981

Northwest Football League 1982-1989

California Football Leagues

Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

California

Pacific Coast Football League 2010-2019

California Football League 1938

Salinas Packers | California Pro American Football 1936-1937

Pacific Coast Pro Football League 1934-1935

Pacific Coast Football League 1926

Pacific and SoCal-Baja California Football Leagues

Photo by Ricardo CL on Pexels.com

Alaska

Alaska Football League 2015-2018

SoCal-Baja

Super 8 Football League West Coast (Arena):

Super 8 Football League West Coast 2016-Present

Super 8 Football League West Coast Series (Seasons): 2020

Super 8 Football League Baja-California-Nevada Tournaments (Arena / Outdoor):

Super 8 Football League Bowls & Tournaments 2010-Present

S8FL Torneo Sugar Cane Bowl 2021

Arena League 2020 , Eight Man Outdoor 2020 , Battle 4 San Diego 2019 , Copa Tijuana 2017 , Winter Bowl 2014

AFI Senior League Premier Division 2023

Pos	Team	W	L	PF	PA	Pts
1	Dublin Rebels	8	0	384	82	24
2	Cork Admirals	7	1	172	118	21
3	UCD Sentinels	5	3	260	99	15
4	Belfast Trojans	5	3	165	172	10
5	South Dublin Panthers	3	5	123	210	6
6	Westmeath Minotaurs	2	6	139	210	6
7	Belfast Knights	2	6	123	214	6
8	Craigavon Cowboys	0	8	18	279	0

AFI Senior League Premier Division Champion & Qualify for Playoff Semi-Finals

Qualify for Playoff Semi-Finals

Disqualified from Semi-Finals after game on 18 June 2023 was ruled a Forfeit in favour of Belfast Trojans

Relegated to AFI Senior League Division One for 2024

AFI Senior League Premier Division Playoffs 2023

Date	Event	Results	Venue	Match Day
2023-07-02 14:00:45July 2, 2023	Cork Admirals vs UCD Sentinels	14 - 58	N/A	Semi-Finals
2023-07-02 00:00:05July 2, 2023	Dublin Rebels vs Belfast Trojans	56 - 13	N/A	Semi-Finals
2023-07-16 15:00:59July 16, 2023	Dublin Rebels vs UCD Sentinels	40 - 34	N/A	Shamrock Bowl XXXV

AFI Senior League Division One 2023

Pos	Team	W	L	PF	PA	Pts
1	U Limerick Vikings	8	0	205	50	24
2	Louth Mavericks	7	1	292	43	21
3	Cill Dara Crusaders	5	3	142	132	15
4	West Dublin Rhinos	3	5	164	78	9
5	NI Razorbacks	3	5	116	176	9
6	Donegal / Derry Vipers	2	6	80	232	6
7	Antrim Jets	0	8	12	300	0

AFI Senior League Division One Champions and Promoted to AFI Senior Division Premier Division for 2024

AFI Senior League Division Two 2023

Pos	Team	W	L	PF	PA	Pts
1	Wexford Eagles	6	0	194	21	18
2	Causeway Giants	3	3	84	101	9
3	Trinity Thunderbolts	2	4	40	126	6
4	North Dublin Pirates	1	5	48	118	3

AFI Senior League Division Two Champion & Promoted to AFI Division One for 2025

Promoted to AFI Division One for 2024

Folded after season

AFI Premier Division Regular Season 2022

Pos	Team	W	L	T	PF	PA	Pts
1	Dublin Rebels	8	0	0	322	79	24
2	UCD Sentinels	6	1	1	289	116	19
3	Cork Admirals	5	2	1	185	124	16
4	Belfast Trojans	4	4	0	226	199	12
5	South Dublin Panthers	4	4	0	174	175	12
6	Craigavon Cowboys	2	6	0	114	276	6
7	Belfast Knights	1	7	0	143	254	3
8	West Dublin Rhinos	1	7	0	40	270	3

AFI Premier Division Champion 2022 & Qualify for Playoffs

Qualify for Playoffs

Qualify for Playoffs on Tie-Breaker

Relegated to AFI Division One for 2023

AFI Premier Division Playoffs 2022

Date	Event	Results	Venue	Match Day
2022-07-24 14:07:04July 24, 2022	Dublin Rebels vs South Dublin Panthers	46 - 6	N/A	Semi-Finals
2022-07-24 14:10:44July 24, 2022	UCD Sentinels vs Cork Admirals	44 - 6	N/A	Semi-Finals
2022-08-07 15:00:41August 7, 2022	Dublin Rebels vs UCD Sentinels	24 - 52	N/A	Shamrock Bowl XXXIV

View all events

AFI Division One Regular Season 2022

Pos	Team	W	L	T	PF	PA	Net Pts	Pts
1	Westmeath Minotaurs	7	1	0	183	40	143	21
2	U Limerick Vikings	5	2	1	155	83	72	16
3	Cill Dara Crusaders	4	4	0	185	158	27	12
4	Trinity Thunderbolts	4	4	0	87	133	-46	12
5	Donegal / Derry Vipers	3	4	1	115	103	12	10
6	Wexford Eagles	0	8	0	6	214	-208	0

AFI Division 1 Regular Season Champions 2022 & Qualify for Playoffs

Qualify for Playoffs

Ineligible for Playoffs & Relegated to AFI Division 2 for 2023 for Forfeiting Games

Qualify for Playoffs

Ineligible for Playoffs & Relegated to AFI Division 2 for 2023 for Forfeiting Games

AFI Division One Playoffs 2022

Date	Event	Results	Venue	Match Day
2022-07-17 14:27:35July 17, 2022	Westmeath Minotaurs vs Donegal / Derry Vipers	41 - 6	N/A	Semi-Finals
2022-07-17 06:29:39July 17, 2022	U Limerick Vikings vs Cill Dara Crusaders	21 - 18	N/A	Semi-Finals
2022-07-31 14:00:36July 31, 2022	Westmeath Minotaurs vs U Limerick Vikings	16 - 13	N/A	Division 1 Bowl

View all events

AFI Premier Friendlies 2021

Date	Event	Results	Venue	Match Day
2021-06-27 14:00:41June 27, 2021	Craigavon Cowboys vs Belfast Knights	13 - 30	N/A	Week 1
2021-07-18 14:00:04July 18, 2021	Belfast Knights vs Craigavon Cowboys	28 - 13	N/A	Week 2
2021-08-08 00:00:34August 8, 2021	Belfast Trojans vs South Dublin Panthers	30 - 0	N/A	Week 3
2021-07-25 14:00:00July 25, 2021	Belfast Trojans vs Craigavon Cowboys	21 - 20	N/A	Week 4
2021-09-05 14:00:33September 5, 2021	South Dublin Panthers vs Belfast Trojans	0 - 30	N/A	Week 6
2021-08-15 14:00:05August 15, 2021	Craigavon Cowboys vs Belfast Trojans	41 - 18	N/A	Week 5

View all events

AFI Flag Football Premier Division North Conference 2021

Pos	Team	W	L	PF	PA	Pts
1	Craigavon Cowboys	2	0	64	46	6
2	Belfast Trojans	2	0	51	44	6
3	Maynooth University Hurricanes	1	1	73	64	3
4	Belfast Knights	0	2	50	62	0
5	Louth Mavericks	0	2	26	48	0

AFI Flag Football Premier Division South Conference 2021

Pos	Team	W	L	PF	PA	Pts
1	Edenderry Eagles	4	0	134	18	12
2	Dublin Bay Raptors	3	1	140	74	9
3	Trinity College Dublin	3	1	102	56	9
4	Cork City Outlaws	2	2	110	98	6
5	University College Cork Raiders	0	8	0	240	0

AFI Flag Football Division One North Conference 2021

Pos	Team	W	L	T	PF	PA	Pts
0	Antrim Jets	0	0	0	0	0	0
0	Belfast City Lions	0	0	0	0	0	0
0	Belfast Trojans 2nds	0	0	0	0	0	0
0	Donegal / Derry Vipers	0	0	0	0	0	0
0	Ulster University Elks	0	0	0	0	0	0

AFI Flag Football Division One South Conference 2021

Pos	Team	W	L	T	Pct	PF	PA	Pts
0	Cill Dara Crusaders	0	0	0	0.000	0	0	0
0	Dublin City Quetzals	0	0	0	0.000	0	0	0
0	Dublin Rebels	0	0	0	0.000	0	0	0
0	South Dublin Panthers	0	0	0	0.000	0	0	0
0	University College Dublin	0	0	0	0.000	0	0	0
0	Westmeath Minotaurs	0	0	0	0.000	0	0	0
0	Wexford Eagles	0	0	0	0.000	0	0	0

IFFA Flag Challenge Games 2007-08

Date	Event	Results	Venue	Match Day
2007-09-30 21:28:58September 30, 2007	Southeast Strongbows vs Dublin Sharks	37 - 44	N/A	Challenge Game
2007-11-17 21:33:30November 17, 2007	Trinity College Dublin Thunderbolts vs Dublin Sharks	-	N/A	Challenge Game

View all events

AFAI Festivals & Friendlies 1989

Date	Event	Results	Venue	Match Day
1989-08-19 08:42:21August 19, 1989	Craigavon Cowboys vs Belfast Giants	-	N/A	Cavan Lakes & Vales Festival
1989-09-30 08:45:44September 30, 1989	Dublin Tornadoes vs Bray Seahawks	Win - Loss	N/A	Week 2

AFAI National Conference 1988

Pos	Team	W	L	Pct	PF	PA
1	Belfast Blitzers	5	1	0.833	136	51
2	Dublin Celts	4	1	0.800	118	33
3	Craigavon Cowboys	2	3	0.400	79	74
4	Dublin Tornadoes	1	4	0.200	58	122
5	NI Giants	0	0	0.000	0	0

Conference Champions & Qualify for Playoff Semi-Finals

Qualify for Playoff Semi-Finals

Pulled out of Regular Season, playing only preseason and friendlies in a dispute over scheduling. NI Giants had been scheduled to play each of the other 8 teams once.

AFAI Irish Conference 1988

Pos	Team	W	L	T	Pct	PF	PA
1	Belfast Spartans	3	1	1	0.600	80	99
2	Carrickfergus Cougars	1	3	0	0.250	67	58
3	Coleraine Chieftains	0	3	1	0.000	39	140
4	North Down Raiders	0	0	0	0.000	0	0

Conference Champion and Qualify for Playoff Semi-Finals

Folded before season started

AFAI Festivals & Friendlies 1988

Pos	Team	W	L	Pct	PF	PA
1	Dublin Tornadoes	1	0	1.000	46	0
2	NI Giants	1	0	1.000	47	6
3	Belfast Blitzers	1	0	1.000	39	2
4	Belfast Spartans	1	0	1.000	22	8
5	Coleraine Chieftains	0	1	0.000	6	47
6	Antrim Bulldogs	0	3	0.000	10	107

Joined Irish American Football League Baron First Division for 1989

Played only preseason and Friendlies in 1988 after pulling out of IAFL Regular Season in a dispute over scheduling. Rejoined IAFL in Baron First Division for 1989

Festival Schedule. Team also played full IAFL Schedule in 1988.

AFAI Jack Daniels Summer Bowl 1988

Date	Event	Results	Venue	Match Day
1988-07-02 13:28:04July 2, 1988	Republic of Ireland All-Stars vs Northern Hordes	21 - 13	N/A	Jack Daniels Summer Bowl 1988

View all events

IAFL Mourne Conference 1987

Pos	Team	W	L	Pct	PF	PA
1	Belfast Blitzers	9	1	0.900	449	47
2	Dublin Tornadoes	6	4	0.600	121	164
3	Carrickfergus Cougars	4	6	0.400	99	126
4	Coleraine Chieftains	1	9	0.100	58	234
5	East Side Jets	1	9	0.100	10	284

Conference Champions & Qualify for Playoff Semi-Finals

Folded during season

IAFL Tara Conference 1987

Pos	Team	W	L	Pct	PF	PA
1	Dublin Celts	10	0	1.000	246	64
2	Craigavon Cowboys	8	2	0.800	258	59
3	NI Giants	7	3	0.700	152	72
4	Bangor Buccaneers	4	6	0.400	67	221
5	Belfast Spartans	3	7	0.300	45	175
6	Jordanstown Jaguars	2	8	0.200	15	74

Conference Champion & Qualify for Playoff Semi-Finals

Qualify for Playoff Semi-Finals

Moved to Ards for 1988, renamed North Down Raiders

Folded during season, replaced in North Belfast / South Antrim Area by Carnmoney Colts for 1988

IAFL PLayoffs 1987

Date	Event	Results	Venue	Match Day
1987-09-12 06:09:23September 12, 1987	Belfast Blitzers vs Craigavon Cowboys	20 - 28	N/A	Semi-Finals
1987-09-13 14:00:10September 13, 1987	Dublin Celts vs Belfast Giants	43 - 0	N/A	Semi-Finals
1987-09-26 15:00:18September 26, 1987	Dublin Celts vs Craigavon Cowboys	43 - 25	N/A	Shamrock Bowl II

View all events

Irish International Football Friendlies 1987

Date	Event	Results	Venue	Match Day
1987-04-19 15:00:34April 19, 1987	Dublin Celts vs Taunton Raiders (Mass)	0 - 46	N/A	Irish v American International American Football 1987

NIAFA League Standings 1986

Pos	Team	W	L	Pct	PF	PA
1	Belfast Blitzers	3	0	1.000	95	6
2	Craigavon Cowboys	1	1	0.500	33	40
3	Coleraine Chieftains	0	2	0.000	0	33
4	Carrickfergus Cougars	0	1	0.000	6	55

NIAFA Senior (Kitted) League Champions

Capitol Cup 1986

Date	Event	Results	Venue	Match Day
1986-05-10 12:00:59May 10, 1986	Dublin Celts vs Belfast Blitzers	46 - 7	N/A	Capitol Bowl 1st Leg
1986-06-22 12:00:10June 22, 1986	Belfast Blitzers vs Dublin Celts	24 - 20	N/A	Capitol Bowl 2nd Leg

View all events

Summer Bowl 1986

Date	Event	Results	Venue	Match Day
1986-07-06 11:00:32July 6, 1986	Dublin Celts vs Craigavon Cowboys	Win - Loss	N/A	Summer Bowl Semi-Finals
1986-07-06 13:30:15July 6, 1986	Belfast Blitzers vs Coleraine Chieftains	Win - Loss	N/A	Summer Bowl Semi-Finals
1986-07-06 15:00:04July 6, 1986	Dublin Celts vs Belfast Blitzers	13 - 0	N/A	Summer Bowl Final

View all events

All-Ireland Championship 1986

Date	Event	Results	Venue	Match Day
1986-08-16 12:00:33August 16, 1986	Belfast Blitzers vs Dublin Celts	7 - 0	N/A	All Ireland Final

View all events

IAFL Playoffs 1986

Date	Event	Results	Venue	Match Day
1986-10-05 12:00:21October 5, 1986	Dublin Celts vs Craigavon Cowboys	2 - 6	N/A	Shamrock Bowl I

View all events

NIAFA Junior (Unkitted) League 1986

Pos	Team	W	L	Pct	PF	PA
1	Bangor Buccaneers	3	0	1.000	70	22
2	Jordanstown Jaguars	1	0	1.000	0	0
3	Belfast Blitzers	1	1	0.500	53	22
4	Aldergrove Hawks	0	2	0.000	22	53
5	Belfast Spartans	0	2	0.000	22	70

NIAFA Junior (Unkitted) League Champions

Irish International Football Friendlies 1986

Date	Event	Results	Venue	Match Day
1986-03-16 12:00:03March 16, 1986	Dublin Celts vs Wirral Wolves (Eng)	14 - 0	N/A	International Friendly
1986-03-30 14:00:18March 30, 1986	Dublin Celts vs Newcastle Senators (Eng)	16 - 14	N/A	International Friendly
1986-09-28 12:00:27September 28, 1986	Carrickfergus Cougars vs Ayr Burners (Sco)	8 - 28	N/A	International Challenge Cup 1986
1986-11-29 12:00:32November 29, 1986	Green Isle All-Stars vs Marlboro Shamrocks (Mass)	0 - 36	N/A	International Friendly

Irish International Football Friendlies 1985

Date	Event	Results	Venue	Match Day
1985-10-27 14:30:43October 27, 1985	Bristol Bombers vs Dublin Celts	0 - 32	N/A	International Exhibition Match

All-American Festival 1983 (Unofficial - Pre AFAI)

Date	Event	Results	Venue	Match Day
1983-08-19 19:15:09August 19, 1983	Redskins vs Yankees	-	N/A	All-American Evening

View all events

ETO Northern Ireland Championship Winter 1944

Date	Event	Results	Venue	Match Day
1944-01-01 00:00:37January 1, 1944	Navy Galloping Gaels vs Army Wolverines	0 - 0	N/A	Potato Bowl

View all events

ETO Football Championship Autumn 1942

Date	Event	Results	Venue	Match Day
1942-11-14 15:00:41November 14, 1942	Hale Blue Devils vs Yarvard Crimson Tide	9 - 7	N/A	Game 1
1942-11-21 00:00:25November 21, 1942	Yarvard Crimson Tide vs Tech Fighting Irish	14 - 0	N/A	Game 2

View all events

Eirball.ie – Gridiron Football in Ireland Statistics Archive

Eirball's Irish, North American and World Gridiron Football Archives

Semi-Pro State Football

New York-Penn Football Leagues

New York Metropolitan Area

Pennsylvania League

Eastern Mid-West Football Leagues

Ohio League

Indiana

Western Midwest Football Leagues

Minnesota, South Dakota & Iowa

Upper South Football Leagues

Kentucky

Virginia-Carolina

Texas and Southwest Football Leagues

Texas

Mountain West Football Leagues

Montana Leagues

North West Football Leagues

Northwest Leagues (Washington & Oregon)

California Football Leagues

California

Pacific and SoCal-Baja California Football Leagues

Alaska

SoCal-Baja

Like this:

Eirball Websites - Sports Leagues in Ireland Archives

American Major Organisations in Ireland

Popular Global Pastimes in Ireland

National Premier Leagues in Ireland

Elite Gaelic Games in Ireland & Around the World

Olympic Games & Racing in Ireland

Trans-World Sports in Ireland & Around the World

Alternative, Miscellaneous & Other Sports in Ireland

Pos	Team	W	L	T	Pct	PF	PA
0	Drimnagh Pirates	0	0	0	0.000	0	0
0	Dublin Celts	0	0	0	0.000	0	0
0	Marlay Chargers	0	0	0	0.000	0	0
0	University College Dublin	0	0	0	0.000	0	0

Pos	Team	W	L	Pct
1	Craigavon Cowboys	1	0	1.000
1	Tyrone Tornadoes	1	0	1.000
3	Belfast Blitzers	1	1	0.500
4	Coleraine Chieftains	0	2	0.000

New York-Penn Football Leagues

New York Metropolitan Area

Pennsylvania League

Eastern Mid-West Football Leagues

Ohio League

Indiana

Western Midwest Football Leagues

Minnesota, South Dakota & Iowa

Upper South Football Leagues

Kentucky

Virginia-Carolina

Texas and Southwest Football Leagues

Texas

Mountain West Football Leagues

Montana Leagues

North West Football Leagues

Northwest Leagues (Washington & Oregon)

California Football Leagues

California

Pacific and SoCal-Baja California Football Leagues

Alaska

SoCal-Baja

Share this:

Like this:

Eirball Websites - Sports Leagues in Ireland Archives

American Major Organisations in Ireland

Popular Global Pastimes in Ireland

National Premier Leagues in Ireland

Elite Gaelic Games in Ireland & Around the World

Olympic Games & Racing in Ireland

Trans-World Sports in Ireland & Around the World

Alternative, Miscellaneous & Other Sports in Ireland