Armco 1924

Reference: [1]

Armco 1925

Reference: [1]

Armco 1926

Reference: [1]

Armco 1927

Reference: [1]

Armco 1928

Reference: [1]

Armco 1929

Reference: [1]

Report

The interest in Football in Ashland & Middletown communities in Kentucky led the Armco Manufacturing Company to fund the creation of two Football teams, playing against semi-pro opposition in the Kentucky, Ohio, West Virginia area such as the NFL’s Portsmouth Spartans, Canton Bulldogs, Dayton Triangles & Ironton Tanks.

The Portsmouth team would one day move to Detroit becoming the Lions, and are still in existence and the Indianapolis Colts team can be traced back to the Triangles, although the NFL only officially includes the record of the 1953 Colts onwards. Canton, Ohio, is famous as the birthplace of Pro Football, and is where the Pro Football Hall of Fame is based.

Players were employed by Armco and drew large crowds. Ashland won 6 of the 8 games between the two Armco teams.

Ashland’s schedule from 1926 included the following: Canton Bulldogs, Cincinnati Guards, Cincinnati Potters, Cleveland Panthers, Columbus Tigers, Dayton Koors, Dayton Triangles, Ft. Wayne Pyramids, Ironton Tanks, Kokomo Legion, Middletown Armco Blues, Portsmouth Spartans & West Virginia Wildcats.

Middletown’s Schedule included: Akron Awnings, Ashland Armco, Chillicothe Eagles, Cincinnati National Guard, CAC of Cincinnati, Cleveland Indians, Dayton Koors, Dayton Triangles, Hamilton Legion, Bobbs-Chevrolet of Indianapolis, Ironton Tanks, Kokomo Legion, Louisville CAC, Muncie Flyers, Portsmouth Spartans, Portsmouth Presidents, Springfield All Stars, Toledo Police, & Wabash.

Former College players on the roster of Middletown included those with Irish names: Don O’Brien (Purdue), Forest McGuire (Swathmore), Earl Sullivan (St. Xavier).Jim McMillan (Purdue).

References

 [1] Joe Zagorski, The Coffin Corner, Pro Football Researchers Association (1987) PFRA Annual 1987: The Anthracite Football League [Internet] Available from: http://profootballresearchers.com/archives/Website_Files/Coffin_Corner/09-An-321.pdf    [Accessed 9 October 2018]

Armco’s Semi-Professional Teams

 Courtesy Armco, The Coffin Corner, Pro Football Researchers Association (1988) Armco’s Semi-Professional Teams [Internet] Available from: http://profootballresearchers.com/archives/Website_Files/Coffin_Corner/10-02-333.pdf     [Accessed 9 October 2018]

Acknowledgements

Thanks to Fiona Corrigan, Caoimhe Mullaney & Alan Delaney.

About this document

Researched, compiled and written by Enda Mulcahy for the

Eirball | Irish North American and World Sports Archive

Last Updated: 2 September 2019

(c) Copyright Enda Mulcahy and Eirball 2019

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

AFL 1923

AFL 1924

*Includes results of matches against non-league opponents.

Report

The Antracite Football league was set up in 1923 among the Coal-Mining Communities of Pennsylvania and Upsate New York. It was a reaction against the spiralling costs of running a team in the National Football League and the glamour associated with it, which was seen by many as taking away from what was a hard-working class game.

Many of the owners, such as James “Casey” Gildea of the Coaldale Big Green and Joe Keating, James Rafferty & T. Conner of Gilberton had both Irish Christian Names & Family Names, suggesting a strong Irish connection with the League, which was promoted by the Pottsville Republican newspaper as being Football in connection with its roots.

By the end of the year, though, teams were outbidding each other for players and the League began to rival the NFL, ending what was a unique development at the time. [1]

References

Websites

[1] Joe Zagorski, The Coffin Corner, Pro Football Researchers Association (1987) PFRA Annual 1987: The Anthracite Football League [Internet] Available from: http://profootballresearchers.com/archives/Website_Files/Coffin_Corner/09-An-321.pdf [Accessed 9 October 2018]

Sources

[2] Gill, Bob with Maher, Todd (2006) “Part 3: Season-by Season Listings” Outsiders, Minor League and Independent Football 1923-1950. Pg. 92. St. Johann Press. Haworth, NJ, USA.

Acknowledgements

Thanks to Richard Mulcahy

About this document

Researched, compiled and written by Enda Mulcahy for the

Eirball | Irish North American & World Sports Archive

Last Updated: 23 December 2019

(c) Copyright Enda Mulcahy and Eirball 2019

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