Continental Football League 1965-1969

Continental Football League Logo [Ref: 4]

CoFL 1965

PWLT
West Division
Charleston Rockets141400
Fort Wayne Warriors14860
Richmond Rebels14680
Providence Indians143110
Hartford Charter Oaks142120
East Division
Toronto Rifles141130
Philadelphia Bulldogs141040
Springfield Acorns14950
Newark Bears14590
Wheeling Ironmen142120
Continental Football League Standings 1965 [Reference:1-3]
DateHome TeamAway Team
Championship Game
1965Charleston Rockets24Toronto Rifles7
Continental Football League Playoffs 1965 [Reference:1-3]

CoFL 1966

PWLT
West Division
Orlando Panthers 141220
Charleston Rockets141040
Montreal Beavers14770
Richmond Rebels144100
Wheeling Ironmen100140
East Division
Toronto Rifles14950
Philadelphia Bulldogs14950
Norfolk Neptunes14860
Hartford Charter Oaks14680
Brooklyn Dodgers14590
Continental Football League Standings 1966 [Reference:1-3]
DateHome TeamAway Team
1st Round Playoffs
1966Orlando Panthers31Charleson Rockets24
1966Toronto Rifles14Philadelphia Bulldogs31
Championship Game
1966Philadelphia Bulldogs20Orlando Panthers17
Continental Football League Playoffs 1966 [Reference:1-3]

Reference: [1-3]

Note: Tom Furlong, who was born in Co. Offaly, Ireland, played as Kicker for the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1966.

Reference: [2]

CoFL 1967

PWLT
Atlantic North Division
Norfolk Neptunes 141130
Hartford Charter Oaks12570
Montreal Beavers12480
Toronto Rifles4130
Akron Vulcans4130
Atlantic South Division
Orlando Panthers141130
Charleston Rockets14680
Wheeling Ironmen14590
Richmond Rebels
Philadelphia Bulldogs
Pacific Division
Orange County Ramblers121020
San Jose Apaches12840
Seattle Rangers13760
Eugene Bombers12660
Victoria Steelers12480
Sacramento Buccaneers122100
Long Beach Admirals1010
Continental Football League Standings 1967 [Reference:1-3]
DateHome TeamAway Team
Atlantic Division Playoff
1967Norfolk Neptunes17Orlando Panthers21
Championship Game
1967Orange County Ramblers14Orlando Panthers38
Continental Football League Playoffs 1967 [Reference:1-3]

Reference: [1]

CoFL 1968

PWLT
Atlantic Division
Orlando Panthers121020
Ohio Valley Ironmen12930
Charleston Rockets11830
Norfolk Neptunes12750
Alabama Hawks12570
Michigan Arrows121110
Central Division
Indianapolis Capitols12840
Omaha Mustangs12750
Chicago Owls12660
Oklahoma City Plainsmen11560
Arkansas Diamonds122100
Las Vegas Cowboys10190
Quad Cities Raiders2020
Pacific Division
Orange County Ramblers121110
Seattle Rangers12750
Sacramento Capitols12570
Spokane Shockers12390
Continental Football League Standings 1968 [Reference:1-3]
DateHome TeamAway Team
Eastern Playoff
1968Orlando Panthers28Indianapolis Capitols14
Championship Game
1968Orlando Panthers30Orange County Ramblers23
Continental Football League Playoffs 1968 [Reference:1-3]

Reference: [1]

CoFL 1969

PWLT
East Division
Orlando Panthers121020
Norfolk Neptunes12840
Jersey Jays12750
Alabama Hawks12660
Arkansas Diamonds12570
Central Division
Indianapolis Capitols12840
Ohio Valley Ironmen12660
Omaha Mustangs12660
Chicago Owls12570
Tri-City Apollos122100
Texas Division
San Antonio Toros11740
West Texas Rufneks11740
Texarkana Titans12750
Tulsa Thunderbirds11560
Fort Worth Braves12570
Mexico Golden Aztecs8260
Dallas111100
Pacific Division
Las Vegas Cowboys12840
Sacramento Capitols12840
Seattle Rangers12750
Spokane Shockers12570
Portland Loggers12390
Continental Football League Standings 1969 [Reference:1-3]
DateHome TeamAway Team
Texas Division Playoff
1969Texarkana Titans7San Antonio Toros20
Pacific Division Playoff
1969Sacramento Capitols0Las Vegas Cowboys 31
Western Playoff
1969San Antonio Toros21Las Vegas Cowboys17
Eastern Playoff
1969Indianapolis Capitols27Orlando Panthers7
Championship Game
1969Indianapolis Capitols44San Antonio Toros38
Continental Football League Playoffs 1969 [Reference:1-3]

Report

The Continental Football League was created in 1965 from the merger of the United Football League and Atlantic Coast Football League as a Development League to the National Football League, with teams situated on the East Coast and in Toronto, . In 1966, the League broke away from autonomy towards a working alliance with AFL & NFL clubs, causing Commissioner Chandler to resign, as it was moving away from the original charter he signed up to. The League added a Pacific Division that year.

1967 was a difficult year for the CoFL as a number of teams failed to finish the season, although the League became more “Continental” by merging with Professional Football League of America, thus bringing in teams from the Centre. In 1969 the League absorbed the Texas Professional Football League, and looked to become the largest Football League in the country, as it bid for University of Southern California star, O. J. Simpson. the newly merged NFL-AFL began opening their pockets in 1970 and the Continental Football League fell apart as backers pulled out.

Tom Furlong

Born: Daingean, Co. offaly

Career: Kicker on the Practice Squad of the New York Giants (NFL) 1965 / Pre-Season signing for Atlanta Falcons (NFL) 1966 (Cut after tearing cruciate ligaments) / Brooklyn Dodgers, Continental Football League 1966.

Biography: Tom Furlong was born in Daingean, Co. Offaly, and played Inter-County Football for Offaly, before being banned by the County Board for playing Soccer. Sitting in a bar in New York, he overheard members of the New York Giants Coaching Staff lamenting at the quality of their kickers (The Giants were having a woeful season) and having seen the game on TV, thought there was nothing to it a GAA player could not do, and volunteered to try out. He got on the Practice Squad for the Giants in 1965, leading to interviews with the New York Times and other newspapers with Irish-American connections.

The Giants brought in a new Kicker the following season, but the Irish-American Community Leaders, seeing the value of an Irish-born player in the NFL, arranged tryouts with the Atlanta Falcons and New England Patriots. He was signed by the Falcons for $12, 000-a-yeat contract, but unfortunately tore his cruciate ligament in training four days before the start of the season.

He didn’t give up on a Pro Career, however, as he was only working as a carpet fitter at the time and signed for the Brookyn Dodgers in the Continental Football League, where he played the 1966 season before retiring, as he thought his kicking was never as good after the injury.

Reference: [2]

References:

Websites:

[1] Greater Northwest Football Alliance (2017) Continental Football League (1965-1969) [Internet] Available from: http://www.gnfafootball.org/continentalleague.htm [Accessed 30 August 2017]

Newspapers

[2] Hannigan, Dara (1987) “Greening of the Gridiron” The Sunday Tribune , 27 July 1987. Sportweek, pg. 10 [Available online at the British Newspaper Archive: https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/ ]

Bibliography

[3] Gill, Bob et al (2010) “Season-By-Season Listings: The Top Leagues” Outsiders II – Minor League and Independent Football 1951-1985″ pg. 70-79. St. Johann Press, Haworth, NJ. (2010).

Images:

[4] Greater Northwest Football Alliance (2017) Continental Football League Logo [Internet] Available from: http://www.gnfafootball.org/photos/continental.jpg [Accessed 28 July 2019]

Acknowledgements

Thanks to Tim Leadingham

About this document

Researched, compiled and written by Enda Mulcahy for the

Eirball | Irish North American & World Sports Archive

Last Updated: 28 July 2019

(c) Copyright Enda Mulcahy and World Gridiron Archive 2019

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

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