Continental Football Leagues Era Timeline 1960-1985

Continental Football League 1965-1969

Continental Football League Logo 1965-1969 [Ref: 9]
NumberTeams
Atlantic North Division
1Norfolk Neptunes
2Hartford Charter Oaks
3Montreal Beavers
4Toronto Rifles
5Providence Indians
6Springfield Acorns
Atlantic South Division
7Akron Vulcans
8Fort Worth Warriors
9Orlando Panthers
10Philadelphia Bulldogs
11Alabama Hawks
12Jersey Jays
Central Division (North)
13Indianapolis Capitols
14Quad Cities Raiders
15Michigan Arrows
16Chicago Owls
17Indianapolis Warriors
18Tri-City Apollos
Central Division (South)
19Oklahoma City Plainsmen
20Arkansas Diamonds
21Omaha Mustangs
22Charleston Rockets
Pacific Division (North)
23Seattle Rangers
24Eugene Bombers
25Victoria Steelers
26Spokane Shockers
27Portland Loggers
Pacific Division (South)
28Las Vegas Cowboys
29Orange County Ramblers
30Sacramento Buccaneers
31Long Beach Admirals
32Sacramento Capitols
Continental Football League Teams 1965-1969 [Ref: 9-11]

World Football Leagues Teams 1972-1975

World Football League Logo [Ref: 15]
NumberTeams
Texas Football League 1968
1West Texas Roughnecks
2Texarkana Titans
3Tulsa Thunderbirds
4Fort Worth Braves
5Mexico Golden Aztecs
Southwestern Pro Football League (West) 1972-1973
6Las Vegas Casinos
7Phoenix Blazers
8Southern California Razorbacks
9New Mexico Thunderbirds
10Denver Oilers
Southwestern Pro Football League (East) 1972-1973
11Dallas Rockets (CoFL)
12San Antonio Toros (CoFL)
13Oklahoma City Wranglers
14Kansas City Steers
World Football League (Eastern) 1974-1975
15Florida Blazers
16Charlotte Hornets
17Philadelphia Bell
18Jacksonville Sharks
19New York Stars
20Birmingham Vulcans
World Football League (Central) 1974-1975
21Birmingham Americans
22Memphis Southmen
23Chicago Fire
24Detroit Wheels
25Chicago Winds
26Houston Texans
World Football League (Western) 1974-1975
27Southern California Sun
28Hawaiians
29Portland Storm
30Shreveport Steamer
31San Antonio Wings
32Portland Thunder
World Football Leagues Teams 1972-1975 [Ref:

Note: The Texas Football League of the late 1960s joined the Continental Football League in 1969. San Antonio Toros and Dallas Rockets of the Texas League joined Southwestern Pro Football League in 1972.

American Football Association 1977-1983

American Football Association Logo [Ref: 23]
NumberTeams
Eastern
1Carolina Chargers
2Jacksonville Firebirds
3Alabama Vulcans
4Kentucky Trackers
5Virginia Hunters
6Orlando Americans
Southeastern
7Georgia Pride
8Alabama Magic
9Tallahassee Statesmen
10Carolina Storm
11Florida Sun
12Jacksonville Sunbirds
Western
13San Antonio Charros
14Mississippi Stars
15Arkansas Champs
16Tulsa Mustangs
American
17Wichita Falls Steelers
18Wichita Falls Roughnecks
19Oklahoma City Warriors
20Houston Seagulls
21Forth Worth Texas Stars
22Houston Titans
Southwest
23Austin Texans
24Texas Wranglers
25Oklahoma Thunder
26San Antonio Bulls
27Houston Armadillos
Northeast
28Racine Gladiators
29Buffalo Geminis
30Virginia Chargers
31Roanoke Valley Express
32Pittsburgh Colts
American Football Association teams 1977-1983 [Ref: 16-22]

United States Football Leagues 1961-1964 / 1983-1985

United States Football League Logo 1983-1985 [Ref: 30]
NumberTeams
United Football League (Eastern) 1961-1964
1Columbus Capitols
2Syracuse Stormers
3Quebec Rifles
4Joliet Chargers
United Football League (Western) 1961-1964
5Grand Rapids Blazers
6Grand Rapids Shamrocks
7Louisville Raiders
8Baton Rouge Red Wings
9Houston Mustangs
10Oklahoma City Drillers
United States Football League (Atlantic) 1983-1985
11Philadelphia Stars
12New Jersey Generals
13Pittsburgh Maulers
14Washington Federals
15Baltimore Stars
16Boston Breakers
United States Football League (Southern) 1983-1985
17Birmingham Stallions
18Tampa Bay Bandits
19New Orleans Breakers
20Memphis Showboats
21Jacksonville Bulls
22Orlando Renegades
United States Football League (Central) 1983-1985
23Michigan Panthers
24Chicago Blitz
25Houston Gamblers
26San Antonio Gunslingers
27Oklahoma Outlaws
United States Football League (Pacific) 1983-1985
28Oakland Invaders
29Los Angeles Express
30Denver Gold
31Arizona Wranglers
32Portland Breakers
United States Football Leagues Teams 1961-1964 / 1983-1985 [Ref: 1-8; 24-29]

Note: Indianapolis Warriors moved from United Football League (1961-1964) to Continental Football League (1965-1969)

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]

Adrian Young

Born: Albert Court, Dublin, Ireand.

Career: Linebacker Philadelphia Eagles (1968-1972), Detroit Lions (1972-1973), Chicago Bears (1973), The Hawaiians (1974-1975)

Biography: Adrian Young, born in Dublin, Ireland, played for the Hawaiians fro 1974-1975, as well as Philadelphia Eagles (1968-1972), Detroit Lions (1972) & Chicago Bears (1973) in the National Football League beforehand. [2]

He left Ireland with his family in the 1960s and settled in Baltimore, Maryland. His father worked in a meat-packing factory, but it wasn’t long before they headed off to California, the family and all their belongings packed in a car, and the traveled across the Appalachian Trail, settling in La Puente, Los Angeles.

He played on the Football team there for Bishop Amat High school, whose coach was ex-Notre Dame Fighting Irish. They won an Inter-State Championship, and Adrian got a scholarship to USC (the University of Southern California). Here he mingled with Hollywood Actors in the Acting department, as well as playing on the same team as O.J. Simpson, who won the Heisman Trophy (annually awarded to the Best College Player) during his time there and went on to become the NFL’s All-Time leading rusher.

He got picked up by Philadelphia Eagles out of College, but his time in the NFL wasn’t as successful as his time in College, as the Eagles were in a period of transition, and chhanging coaches regularly. He played for the Eagles from 1968-1972, and the the detroit Lions and Chicago Bears from 1972 to 1973, before finishing off his career with The Hawaiians of the World Football League in 1974 and 1975.

References

Websites

[1] Pro Football Archives (2019) 1961 Season [Internet] Available from: https://www.profootballarchives.com/1961.html [Accessed 18 October 2019]

[2] Pro Football Archives (2019) 1961 Season | Grand Rapids Shamrocks [Internet] Available from: https://www.profootballarchives.com/1961uflgr.html [Accessed 7 November 2019]

[3] Pro Football Archives (2019) 1962 Season [Internet] Available from: https://www.profootballarchives.com/1962.html [Accessed 18 October 2019]

[4] Pro Football Archives (2019) 1962 Season Grand Rapids Blazers [Internet] Available from: https://www.profootballarchives.com/1962uflgr.html [Accessed 7 November 2019]

[5] Pro Football Archives (2019) 1963 Season [Internet] Available from: https://www.profootballarchives.com/1963.html [Accessed 18 October 2019]

[6] Pro Football Archives (2019) 1963 Season | Toledo Tornadoes [Internet] Available from: https://www.profootballarchives.com/1963ufltol.html [Accessed 7 November 2019 ]

[7] Pro Football Archives (2019) 1964 Season [Internet] Available from: https://www.profootballarchives.com/1964.html [Accessed 18 October 2019]

[8] Pro Football Archives (2019) 1964 Season | Canton Bulldogs [Internet] Available from: https://www.profootballarchives.com/1964uflcan.html [Accessed 7 November 2019 ]

Websites:

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

Sources:

[10] 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/ ]

Images:

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

Bibliography

[12] Gill, Bob et al (2010) “Season-by-Season Listings- Other Leagues” Outsiders II – Minor League and Independent Football 1951-1985 pg. 120-121. St. Johann Press, Haworth, NJ (USA), 2010

Websites

[13] Bob Braunwart, The Coffin Corner, Pro Football Researchers Association (1988) WFL by Team Records [Internet] Available from: http://profootballresearchers.com/archives/Website_Files/Coffin_Corner/10-03-337.pdf [Accessed 9 October 2018]

[14] Pro Football Archives (2019) Adrian Young [Internet] Available from: https://www.profootballarchives.com/playery/youn00400.html [Accessed 12 October 2019]

Images

[15] Birmingham Pro Sports (2019) Birmingham Americans History | Logo World Football League [Internet] Available from: https://www.birminghamprosports.com/birminghamamericans/logo%20world%20football%20league.jpg [Accessed 11 February 2019]

Websites

[16] Birmingham Pro Sports (2019) AFA 1977 [Internet] Available from: http://www.birminghamprosports.com/afatribute/afa1977.html [Accessed 25 November 2019]

[17] Birmingham Pro Sports (2019) AFA 1978 [Internet] Available from: http://www.birminghamprosports.com/afatribute/afa1978.html [Accessed 25 November 2019]

[18] Birmingham Pro Sports (2019) AFA 1979 [Internet] Available from: http://www.birminghamprosports.com/afatribute/afa1979.html [Accessed 25 November 2019]

[19] Birmingham Pro Sports (2019) AFA 1980 [Internet] Available from: http://www.birminghamprosports.com/afatribute/afa1980.html [Accessed 25 November 2019]

[20] Birmingham Pro Sports (2019) AFA 1981 [Internet] Available from: http://www.birminghamprosports.com/afatribute/afa1981.html [Accessed 25 November 2019]

[21] Birmingham Pro Sports (2019) AFA 1982 [Internet] Available from: http://www.birminghamprosports.com/afatribute/afa1982.html [Accessed 25 November 2019]

[22] Birmingham Pro Sports (2019) AFA 1983 [Internet] Available from: http://www.birminghamprosports.com/afatribute/afa1983.html [Accessed 25 November 2019]

Images

[23] Birmingham Pro Sports (2019) AFA Logo [Internet] Available from: http://www.birminghamprosports.com/alabamavulcans/logo%20american%20football%20association.jpg [Accessed 25 November 2019]

Websites

[24] USFL.info (2017) 1983 Standings [Internet] Available from: http://www.usfl.info/1983standings.html [Accessed 3 February 2017]

[25] USFL.info (2017) 1983 Playoffs [Internet] Available from: http://www.usfl.info/1983playoffs.html [Accessed 3 February 2017]

[26] USFL.info (2017) 1984 Standings [Internet] Available from: http://www.usfl.info/1984standings.html [Accessed 3 February 2017]

[27] USFL.info (2017) 1984 Playoffs [Internet] Available from: http://www.usfl.info/1984playoffs.html [Accessed 3 February 2017]

[28] USFL.info (2017) 1985 Standings [Internet] Available from: http://www.usfl.info/1985standings.html [Accessed 3 February 2017]

[29] USFL.info (2017) 1985 Playoffs [Internet] Available from: http://www.usfl.info/1985playoffs.html [Accessed 3 February 2017]

Images

[30] Sports Logos History (2018) USFL Logo 1983-1985 [Internet] Available from: https://sportslogohistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/united_states_football_league.png [Accessed 31 December 2019]

Websites

[31] O’Callaghan, Eoin (2020) “Hollywood, the NFL, and OJ – the remarkable tale of the Dublin kid who lived the American dream” The 42.ie. Suday, 2 February 2020. [Internet] Available from: https://www.the42.ie/adrian-young-nfl-4987121-Feb2020/ [Accessed 5 February 2020]

Acknowledgements

Thanks to Michael O’Callaghan.

About this document

Researched, compiled and written by Enda Mulcahy for the

Eirball | Irish North American and World Sports Archive

Last Updated: 7 March 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.

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