Football teams/leagues in your alternative world

Does the climate allow for a 38 game season up there? Even with summer football? Even with lots of scheduled games on midweeks?
Remember - you lose dates to internationals and FIFA/UEFA will demand several weeks every two years for the World Cup/Euro.
The Allsvenskan (or is it Superettan? I always get my Swedish divisions mixed up ...) plays a 30 game season today.
I'm not saying that a 20 team league cannot be done - but please look at available matchdays.
August to late May - 42 weeks or so (with no break)
Mid March to late November - 36 weeks

The Scandinavian leagues currently have around 16 teams each, so it's not unfeasible.
 

TruthfulPanda

Gone Fishin'
16 teams = 30 games
20 teams = 38 games
So you either:
- add 8 midweek games
- add 8 extra weeks/two months to the season
- or you add a mix - e.g. a St-W-Su-St-W-Su schedule for a month/4 weeks.
The most games are - AFAIK - in Finland. 12 teams playing a triple season, 33 games.
 
Those French possessions which have teams can theoretically compete in the French Cup. Tahiti’s AS Venus being one example I think (hoping wiki backs me up when I check) so possibly feasible that s British owned North America could compete in the F.A Cup? Lol Rochester Ragibg Rhinos vs Grimsby Town...,
 
POD: the Atlantic League is established in the early 2000s as envisioned by Harry van Raaij and Peter Fossen, comprising teams from Belgium, the Netherlands, Portugal and Scotland; the experiment is successful, and it's soon emulated by Austria, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Slovakia and Slovenia, whose top teams form the Danubian League in 2018, a century after the end of Austria-Hungary as a sovereign state.

1) Red Bull Salzburg (AUS)
2) Viktoria Plzen (CZE)
3) Sparta Praha (CZE)
4) Dinamo Zagreb (CRO)
5) Slavia Praha (CZE)
6) Slovan Liberec (CZE)
7) HNK Rijeka (CRO)
8) Rapid Wien (AUS)
9) FK Jablonec (CZE)
10) Sturm Graz (AUS)
11) Hajduk Split (CRO)
12) NK Maribor (SLN)
13) FK Mlada Boleslav (CZE)
14) FC Flyeralarm Admira (AUS)
15) Austria Wien (AUS)
16) FK Teplice (CZE)
17) Sigma Olomouc (CZE)
18) MSK Zilina (SLK)
19) Slovan Bratislava (SLK)
20) Spartak Trnava (SLK)
21) FK Dukla Praha (CZE)
22) Videoton FC (HUN)
23) CASHPOINT SCR Altach (AUS)
24) Ferencvaros (HUN)
 

Pangur

Donor
With Australian Football I'd like to see promotion-relegation bought in as the driver of the national competition in the 80s instead of fake interstate teams being invented. Surely Port Adelaide could slot in with the VFL at a high level without any problems, especially if they bought the 2nd best SA and the top 2 WA clubs with them.

I assume you mean the AFL rather than the state leagues. If so I would agree with you and with 18 teams its quite doable
 
I assume you mean the AFL rather than the state leagues. If so I would agree with you and with 18 teams its quite doable

I would have liked to see the AFL formed from existing clubs in the WAFL and SANFL joining the VFL, but I don't know how relegation would work. Would the VFA be the equal of the SANFL and WAFL, would winning clubs from these leagues play off for promotion to the AFL, and further could clubs lower down the food chain vie for slots in these state leagues? And where does that leave Tassie and Canberra?

EDIT: I've done a bit of digging around, the history of the VFA in and around Wiki is pretty profitable.

There were talks of amalgamation of the VFL and VFA in the late 40s, but the talks broke down over promotion-relegation; the VFA wanted automatic but the VFL wanted their wooden spooner to play off against the VFA premier.

At interstate carnivals over the 1950s and 1960s, the VFA generally competed at a similar standard to Tasmania as the fourth- or fifth-best team in the competition.

In 1961 the VFA formed 2 divisions with automatic relegation/promotion of the wooden spooner/premier of 1st div to/from 2nd div, this was accompanied by admission of more suburban clubs into the VFA.

I think there's a trajectory in there somewhere for a comprehensive AFL based on promotion/relegation.
 
Last edited:
Alternate A-League:

  • Strikers and Roar; Wanderers and Sydney (this ones a bit ASB perhaps); South Melbourne and Victory all come in at the same time
  • NZ Knights is sold to Auckland City, Wellington Phoenix becomes an expansion franchise
  • Gold Coast United, NQ Fury don't fold.
  • Canberra, Hobart and Wollongong are brought into the league
  • Red Bull (in last year or two) create expansion team in Perth

  1. Townsville Fury
  2. Brisbane Roar
  3. Brisbane Strikers
  4. Gold Coast United
  5. Newcastle Jets
  6. Central Coast Mariners
  7. Sydney FC
  8. Western Sydney Wanderers
  9. Wollongong Wolves
  10. Canberra United
  11. Melbourne Victory
  12. South Melbourne United
  13. Hobart FC
  14. Adelaide United
  15. Perth Glory
  16. RB Perth
  17. Auckland City
  18. Wellington Phoenix
The MLS/NASL/USL would also be an interesting one to do (in terms of a div 1, 2 and 3 situation).
 
History of Association Football in the CSA
In this world the CSA always had close relations with the Prussians and inevitably the Germans so Soccer was bound to make the leap and it did eventually for the first time in 1909 when the American Association of Football was founded in Richmond. And in 1911 the first Domestic Competition, the National Cup was created. A small club from Richmond's Tredegar Factories, Tredegar Steel Richmond SC won the Cup 7 Times in a row and quickly established Soccer as a Popular Sport. However by the time the Great War had finished Soccer had fallen from it's high popularity to third most popular sport after Baseball and Football. Still Popular however the League of Confederate Soccer was formed in 1921. These were the teams.

League of Confederate Soccer
Tredegar Steel Richmond Soccer Club: Richmond
Senators Hill Football Association: Richmond
Old Dominion Kaisers: Virginia Beach
Banditos FC: Wilmington, North Carolina
Veterans Athletic Club: Petersburg

Although it was the Nations only Professional tournament all the teams excluding Banditos, were from Virginia. And in 1924 New Orleans Business Magnate, Zebulon York V started the Western Soccer League to compete for the National Cup. The WSL had 6 teams

Western Soccer League
New Orleans City Soccer Club: New Orleans
York Industries Athletic Association: New Orleans
San Antonio AFC: San Antonio
Texas United: Dallas
New Orleans Metropolitans: Metairie, Louisiana
Louisiana United: Shreveport
Cajun Hunting Club: Lafayette, Louisiana

The WSL and the LCS were gaining in popularity and a normal crowd could expect about 10,000 Fans. Although still junior to Baseball, Soccer found itself gaining on Football. And in another advance for Soccer, in 1931 Henry Clay and the Party for Confederate Equality had taken control of the Nation and united the the two competitions into the National Soccer League and organized the Soccer Final to be played in the National Stadium in Richmond, which was being constructed.

In 1933 the National Cup was played in the National Soccer Stadium between TS Richmond and York IAA in front of 30,000 fans. In 1932 the CSA had been reorganized as the Grand Republic of the South and in 1934 they invaded and by 1937 had annexed Mexico. So in 1938 4 Teams from Mexico were chosen to join the National Soccer League these temporary teams that lasted until 1944 were Nexaca, America, Asturia and Atlante. America won the Cup in 1941 and were the only Mexican team to do so.

After the fall of Clay and the PCE to Anti-Progressive forces and US Troops the NSL remained intact minus the four Mexican Teams and with less favor from the government. Clay had seen Soccer as a way to unite his People new President James Strom Thurmond believed American Sports like Football and Baseball should be the most prominent and considered not allowing the Soccer Final to be played in the NSS, but later relented. In 1955 the National Cup Final was broadcast by York Telecommunications Network Nationwide but the ratings were less then the that of the PFA or the Baseball Leagues. In 1970 it dropped below Basketball and currently remains the CSA's fourth most popular sport, with it's two powerhouses TS Richmond and York IAA being the most popular teams.

As for the national Team the CSA was present at the First World Cup in 1930 and placed second in Group 3 and placed 7th overall. They would not qualify again until 1966 when they trumped North Korea then Portugal and went all the way to the Semi-Finals where they lost 4-0 to England. They have not done well internationally since.

National Soccer League

East Division
Tredegar Steel Richmond Soccer Club: aka TS Richmond, TSRSC or the Steel Kings.
Virginia Beach-Old Dominion United: aka the Oldies: Formed from Virginia Beach- Old Dominion Merger in 1970.
Senators Football Club: aka SFC: Descended from Senators Hill, name changed in 1949.
Veterans Athletic Club: aka the Vets.
Banditos FC: Home in Wilmington, North Carolina
Miami Kaisers Sport Club.

West Division
York Industries Athletic Association: aka the Zebbies.
Lone Star Athletics-Houston: aka the Stars: Play in Houston
Texas United: aka the Rangers: Play in Dallas
New Orleans City: aka the Citizens.
Metropolitan Metairie FC: aka the Metros.

National Cup
1911. TS Richmond
1912. TS Richmond
1913. TS Richmond
1914. TS Richmond
1919. TS Richmond
1920. TS Richmond
1921. TS Richmond
1922. Banditos FC
1923. Senators Hill FA
1924. Senators Hill FA over York IAA
1925. Senators Hill FA over York IAA
1926. Senators Hill FA over Cajun Hunting Club
1927. Cajun Hunting Club over TS Richmond
1928. Veterans AC over Cajun Hunting Club
1929. York IAA over Veterans AC
1930. York IAA over TS Richmond
1931. York IAA over TS Richmond
1932. York IAA over OD Kaisers
1933. TS Richmond over York IAA
1934. TS Richmond over York IAA
1935. OD Kaisers over York IAA
1936. York IAA over Veterans AC
1937. York IAA over Veterans AC
1938. Veterans AC over New Orleans City
1939. York IAA over OD Kaisers
1940. TS Richmond over York IAA
1941. America over TS Richmond
1947. TS Richmond over York IAA
1948. York IAA over TS Richmond
1949. York IAA over OD Kaisers
1950. York IAA over TS Richmond
1951. LSA-Houston over TS Richmond
1952. LSA-Houston over TS Richmond
1953. TS Richmond over York IAA
1954. TS Richmond over LSA-Houston
1955. TS Richmond over York IAA
1956. York IAA over TS Richmond
1957. York IAA over Banditos FC
1958. York IAA over OD Kaisers
1959. OD Kaisers over York IAA
1960. Metropolitan MFC over OD Kaisers
1961. Virginia Beach over Metropolitan MFC
1962. OD Kaisers over Metropolitan MFC
1963. York IAA over OD Kaisers
1964. Banditos FC over York IAA
1965. Banditos FC over York IAA
1966. York IAA over Banditos FC
1967. York IAA over Veterans AC
1968. York IAA over Veterans AC
1969. Veterans AC over York IAA
1970. Veterans AC over York IAA
1971. York IAA over Veterans AC
1972. York IAA over TS Richmond
1973. York IAA over Veterans AC
1974. Veterans AC over York IAA
1975. Veterans AC over LSA-Houston
1976. LSA-Houston over TS Richmond
1977. Veterans AC over LSA-Houston
1978. York IAA over TS Richmond
1979. York IAA over Veterans AC
1980. York IAA over Banditos FC
1981. TS Richmond over York IAA
1982. LSA-Houston over Banditos FC
1983. TS Richmond over LSA-Houston
1984. York IAA over Banditos FC
1985. Banditos FC over LSA-Houston
1986. Banditos FC over York IAA
1987. York IAA over Banditos FC
1988. York IAA over TS Richmond
1989. York IAA over Banditos FC
1990. Banditos FC over York IAA
1991. Banditos FC over Texas United
1992. VB-OD United over Texas United
1993. Texas United over Miami Kaisers
1994. Miami Kaisers over York IAA
1995. York IAA over Miami Kaisers
1996. York IAA over TS Richmond
1997. York IAA over TS Richmond
1998. York IAA over Miami Kaisers
1999. York IAA over TS Richmond
2000. York IAA over TS Richmond
2001. TS Richmond over York IAA
2002. Metropolitan Metairie over TS Richmond
2003. TS Richmond over York IAA
2004. York IAA over TS Richmond
2005. York IAA over Senators FC
2006. York IAA over TS Richmond
2007. Senators FC over Metropolitan Metaire
2008. Senators FC over York IAA
2009. York IAA over Senators FC

Sorry if this has to early a POD.
 
History of Association Football in the CSA
In this world the CSA always had close relations with the Prussians and inevitably the Germans so Soccer was bound to make the leap and it did eventually for the first time in 1909 when the American Association of Football was founded in Richmond. And in 1911 the first Domestic Competition, the National Cup was created. A small club from Richmond's Tredegar Factories, Tredegar Steel Richmond SC won the Cup 7 Times in a row and quickly established Soccer as a Popular Sport. However by the time the Great War had finished Soccer had fallen from it's high popularity to third most popular sport after Baseball and Football. Still Popular however the League of Confederate Soccer was formed in 1921. These were the teams.

League of Confederate Soccer
Tredegar Steel Richmond Soccer Club: Richmond
Senators Hill Football Association: Richmond
Old Dominion Kaisers: Virginia Beach
Banditos FC: Wilmington, North Carolina
Veterans Athletic Club: Petersburg

Although it was the Nations only Professional tournament all the teams excluding Banditos, were from Virginia. And in 1924 New Orleans Business Magnate, Zebulon York V started the Western Soccer League to compete for the National Cup. The WSL had 6 teams

Western Soccer League
New Orleans City Soccer Club: New Orleans
York Industries Athletic Association: New Orleans
San Antonio AFC: San Antonio
Texas United: Dallas
New Orleans Metropolitans: Metairie, Louisiana
Louisiana United: Shreveport
Cajun Hunting Club: Lafayette, Louisiana

The WSL and the LCS were gaining in popularity and a normal crowd could expect about 10,000 Fans. Although still junior to Baseball, Soccer found itself gaining on Football. And in another advance for Soccer, in 1931 Henry Clay and the Party for Confederate Equality had taken control of the Nation and united the the two competitions into the National Soccer League and organized the Soccer Final to be played in the National Stadium in Richmond, which was being constructed.

In 1933 the National Cup was played in the National Soccer Stadium between TS Richmond and York IAA in front of 30,000 fans. In 1932 the CSA had been reorganized as the Grand Republic of the South and in 1934 they invaded and by 1937 had annexed Mexico. So in 1938 4 Teams from Mexico were chosen to join the National Soccer League these temporary teams that lasted until 1944 were Nexaca, America, Asturia and Atlante. America won the Cup in 1941 and were the only Mexican team to do so.

After the fall of Clay and the PCE to Anti-Progressive forces and US Troops the NSL remained intact minus the four Mexican Teams and with less favor from the government. Clay had seen Soccer as a way to unite his People new President James Strom Thurmond believed American Sports like Football and Baseball should be the most prominent and considered not allowing the Soccer Final to be played in the NSS, but later relented. In 1955 the National Cup Final was broadcast by York Telecommunications Network Nationwide but the ratings were less then the that of the PFA or the Baseball Leagues. In 1970 it dropped below Basketball and currently remains the CSA's fourth most popular sport, with it's two powerhouses TS Richmond and York IAA being the most popular teams.

As for the national Team the CSA was present at the First World Cup in 1930 and placed second in Group 3 and placed 7th overall. They would not qualify again until 1966 when they trumped North Korea then Portugal and went all the way to the Semi-Finals where they lost 4-0 to England. They have not done well internationally since.

National Soccer League

East Division
Tredegar Steel Richmond Soccer Club: aka TS Richmond, TSRSC or the Steel Kings.
Virginia Beach-Old Dominion United: aka the Oldies: Formed from Virginia Beach- Old Dominion Merger in 1970.
Senators Football Club: aka SFC: Descended from Senators Hill, name changed in 1949.
Veterans Athletic Club: aka the Vets.
Banditos FC: Home in Wilmington, North Carolina
Miami Kaisers Sport Club.

West Division
York Industries Athletic Association: aka the Zebbies.
Lone Star Athletics-Houston: aka the Stars: Play in Houston
Texas United: aka the Rangers: Play in Dallas
New Orleans City: aka the Citizens.
Metropolitan Metairie FC: aka the Metros.

National Cup
1911. TS Richmond
1912. TS Richmond
1913. TS Richmond
1914. TS Richmond
1919. TS Richmond
1920. TS Richmond
1921. TS Richmond
1922. Banditos FC
1923. Senators Hill FA
1924. Senators Hill FA over York IAA
1925. Senators Hill FA over York IAA
1926. Senators Hill FA over Cajun Hunting Club
1927. Cajun Hunting Club over TS Richmond
1928. Veterans AC over Cajun Hunting Club
1929. York IAA over Veterans AC
1930. York IAA over TS Richmond
1931. York IAA over TS Richmond
1932. York IAA over OD Kaisers
1933. TS Richmond over York IAA
1934. TS Richmond over York IAA
1935. OD Kaisers over York IAA
1936. York IAA over Veterans AC
1937. York IAA over Veterans AC
1938. Veterans AC over New Orleans City
1939. York IAA over OD Kaisers
1940. TS Richmond over York IAA
1941. America over TS Richmond
1947. TS Richmond over York IAA
1948. York IAA over TS Richmond
1949. York IAA over OD Kaisers
1950. York IAA over TS Richmond
1951. LSA-Houston over TS Richmond
1952. LSA-Houston over TS Richmond
1953. TS Richmond over York IAA
1954. TS Richmond over LSA-Houston
1955. TS Richmond over York IAA
1956. York IAA over TS Richmond
1957. York IAA over Banditos FC
1958. York IAA over OD Kaisers
1959. OD Kaisers over York IAA
1960. Metropolitan MFC over OD Kaisers
1961. Virginia Beach over Metropolitan MFC
1962. OD Kaisers over Metropolitan MFC
1963. York IAA over OD Kaisers
1964. Banditos FC over York IAA
1965. Banditos FC over York IAA
1966. York IAA over Banditos FC
1967. York IAA over Veterans AC
1968. York IAA over Veterans AC
1969. Veterans AC over York IAA
1970. Veterans AC over York IAA
1971. York IAA over Veterans AC
1972. York IAA over TS Richmond
1973. York IAA over Veterans AC
1974. Veterans AC over York IAA
1975. Veterans AC over LSA-Houston
1976. LSA-Houston over TS Richmond
1977. Veterans AC over LSA-Houston
1978. York IAA over TS Richmond
1979. York IAA over Veterans AC
1980. York IAA over Banditos FC
1981. TS Richmond over York IAA
1982. LSA-Houston over Banditos FC
1983. TS Richmond over LSA-Houston
1984. York IAA over Banditos FC
1985. Banditos FC over LSA-Houston
1986. Banditos FC over York IAA
1987. York IAA over Banditos FC
1988. York IAA over TS Richmond
1989. York IAA over Banditos FC
1990. Banditos FC over York IAA
1991. Banditos FC over Texas United
1992. VB-OD United over Texas United
1993. Texas United over Miami Kaisers
1994. Miami Kaisers over York IAA
1995. York IAA over Miami Kaisers
1996. York IAA over TS Richmond
1997. York IAA over TS Richmond
1998. York IAA over Miami Kaisers
1999. York IAA over TS Richmond
2000. York IAA over TS Richmond
2001. TS Richmond over York IAA
2002. Metropolitan Metairie over TS Richmond
2003. TS Richmond over York IAA
2004. York IAA over TS Richmond
2005. York IAA over Senators FC
2006. York IAA over TS Richmond
2007. Senators FC over Metropolitan Metaire
2008. Senators FC over York IAA
2009. York IAA over Senators FC

Sorry if this has to early a POD.


This is awesome
 

Pangur

Donor
I would have liked to see the AFL formed from existing clubs in the WAFL and SANFL joining the VFL, but I don't know how relegation would work. Would the VFA be the equal of the SANFL and WAFL, would winning clubs from these leagues play off for promotion to the AFL, and further could clubs lower down the food chain vie for slots in these state leagues? And where does that leave Tassie and Canberra?

EDIT: I've done a bit of digging around, the history of the VFA in and around Wiki is pretty profitable.

There were talks of amalgamation of the VFL and VFA in the late 40s, but the talks broke down over promotion-relegation; the VFA wanted automatic but the VFL wanted their wooden spooner to play off against the VFA premier.

At interstate carnivals over the 1950s and 1960s, the VFA generally competed at a similar standard to Tasmania as the fourth- or fifth-best team in the competition.

In 1961 the VFA formed 2 divisions with automatic relegation/promotion of the wooden spooner/premier of 1st div to/from 2nd div, this was accompanied by admission of more suburban clubs into the VFA.

I think there's a trajectory in there somewhere for a comprehensive AFL based on promotion/relegation.
Lots of good stuff here! Cripes that makes for big league however I cant see it hurting the game one bit, quite the opposite. Tassie and Canberra? I fail to see what the hang up the AFL has about Tassie, why they did not go there rather than NSW or Qld to expand is beyond me. Canberra I see differntly as it seems to be to small and has both Northern Vic and Southern NSW to content with. Your sugestion may also make a road for the NT to get in the mix which frankly rocks!
 
Lots of good stuff here! Cripes that makes for big league however I cant see it hurting the game one bit, quite the opposite. Tassie and Canberra? I fail to see what the hang up the AFL has about Tassie, why they did not go there rather than NSW or Qld to expand is beyond me. Canberra I see differntly as it seems to be to small and has both Northern Vic and Southern NSW to content with. Your sugestion may also make a road for the NT to get in the mix which frankly rocks!

cause the people at AFL house are idiots who think its a bigger deal to try an expand their game into western sydney (where they don't even draw 10k) than to secure heartlands (such as tassie, which they could lose to football if they're not careful and Darwin).

The NT is a must, sure Darwin may only have less than 200k, but it would be a bit like geelong i'd imagine.
 
Well, here's an old post of mine about gridiron football leagues on a thread discussing sports leagues in a TL where the Confederacy survived.

*The CFL is a registered trademark of the Canadian Football League, the Columbia Football League, and the Confederate Football league.
 
cause the people at AFL house are idiots who think its a bigger deal to try an expand their game into western sydney (where they don't even draw 10k) than to secure heartlands (such as tassie, which they could lose to football if they're not careful and Darwin).

The NT is a must, sure Darwin may only have less than 200k, but it would be a bit like geelong i'd imagine.

Yep, marketing dirtbags have taken control of sport in general.

Lots of good stuff here! Cripes that makes for big league however I cant see it hurting the game one bit, quite the opposite. Tassie and Canberra? I fail to see what the hang up the AFL has about Tassie, why they did not go there rather than NSW or Qld to expand is beyond me. Canberra I see differntly as it seems to be to small and has both Northern Vic and Southern NSW to content with. Your sugestion may also make a road for the NT to get in the mix which frankly rocks!

The Tassie 'market' is 'served' by Hawthorn playing a handful of games down there.

However I imagine that if promotion/relegation was established between the VLF/VFA in maybe 1949 and the VFA bought it in as per OTL in 1961 then perhaps Tassie sides could enter the VFA and work up from there. It would be hard to deny a Tassie side entry into the AFL that gets formed in the 80s if they'd played in the VFA and been promoted into the VFL as a result.
 
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