Chapter 01: Introduction
A word from our storyteller:
"Well, this should be fun. The CFL story is something I love working on for the site. I was shocked so many people loved it when I started it. To be honest, I honestly love writing but I wish I discovered this site a long time ago, like back in high school. While I lack in showcasing art for the story. I try to make up with a good story (give or take a mistake here or there). But lately, I been going through writer's block and the CFL AU story is sadly on hold till I can come back to finish the 2000's. So in the meantime, i was sitting on this alternative timeline of American Football (and by proxy Canadian Football as well) for some time and I finally wrote down a chapter or two. Unlike the CFL AU timeline, the training wheels are off so this will be fun to try out. This timeline doesn't have the NFL debuting in 1920. instead the American and Canadian games have different histories in their retrospective countries. So this should be fun. Without further ado, let's learn about the history of the National Football Association."
NFA
National Football Association
"Well, this should be fun. The CFL story is something I love working on for the site. I was shocked so many people loved it when I started it. To be honest, I honestly love writing but I wish I discovered this site a long time ago, like back in high school. While I lack in showcasing art for the story. I try to make up with a good story (give or take a mistake here or there). But lately, I been going through writer's block and the CFL AU story is sadly on hold till I can come back to finish the 2000's. So in the meantime, i was sitting on this alternative timeline of American Football (and by proxy Canadian Football as well) for some time and I finally wrote down a chapter or two. Unlike the CFL AU timeline, the training wheels are off so this will be fun to try out. This timeline doesn't have the NFL debuting in 1920. instead the American and Canadian games have different histories in their retrospective countries. So this should be fun. Without further ado, let's learn about the history of the National Football Association."
NFA
National Football Association
The year was 1945, World War II was coming to a close and American Football was growing to new heights thanks to the collegiate game. Teams like Norte Dame from South Bend, Indiana to the Army Black Knights from Westpoint. College football was its own beast. The professional game was absent at the time. The previous football leagues that were professional died off thanks to the great depression of the thirties and when WWII started in the Pacific Coast, it ended the pro leagues outright. However, Arch Ward, inventer of the College Football All-Star game had plans.
Ward by late-1945 would gather eight businessmen in New York City to establish a new professional league. Originally dubbed as the All-American Football Conference, Arch Ward decided to redub the league to the National Football Association to give it more legitimacy.
Team Introduction:
Eastern Division:
Washington Federals: Founded (1922)Eastern Division:
Colors: Navy Blue, Green, White
Stadium: Griffith Stadium
Owner: Charlie Foxx
Founded as a Semi-Pro football team in the roaring twenties. The Federals played in Baltimore, Maryland for most of the team's history. At one point the team was to be dub the Baltimore Stallions, the team was sold to the current owner, Charlie Foxx, who was good friends with the Clark Griffith, co-owner of the Washington Senators of the MLB. Griffith would let the Federals play in Griffith Stadium so they can be admitted into the new league. They were members of the Eastern Football League
New York Football Club: Founded (1931)
Colors: Blue, White, Green
Stadium: Polo Grounds
Owner: Antonio Barone
Founded on July 4th, 1931 in Brooklyn. The NYFC was formed by Brooklyn Italians FC owner Antonio Barone as an attempt to bring American Football to New York City. Antonio Barone believes the team will succeed in the Big Apple and managed to convince the owners of the Polo Grounds to play their home games there. They were also members of the Eastern Football League before it shut down in early 1942 due to the war.
Philadelphia Minutemen: Founded (1945)
Colors: Red, White, Gold
Stadium: Franklin Field
Owner: Peter Harris
Founded with the league’s inception in late 1945. The Minutemen are the third professional American Football team in the city. Before them, the Frankford Bees and the Philadelphia Americans played in or near the city. The team is owned by Peter Harris who himself was a former player of both squads before the teams disband. The team will play in Franklin Field in Philadelphia.
Rhode Island Beacons: Founded (1925)
Colors: Purple, White, Yellow
Stadium: Meade Field
Owner: Fred Ashland
Founded as a team in the New England Football Conference back in 1925. The team had its fair share of ups and downs over the years. Consider the underdogs of the new league for a reason. Playing in Meade Field at the University of Rhode Island, the team was named after the lighthouses on the New England coast. Despite the smaller stadium, the fanbase is passionate about the Beacons and rather die than see them fold.
Western Division:
Pennsylvania Coal Miners: Founded (1915)Colors: Yellow, Brown, Black
Stadium: Forbes Field
Owner: Garrett Smith
The oldest team in the state of Pennsylvania, let alone the league. The Coal Miners are named after the mine workers. Playing in Forbes Field gave the team some advantages over the other teams in the Ohio Football League before it shut down. The obvious thing was that the team had money and can spend it. Smith was also someone hard to deal with, despite being caring to kids. Former player, Harry O’Leary recalled an event where Smith fired a player who was abusive to his family. The two had a confrontation which the Ohio League didn’t like and both men were kicked out of the league. Garrett would file a suit against the league and would win. The Coal Miners would become the first established team to join the league.
Cleveland Spartans: Founded (1928)
Colors: Green, Grey, White
Stadium: League Park
Owner: Bud Williams
Originally owned by Jacob Miles. Former coach Bud Williams bought the team for 5,000 Dollars in 1940 and would play in Shaw High School Stadium on and off until the team was allowed entry into the NFA. Dubbed the Spartans. The team would hire the legendary Paul Brown from Ohio State as their first head coach. The team is moving to League Park, home of the Cleveland Indians of the American League when the NFA season starts. Williams hopes the team will be a success in the NFA compared to their time in the Ohio League.
Montreal Saints: Founded (1930 (As a member of Quebec Football League))
Colors: Blue, White, Gold
Stadium: Delorimier Stadium
Owner: Gene Snider
The league only non-US team. The Saints play in Delrimier Stadium in Montreal. Despite the fact that Saints are from Canada, Arch Ward allowed Snider to bring his team over from the QFL. Despite some backlash from the Quebec League, the NFA would continue onward with the Saints playing in their home stadium. Despite both the American and Canadian rules being a bit different. Gene Snider is ready to let the Saints march onward. The team name comes from Snider himself, as the saint was his nickname when playing baseball in Montreal.
Chicago Wildcats: Founded (1938)
Colors: Orange and Black
Stadium: Wrigley Field
Owner: Ernie Lewis
The last team to join, and the second youngest. The Wildcats are named after Ernie Lewis’s nickname back in Army. Lewis, a longtime friend of Arch Ward, was ready to bring his Wildcats into the new league. Playing in Wrigley Field, hosted its fair share of American Football over the years. Ernie hopes to bring top-level American Football to Chicago, or as he dubbed Chicago, “The New York of the Midwest”.
Arch Ward during an interview on CBS radio announced the league will play a twelve-game regular season and will conclude, at least for the first few seasons, with a championship game that will be hosted by the team with the best record in both divisions at the end of the regular season. With Ward and the eight-team owners and investors looking forward to a stable first season, the league might run into issues with a founding club's former home.
"Hope you guys enjoy this and maybe with this story I can get motivated to return to the CFL AU. Chapter two will be uploaded later. Till then, have a good day."