NAFL 1913-14 season and the USFA

June 22, 2021 |  Categories:  NAFL  

Prior to the 1913-14 season, both the American Football Association and the American Amateur Football Association filed for sanctioning with FIFA as the country's governing body. With broader support, the AAFA had the upper hand over the AFA which was older but only centered in the US northeast. To strengthen its position, the leaders of the AAFA formally dissolved that organization and replaced it with an even more inclusive organization, the U.S.A. Football Association. The USAFA sent a new application to substitute the AAFA's application already under consideration. The AFA's application was not even considered.

Seeing the writing on the wall, in early August the NAFL, which formed the core of the AFA, agreed to join the USAFA if it was sanctioned by FIFA. On August 11, an attempt was made to have the AFA join the USAFA but it was voted down on a slim 5-4 margin. On August 15, FIFA granted provisional recognition to the USAFA and the following day the AFA decided to become part of the USAFA by a 10-1 vote.

Clan MacDonald returned and St. George Field Club from New York was added to bring the number of NAFL clubs up to 12. Playing with only ten men, Clan MacDonald beat Wilberforce F.C. 17-0 on January 25. This was thought to be a record score in soccer at the time. Two weeks later Wilberforce withdrew from the league due to lack of fan support and the desertion of several key players.