Cosmopolitan Soccer League
Founded1923; 101 years ago (1923)
First season1923–24
CountryUnited States
ConfederationCONCACAF
(North American Football Union)
Number of teams112
Promotion toEastern Premier Soccer League
Relegation toCosmopolitan Soccer League Division 2
Domestic cup(s)U.S. Open Cup
International cup(s)CONCACAF Champions League
Current championsCentral Park Rangers FC Reds
(1st title)
Most championshipsGerman-Hungarian SC
(11 titles)
Websitecosmosoccerleague.com

The Cosmopolitan Soccer League is a regional soccer league consisting of semi-pro and amateur teams based in and around New York City. Established in 1923, it is one of the oldest soccer leagues in the United States and has contributed greatly to the nation's soccer history.

Currently, the league has four open divisions. The first two divisions require all clubs to also field reserve teams, a requirement that some leagues have abolished, but which the Cosmopolitan Soccer League believes makes its competition some of the strongest in United States soccer. The league also has an over-30 and an over-40 division. The league is USASA-affiliated.

The Cosmopolitan Soccer League plays a traditional international schedule with competition beginning the second weekend of September and running through June, with a winter break from late December to early March. During the winter months, the league runs an indoor tournament due to New York's cold climate.

History

The Cosmopolitan Soccer League was formed as the German American Soccer League in 1923. In 1927, the association changed its name to the German American Football Association. The league was highly successful in the 1920s and, in New York, was behind only baseball and basketball in terms of popularity. The league struggled through the Great Depression and by the 1940s the game was viewed by most Americans as an "ethnic" sport. Attendance and popularity declined sharply until the founding of the North American Soccer League in 1968. By the mid-1970s, league officials recognized that in order to maintain the league's viability in the same market as the star-studded New York Cosmos, it needed to appeal to a wider audience and in 1977, it voted to change its name to the Cosmopolitan Soccer League. Prior to the professionalizing of the modern American game, the United States national team often consisted of Cosmopolitan League players.

In 1923, five teams, S.C. New York, Wiener Sports Club, D.S.C. Brooklyn, Hoboken FC 1912 and Newark S.C., banded together to found the German American Soccer League. As the name suggests, the teams were largely composed of recent immigrants from Central Europe, primarily Germany. The next year, four more teams, Swiss F.C., Elizabeth S.C., S.C. Eintracht and Germania S.C., joined the league. The league renamed itself the German American Football Association in 1927. While the GASL began as a single division league, it added a junior division in 1933. That year, the league also held its first indoor tournament. In addition to its junior division, the GASL also added several lower divisions over the decades.

In 1943, all of the U.S. leagues suffered from significant player losses from the U.S. participation in World War II. In order to continue to play a competitive schedule, the GASL joined with the Eastern District Soccer League to run a joint season. Following the end of the war in 1945, the GASL found itself turning from a lack of quality players to an overabundance as Central European professionals left their war ravaged countries to move to the United States. The league experienced a second influx of talented players when Hungarians fled their country following the Soviet Union crushing the 1956 Hungarian Revolution.

In 1964, the GASL joined with the professional American Soccer League in a short lived experiment. That year, the two leagues formed the Eastern Professional Soccer Conference which competed during the GASL/ASL off season. The league was a failure and did not complete its one season in existence.[1] While the merger with the ASL was less than successful, the GASL undertook a cooperative agreement with another league, this time the International Soccer League (ISL) in 1965. That season, the GASL All Star team entered the ISL as the New Yorker, going to the final where it lost to Polonia Bytom 5–1.[2] The string of league mergers continued in 1974 when the National Soccer League of New York merged into the GASL.

In 1977, the GASL changed its name in response to a changing American soccer scene. While soccer had existed as an ethnic sport since the 1930s, the creation of the North American Soccer League in 1968 had brought the sport into the mainstream. Recognizing that maintaining its ethnic identity would hinder its acceptance by the wider U.S. sports culture, the GASL governing board voted to rename the league the Cosmopolitan Soccer League. As part of this process, the league's teams were directed to change their names to ones with less ethnic connotations, although this requirement was dropped three years later.

Despite the regional and semi-professional nature of the league, it featured many of the top U.S. player in the 1950s and 1960s. Even into the early 1970s, GASL players appeared regularly with the U.S. national team. The high regard afforded to the league is reflected in that the National Soccer Hall of Fame considers the GASL as one of a handful of leagues in which a player may become eligible for entry into the Hall of Fame.[3]

New York Cosmos

The GASL had named an All Star team beginning in 1930. In 1968, after the newly established North American Soccer League approached the GASL about placing a GASL team in the NASL, the league formed its All Star team, known as the Cosmos, into an exhibition team. The Cosmos did not enter the NASL until the 1971 season, but when it did, it was well stocked with former GASL players.

2020–2021 team list

List of the participants in the current season:[1] The top former CSL teams play in the Eastern Premier Soccer League, which together with Maryland Major Soccer League, created a regional based multi-league promotion and relegation system between these leagues.[2][3]

Eastern Premier Soccer League

Division 1

Division 2

Division 3

Division 4

Over 40 Division

Inactive Clubs

Past League Champions

Club No. of titles Championship Season
German-Hungarian SC 11 1929–1930, 1932–1933, 1933–1934, 1939–1940, 1940–1941,

1950–1951, 1951–1952, 1953–1954, 1954–1955, 1955–1956,

1957–1958

Greek American AA 9 1963–1964, 1967–1968, 1968–1969, 1969–1970, 2004–2005,

2007–2008, 2008–2009, 2011–2012, 2016–2017

New York Pancyprian-Freedoms 8 1978–1979, 1979–1980, 1981–1982, 2002–2003, 2003–2004,

2009–2010, 2010–2011, 2018–2019

Elizabeth S.C. 7 1937–1938, 1946–1947, 1947–1948, 1948–1949, 1952–1953,

1970–1971*, 1972–1973

New York Athletic Club 1994–1995, 1995–1996, 1996–1997, 1998–1999, 1999–2000,

2000–2001, 2012–2013

Brooklyn Italians 6 1976–1977, 1977–1978, 1980–1981, 1983–1984, 2005–2006,

2006–2007

New York Hungaria 1956–1957, 1958–1959, 1959–1960, 1960–1961, 1961–1962,

1992–1993

SC Eintracht 5 1942–1943, 1943–1944, 1944–1945, 1945–1946, 1949–1950
DFC Newark 4 1927–1928, 1928–1929, 1931–1932, 1936–1937
Lansdowne Yonkers FC 2013–2014, 2014–2015, 2015–2016, 2017–2018
DSC Brooklyn 3 1934–1935, 1935–1936, 1938–1939
Inter-Giuliana SC 1971–1972, 1973–1974, 1975–1976
New York Croatia SC 1985–1986, 1988–1989, 1997–1998
New York Hota Bavarian SC 1970–1971*, 1986–1987, 1987–1988
Blau-Weiss Gottschee SC 2 1962–1963, 1990–1991
New York Albanians 1989–1990, 2001–2002
Hoboken FC 1912 1984–1985, 2021-2022
New York Ukrainians 1965–1966, 1966–1967
SC Vienna 1 1930–1931
Blue Star SC 1964–1965
Clarkstown SC 1993–1994
German-American AC 1941–1942
Hudson Dalmatians 1974–1975
Sportfriends SC 1991–1992
Vasco Da Gama SC 1982–1983
Shamrock SC 2020-2021
Central Park Rangers FC Reds 2022-2023

Year by year

Season League Champion League Cup Champions Indoor Tournament Champions
1927–1928 DFC Newark No Tournaments Held No Tournaments Held
1928–1929 DFC Newark
1929–1930 German-Hungarian SC
1930–1931 1st SC Vienna
1931–1932 DFC Newark
1932–1933 German-Hungarian SC
1933–1934 German-Hungarian SC
1934–1935 DSC Brooklyn
1935–1936 DSC Brooklyn
1936–1937 DFC Newark
1937–1938 Elizabeth S.C.
1938–1939 DSC Brooklyn
1939–1940 German-Hungarian SC
1940–1941 German-Hungarian SC
1941–1942 German-American AC
1942–1943 S.C. Eintracht
1943–1944 S.C. Eintracht
1944–1945 S.C. Eintracht
1945–1946 S.C. Eintracht
1946–1947 Elizabeth S.C.
1947–1948 Elizabeth S.C.
1948–1949 Elizabeth S.C.
1949–1950 S.C. Eintracht
1950–1951 German-Hungarian SC
1951–1952 German-Hungarian SC
1952–1953 Elizabeth S.C.
1953–1954 German-Hungarian SC
1954–1955 German-Hungarian SC
1955–1956 German-Hungarian SC
1956–1957 New York Hungaria
1957–1958 German-Hungarian SC
1958–1959 New York Hungaria
1959–1960 New York Hungaria
1960–1961 New York Hungaria
1961–1962 New York Hungaria New York Hungaria
1962–1963 Blau-Weiss Gottschee SC Blau-Weiss Gottschee
1963–1964 Greek American AA New York Greek-American AC
1964–1965 Blue Star SC New York Hota Bavarian SC
1965–1966 New York Ukrainians New York Hota Bavarian SC
1966–1967 New York Ukrainians German-Hungarian SC
1967–1968 Greek American AA New York Hota Bavarian SC
1968–1969 Greek American AA Giuliana SC
1969–1970 Greek American AA German-Hungarian SC
1970–1971 Elizabeth S.C. & New York Hota Bavarian SC (shared) German-Hungarian SC
1971–1972 Inter-Giuliana SC Elizabeth S.C.
1972–1973 Elizabeth S.C. German-Hungarian SC
1973–1974 Inter-Giuliana SC Inter-Giuliana SC
1974–1975 Hudson Dalmatians Inter-Giuliana SC
1975–1976 Inter-Giuliana SC Dalmatinac SC
1976–1977 Brooklyn Italians Brooklyn Italians
1977–1978 Brooklyn Italians Inter-Giuliana SC
1978–1979 New York Pancyprian-Freedoms New York Atlas Turkish SC
1979–1980 New York Pancyprian-Freedoms Kearny-Americans New York Pancyprian-Freedoms
1980–1981 Brooklyn Italians Kearny-Americans Blue Star SC
1981–1982 New York Pancyprian-Freedoms Elizabeth S.C. New York Atlas
1982–1983 Vasco Da Gama SC Elizabeth S.C. New York Atlas
1983–1984 Brooklyn Italians New York Ukrainians Brooklyn Italians
1984–1985 Hoboken FC 1912 Banatul SC Brooklyn Italians
1985–1986 New York Croatia SC New York Croatia SC Blau-Weiss Gottschee SC
1986–1987 New York Hota Bavarian SC Hoboken FC 1912 Adriatic SC
1987–1988 New York Hota Bavarian SC Shamrock SC Vllaznimi SC
1988–1989 New York Croatia SC New York Hota/Bavarian SC Madlost SC
1989–1990 New York Albanians Hoboken FC 1912 Elizabeth S.C.
1990–1991 Blau-Weiss Gottschee SC SC Gjoa SC Gjoa
1991–1992 Sportfriends SC Clarkstown SC SC Gjoa
1992–1993 New York Hungaria Istria SC Adriatic SC
1993–1994 Clarkstown SC No Tournament Held FC Porto
1994–1995 New York Athletic Club S.C. Polonia SC Clarkstown SC
1995–1996 New York Athletic Club S.C. St. Barnabas New York Athletic Club S.C.
1996–1997 New York Athletic Club S.C. SC Gjoa New York Greek-American Atlas
1997–1998 New York Croatia SC No Tournament Held New York Greek-American Atlas
1998–1999 New York Athletic Club S.C. New York Shamrock SC Istria SC
1999–2000 New York Athletic Club S.C. New York Shamrock SC New York Hungaria
2000–2001 New York Athletic Club S.C. New York Pancyprian-Freedoms New York Albanians
2001–2002 New York Albanians New York Albanians Koha SC
2002–2003 New York Pancyprian-Freedoms No Tournaments Held ZPA SC
2003–2004 New York Pancyprian-Freedoms New York Bozniyak
2004–2005 Greek American AA New York Greek-American Atlas
2005–2006 Brooklyn Italians No Tournaments Held
2006–2007 Brooklyn Italians
2007–2008 Greek American AA Stal Mielec New York
2008–2009 Greek American AA New York Croatia
2009–2010 New York Pancyprian-Freedoms New York Croatia
2010–2011 New York Pancyprian-Freedoms Polonia SC New York Athletic Club S.C.
2011–2012 Greek American AA Central Park Rangers FC Manhattan Celtic
2012–2013 New York Athletic Club S.C. Central Park Rangers FC Vistula Garfield
2013–2014 Lansdowne Bhoys CD Iberia No Tournament Held
2014–2015 Lansdowne Bhoys CD Iberia New York Croatia
2015–2016 Lansdowne Bhoys Zum Schneider FC 03 Sporting Astoria SC
2016–2017 Greek American AA New York Athletic Club S.C. Cedar Stars Academy
2017–2018 Lansdowne Bhoys New York Shamrock SC Cedar Stars Academy
2018–2019 New York Pancyprian-Freedoms Zum Schneider FC 03 Doxa SC
2019–2020 Season and tournaments not completed due to COVID-19 pandemic
2020–2021 Shamrock SC Borgetto FC No Tournaments Held
2021–2022 Hoboken FC 1912 Borgetto FC
2022–2023 Central Park Rangers FC Reds Richmond County FC
2023–2024 TBD NY International F.C.

Source[16]

CSL in national competitions

National Challenge Cup

National Amateur Cup

McGuire Cup (U-19 National Cup)

See also

References

Notes
  1. ^ "Cosmopolitan Soccer League Teams". www.cosmosoccerleague.com. Retrieved February 7, 2020.
  2. ^ Mwamba, Jay (September 2, 2020). "Lansdowne go semi-pro, join EPSL". Irish Echo. Retrieved September 8, 2020.
  3. ^ Lewis, Michael. "REGIONALLY SPEAKING: CSL, Maryland Majors join Eastern Premier Soccer League". www.frontrowsoccer.com. Retrieved September 5, 2020.
  4. ^ "Sporting Astoria official website". www.sportingsc.com. Retrieved November 26, 2020.
  5. ^ "Hoboken FC 1912 official website". www.hobokenfc.com. Retrieved November 26, 2020.
  6. ^ "Manhattan Celtic official website". www.manhattanceltic.com. Retrieved November 26, 2020.
  7. ^ "Manhattan Kickers official website". www.mk-fc.com. Retrieved November 26, 2020.
  8. ^ "Real Ole FC (2018/2019)". www.cosmosoccerleague.com. Retrieved September 18, 2018.
  9. ^ "Stal Mielec New York official website". stalmielecnewyork.futbolowo.pl. Retrieved November 26, 2020.
  10. ^ "Hoboken FC 1912 official website". www.centralparkrangers.com. Retrieved November 26, 2020.
  11. ^ "Flushing FC official website". www.flushingfc.com. Retrieved November 26, 2020.
  12. ^ "Brooklyn City FC official website". www.brooklyncityfc.com. Retrieved November 26, 2020.
  13. ^ "SV Yellow Hook official website". www.svyellowhook.com. Retrieved February 18, 2022.
  14. ^ "Brooklyn City FC official website". www.brooklyncityfc.com. Retrieved November 26, 2020.
  15. ^ "Brooklyn Bound SC official website". www.brooklynboundsc.com. Retrieved November 26, 2020.
  16. ^ "League Champions". Cosmopolitan Soccer League. Retrieved March 5, 2024.

External links

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