German American Soccer League
Encyclopedia
The German American Soccer League (GASL) is the previous name of the Cosmopolitan Soccer League
, a semi-professional and amateur soccer league which was founded in 1923. The league competes primarily in the New York metropolitan area and northern New Jersey.
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.http://www.sover.net/~spectrum/year/1965.html 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.http://national.soccerhall.org/ColinJose/InternationalSoccerLeague.htm 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.http://national.soccerhall.org/Election%20Process/2005/VeteransCommitteeEligibility.htm
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.
Cosmopolitan Soccer League
The Cosmopolitan Soccer League is an amateur soccer league consisting of clubs 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...
, a semi-professional and amateur soccer league which was founded in 1923. The league competes primarily in the New York metropolitan area and northern New Jersey.
History
In 1923, five teams, S.C. New York, Wiener Sports Club, D.S.C. Brooklyn, Hoboken FC 1912Hoboken FC 1912
Hoboken FC 1912 is a soccer club based in Northern New Jersey, USA that plays in the Cosmopolitan Soccer League.-History:Hoboken FC 1912 was founded on March 12, 1912 in Hoboken, New Jersey when athletes belonging to the German Merchant Marines successfully organized the Germania Football Club...
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.
Elizabeth S.C.
Elizabeth SC is an inactive American soccer club based in Union County, New Jersey that is an inactive member of the Cosmopolitan Soccer League.- History :...
, S.C. Eintracht
S.C. Eintracht
S.C. Eintracht is an amateur American soccer team founded in 1933 which plays in the Cosmopolitan Soccer League.Founded by German immigrants in Astoria, Queens, and known at times as New York Eintracht, the team entered the German American Soccer League in 1933. In 1943, it won the first of four...
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
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. 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
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
crushing the 1956 Hungarian Revolution
1956 Hungarian Revolution
The Hungarian Revolution or Uprising of 1956 was a spontaneous nationwide revolt against the government of the People's Republic of Hungary and its Soviet-imposed policies, lasting from 23 October until 10 November 1956....
.
In 1964, the GASL joined with the professional American Soccer League
American Soccer League
The American Soccer League has been a name used by three different professional soccer leagues in the United States. The first American Soccer League was established in 1921 by the merger of teams from the National Association Football League and the Southern New England Soccer League. For...
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.http://www.sover.net/~spectrum/year/1965.html 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
International Soccer League (1960-1965)
The International Soccer League was a U.S. based soccer league which was formed in 1960 and collapsed in 1965. The league, affiliated with the American Soccer League, featured guest teams primarily from Europe and some from Asia, South America, Canada and Mexico.-History:In 1960, William Cox, a...
(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.http://national.soccerhall.org/ColinJose/InternationalSoccerLeague.htm The string of league mergers continued in 1974 when the National Soccer League of New York
National Soccer League of New York
The National Soccer League of New York was an amateur U.S. soccer league which served as a lower division for the de facto first division American Soccer League from the 1920s into the 1950s...
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
North American Soccer League
North American Soccer League was a professional soccer league with teams in the United States and Canada that operated from 1968 to 1984.-History:...
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
Cosmopolitan Soccer League
The Cosmopolitan Soccer League is an amateur soccer league consisting of clubs 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...
. 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
United States men's national soccer team
The United States men's national soccer team represents the United States in international association football competitions. It is controlled by the United States Soccer Federation and competes in CONCACAF...
. The high regard afforded to the league is reflected in that the National Soccer Hall of Fame
National Soccer Hall of Fame
The National Soccer Hall of Fame is a private, non-profit institution established in 1979 that honors soccer achievements in the United States.-History:...
considers the GASL as one of a handful of leagues in which a player may become eligible for entry into the Hall of Fame.http://national.soccerhall.org/Election%20Process/2005/VeteransCommitteeEligibility.htm
New York Cosmos
The GASL had named an All Star team beginning in 1930. In 1968, after the newly established North American Soccer LeagueNorth American Soccer League
North American Soccer League was a professional soccer league with teams in the United States and Canada that operated from 1968 to 1984.-History:...
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.
Champions
- 1927-28 DFC Newark
- 1928-29 DFC Newark
- 1929-30 German-Hungarian SC
- 1930-31 1st SC Vienna
- 1931-32 DFC Newark
- 1932-33 German-Hungarian SC
- 1933-34 German-Hungarian SC
- 1934-35 DSC Brooklyn
- 1935-36 DSC Brooklyn
- 1936-37 DFC Newark
- 1937-38 Elizabeth S.C.Elizabeth S.C.Elizabeth SC is an inactive American soccer club based in Union County, New Jersey that is an inactive member of the Cosmopolitan Soccer League.- History :...
- 1938-39 DSC Brooklyn
- 1939-40 German-Hungarian SC
- 1940-41 German-Hungarian SC
- 1941-42 German-American AC
- 1942-43 S.C. EintrachtS.C. EintrachtS.C. Eintracht is an amateur American soccer team founded in 1933 which plays in the Cosmopolitan Soccer League.Founded by German immigrants in Astoria, Queens, and known at times as New York Eintracht, the team entered the German American Soccer League in 1933. In 1943, it won the first of four...
- 1943-44 S.C. EintrachtS.C. EintrachtS.C. Eintracht is an amateur American soccer team founded in 1933 which plays in the Cosmopolitan Soccer League.Founded by German immigrants in Astoria, Queens, and known at times as New York Eintracht, the team entered the German American Soccer League in 1933. In 1943, it won the first of four...
- 1944-45 S.C. EintrachtS.C. EintrachtS.C. Eintracht is an amateur American soccer team founded in 1933 which plays in the Cosmopolitan Soccer League.Founded by German immigrants in Astoria, Queens, and known at times as New York Eintracht, the team entered the German American Soccer League in 1933. In 1943, it won the first of four...
- 1945-46 S.C. EintrachtS.C. EintrachtS.C. Eintracht is an amateur American soccer team founded in 1933 which plays in the Cosmopolitan Soccer League.Founded by German immigrants in Astoria, Queens, and known at times as New York Eintracht, the team entered the German American Soccer League in 1933. In 1943, it won the first of four...
- 1946-47 Elizabeth S.C.Elizabeth S.C.Elizabeth SC is an inactive American soccer club based in Union County, New Jersey that is an inactive member of the Cosmopolitan Soccer League.- History :...
- 1947-48 Elizabeth S.C.Elizabeth S.C.Elizabeth SC is an inactive American soccer club based in Union County, New Jersey that is an inactive member of the Cosmopolitan Soccer League.- History :...
- 1948-49 Elizabeth S.C.Elizabeth S.C.Elizabeth SC is an inactive American soccer club based in Union County, New Jersey that is an inactive member of the Cosmopolitan Soccer League.- History :...
- 1949-50 S.C. EintrachtS.C. EintrachtS.C. Eintracht is an amateur American soccer team founded in 1933 which plays in the Cosmopolitan Soccer League.Founded by German immigrants in Astoria, Queens, and known at times as New York Eintracht, the team entered the German American Soccer League in 1933. In 1943, it won the first of four...
- 1950-51 German-Hungarian SC
- 1951-52 German-Hungarian SC
- 1952-53 Elizabeth S.C.Elizabeth S.C.Elizabeth SC is an inactive American soccer club based in Union County, New Jersey that is an inactive member of the Cosmopolitan Soccer League.- History :...
- 1953-54 German-Hungarian SC
- 1954-55 German-Hungarian SC
- 1955-56 German-Hungarian SC
- 1956-57 New York Hungaria
- 1957-58 German-Hungarian SC
- 1958-59 NY Hungaria
- 1959-60 NY Hungaria
- 1960-61 NY Hungaria
- 1961-62 NY Hungaria
- 1962-63 Blau-Weiss Gottschee SC
- 1963-64 Greek American AAGreek American AAGreek American Atlas Astoria, commonly known as New York Greek American, is a soccer team from New York City that formed in 1941 by Tom Laris and went on to win four U.S. Open Cups. The team plays in the Cosmopolitan Soccer League. Their reserve team is the Greek-American Atlas Reserves FC. The...
- 1964-65 No Champion
- 1965-66 Blue Star SC
- 1966-67 NY Ukrainians SC
- 1967-68 Greek American AAGreek American AAGreek American Atlas Astoria, commonly known as New York Greek American, is a soccer team from New York City that formed in 1941 by Tom Laris and went on to win four U.S. Open Cups. The team plays in the Cosmopolitan Soccer League. Their reserve team is the Greek-American Atlas Reserves FC. The...
- 1968-69 Greek American AAGreek American AAGreek American Atlas Astoria, commonly known as New York Greek American, is a soccer team from New York City that formed in 1941 by Tom Laris and went on to win four U.S. Open Cups. The team plays in the Cosmopolitan Soccer League. Their reserve team is the Greek-American Atlas Reserves FC. The...
- 1969-70 Greek American AAGreek American AAGreek American Atlas Astoria, commonly known as New York Greek American, is a soccer team from New York City that formed in 1941 by Tom Laris and went on to win four U.S. Open Cups. The team plays in the Cosmopolitan Soccer League. Their reserve team is the Greek-American Atlas Reserves FC. The...
- 1970-71 Elizabeth S.C.Elizabeth S.C.Elizabeth SC is an inactive American soccer club based in Union County, New Jersey that is an inactive member of the Cosmopolitan Soccer League.- History :...
& NY Hota SC - 1971-72 Inter-Guiliana SC
- 1972-73 Elizabeth S.C.Elizabeth S.C.Elizabeth SC is an inactive American soccer club based in Union County, New Jersey that is an inactive member of the Cosmopolitan Soccer League.- History :...
- 1973-74 Inter-Guiliana SC
- 1974-75 Hudson Dalmatians
- 1975-76 Inter-Guiliana SC
- 1976-77 Brooklyn Italians
U.S. Open Cup
- 1951 German-Hungarian SC
- 1955 S.C. EintrachtS.C. EintrachtS.C. Eintracht is an amateur American soccer team founded in 1933 which plays in the Cosmopolitan Soccer League.Founded by German immigrants in Astoria, Queens, and known at times as New York Eintracht, the team entered the German American Soccer League in 1933. In 1943, it won the first of four...
- 1962 NY Hungaria
- 1965 NY Ukrainians SC
- 1967 Greek American AAGreek American AAGreek American Atlas Astoria, commonly known as New York Greek American, is a soccer team from New York City that formed in 1941 by Tom Laris and went on to win four U.S. Open Cups. The team plays in the Cosmopolitan Soccer League. Their reserve team is the Greek-American Atlas Reserves FC. The...
- 1968 Greek American AAGreek American AAGreek American Atlas Astoria, commonly known as New York Greek American, is a soccer team from New York City that formed in 1941 by Tom Laris and went on to win four U.S. Open Cups. The team plays in the Cosmopolitan Soccer League. Their reserve team is the Greek-American Atlas Reserves FC. The...
- 1969 Greek American AAGreek American AAGreek American Atlas Astoria, commonly known as New York Greek American, is a soccer team from New York City that formed in 1941 by Tom Laris and went on to win four U.S. Open Cups. The team plays in the Cosmopolitan Soccer League. Their reserve team is the Greek-American Atlas Reserves FC. The...
- 1970 Elizabeth S.C.Elizabeth S.C.Elizabeth SC is an inactive American soccer club based in Union County, New Jersey that is an inactive member of the Cosmopolitan Soccer League.- History :...
- 1971 NY Hota
- 1972 Elizabeth S.C.Elizabeth S.C.Elizabeth SC is an inactive American soccer club based in Union County, New Jersey that is an inactive member of the Cosmopolitan Soccer League.- History :...
- 1974 Greek American AAGreek American AAGreek American Atlas Astoria, commonly known as New York Greek American, is a soccer team from New York City that formed in 1941 by Tom Laris and went on to win four U.S. Open Cups. The team plays in the Cosmopolitan Soccer League. Their reserve team is the Greek-American Atlas Reserves FC. The...
National Amateur Cup
- 1929 DFC Newark (runner up)
- 1936 DSC Brooklyn
- 1944 S.C. EintrachtS.C. EintrachtS.C. Eintracht is an amateur American soccer team founded in 1933 which plays in the Cosmopolitan Soccer League.Founded by German immigrants in Astoria, Queens, and known at times as New York Eintracht, the team entered the German American Soccer League in 1933. In 1943, it won the first of four...
- 1949 Elizabeth S.C.Elizabeth S.C.Elizabeth SC is an inactive American soccer club based in Union County, New Jersey that is an inactive member of the Cosmopolitan Soccer League.- History :...
- 1951 German-Hungarian SC
McGuire Cup (U-19 National Cup)
- 1936 Hatikvoh FC
- 1937 Hatikvoh FC
- 1952 Killsman SC
- 1953 Newark SC
- 1955 Blau-Weiss Gottschee SC
- 1959 New York UkrainiansNew York UkrainiansNew York Ukrainians is an American soccer club based in New York. The club was founded by Ukrainians that had been settled in New York after second world war.-History:...