Newfoundland Soccer Association

Football, or soccer as it is now called, has been played throughout the province since the mid-nineteenth century. Discussions were taking place as early as the 1930s about the necessity of having a body to coordinate regional competition, but it was not until August 1950, at the initiative of John V. Rabbitts of St. John's (see John V. Rabbitts fonds) and Fred Tessier of Grand Bank, that the Newfoundland Amateur Football Association was officially established. An existing organization called the Newfoundland Football League was composed exclusively of St. John's teams: this organization agreed to change its name to the St. John's Football League at the time of the new organization's creation (see St. John's Football League fonds). The first All- Newfoundland Football Series was held in St. John's on 28-29 August 1950. Holy Cross of St. John's played a team from St. Lawrence who had won the Burin Peninsula championship, with Holy Cross winning the first two games of a projected three-game series and thus the first All-Newfoundland championship. A team from Corner Brook had also been scheduled to play but had been prevented from traveling to St. John's by a railway strike.

The League was active in 2001 as the Newfoundland Soccer Association. The Association is funded mainly by federal, provincial, and municipal grants as well as corporate sponsorship. The Association offers programs for minor players, coaches, and officials (both on and off season), Canada Games teams (selection, training, uniforming), as well as introduction of indoor soccer. It has organized local championships as well as participating in national competition.

Created - April 29, 2013

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