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[[Category:NCFL]]
{{Infobox sports league
{{Infobox sports league
| title = National Central Football League
| title = National Central Football League
| Formerly = North American Football Conference (1920)
| Formerly = North American Football Conference (1920)
| current_season = 2023 NCFL season
| current_season = 1994 NCFL season
| logo =  
| logo =  
| pixels = 190px
| pixels = 190px
| sport = {{wp|American football|Central Football}}
| sport = {{wp|American football|Central Football}}
| founded = {{start date and age|1920|9|17}}<br />[[Canton, Ohio]], U.S.
| founded = {{start date and age|1920|9|17}}<br />{{wp|Canton, Ohio}}, U.S.
| commissioner = Alexander Sims
| commissioner = Alexander Sims
| headquarters = {{wp|345 Park Avenue}}<br />{{wp|New York City|New York, NY}} 10154<br />U.S.
| headquarters = {{wp|345 Park Avenue}}<br />{{wp|New York City|New York, NY}} 10154<br />U.S.
Line 19: Line 20:
The '''National Central Football League''' ('''NCFL''') is a professional {{wp|American football|Central Football}} {{wp|Sports league|league}} that consists of 42 teams, divided equally between the North American Football Association (NAFA) and the National Football Association (NFA), and the International Football Association (IFA). The NCFL is one of the {{wp|major professional sports leagues in the United States and Canada|major professional sports leagues in the United States}} and the highest {{wp|Professional gridiron football|professional level}} of Central football in the world.
The '''National Central Football League''' ('''NCFL''') is a professional {{wp|American football|Central Football}} {{wp|Sports league|league}} that consists of 42 teams, divided equally between the North American Football Association (NAFA) and the National Football Association (NFA), and the International Football Association (IFA). The NCFL is one of the {{wp|major professional sports leagues in the United States and Canada|major professional sports leagues in the United States}} and the highest {{wp|Professional gridiron football|professional level}} of Central football in the world.


Each NCFL season begins with a three-week preseason in August, followed by the 19-week regular season]] which runs from early September to early January, with each team playing 18 games and having one {{Bye (sports)|bye week}}. Following the conclusion of the regular season, four teams from each conference (three division winners and one {{wp|Wild card (sports)|wild card}} team) advance to the playoffs, a {{wp|single-elimination tournament}} that culminates in the Orange Cup, which is contested in February and is played between the two best Association teams.
Each NCFL season begins with a three-week preseason in August, followed by the 19-week regular season]] which runs from early September to early January, with each team playing 18 games and having one {{wp|Bye (sports)|bye week}}. Following the conclusion of the regular season, four teams from each conference (three division winners and one {{wp|Wild card (sports)|wild card}} team) advance to the playoffs, a {{wp|single-elimination tournament}} that culminates in the Orange Cup, which is contested in February and is played between the two best Association teams.


== History ==
== History ==
Numbers in parentheses in the table are Orange Cup appearances as of the date of that Orange Cup and are used as follows:
{{main|Timeline of the National Central Football League}}
* '''Winning team''' and '''losing team''' columns indicate the number of times that team has appeared in a Super Bowl as well as each respective teams' Orange Cup record to date.
 
* '''Venue''' column indicates number of times that stadium has hosted an Orange Cup.
== Teams ==
* '''City''' column indicates number of times that metropolitan area has hosted an Orange Cup.
The NCFL consists of 36 clubs divided into three conferences of 12 teams each. Each association is divided into three divisions of four clubs each. During the regular season, each team is allowed a maximum of 60 players on its roster; only 53 of these may be active (eligible to play) on game days.
{| class="wikitable"
 
|+ Championships table key and summary
Every NCFL team is based in the {{wp|contiguous United States}}. Although pre-season games have been played abroad, mostly in the {{wp|Central American Federation}}, {{wp|Yucatan}}, and the {{wp|Dominican Republic}}.
|-
! (1967–1970)
! (AFA-NCFL Merger–1974)
! (IFA-NCFL Merger–present)
|-
| style="background:#d0e7ff;"|'''National Central Football League (NCFL)'''
| style="background:#d0e7ff;"|'''North American Football Association (NAFA)'''
| style="background:#d0e7ff;"|'''North American Football Association (NAFA)'''
|-
| style="background:#d0e7ff;"|NCFL champion<sup>n</sup><br /><small>(4, W 1, L 3)</small>
| style="background:#d0e7ff;"|NAFA Champion<sup>N</sup><br /><small>(XX, W , L )</small>
| style="background:#d0e7ff;"|NAFA Champion<sup>N</sup><br /><small>(49, W , L )</small>
|-
| style="background:#ffcccc;"|'''National Football Association (NFA)'''
| style="background:#ffcccc;"|'''National Football Association (NFA)'''
| style="background:#ffcccc;"|'''National Football Association (NFA)'''
|-
| style="background:#ffcccc;"|NFA Champion<sup>a</sup><br /><small>(3, W 2, L 1)</small>
| style="background:#ffcccc;"|NFA Champion<sup>A</sup><br /><small>(XX, W , L )</small>
| style="background:#ffcccc;"|NFA Champion<sup>A</sup><br /><small>(49, W , L )</small>
|-
| style="background:#03fc77;"|'''International Football Association (IFA)'''
| style="background:#03fc77;"|'''International Football Association (IFA)'''
| style="background:#03fc77;"|'''International Football Association (IFA)'''
|-
| style="background:#03fc77;"|IFA Champion<sup>a</sup><br /><small>(1, W 1, L 0)</small>
| style="background:#03fc77;"|IFA Champion<sup>A</sup><br /><small>(XX, W , L )</small>
| style="background:#03fc77;"|IFA Champion<sup>A</sup><br /><small>(49, W , L )</small>
|-
|}{{clear}}
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|+ Orange Cup
|-
! Game
! Winning team
! Score
! Losing team
! Venue
! City
! Attendance
|-
|{{Dts|1967|January|15}}  
| style="background:#d0e7ff;"|Boston Meerkats (W , L)
| style="text-align: center;"| {{Sort|3510|35–10}}
| style="background:#ffcccc;"| New Orleans Knights (W , L)
| style="text-align: center;"| Los Angeles New Field
| style="text-align: center;"| Los Angeles (1)
| style="text-align: center;"| 63,572
|-
|{{Dts|1968|January|20}}
| style="background:#ffcccc;"| Texas Spiders (W , L)
| style="text-align: center;"| {{Sort|2117|21–17}}
| style="background:#d0e7ff;"| Texas Horses (W , L)
| style="text-align: center;"| Los Angeles New Field
| style="text-align: center;"| Los Angeles (2)
| style="text-align: center;"| 63,942
|-
|{{Dts|1969|January|18}}  
| style="background:#ffcccc;"| Texas Spiders (W , L)
| style="text-align: center;"| {{Sort|2421|24-21}}
| style="background:#d0e7ff;"| Texas Horses (W , L)
| style="text-align: center;"| Miami Produce Stadium
| style="text-align: center;"| Miami (2)
| style="text-align: center;"| 63,942
|-
|{{Dts|1970|January|17}}
| style="background:#d0e7ff;"| New York Eagles (W , L)
| style="text-align: center;"| {{Sort|2821|28-21}}
| style="background:#03fc77;"| Havana Sugarcanes (W , L)
| style="text-align: center;"| Los Angeles New Field
| style="text-align: center;"| Los Angeles (3)
| style="text-align: center;"| 63,942
|-
|{{Dts|1971|January|23}}
| style="background:#ffcccc;"| Pittsburgh Falcons (W , L)
| style="text-align: center;"| {{Sort|1710|17-10}}
| style="background:#d0e7ff;"| Virginia Hammers (W , L)
| style="text-align: center;"| Miami Produce Stadium
| style="text-align: center;"| Miami (2)
| style="text-align: center;"| 65,900
|-
|{{Dts|1972|January|22}}
| style="background:#ffcccc;"| Cincinnati Bears (W , L)
| style="text-align: center;"| {{Sort|42-21|42-21}}
| style="background:#d0e7ff;"| Boston Meerkats (W , L)
| style="text-align: center;"| Houston Petroleum Field
| style="text-align: center;"| Houston (1)
| style="text-align: center;"| 68,000
|-
|{{Dts|1973|January|27}}
| style="background:#ffcccc;"| Cincinnati Bears (W , L)
| style="text-align: center;"| {{Sort|2110|21-10}}
| style="background:#d0e7ff;"| New York Eagles (W , L)
| style="text-align: center;"| Los Angeles New Field
| style="text-align: center;"| Los Angeles (4)
| style="text-align: center;"| 63,942
|-
|}


The 36 teams are organized into nine geographic divisions of four teams each. These divisions are further organized into three associations, the North American Football Association and the National Football Association. The three-conference structure has its origins in a time when major American professional football was organized into three independent leagues, the National Central Football League and its younger rival, the National Football League, with the International Football League appearing in 1974. The NCFL and the NFL merged in 1970, adopting the older league's name and reorganizing slightly to ensure the same number of teams in both conferences. The same would occur between the NCFL and the IFL in 1974.




== Teams ==
'''Key:'''
'''Key:'''
;<nowiki>*</nowiki>
;<nowiki>*</nowiki>
Line 149: Line 52:
! rowspan="12" |North American Football Association (NAFA)
! rowspan="12" |North American Football Association (NAFA)
! rowspan="4"|NAFA North
! rowspan="4"|NAFA North
|scope="row"|'''Quebec Sharks'''
|{{wp|Montreal}}
|Olympic Stadium
|77,525
|{{dts|1961}} (NCFL)
|Anthony Duclair
|-
|scope="row"|'''New York Eagles'''
|{{wp|New York City}}
|Better Bank of America Stadium
|88,401
|{{dts|1960}} (National Football Association)<br>{{dts|1970}} (NCFL)
|Benjamin Davis
|-
|scope="row"|'''Boston Meerkats'''
|scope="row"|'''Boston Meerkats'''
|{{wp|Boston}}
|{{wp|Boston}}
|Eastern Health Stadium
|Eastern Health Stadium
|74,312
|74,312
|{{dts|1934}} (NCFL)
|{{dts|1923}} (NCFL)
|Samuel Reynolds III
|Samuel Reynolds III
|-
|-
|scope="row"|'''Toronto Lancers'''
|scope="row"|'''New York Dragons'''†
|{{wp|New York City}}
|Downtown Municipal Stadium
|56,427
|{{dts|1920}} (NCFL)
|Daniel Bryant
|-
|scope="row"|'''Philadelphia Hammers'''*†
|{{wp|Philadelphia}}
|Industrial Workhorse Stadium
|67,537
|{{dts|1920}} (NCFL)
|Christopher Fisher Jr.
|-
|scope="row"|'''Toronto Lakers'''
|{{wp|Toronto}}
|{{wp|Toronto}}
|Ontario Energy Stadium
|Ontario Energy Stadium
|71,093
|71,093
|{{dts|1961}} (NCFL)
|{{dts|1920}} (NCFL)
|Ethan Mitchell
|Ethan Mitchell
|-
|-
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|New Red Stadium
|New Red Stadium
|67,342
|67,342
|{{dts|1963}} (National Football Association)<br>{{dts|1970}} (NCFL)
|{{dts|1960}} (National Football League)<br>{{dts|1970}} (NCFL)
|Caleb Parker Sr.
|Caleb Parker Sr.
|-
|-
|scope="row"|'''Pittsburgh Falcons'''
|scope="row"|'''Detroit Tigers'''
|{{wp|Pittsburgh}}
|New Steel Stadium
|73,939
|{{dts|1963}} (National Football Association)<br>{{dts|1970}} (NCFL)
|Mason Simmons
|-
|scope="row"|'''Detroit Raptors'''
|{{wp|Detroit}}
|{{wp|Detroit}}
|Grand Auto Field
|Grand Auto Field
|80,124
|80,124
|{{dts|1961}} (NCFL)
|{{dts|1947}} (NCFL)
|Noah Turner
|Noah Turner
|-
|scope="row"|'''Philadelphia Penguins'''
|{{wp|Philadelphia}}
|Pennsylvania Petroleum Field
|78,921
|{{dts|1943}} (NCFL)
|Alexander Foster
|-
! rowspan="4"|NAFA South
|scope="row"|'''Chicago Giants'''
|{{wp|Chicago}}
|Bank of Illinois Field
|78,136
|{{dts|1934}} (NCFL)
|Jackson Hayes
|-
|-
|scope="row"|'''Indianapolis Phantoms'''
|scope="row"|'''Indianapolis Phantoms'''
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|Francis Oil Field
|Francis Oil Field
|55,624
|55,624
|{{dts|1989}} (NCFL)
|{{dts|1968}} (NCFL)
|Liam Morgan
|Liam Morgan
|-
|-
|scope="row"|'''St. Louis Warriors'''
|scope="row"|'''Pittsburgh Falcons'''
|{{wp|St. Louis}}
|{{wp|Pittsburgh}}
|Alisa's Stadium
|New Steel Stadium
|65,621
|73,939
|{{dts|1981}} (NCFL)
|{{dts|1932}} (National Football Association)<br>{{dts|1970}} (NCFL)
|Ryan Thompson
|Mason Simmons
|-
! rowspan="4"|NAFA South
|scope="row"|'''Houston Spiders'''*
|{{wp|Houston}}
|NCE Stadium
|67,526
|{{dts|1960}} (National Football League)<br>{{dts|1970}} (NCFL)
|Tyler Peterson
|-
|scope="row"|'''Mexico City Aztecs'''
|{{wp|Mexico City}}
|Aztec Stadium  
|88,000
|{{dts|1957}} (NCFL)
|Christopher Williams
|-
|scope="row"|'''New Orleans Knights'''
|{{wp|New Orleans}}
|Gulf Field
|69,317
|{{dts|1957}} (NCFL)
|Michael Johnson
|-
|-
|scope="row"|'''Nashville Elephants'''*
|scope="row"|'''Texas Horses'''
|{{wp|Nashville}}
|{{wp|Dallas}}
|Clarity Stadium
|Rodeo Dome
|74,525
|77,000
|{{dts|1944}} (NCFL)
|{{dts|1947}} (NCFL)
|Nathan Carter
|Nicholas Evans Sr.
|-
|-
! rowspan="12" |National Football Association (NFA)
! rowspan="12" |National Football Association (NFA)
! rowspan="4"|NFA North
! rowspan="4"|NFA North
|scope="row"|'''New York Dragons'''†
|scope="row"|'''Atlanta Red Pandas'''*
|{{wp|New York City}}
|{{wp|Atlanta}}
|Downtown Municipal Stadium
|Bank of Atlanta Stadium
|56,427
|68,000
|{{dts|1920}} (NCFL)
|{{dts|1961}} (National Football League)<br>{{dts|1970}} (NCFL)
|Daniel Bryant
|Steven Lopez
|-
|scope="row"|'''Virginia Hammers'''*
|{{wp|Richmond}}
|Industrial Workhorse Stadium
|67,537
|{{dts|1920}} (NCFL)
|Christopher Fisher Jr.
|-
|scope="row"|'''Tampa Bay Octopuses'''*
|{{wp|Tampa Bay}}
|Florida Insurance Stadium
|67,636
|{{dts|1989}} (NCFL)
|Alexis Perez
|-
|-
|scope="row"|'''Baltimore Ramming Goats'''*
|scope="row"|'''Baltimore Ramming Goats'''
|{{wp|Baltimore}}
|{{wp|Baltimore}}
|New Maryland Dockyards Stadium
|Royal Bahamas Cruise Stadium
|81,315
|81,315
|{{dts|1960}} (National Football Association)<br>{{dts|1970}} (NCFL)
|{{dts|1960}} (National Football Association)<br>{{dts|1970}} (NCFL)
|Matthew Jenkins
|Matthew Jenkins
|-
|scope="row"|'''New York Eagles'''
|{{wp|New York City}}
|Better Bank of America Stadium
|88,401
|{{dts|1961}} (National Football League)<br>{{dts|1970}} (NCFL)
|Benjamin Davis
|-
|scope="row"|'''Quebec Lumières'''*
|{{wp|Montreal}}
|Olympic Stadium
|77,525
|{{dts|1960}} (National Football League)<br>{{dts|1970}} (NCFL)
|Anthony Duclair
|-
|-
! rowspan="4"|NFA Central
! rowspan="4"|NFA Central
|scope="row"|'''Texas Horses'''
|scope="row"|'''Chicago Giants'''
|{{wp|Dallas}}
|{{wp|Chicago}}
|Rodeo Dome
|Bank of Illinois Field
|77,000
|78,136
|{{dts|1946}} (NCFL)
|{{dts|1928}} (NCFL)
|Nicholas Evans Sr.
|Jackson Hayes
|-
|-
|scope="row"|'''Houston Spiders'''*
|scope="row"|'''Kansas City Wheat Kings'''
|{{wp|Houston}}
|{{wp|Kansas City}}
|NCE Stadium
|Spearhead Stadium
|67,526
|68,000
|{{dts|1960}} (National Football Association)<br>{{dts|1970}} (NCFL)
|{{dts|1965}} (National Football Association)<br> {{dts|1970}} (NCFL)
|Tyler Peterson
|Tony Gonzalez
|-
|-
|scope="row"|'''New Orleans Knights'''*
|scope="row"|'''St. Louis Warriors'''*
|{{wp|New Orleans}}
|{{wp|St. Louis}}
|Gulf Field
|Alisa's Stadium
|69,317
|65,621
|{{dts|1960}} (National Football Association)<br> {{dts|1970}} (NCFL)
|{{dts|1947}} (NCFL)
|Michael Johnson
|Ryan Thompson
|-
|-
|scope="row"|'''Mexico City Aztecs'''*
|scope="row"|'''Tennessee Elephants'''*
|{{wp|Mexico City}}
|{{wp|Nashville}}
|Aztec Stadium  
|Clarity Stadium
|88,000
|74,525
|{{dts|1956}} (NCFL)
|{{dts|1929}} (NCFL)
|Christopher Williams
|Nathan Carter
|-
|-
! rowspan="4"|NFA West
! rowspan="4"|NFA West
|scope="row"|'''Washington Wolverines'''*
|scope="row"|'''Los Angeles Crimsons'''
|{{wp|Seattle}}
|WBN Stadium
|73,000
|{{dts|1944}} (NCFL)
|Daniel Smith
|-
|scope="row"|'''San Francisco Tigers'''*
|{{wp|San Francisco}}
|Bay Technology Field
|79,000
|{{dts|1965}} (NCFL)
|Matthew Brown
|-
|scope="row"|'''Los Angeles Armored Lizards'''*
|{{wp|Los Angeles}}
|{{wp|Los Angeles}}
|Marsk Field
|Marsk Field
|71,000
|71,000
|{{dts|1934}} (NCFL)
|{{dts|1950}} (NCFL)
|Matthew Brown
|Jesus Orellana
|-
|-
|scope="row"|'''San Diego White Sharks'''
|scope="row"|'''San Diego White Sharks'''
Line 320: Line 209:
|Mulan Tech. Dome
|Mulan Tech. Dome
|78,000
|78,000
|{{dts|1998}} (NCFL)
|{{dts|1985}} (NCFL)
|James Martinez
|James Martinez
|-
|scope="row"|'''San Francisco Sharks'''*
|{{wp|San Francisco}}
|Bay Technology Field
|79,000
|{{dts|1950}} (NCFL)
|Matthew Brown
|-
|scope="row"|'''Washington Wolverines'''
|{{wp|Seattle}}
|WBN Stadium
|73,000
|{{dts|1965}} (NCFL)
|Daniel Smith
|-
|-
! rowspan="12" |International Football Association (IFA)
! rowspan="12" |International Football Association (IFA)
! rowspan="4"|IFA North
! rowspan="4"|IFA East
|scope="row"|'''Minnesota Valkyries'''
|scope="row"|'''Carolina Jellyfishes'''*
|{{wp|Minneapolis}}
|{{wp|Raleigh}}
|Valhalla Stadium
|Windblown Stadium
|67,000
|64,301
|{{dts|1960}} (National Football Association)<br> {{dts|1970}} (NCFL)
|{{dts|1968}} (International Football Association)<br> {{dts|1974}} (NCFL)
|Gregg Duncan
|Mark Vaughn
|-
|-
|scope="row"|'''Kansas City Wheat Kings'''
|scope="row"|'''Florida Crocodiles'''
|{{wp|Kansas City}}
|{{wp|Miami}}
|Spearhead Stadium
|Strong Field
|68,000
|69,050
|{{dts|1960}} (National Football Association)<br> {{dts|1970}} (NCFL)
|{{dts|1960}} (National Football Association)<br> {{dts|1970}} (NCFL)
|Tony Gonzalez
|Brandon Myers
|-
|-
|scope="row"|'''Denver Dynamo'''*
|scope="row"|'''Havana Sugarcanes'''
|{{wp|Denver}}
|{{wp|Havana}}
|COR Stadium
|Sugars of Cuba Stadium
|71,903
|73,166
|{{dts|1960}} (National Football Association)<br> {{dts|1970}} (NCFL)
|{{dts|1966}} (International Football Association)<br> {{dts|1974}} (NCFL)
|Shawn Lopez
|Pedro Hernandez
|-
|-
|scope="row"|'''Alberta Raiders'''
|scope="row"|'''Tampa Bay Octopuses'''
|{{wp|Calgary}}
|{{wp|Tampa Bay}}
|Super Saddle Stadium
|Florida Insurance Stadium
|78,538
|67,636
|{{dts|1968}} (International Football Association)<br> {{dts|1974}} (NCFL)
|{{dts|1965}} (NCFL)
|Eric Cameron
|Alexis Perez
|-
|-
! rowspan="4"|IFA Central
! rowspan="4"|IFA South
|scope="row"|'''Arizona Armadillos'''
|scope="row"|'''Arizona Armadillos'''
|{{wp|Phoenix}}
|{{wp|Phoenix}}
|Shell Stadium
|Shell Stadium
|70,316
|70,316
|{{dts|1968}} (International Football Association)<br> {{dts|1974}} (NCFL)
|{{dts|1966}} (International Football Association)<br> {{dts|1974}} (NCFL)
|Jerry Milledge
|Jerry Milledge
|-
|scope="row"|'''Monterey Zebras'''
|{{wp|Monterey}}
|Modelo Nacional Stadium
|67,837
|{{dts|1970}} (International Football Association)<br> {{dts|1974}} (NCFL)
|Luis Diaz
|-
|-
|scope="row"|'''Guadalajara Scorpions'''
|scope="row"|'''Guadalajara Scorpions'''
Line 372: Line 268:
|Petroleum of Potosi Stadium
|Petroleum of Potosi Stadium
|74,536
|74,536
|{{dts|1967}} (International Football Association)<br> {{dts|1974}} (NCFL)
|{{dts|1966}} (International Football Association)<br> {{dts|1974}} (NCFL)
|Mark Rowand
|Mark Rowand
|-
|-
|scope="row"|'''Mexico Rattlesnakes'''  
|scope="row"|'''Mexico City Rattlesnakes'''  
|{{wp|Mexico City}}
|{{wp|Mexico City}}
|Pledge to Climate Stadium
|Pledge to Climate Stadium
Line 382: Line 278:
|Miguel Angel Leon
|Miguel Angel Leon
|-
|-
! rowspan="4"|IFA East
|scope="row"|'''Monterey Zebras'''
|scope="row"|'''Georgia Red Pandas'''
|{{wp|Monterey}}
|{{wp|Atlanta}}
|Modelo Nacional Stadium
|Bank of Atlanta Stadium
|67,837
|68,000
|{{dts|1967}} (International Football Association)<br> {{dts|1974}} (NCFL)
|{{dts|1967}} (NCFL)
|Luis Diaz
|Steven Lopez
|-
! rowspan="4"|IFA West
|scope="row"|'''Alberta Raiders'''
|{{wp|Calgary}}
|Super Saddle Stadium
|78,538
|{{dts|1968}} (National Football league)<br> {{dts|1970}} (NCFL)
|Eric Cameron
|-
|-
|scope="row"|'''Florida Crocodiles'''
|scope="row"|'''Denver Dynamo'''
|{{wp|Miami}}
|{{wp|Denver}}
|Strong Field
|COR Stadium
|69,050
|71,903
|{{dts|1967}} (International Football Association)<br> {{dts|1974}} (NCFL)
|{{dts|1965}} (National Football League)<br> {{dts|1970}} (NCFL)
|Brandon Myers
|Shawn Lopez
|-
|-
|scope="row"|'''Havana Sugarcanes'''
|scope="row"|'''Minnesota Valkyries'''
|{{wp|Havana}}
|{{wp|Minneapolis}}
|Sugars of Cuba Stadium
|Valhalla Stadium
|73,166
|67,000
|{{dts|1967}} (International Football Association)<br> {{dts|1974}} (NCFL)
|{{dts|1960}} (National Football League)<br> {{dts|1970}} (NCFL)
|Pedro Hernandez
|Gregg Duncan
|-
|-
|scope="row"|'''Carolina Jellyfishes'''
|scope="row"|'''Utah Raptors'''
|{{wp|Raleigh}}
|{{wp|Salt Lake City}}
|Windblown Stadium
|Airways of America Stadium
|64,301
|69,000
|{{dts|1968}} (International Football Association)<br> {{dts|1974}} (NCFL)
|{{dts|1985}} (NCFL)
|Mark Vaughn
|Alejandro Pacheco
|-
|-
|}
|}
[[Category:NCFL]]

Latest revision as of 20:36, 27 December 2023

National Central Football League
Current season, competition or edition:
Current sports event 1994 NCFL season
FormerlyNorth American Football Conference (1920)
SportCentral Football
FoundedSeptember 17, 1920; 104 years ago (1920-09-17)
Canton, Ohio, U.S.
Inaugural season1920
CommissionerAlexander Sims
No. of teams42
CountryUnited States
Headquarters345 Park Avenue
New York, NY 10154
U.S.
Most recent
champion(s)
New York Dragons
(9 titles. 5th Orange Cup)
Most titlesGreen Bay Packers
(13 titles)

The National Central Football League (NCFL) is a professional Central Football league that consists of 42 teams, divided equally between the North American Football Association (NAFA) and the National Football Association (NFA), and the International Football Association (IFA). The NCFL is one of the major professional sports leagues in the United States and the highest professional level of Central football in the world.

Each NCFL season begins with a three-week preseason in August, followed by the 19-week regular season]] which runs from early September to early January, with each team playing 18 games and having one bye week. Following the conclusion of the regular season, four teams from each conference (three division winners and one wild card team) advance to the playoffs, a single-elimination tournament that culminates in the Orange Cup, which is contested in February and is played between the two best Association teams.

History

Teams

The NCFL consists of 36 clubs divided into three conferences of 12 teams each. Each association is divided into three divisions of four clubs each. During the regular season, each team is allowed a maximum of 60 players on its roster; only 53 of these may be active (eligible to play) on game days.

Every NCFL team is based in the contiguous United States. Although pre-season games have been played abroad, mostly in the Central American Federation, Yucatan, and the Dominican Republic.

The 36 teams are organized into nine geographic divisions of four teams each. These divisions are further organized into three associations, the North American Football Association and the National Football Association. The three-conference structure has its origins in a time when major American professional football was organized into three independent leagues, the National Central Football League and its younger rival, the National Football League, with the International Football League appearing in 1974. The NCFL and the NFL merged in 1970, adopting the older league's name and reorganizing slightly to ensure the same number of teams in both conferences. The same would occur between the NCFL and the IFL in 1974.


Key:

*
Club has relocated at some point in its existence
Club was a founding member of the NCFL
National Central Football League (NCFL) Clubs
Conference Division
Club City Stadium
Capacity First
season
Head
coach
North American Football Association (NAFA) NAFA North Boston Meerkats Boston Eastern Health Stadium 74,312 1923 (NCFL) Samuel Reynolds III
New York Dragons New York City Downtown Municipal Stadium 56,427 1920 (NCFL) Daniel Bryant
Philadelphia Hammers*† Philadelphia Industrial Workhorse Stadium 67,537 1920 (NCFL) Christopher Fisher Jr.
Toronto Lakers Toronto Ontario Energy Stadium 71,093 1920 (NCFL) Ethan Mitchell
NAFA Central Cincinnati Bears Cincinnati New Red Stadium 67,342 1960 (National Football League)
1970 (NCFL)
Caleb Parker Sr.
Detroit Tigers Detroit Grand Auto Field 80,124 1947 (NCFL) Noah Turner
Indianapolis Phantoms Indianapolis Francis Oil Field 55,624 1968 (NCFL) Liam Morgan
Pittsburgh Falcons Pittsburgh New Steel Stadium 73,939 1932 (National Football Association)
1970 (NCFL)
Mason Simmons
NAFA South Houston Spiders* Houston NCE Stadium 67,526 1960 (National Football League)
1970 (NCFL)
Tyler Peterson
Mexico City Aztecs Mexico City Aztec Stadium 88,000 1957 (NCFL) Christopher Williams
New Orleans Knights New Orleans Gulf Field 69,317 1957 (NCFL) Michael Johnson
Texas Horses Dallas Rodeo Dome 77,000 1947 (NCFL) Nicholas Evans Sr.
National Football Association (NFA) NFA North Atlanta Red Pandas* Atlanta Bank of Atlanta Stadium 68,000 1961 (National Football League)
1970 (NCFL)
Steven Lopez
Baltimore Ramming Goats Baltimore Royal Bahamas Cruise Stadium 81,315 1960 (National Football Association)
1970 (NCFL)
Matthew Jenkins
New York Eagles New York City Better Bank of America Stadium 88,401 1961 (National Football League)
1970 (NCFL)
Benjamin Davis
Quebec Lumières* Montreal Olympic Stadium 77,525 1960 (National Football League)
1970 (NCFL)
Anthony Duclair
NFA Central Chicago Giants Chicago Bank of Illinois Field 78,136 1928 (NCFL) Jackson Hayes
Kansas City Wheat Kings Kansas City Spearhead Stadium 68,000 1965 (National Football Association)
1970 (NCFL)
Tony Gonzalez
St. Louis Warriors* St. Louis Alisa's Stadium 65,621 1947 (NCFL) Ryan Thompson
Tennessee Elephants* Nashville Clarity Stadium 74,525 1929 (NCFL) Nathan Carter
NFA West Los Angeles Crimsons Los Angeles Marsk Field 71,000 1950 (NCFL) Jesus Orellana
San Diego White Sharks San Diego Mulan Tech. Dome 78,000 1985 (NCFL) James Martinez
San Francisco Sharks* San Francisco Bay Technology Field 79,000 1950 (NCFL) Matthew Brown
Washington Wolverines Seattle WBN Stadium 73,000 1965 (NCFL) Daniel Smith
International Football Association (IFA) IFA East Carolina Jellyfishes* Raleigh Windblown Stadium 64,301 1968 (International Football Association)
1974 (NCFL)
Mark Vaughn
Florida Crocodiles Miami Strong Field 69,050 1960 (National Football Association)
1970 (NCFL)
Brandon Myers
Havana Sugarcanes Havana Sugars of Cuba Stadium 73,166 1966 (International Football Association)
1974 (NCFL)
Pedro Hernandez
Tampa Bay Octopuses Tampa Bay Florida Insurance Stadium 67,636 1965 (NCFL) Alexis Perez
IFA South Arizona Armadillos Phoenix Shell Stadium 70,316 1966 (International Football Association)
1974 (NCFL)
Jerry Milledge
Guadalajara Scorpions Guadalajara Petroleum of Potosi Stadium 74,536 1966 (International Football Association)
1974 (NCFL)
Mark Rowand
Mexico City Rattlesnakes Mexico City Pledge to Climate Stadium 79,000 1967 (International Football Association)
1974 (NCFL)
Miguel Angel Leon
Monterey Zebras Monterey Modelo Nacional Stadium 67,837 1967 (International Football Association)
1974 (NCFL)
Luis Diaz
IFA West Alberta Raiders Calgary Super Saddle Stadium 78,538 1968 (National Football league)
1970 (NCFL)
Eric Cameron
Denver Dynamo Denver COR Stadium 71,903 1965 (National Football League)
1970 (NCFL)
Shawn Lopez
Minnesota Valkyries Minneapolis Valhalla Stadium 67,000 1960 (National Football League)
1970 (NCFL)
Gregg Duncan
Utah Raptors Salt Lake City Airways of America Stadium 69,000 1985 (NCFL) Alejandro Pacheco