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Cosmopolitan Soccer League

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This is an old revision of this page, as edited by Red Jay (talk | contribs) at 17:25, 12 July 2015 (→‎History: North American Soccer League (1968–84)). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

Cosmopolitan Soccer League
Founded1923
First season1923–24
CountryUnited States United States
ConfederationCONCACAF
Number of teams12 per division
Level on pyramid4–8
Relegation toCSL II
Domestic cup(s)Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup
International cup(s)CONCACAF Champions League
Websitecslny.com
Current: 2010–11 season

The Cosmopolitan Soccer League is a semi-professional regional 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. It served as the first division domestic league in the American soccer pyramid until the creation of Major League Soccer in the 1990s.

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 three over-30 divisions. The league is USASA-affiliated and its First Division is listed as a "Premier Division" making it a top tier league and therefore falling under the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid.

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 the middle of December to early or middle March. During the winter months, the league runs an indoor tournament due to New York's cold climate.

History

Further information: German American Soccer League

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.

2012–2013 Team List

Division 1

Division 2

Metro Division 1

Metro Division 2

Over 30 Division

For the 2014-2015 Season, Division 1 was divided into East and West divisions, each comprising six teams. Division 2 comprised six teams and the long awaited inauguration of an Over 35 division was started. The Over 35 division will increase in age requirements each season until finally settling permanently as an Over 40 division.

Division 1

East
West

Division 2

Over 35

Inactive Clubs

Past Champions

See also

References

Notes
  1. ^ "Historical Standings". Cosmopolitan Soccer League. Dec 5, 2012. Retrieved Dec 5, 2012.
  2. ^ "Historical Standings". Cosmopolitan Soccer League. Dec 5, 2012. Retrieved Dec 5, 2012.
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