Cosmopolitan Soccer League

Regional soccer league consisting of semi-pro and amateur teams based in and around New York City

Football league

Cosmopolitan Soccer League

Founded| 1923; 102 years ago (1923)
First season| 1923–24
Country| United States
Confederation| CONCACAF
(North American Football Union)
Number of clubs| 112
Promotion to| Eastern Premier Soccer League
Relegation to| Cosmopolitan Soccer League Division 2
Domestic cup(s)| U.S. Open Cup
International cup(s)| CONCACAF Champions League
Current champions| Polonia SC
(1st title)
(2024-25)
Most championships| German-Hungarian SC
(11 titles)
Website| cosmosoccerleague.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 optional league cups.

## History

[edit]

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

[edit]

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.

## 2024-2025 team list

[edit]

List of the participants in the current season:[1] The top former CSL teams play in the Metropolitan Conference in the Eastern Premier Soccer League, which together with Maryland Major Soccer League, creates a regional based multi-league promotion and relegation system between these leagues.[2][3] Some CSL teams also have reserve teams that play in a separate reserve division.

### Eastern Premier Soccer League

[edit]

* Central Park Rangers FC[4]
* Doxa FCW
* Hoboken FC 1912[5]
* KidSuper Samba AC
* Lansdowne Yonkers FC
* NY Athletic Club
* NY Greek Americans
* NY Pancyprian-Freedoms
* Manhattan Celtic[6]
* Richmond County FC
* SC Vistula Garfield
* Zum Schneider FC 03

### Division 1

[edit]

* Central Park Rangers FC II
* Borgetto FC
* FC Sandzak
* FC Ulqini
* Hoboken FC 1912 II
* KidSuper Samba AC II
* Manhattan Celtic II
* Manhattan Kickers[7]
* NY International F.C.
* NY Ukrainians
* Polonia SC
* Zum Schneider FC 03 II

### Division 2

[edit]

* Block FC
* Brooklyn City FC[8]
* Central Park Rangers United
* DeSportiva Sociedad NY
* FC Japan
* Laberia FC
* Manhattan FC
* NY Galicia
* NYPD FC
* NY Shamrocks SC
* S.C. Eintracht
* Soricha Foot SC
* South Bronx United
* Sporting Astoria SC
* Stal Mielec NY[9]
* Vibes FC
* Williamsburg International F.C.

### Division 3

[edit]

* Aurora FC
* Central Park Rangers Kickoff
* Central Park Rangers Old Boys
* Manhattan Celtic Bhoys
* NY Athletic Club II
* NY Eagles SC
* NY Legacy FC
* NY Pancyprian-Freedoms II
* Panatha USA
* SmartSports FC
* Sporting Astoria SC
* Riverside Squires

### Division 4

[edit]

* Barnstonworth Rovers FC
* Central Park Rangers Kickoff II
* DeSportiva Sociedad City
* DeSportiva Sociedad Fury
* FanDuel FC
* FC Partizani NY
* Manhattan FC III
* NYC AlphaStars Club
* Ollama FC
* Queens Tigers FC
* SC Gjøa[10]
* Warriors NYC
* Williamsburg International FC III

### Over 40 Division

[edit]

* Barnstonworth Rovers Old Boys
* Central Park Rangers Legends[4]
* Cozmoz FC
* Manhattan Celtic Masters[5]
* Manhattan Kickers Legends[6]
* NY Shamrocks Legends
* SC Eintracht Legends
* SC Gjoa Over-40
* Sporting Astoria SC OG’S

### Inactive Clubs

[edit]

* Elizabeth S.C.
* Union County SC

## Past League Champions

[edit]

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
Richmond County FC  | 2023-2024
Polonia SC  | 2024-2025

* Both Elizabeth S.C. and New York Hota/Bavarian SC hold the title of champion for the 1970–1971 season

## Year by year

[edit]

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 | Richmond County FC  | NY International F.C.
2024-2025 | Polonia SC  |

Source[11]

## CSL in national competitions

[edit]

### National Challenge Cup

[edit]

* 1951 German-Hungarian SC
* 1955 S.C. Eintracht
* 1962 NY Hungaria
* 1965 NY Ukrainian SC
* 1967 Greek American AA
* 1968 Greek American AA
* 1969 Greek American AA
* 1970 Elizabeth S.C.
* 1971 NY Hota
* 1972 Elizabeth S.C.
* 1974 Greek American AA

### National Amateur Cup

[edit]

* 1929 DFC Newark (runner up)
* 1936 DSC Brooklyn
* 1944 S.C. Eintracht
* 1949 Elizabeth S.C.
* 1951 German-Hungarian SC
* 2014 New York Greek Americans
* 2017 Lansdowne Bhoys FC

### McGuire Cup (U-19 National Cup)

[edit]

* 1936 Hatikvoh FC
* 1937 Hatikvoh FC
* 1952 Killsman SC
* 1953 Newark SC
* 1955 Blau-Weiss Gottschee SC
* 1959 NY Ukrainian SC

## See also

[edit]

* Soccer in New York City
* Eastern New York State Soccer Association

## References

[edit]

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. ^ "Hoboken FC 1912 official website". www.centralparkrangers.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. ^ "Brooklyn City FC official website". www.brooklyncityfc.com. Retrieved November 26, 2020.
9. ^ "Stal Mielec New York official website". stalmielecnewyork.futbolowo.pl. Retrieved November 26, 2020.
10. ^ "SC GJOA". SC GJOA. Retrieved March 15, 2025.
11. ^ "League Champions". Cosmopolitan Soccer League. Retrieved March 5, 2024.

## External links

[edit]

* Cosmopolitan Soccer League
* League history
* Manhattan Kickers
* List of champions
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