December 9, 2024
afl

AFL – Amateur Football League

AFL Background

The Amateur Football League began life in May 1954 in Dublin, Ireland and at the time was called the Dublin Amateur Football League. The AFL was established to nurture soccer amongst amateur footballers that wanted to play in a competitive environment. The League is administered by volunteers on behalf of AFL member soccer clubs with the objective of creating a sporting and impartial environment for the benefit of each member club equally.

AFL Notice

The recent decision by the Leinster Football Association and the Football Association of Ireland that Under 19 football is the responsibility of “junior” leagues, allows the Amateur Football League provide Under 19 Division football next season. (To be played on Sundays, pm.).

One of the main reasons for the merger of the two leagues (AFL and NDSL) in 2002 was the AFL were the first ‘junior league’ providing Under 19 football successfully for a number of years. It was to allow clubs progress the development of their players from Schoolboy football, to Under 19 Football and then to Junior and with the benefits of the North Dublin Schoolboys/girls League and its Academy, progress to Airtricity League Football, with the possibility of gaining International Football honours without having to leave Ireland.

The AFL Executive believe a strong Schoolboy/girls Club together with junior clubs can plan for the future, safe in the knowledge that the excellent facilities available in the Oscar Traynor Coaching and Development Centre in Coolock Dublin 17 are available for player development. It is their intention that players will be required to fill out FAI approved individual player registration form, confirmed by a parent or guardian showing their date of birth, which has to Under 19 on the 1st January 2013. All the other rules of the AFL, LFA and FAI for junior football are applicable.

The Under 19 Manager is Bob Donnelly and he can be contacted by phone at 01-8420674 or at bobdonely@eircom.net.

To encourage this player and club development initiative, the Amateur Football League is not charging League affiliation fees or individual player registration fees for Under 19 football. The only financial outlay for the clubs are; 50% of the standard cost of the referee; and the use of the football pitch and kitting out the players, plus normal costs of running a club. Our Honorary Referee Officer John Whelan will allocate the referees and will monitor their performance on an ongoing basis ensuring the standard and performance will be as high as possible. We look forward to you coming on board.

The formation meeting takes place in the Oscar Traynor Sports Centre Conference Facility, Coolock Lane, Dublin 17 on Monday 9th July at 7.30pm. Visit amateurfootballleague.com webpage scroll down on Home page ie Other AFL info and you can read all the details.

The Amateur Football League Executive Committee
Noel Kennelly Honorary Secretary

AFL Soccer Club Membership Growth and Development

Initially the AFL comprised twelve teams playing their matches on Saturdays. In 1979 the league membership had climbed to 121 football clubs and 222 teams. Currently the League provides football for almost 700 teams.

In 1985 the AFL became the first league affiliated to the Football Association of Ireland (FAI) to establish its’ own dedicated sports and administration centre. At a cost of approximately €688K the AFL Coaching and Development Centre, as it is known, was officially opened by Jim Tunney TD in September of that year.

While the AFL did receive some grant-aid from the Irish Government over 80% of the cost was raised by AFL member soccer clubs.

AFL Football Coaching & Development Centre

In 2001 the Trustees of The AFL began negotiations with representatives of the North Dublin Schoolboy / Girl League with a view to a merger of both organisations in an effort to further enhance the the Coaching and Development Centre for Football. Dublin Council officials sanctioned the merger and with further financial support from the Irish Department of Sport the Oscar Traynor Coaching & Development Centre was opened. A separate company was formed to develop the football centre to the benefit of both football leagues. The lease on the property provides for the facility to be used only for the development of Association Football. The centre includes a top of the range grass pitch, with a sprinkler and drainage system, and an all weather artificial soccer pitch with flood lighting. The centre has hosted an U16’s UEFA championship soccer match.

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Future Developments for the AFL

Continuing development of the centre is ongoing with significant funding being made available by the FAI and the Irish Sports Council. While the facilities are very professional the AFL is keen to continue the spirit of volunteerism and to maintain the amateur ethos in Irish soccer.

AFL Soccer Referee Panel

For a list of referees affiliated to the Amateur Football League click AFL Referee Panel

AFL Soccer Roll of Honour

  • Oscar Traynor National Inter League Trophy
    WINNERS: 1969/70 – 1990/91 – 1991/1992 – 2006/07
    Runners-up: 1966/67 – 1975/76 – 1984/85 – 1987/1988
  • National Inter League Trophy – Youth Representative Team
    WINNERS: 1988/89
    Runners-up: 1975/76

AFL Soccer Competitions

  • SmartPly Premier Division – Sunday
  • SmartPly Division 2 – Sunday
  • SmartPly Division 3 – Sunday
  • SmartPly Premier Division – Saturday
  • SmartPly Div. 1 – Saturday
  • SmartPly Division 2 – Saturday
  • SmartPly Seniors Division 1 – Sunday
  • SmartPly Seniors Division 2 – Sunday
  • SmartPly Seniors Division 1 – Sunday
  • SmartPly Seniors Division 1a – Saturday
  • SmartPly Seniors Division 2 – Saturday
  • SmartPly Seniors Div 2a – Saturday
  • Amateur Cup is open to all registered football clubs, except to the seniors clubs. The Premier Sunday division teams are seeded.
  • Matt O’Leary is for Sunday Premier Division. Players who play in this Cup cannot play in lower division cups i.e. Maher, Harding or Loftus.
  • Maher Cup is for all Saturday football teams, comprising players who are not cup-tied by way of another club team playing in a another division cup (Harding or Loftus)
  • Harding Cup is for Division 2 Sunday teams made up of players who are not cup -ied by playing for another club team playing in a higher division cup (Maher & Matt O’Leary)
  • Loftus Cup is for Division 3 Sunday comprising players who are not cup-tied by playing for another club team playing in a higher division cup (Harding, Maher & Matt O’Leary)
  • Grimes Cup is for Seniors Sunday over 35s
  • Jim Byrne Cup is for Senior Saturday over 35s teams.
  • Clifford Cup is for all Over 35 Clubs and for one team per club.

AFL Contact Details

AFL Address

Noel Kennelly
Carnisle
Kildalkey
Navan
Co. Meath
Phone: 046-9435201
Fax: 046-9435011
Mobile: 087-2429406
Email: Noel Kennelly of AFLFor Info re the Oscar Traynor Sports Centre Ph 01-8483777. Manager: Declan Smith
Website
Amateur Football League Website
Honorary Chairman and Trustee: Mr. Paul Lenehan: Email: Paul Lenehan

Honorary Vice-Chairman and Trustee: Mr. Jim Morley: Email: Jim Morley

Honorary Secretary and Trustee: Mr. Noel Kennelly: Email: Noel Kennelly of AFL

Honorary Treasurer and Trustee: Mr. Philip Gorman: Email: Philip Gorman

Honorary Assistant Treasurer: Mr. Michael Lynch:

Honorary Assistant Secretary: Mr. Peter Connolly: Email: Peter Connolly

Honorary Assistant Registrar: Mr. Ron O’Shaughnessy: Email: Ron O’Shaughnessy

AFL Soccer Rules

The full list of AFL rules can be viewed on the AFL website

AFL Soccer Clubs

This is a list of some of the soccer clubs affiliated to the Amateur Football League and linked to their directory entry in Soccer-Ireland.com where available:

Artane Celtic – Ashbourne United – AZ Alpine – Bacchus FC – Baldoyle United – Ballsbridge FC – Balrothery FC – Beaumont Athletic – Blanchardstown Crusaders – Bluebell United – Boca Seniors – Boyne Rovers – Carnlough Rovers – Celtic Park FC – Chancery FC – Chanel SSC – CIE Ranch FC – Clondalkin Athletic – Clonshaugh SSFC – Clontarf FC – Clontarf Villa – Club Everton – Columba Rovers – Coolock Town – D Pils Athletic – Drumcondra Celtic – Dundrum Athletic – East Meath United – Elm Mount – Ely Woodlawn – Enfield Celtic – FC Ailesbury – FC Blanch – FC Dhulaigh – FC Lokomotiv – FC Town – Fenstanton FC – Fingal Athletic – Frankfort FC – Garden County – Glasnevin FC – Greenhills FC – Greystones United – Griffith Rovers – Hartstown FC – Huntstown Villa – Irishtown FC – Kilmore Celtic – Kilmount Boys – Knockmitten United – Lusk United – Marino Athletic – National FC – Northbrook United – Our Lady of Victory FC – Ongar Rovers – Park Vale FC – Patrician Celtic – Peamount Utd – Pearse Celtic – Phoenix Rovers – Portmarnock AFC – Portrane Athletic – ProItalia CD – Raheny Celtic – Raheny United – Ratoath Harps – Rialto FC – Rivermeade FC – Schalke Rovers – Sevitt FC – Shamrock Celtic FC – Shelbourne FC – Shelbourne SSC – Sherriff YC – Skerries Bohemians – Slovakia Team – Spartak Dynamo – St Aidans FC – St Brendans Hospital – St Brendan’s United – St Colmcilles – St Donaghs Celtic – St Itas AFC – St Kevins Boys – St Maelruan’s FC – St Marks Athletic – St Pats Phoenix – Swords Rovers – Urban Celtic – Vianney Boys – Village FC – Walkinstown Athletic – Walkinstown United – Whites FC – Wicklow Town AFC – Wyteleaf United

NOTE: If your team is missing from this list please contact Soccer-Ireland.com

Irish Soccer Leagues

AFL – Amateur Football League
AUL – Athletic Union League
Carlow & District Football League
DDSL – Dublin and District Schoolboy League
Inishowen Football League
Kildare & District Underage League
Limerick Desmond League
Meath & District League
NDSL – North Dublin Schoolboys / Girls League
SDFL – South Dublin Football League
Munster Soccer Leagues
West Cork Schoolboys Football League
Wexford Football League
Irish Soccer Information
Irish Football Club Directory Irish Soccer Leagues Women’s Soccer in Ireland
Dublin Football Clubs Football Association of Ireland Irish Soccer Players
Dublin Football Clubs by Area Irish Football Club Websites Futsal in Ireland
Irish Soccer Managers
Aviva Stadium
Irish Soccer Results
Irish Football History
Football Books
Football Pundits
Irish Soccer Referees
Irish Football Quotes
Republic of Ireland Managers
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Irish Qualifier Results
Irish Football Statistics
Ireland’s 2018 World Cup Group – Euro 2016 Qualification Campaign – Euro 2016 Appearances
Euro 2016 Play-Offs – Republic of Ireland FIFA Rankings