Atlantic Coast Football League

The Atlantic Coast Football League (ACFL) was a minor football league that operated from 1962 to 1971. After suspending operations for 1972, the ACFL played a final season in 1973. Until 1969, many of its franchises had working agreements with NFL and AFL teams to serve as farm clubs. In 1965, three of the franchises joined with five teams from the United Football League to create the Continental Football League. After the Continental League folded, several of its teams joined the ACFL in 1970.

Joe Rosentover served as league president. He had served in the same capacity for the American Association from 1936 to 1950.

ACFL Championship Games

1962- Paterson Miners 17, Providence Steamroller 14 (Double OT)

1963- Newark Bears 23 Springfield Acorns 6

1964- Boston Sweepers 14, Newark Bears 10

1965- New Bedford Sweepers 13, Jersey Jets 9

1966- Virginia Sailors 42, Lowell Giants 10

1967- Virginia Sailors 20, Westchester Bulls 14

1968- Hartford Knights 30, Virginia Sailors 17

1969- Pottstown Firebirds 20, Hartford Knights 0

1970- Pottstown Firebirds 31, Hartford Knights 0

1971- Norfolk Neptunes 24, Hartford Knights 13

1973- New England Colonials 41, Bridgeport Jets 17

ACFL teams

*Ansonia Black Knights 1962-63
*Atlanta Spartans 1964
*Atlantic City Senators 1966
*Baltimore Broncos 1963
*Boston Sweepers 1963-64
*Bridgeport Jets 1968-71, 1973
*Frankfort Falcon 1962
*Harrisburg Capitols 1963-69
*Hartford Charter Oaks 1963-64
*Hartford Knights 1968-71, 1973
*Holyoke Bombers 1965
*Indianapolis Capitols 1970-71
*Jersey City Jets 1966
*Jersey Giants 1963-64
*Jersey Jays 1970-71
*Jersey Jets 1965
*Jersey Tigers 1970-71
*Long Island Bulls 1969-70
*Long Island Chiefs 1973
*Lowell Giants 1966-68
*Mohawk Valley Falcons 1963-65
*Newark Bears 1963-64
*New Bedford Sweepers 1965-66
*New England Colonials 1973
*Norfolk Neptunes 1970-71
*Orlando Panthers 1970-71
*Paterson Miners 1962
*Pittsburgh Valley Ironmen 1963-65
*Portland Sea Hawks 1962-64
*Pennsylvania Firebirds 1970-71
*Pottstown Firebirds 1968-69
*Providence Steamrollers 1962-64
*Quincy Giants 1969-71
*Rhode Island Steelers 1966
*Richmond Rebels 1964
*Richmond Roadrunners 1968-69
*Richmond Saints 1970
*Roanoke Buckskins 1969-71
*Scranton Miners 1965-66
*Scranton Pros 1964
*Springfield Acorns 1963-64
*Stamford Golden Bears 1962
*Virginia Sailors 1966-68
*Waterbury Orbits 1966-67
*West Massachusetts Pioneers 1973
*Westchester Bulls 1967-68
*Westchester Crusaders 1963-64, 1973
*Wilmington Clippers 1966-67

Source: Gill, Minor League Football 1960-1985 (McFarland Press, 2002)