Continental Football League

Continental Football League (1965-1969)

Tombstone

Formed: February 1965
Disbanded: 1970 (No date of formal announcement)

First Game: August 14, 1965
Last Game: December 13, 1969

Seasons: 5
States & Provinces: 

Leadership

Commissioner:

  • March 1965 – January 1966: A.B. “Happy” Chandler
  • February 1966 – March 1968: Sol Rosen
  • March 1968 – December 1968: Danny Hill
  • December 1968 – March 1970: James Dunn

Attendance

Trophy Case

Continental Football League Most Valuable Player

Year Player Position Team
1965 (tie) Bob Broadhead Quarterback Philadelphia Bulldogs
1965 (tie) Joe Williams Fullback Toronto Rifles
1966 Don Jonas Quarterback Orlando Panthers
1967 (Atlantic Division) Don Jonas Quarterback Orlando Panthers
1967 (Pacific Division) Bob Jackson Fullback Orange County Ramblers
1968 Don Jonas Quarterback Orlando Panthers
1969 Johnnie Walton Quarterback Indianapolis Capitols

 

Continental Football League Rookie of the Year

Year Player Position Team
1966 Tom Wilkinson Quarterback Toronto Rifles
1967 Fred Bristo Safety Wheeling Ironmen
1968
1969

 

Continental Football League Coach of the Year

Year Coach Team
1965 Perry Moss Charleston Rockets
1966 Perry Moss Orlando Panthers
1967 (Atlantic Division) Gary Glick Norfolk Neptunes
1967 (Pacific Division) Homer Beatty Orange County Ramblers
1968 Lou Blumling Ohio Valley Ironmen
1969 Ken Carpenter Indianapolis Capitols

 

Background

Coming soon…

 

Continental Football League Franchise List

FRANCHISEYEARS ACTIVECoFL CHAMPIONS
Akron Vulcans1967Never
Alabama Hawks1968-1969Never
Arkansas Diamonds1968-1969Never
Brooklyn Dodgers1966Never
Charleston Rockets1965-19681965
Chicago Owls1968-1969Never
Dallas Rockets1969Never
Eugene Bombers1967Never
Fort Wayne Warriors1965Never
Fort Worth Braves1969Never
Hartford Charter Oaks1965-1967Never
Huntsville Hawks1968-1969Never
Indianapolis Capitols1968-19691969
Jersey Jays1969Never
Las Vegas Cowboys1968-1969Never
Long Beach Admirals1967Never
Mexico Golden Aztecs1969Never
Michigan Arrows1968Never
Montreal Beavers1966-1967Never
Newark Bears1965Never
Norfolk Neptunes1965-1969Never
Ohio Valley Ironmen*1968-1969Never
Oklahoma Thunderbirds1969Never
Oklahoma City Plainsmen1968Never
Omaha Mustangs1968-1969Never
Orange County Ramblers1967-1968Never
Orlando Panthers1966-19691967 & 1968
Philadelphia Bulldogs1965-19661966
Portland Loggers1969Never
Quad Cities Raiders1968Never
Rhode Island Indians1965Never
Richmond Rebels1965-1966Never
Sacramento Buccaneers1967Never
Sacramento Capitols1968-1969Never
San Antonio Toros1969Never
San Jose Apaches1967Never
Seattle Rangers1967-1969Never
Spokane Shockers1968-1969Never
Texarkana Titans1969Never
Toronto Rifles1965-1967Never
Tri-City Apollos1969Never
Victoria Steelers1967Never
West Texas Rufnecks1969Never
Wheeling Ironmen**1965-1967Never
*Ohio Valley Ironmen in 1968 & 1969
**Wheeling Ironmen from 1965 to 1967

 

Downloads

1969 Texas Football League Standard Player Contract*

1969 Texas Football League Standard Players Contract

*The Texas Football League played as a division of the Continental League in 1969.

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Comments

12 Responses

  1. I used to read about the Phila Bulldogs but never had to opportunity to see them play. Wished I could’ve. Seemed like they were a good team

  2. Does anyone else remember the 1966 game played at Philadelphia’s JFK stadium between the hometown Bulldogs & the Montreal Beavers? One hundred thousand fans attended the game, all tickets were free! An Acme markets promotion. Perhaps 52 years has skewed my memory.
    As I recall, at the time, it was the largest attendance ever for a minor league football game.
    I cannot find one word about the game. Also I remember everyone’s cars being stuck in mud outside in the stadium’s unpaved parking lot. I went to the game with my Father & my cousins Pete & Mike I was eleven and it was one of my fondest childhood memories! Phil Fioravanti

    1. Sure do! My pop and another neighborhood dad took 22 kids from East Camden NJ (Eutaw Avenue) to that game. We got free tickets from our local ACME on Old Marlton Pike in East Camden and it was a blast. We took a bus from East Camden into Center City Philly, then the Broad Street subway to JFK Stadium. I used to have a stack of those tickets but don’t know where they are. But I just found a full unused ticket from the 1966 Continental FB Championship game played at Temple Stadium when the Bulldogs beat Orlando. It’s like the one shown on Wikipedia under Philadelphia Bulldogs but its blue and intact. I was 11 years old for the free Bulldogs game and that experience was unforgettable. My dad bought a bushel of apples and each kid got two as a snack. Three kids got stuck in the subway tall turnstile gates and the guard had to use a key to free them. Those were the days!!!

  3. Historian of Norfolk neptunes … we have 7 players that still live in Norfolk area I have a large collection of photos etc any questions about the neps welcome

    1. Richard, I can remember the two trips the Neptunes made in to Huntsville to play our Hawks 1968-69, ya’ll had a fine club, the Hawks could never defeat Norfolk, home or away….sure miss that fine time in life… sincerely….

    2. Dick, is there a way I can get in touch with you? I’m a podcast producer interested in doing a story about the Continental Football League, and I’m trying to track down players, coaches, fans or historians for each of the teams. Thanks

  4. Dick Thorne, would you be willing to share some of the photos of yesteryear? I love the minor leagues of the 60’s. It’s so rare to get to see photos from that time period.

  5. I was a three year season ticket holder to the Orlando Panthers. if anybody has a pennant to sell — i am interested.

  6. My dad is Dick Hard. He played for the Seattle rangers/ramblers. I loved hearing his stories. Even now anything I find about him is a treasure.

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