The Cosmopolitan Soccer League is an amateur

Amateur

An amateur is generally considered a person attached to a particular pursuit, study, or science, without pay and often without formal training....

 soccer league consisting of clubs based in and around New York City

New York City

New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...

. Established in 1923, it is one of the oldest soccer leagues in the United States

United States

The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...

 and has contributed greatly to the nation's soccer history. It occasionally served as the de facto first division

League system

A league system is a hierarchy of leagues in a sport, usually with a system of promotion and relegation between consecutive levels of the hierarchy. They are often called pyramids due to their tendency to split into an increasing number of regional divisions the further down the pyramid one descends...

 domestic league in the American soccer pyramid until the creation of Major League Soccer

Major League Soccer

Major League Soccer is a professional soccer league based in the United States and sanctioned by the United States Soccer Federation . The league is composed of 19 teams — 16 in the U.S. and 3 in Canada...

 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 amateur soccer. The league also has three over-30 divisions. The league is USASA

USASA

The United States Adult Soccer Association is a national organization and sanctioning body for amateur soccer in the United States...

-affiliated and its First Division is listed as a "Premier Division" making it a top tier amateur league and therefore falling under the fifth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid

American Soccer Pyramid

The United States soccer pyramid is a term used in soccer to describe the structure of the league system in the United States. The country's governing body for the sport, the United States Soccer Federation , oversees the system but does not operate any of its component leagues—with one temporary...

.

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

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

Baseball

Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...

 and basketball

Basketball

Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...

 in terms of popularity. The league struggled through the Great Depression

Great Depression

The Great Depression was a severe worldwide economic depression in the decade preceding World War II. The timing of the Great Depression varied across nations, but in most countries it started in about 1929 and lasted until the late 1930s or early 1940s...

 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

North American Soccer League

North American Soccer League was a professional soccer league with teams in the United States and Canada that operated from 1968 to 1984.-History:...

 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

New York Cosmos

The New York Cosmos were an American soccer club based in New York City, New York and its suburbs. The team played home games in three stadiums around New York before moving in 1977 to Giants Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey, where it remained for the rest of its history...

, 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

United States men's national soccer team

The United States men's national soccer team represents the United States in international association football competitions. It is controlled by the United States Soccer Federation and competes in CONCACAF...

 often consisted of Cosmopolitan League players.

Division 1

• Barnstonworth Rovershttp://www.barnstonworth.com/
• Clarkstown SC
• Central Park Rangers FC
• Greek American AA
  Greek American AA
  Greek American Atlas Astoria, commonly known as New York Greek American, is a soccer team from New York City that formed in 1941 by Tom Laris and went on to win four U.S. Open Cups. The team plays in the Cosmopolitan Soccer League. Their reserve team is the Greek-American Atlas Reserves FC. The...
  
  
• Lansdowne Bhoys
• Manhattan Kickers http://www.manhattankickersfootballclub.com/
• New York Athletic Club
• NYC Albania
• NY Croatia SC
• NY Pancyprian-Freedoms
• Polonia SC
• United FC

Division 2

• Central Park Rangers FC "RED"
• EMC FC
• F.C. Japan
• Galatasaray USA
• Hoboken FC 1912
  Hoboken FC 1912
  Hoboken FC 1912 is a soccer club based in Northern New Jersey, USA that plays in the Cosmopolitan Soccer League.-History:Hoboken FC 1912 was founded on March 12, 1912 in Hoboken, New Jersey when athletes belonging to the German Merchant Marines successfully organized the Germania Football Club...
  
  
• Manhattan Celtichttp://www.manhattanceltic.com/
• Moroccan Astoria Lions
• NYPD FC
• NY Ukrainian SC
• Shamrocks SC
• Stal Mielec NY
• Tesoro Kings SC

Metro Division 1

• BWG Cosmos
• CD Iberia
• CPR Metro
• FC Gwardia PLNY
• FC Partizani New York
• Gotham Argo
• Homenetmen of NY
• Korabi SC
• Missle FC
• Mr. Dennehey's FC
• Sporting Astoria SC
• VV Nieuw Amsterdam

Metro Division 2

• AO Brooklyn
• Astoria Gaels
• Barnstonworth Rovers Metro
• Dynamo SC
• Europa FC
• FC Bulgaria
• FC New York Bravehearts
• Grenadier Zenith
• Kandia SC
• Landsdowne Bhoys Metro
• New Amsterdam United
• NY Galicia
• NY Ittihad
• Ridgewood Romac SC
• S.C. Eintracht
  S.C. Eintracht
  S.C. Eintracht is an amateur American soccer team founded in 1933 which plays in the Cosmopolitan Soccer League.Founded by German immigrants in Astoria, Queens, and known at times as New York Eintracht, the team entered the German American Soccer League in 1933. In 1943, it won the first of four...
  
  

First Division

• Barnstonworth Rovers Over 30
• Barnstonworth Rovers Premier
• Greek American AA
  Greek American AA
  Greek American Atlas Astoria, commonly known as New York Greek American, is a soccer team from New York City that formed in 1941 by Tom Laris and went on to win four U.S. Open Cups. The team plays in the Cosmopolitan Soccer League. Their reserve team is the Greek-American Atlas Reserves FC. The...
  
  
• Guyana Veterans A
• Manhattan Kickers Over 30
• Manhattan Kickers Over 30 Premier
• NY Dinamo
• NYPD FC Over 30
• Pele Masters
• SC Eintracht Over 30
• Shamrock SC Over 30
• Tesoro SC

Second Division

• Barnstonworth Rovers Old Boys
• Brooklyn Gunners
• BWG Cosmos Over 30
• Central Park Rangers FC Over 30
• FC Partizani New York Over 30
• Manhattan Celtic Over 30
• Pele SC
• SC Gjoa

Third Division

• Argo Silver
• Banatul SC
• Central Park Rangers Greys
• Hoboken FC 1912 Over 30
• RTG SC
• Troy FC
• VV Nieuw Amsterdam Over 30

Past Champions

• 1927-1928 DFC Newark
• 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.
  Elizabeth S.C.
  Elizabeth SC is an inactive American soccer club based in Union County, New Jersey that is an inactive member of the Cosmopolitan Soccer League.- History :...
  
  
• 1938-1939 DSC Brooklyn
• 1939-1940 German-Hungarian SC
• 1940-1941 German-Hungarian SC
• 1941-1942 German-American AC
• 1942-1943 SC Eintracht
• 1943-1944 SC Eintracht
• 1944-1945 SC Eintracht
• 1945-1946 SC Eintracht
• 1946-1947 Elizabeth S.C.
  Elizabeth S.C.
  Elizabeth SC is an inactive American soccer club based in Union County, New Jersey that is an inactive member of the Cosmopolitan Soccer League.- History :...
  
  
• 1947-1948 Elizabeth S.C.
  Elizabeth S.C.
  Elizabeth SC is an inactive American soccer club based in Union County, New Jersey that is an inactive member of the Cosmopolitan Soccer League.- History :...
  
  
• 1948-1949 Elizabeth S.C.
  Elizabeth S.C.
  Elizabeth SC is an inactive American soccer club based in Union County, New Jersey that is an inactive member of the Cosmopolitan Soccer League.- History :...
  
  
• 1949-1950 SC Eintracht
• 1950-1951 German-Hungarian SC
• 1951-1952 German-Hungarian SC
• 1952-1953 Elizabeth S.C.
  Elizabeth S.C.
  Elizabeth SC is an inactive American soccer club based in Union County, New Jersey that is an inactive member of the Cosmopolitan Soccer League.- History :...
  
  
• 1953-1954 German-Hungarian SC
• 1954-1955 German-Hungarian SC
• 1955-1956 German-Hungarian SC
• 1956-1957 NY Hungaria
• 1957-1958 German-Hungarian SC
• 1958-1959 NY Hungaria
• 1959-1960 NY Hungaria
• 1960-1961 NY Hungaria
• 1961-1962 NY Hungaria
• 1962-1963 Blau-Weiss Gottschee SC
• 1963-1964 Greek American AC
• 1964-1965 No Champion
• 1965-1966 NY Ukrainian SC
• 1966-1967 NY Ukrainian SC
• 1967-1968 Greek American AC
• 1968-1969 Greek American AC
• 1969-1970 Greek American AC
• 1970-1971 Elizabeth S.C.
  Elizabeth S.C.
  Elizabeth SC is an inactive American soccer club based in Union County, New Jersey that is an inactive member of the Cosmopolitan Soccer League.- History :...
  
   & NY Hota SC
• 1971-1972 Inter-Guiliana SC
• 1972-1973 Elizabeth S.C.
  Elizabeth S.C.
  Elizabeth SC is an inactive American soccer club based in Union County, New Jersey that is an inactive member of the Cosmopolitan Soccer League.- History :...
  
  
• 1973-1974 Inter-Guiliana SC
• 1974-1975 Hudson Dalmatians
• 1975-1976 Inter-Guiliana SC
• 1976-1977 Brooklyn Italians
• 1977-1978 Brooklyn Italians
• 1978-1979 New York Pancyprian-Freedoms
  New York Pancyprian-Freedoms
  New York Pancyprian-Freedoms is an American amateur soccer team based in Jamaica, New York, United States. Founded in 1974, the team plays in Region I of the United States Adult Soccer Association, a network of amateur leagues at the fifth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid.The team plays its home...
  
  
• 1979-1980 New York Pancyprian-Freedoms
  New York Pancyprian-Freedoms
  New York Pancyprian-Freedoms is an American amateur soccer team based in Jamaica, New York, United States. Founded in 1974, the team plays in Region I of the United States Adult Soccer Association, a network of amateur leagues at the fifth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid.The team plays its home...
  
  
• 1980-1981 Brooklyn Italians
• 1981-1982 New York Pancyprian-Freedoms
  New York Pancyprian-Freedoms
  New York Pancyprian-Freedoms is an American amateur soccer team based in Jamaica, New York, United States. Founded in 1974, the team plays in Region I of the United States Adult Soccer Association, a network of amateur leagues at the fifth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid.The team plays its home...
  
  
• 1982-1983 Vasco Da Gama SC
• 1983-1984 Brooklyn Italians
• 1984-1985 Hoboken FC 1912
  Hoboken FC 1912
  Hoboken FC 1912 is a soccer club based in Northern New Jersey, USA that plays in the Cosmopolitan Soccer League.-History:Hoboken FC 1912 was founded on March 12, 1912 in Hoboken, New Jersey when athletes belonging to the German Merchant Marines successfully organized the Germania Football Club...
  
  
• 1985-1986 NY Croatia SC
• 1986-1987 NY Hota/Bavarian SC
• 1987-1988 NY Hota/Bavarian SC
• 1988-1989 NY Croatia SC
• 1989-1990 NY Albanians
• 1990-1991 Blau-Weiss Gottschee SC
• 1991-1992 Sportfriends SC
• 1992-1993 NY Hungaria
• 1993-1994 Clarkstown SC
• 1994-1995 NY Athletic Club
• 1995-1996 NY Athletic Club
• 1996-1997 NY Athletic Club
• 1997-1998 NY Croatia SC
• 1998-1999 NY Athletic Club
• 1999-2000 NY Athletic Club
• 2000-2001 NY Athletic Club
• 2001-2002 NY Albanians
• 2002-2003 New York Pancyprian-Freedoms
  New York Pancyprian-Freedoms
  New York Pancyprian-Freedoms is an American amateur soccer team based in Jamaica, New York, United States. Founded in 1974, the team plays in Region I of the United States Adult Soccer Association, a network of amateur leagues at the fifth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid.The team plays its home...
  
  
• 2003-2004 New York Pancyprian-Freedoms
  New York Pancyprian-Freedoms
  New York Pancyprian-Freedoms is an American amateur soccer team based in Jamaica, New York, United States. Founded in 1974, the team plays in Region I of the United States Adult Soccer Association, a network of amateur leagues at the fifth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid.The team plays its home...
  
  
• 2004-2005 Greek American AA
  Greek American AA
  Greek American Atlas Astoria, commonly known as New York Greek American, is a soccer team from New York City that formed in 1941 by Tom Laris and went on to win four U.S. Open Cups. The team plays in the Cosmopolitan Soccer League. Their reserve team is the Greek-American Atlas Reserves FC. The...
  
  
• 2005-2006 Brooklyn Italians
• 2006-2007 Brooklyn Italians
• 2007-2008 Greek American AA
  Greek American AA
  Greek American Atlas Astoria, commonly known as New York Greek American, is a soccer team from New York City that formed in 1941 by Tom Laris and went on to win four U.S. Open Cups. The team plays in the Cosmopolitan Soccer League. Their reserve team is the Greek-American Atlas Reserves FC. The...
  
  
• 2008-2009 Greek American AA
  Greek American AA
  Greek American Atlas Astoria, commonly known as New York Greek American, is a soccer team from New York City that formed in 1941 by Tom Laris and went on to win four U.S. Open Cups. The team plays in the Cosmopolitan Soccer League. Their reserve team is the Greek-American Atlas Reserves FC. The...
  
  
• 2009-2010 New York Pancyprian-Freedoms
  New York Pancyprian-Freedoms
  New York Pancyprian-Freedoms is an American amateur soccer team based in Jamaica, New York, United States. Founded in 1974, the team plays in Region I of the United States Adult Soccer Association, a network of amateur leagues at the fifth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid.The team plays its home...
  
  
• 2010-2011 New York Pancyprian-Freedoms
  New York Pancyprian-Freedoms
  New York Pancyprian-Freedoms is an American amateur soccer team based in Jamaica, New York, United States. Founded in 1974, the team plays in Region I of the United States Adult Soccer Association, a network of amateur leagues at the fifth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid.The team plays its home...