New England Football League
The New England Football League (NEFL) is a semi-professional American football league out of Salisbury, MA and owned by Thomas Torrisi.[1] It is the largest semi-professional league in the region.[2] The NEFL was founded in 1994 and was also known as the Greater Lawrence Men's Football League.[3] It currently consists of 40 teams with about 2,000 players playing in 3 different classifications (A, AA, AAA) with at least two teams based in each of the six New England states.[2][4] The league provides competitve football for adult players. It is a "working man's league" as most players have regular jobs during the week.[5][6] Teams practice on weeknights and play on the weekends, most games on weekends.[2] Players don't get paid for their participation, but they often pay $200 to be on the team's roster.[2][6] The league runs from spring until October.[6] Each team can dress up to 55 players.[7]
League history
The New England Football League was founded in 1994 by League President and Director of Marketing, Tom Torrisi, Chairman Matt Brien, Commissioner Bob Oreal, Vice-President and Treasurer John Motta and Secretary Christine Torrisi.[2] It started its 1994 season with only four teams. By 1997 number of teams tripled to twelve. And in 2002, the league had at least one team in each New England state. Also in that year the league started its three conference alignment with three different skill levels, one for each conference. The 2006 was the first season with at least 30 teams playing in the league making it one of the largest semi-pro football leagues in the country.
Game rules
The NEFL uses what they refer to as modified NCAA rules[3]. Most of the rules are adopted from the NCAA rule book. But there are a few NFL rules and some rules specific to the NEFL that have been adopted.
Current teams
Currently the NEFL has 40 teams playing in 3 different skill levels (conferences) with at least two teams based in each of the six New England states.[8]
Colonial Conference (AAA)
| Team | Stadium | City/Area |
|---|---|---|
| NORTHERN DIVISION | ||
| Boston Bandits | Scagnoli-Nihill Playing Field at Boston English High School | Boston, Massachusetts |
| Lowell Nor'easter | Cawley Memorial Stadium | Lowell, Massachusetts |
| North Shore Generals | Manning Field | Lynn, Massachusetts |
| Rhode Island Wardogs | North Smithfield High School | North Smithfield, Rhode Island |
| Somerville Rampage | Dilboy Stadium | Somerville, Massachusetts |
| Southern Maine Raging Bulls | Memorial Stadium at Deering High School | Portland, Maine |
| SOUTHERN DIVISION | ||
| Connecticut Bearcats | Riccitelli Field at Sheehan High School | Wallingford, Connecticut |
| Connecticut Panthers | Falcon Field | Meriden, Connecticut |
| Hartford Colts | Cal Ripken Athletic Field at Anne Fisher Montessori School | Hartford, Connecticut |
| Western Connecticut Militia | Militia Valley Stadium at Danbury H.S; Kaplanis Field at Immaculate H.S | Danbury, Connecticut |
| Western Massachusetts Armor | Roberts Field at Holyoke High School | Holyoke, Massachusetts |
| Worcester County Wildcats | Commerce Bank Field at Foley Stadium | Worcester, Massachusetts |
North Atlantic Conference (AA)
| Team | Stadium | City/Area |
|---|---|---|
| NORTHERN DIVISION | ||
| Granite State Destroyers | Nor-Rock Field | Raymond, New Hampshire |
| New Hampshire Charge | Chabot McDonough Field at Manchester Memorial H.S. | Manchester, New Hampshire |
| Port City Vipers | Tom Daubney Field at Portsmouth High School | Portsmouth, New Hampshire |
| Southern New Hampshire Beavers | George Simonian Stadium at Chelmsford High School | North Chelmsford, Massachusetts |
| EASTERN DIVISION | ||
| Mystic River Tigers | Hormel Stadium | Medford, Massachusetts |
| South Coast Outlaws | ||
| Southeastern Hurricanes | Paul Walsh Field | New Bedford, Massachusetts |
| Southern New England Rage | Memorial Field at Mansfield High School | Mansfield, Massachusetts |
| WESTERN DIVISION | ||
| Central Mass Sabercats | Doyle Field | Leominster, Massachusetts |
| Northern Berkshire Kings | Reid Middle School Field | Pittsfield, Massachusetts |
| Southern Vermont Storm | Schuylerville High School Field; Spinelli Field | Bennington, Vermont |
| Vermont Ravens | Sabine Field at Norwich University | Northfield, Vermont |
| SOUTHERN DIVISION | ||
| Green Valley Blackhawks | Old Killingly High School Field | Danielson, Connecticut |
| New London County Sharks | Stonington High School Palmer Field | Pawcatuck, Connecticut |
| Rhode Island Riptide | Stebbins Field at Cranston Stadium | Cranston, Rhode Island |
| Southern Connecticut Sting | New London High School Field | New London, Connecticut |
Maritime Conference (A)
| Team | Stadium | City/Area |
|---|---|---|
| NORTHERN DIVISION | ||
| Concord Knights | Northeast Athletic Club Field | Pembroke, New Hampshire |
| Mid-Coast Falcons | Larrabee Field | Knox, Maine |
| Notre Dame Cobras | Brothers at Notre Dame Field | Alfred, Maine |
| Twin City Riot | Morse Field at Alfond Stadium | Orono, Maine |
| CENTRAL DIVISION | ||
| Mass State Wolverines | ||
| Mass Warriors | Wayland High School | Wayland, Massachusetts |
| Monadnock Marauders | Alumni Field at Keene High School | Keene, New Hampshire |
| Northeastern Empire | Nashua, New Hampshire | |
| SOUTHERN DIVISION | ||
| Connecticut Gamblers | Tolland High School Field | Tolland, Connecticut |
| Franklin County Greyhounds | Mahar High School | Orange, Massachusetts |
| New Britain Brawlers | New Britain, Connecticut | |
| South Shore Chiefs | Hanover High School | Hanover, Massachusetts |
League champions
| Year | Team | A | AA | AAA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1994 | Lawrence Lightning | |||
| 1995 | North Shore Rage | |||
| 1996 | Massachusetts Havoc | |||
| 1997 | Massachusetts Havoc | |||
| 1998 | Lowell Nor'easter | |||
| 1999 | Lowell Nor'easter | |||
| 2000 | Seacoast Hawks | Lowell Nor'easter | ||
| 2001 | Southern Maine Raging Bulls | Boston Bandits | ||
| 2002 | Connecticut Thunder | Vermont Ice Storm | Lowell Nor'easter | |
| 2003 | Seacoast Hawks | New England Stars | Boston Bandits | |
| 2004 | Hampton Hurricanes | Connecticut Thunder | Lowell Nor'easter | |
| 2005 | Rhode Island Raptors | Seacoast Hawks | Boston Bandits | |
| 2006 | Notre Dame Cobras | North Attleboro Renegades | Boston Bandits | |
| 2007 | Leominster Razorbacks | Whaling City Clippers[9] | Middleboro Cobras | |
| 2008 | Tri City Charge | Whaling City Clippers | Middleboro Cobras | |
| 2009 | Connecticut Spartans | New Hampshire Wolfpack | Tri City Charge | Lowell Nor'easter |
| 2010 | Seacoast Hawks | Connecticut Panthers | Western Mass Warriors | Lowell Nor'easter |
| 2011 | Rhode Island Riptide | New Hampshire Wolfpack | Connecticut Bearcats | |
| 2012 | Connecticut Bearcats | Cape Cod Seadogs | South Shore Outlaws[10] | Western Mass Warriors |
| 2013 | Central Mass Sabercats | Pioneer Valley Knights | Connecticut Panthers | |
| 2014 | Brass City Brawlers | Rhode Island Wardogs | Connecticut Panthers | |
| 2015 | Port City Vipers | Somerville Rampage | Boston Bandits | |
| 2016 | Mass State Wolverines | South Coast Outlaws | Western Connecticut Militia |
References
- ↑ "Experian Commercial Risk Database". Proquest. 2015-11-20. Retrieved January 26, 2016.
- 1 2 3 4 "Love of the game drives semipro football players - The Boston Globe". BostonGlobe.com. Retrieved 2016-01-26.
- 1 2 "New England Football League - Champions". www.semiprofootball.org. Retrieved 2015-12-14.
- ↑ "SEMIPRO FOOTBALL: Middletown Spartans are ready to play; kick-off '10 season Sat.". www.middletownpress.com. Retrieved 2016-03-02.
- ↑ Gasper, Christopher L. (2004-08-29). "Blue-collar bruisers". Boston.com. Retrieved 2015-12-12.
- 1 2 3 "Semipro football players in it for love of the game - The Boston Globe". BostonGlobe.com. Retrieved 2016-01-26.
- ↑ COLLINS, ED. "Foundation set for South Coast Outlaws semi-pro football team". southcoasttoday.com. Retrieved 2016-03-02.
- ↑ "Semi-pro Wolfpack plays for the love of the game". Union Leader. Retrieved March 16, 2016.
- ↑ THOMAS, BUDDY. "McCann has Clippers 'D' primed for title game". southcoasttoday.com. Retrieved 2016-03-02.
- ↑ Correspondent, Rob Duca. "SOUTH COAST OUTLAWS: The boys are back in town". Wicked Local Wareham. Retrieved 2016-04-01.