Western Football Association Explained

The Western Football Association (WFA) was a governing body for soccer in Southern Ontario, Canada, and is often viewed as a precursor organization to the current Canadian Soccer Association. The organization was responsible for facilitating club play in Southern Ontario, and would also send teams to compete internationally, such as Galt F.C.'s participation at the 1904 Summer Olympics.

History

Founded as the Western Football Association of Ontario, the association would grant membership to any amateur association rules football club west of Toronto.[1] Immediately after its founding, the Western Football Association organized the WFA Challenge Cup, where member clubs would compete for the regional championship between 1880 and 1930. Following the dissolution of Toronto's Dominion Football Association in 1881, the WFA became the dominant soccer organization in Canada, and acted as Canada's national soccer association before the formation of the proper Dominion of Canada Football Association (Canada Soccer) in 1912. Because of this status, the WFA created the first ever Canadian national team to represent the country internationally in 1885, where they would go on to play against the United States in the first ever international match outside of the United Kingdom. The WFA would also send their national team on tours in 1888 and 1891 to play friendly matches against various soccer clubs in England, Ireland, and Scotland. In 1904, the WFA was invited to send one of their member clubs to the 1904 Summer Olympics soccer tournament in St. Louis, where they chose to send eventual gold medalists Galt F.C. to compete with two other clubs from the United States. The Western Soccer Association eventually folded in 1940, and although the reason or reasons behind its dissolution are not entirely clear, it was likely a mix of financial issues, as well as its increased insignificance compared to the Dominion of Canada Football Association and Ontario Soccer Association.[1]

WFA Challenge Cup

List of champions:[2]

International competitions

See also: Canada men's national soccer team results (unofficial matches).

Year(s) Competition Location Team sent score Opponent(s) Result
1885FriendlyNewark, New JerseyWFA team1–0 United States (AFA)
1886FriendlyNewark, New JerseyWFA team2–3 United States (AFA)
1888Great Britain TourBritish IslesWFA team23 matches (details)
1891Great Britain TourBritish IslesWFA/AFA team58 matches (details)
1892
1904Summer OlympicsSt. Louis, MissouriGalt F.C.7–0 Christian Brothers CollegeGold Medalists
4–0 Saint Rose Parish
1905FriendlyHamilton, OntarioHamilton/Dundas2–8 Pilgrims
Niagara Falls, OntarioNiagara Falls0–5
Berlin, OntarioBerlin Rangers2–1
"The Championship of the World"Galt, OntarioGalt F.C.3–3

Notable staff

List of presidents
President Year(s)
J.W. Connor 1880
J.E. Bryant 1881–85
C.F. McGillivray 1886
M.N. Todd 1887
J.A. Turner 1888
J.R.L. Starr 1889
George A. Dewar 1890–91
J.C. Breckenridge 1892
J.D. Lamont 1893
Henry J. Crawford 1984
William Prendergast 1895–96
W.M. Govenlock 1897
R.C. Cheswright 1898–1905
Louis B. Duff 1906–07
D.A. McLachlan 1908–09
Dr. Lederman 1910
Dr. Louis Doering 1911
Tom G. Elliott 1912
E.A. Rea 1913
J.M. McCutcheon 1914
1915–19
H.W. Brown 1920–22
Don M. Campbell 1923–24
Beverley L.H. Bamford 1925–26
Fraser Campbell 1927–28
Harry Fisher 1929–30
Gladstone Neath 1931–33
Harold Western 1934–36
Harry Fisher Jr 1937–38
Frank Westerman 1939–40
List of secretary-treasurers
Secretary-treasurer Year(s)
1880–1905
H.W. Brown 1906
Solon Lutz 1907–1908
T.G. Elliott 1909–1910
H.W. Brown 1911–1912
N.R. Fiebig 1913–1915
Charles Hollins 1916–1918
C.C. Tatham 1919–1920
1921–1923
Jim Blake 1924–1940

Notable players

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Western Football Association, 1880–1940—Constitution 1909. Jose, Colin. Canadian Soccer History. 28 August 2023.
  2. Web site: WFA Challenge Cup & Intermediate Cup. Jose, Colin. Canadian Soccer History. 20 October 2023.