The Kearny Scots are an American soccer club based in Kearny, New Jersey. The club currently competes in the United Premier Soccer League, having previously played in the Garden State Soccer League and the American Premier Soccer League, a USASA-affiliated league and an amateur affiliate of the professional third tier NISA. The Scots are one of the oldest continuously operating soccer clubs in the United States.
In the Scots' earlier days, they played in both the National Association Football League and the second American Soccer League. When not members of those leagues, the Scots competed in lower level city leagues.
History The Scots had been established in the late 19th century and was a founding member of the first National Association Football League (NAFBL).
In 1895, the Scots finished runner up to Bayonne Centerville in the NAFBL's first season. When the NAFBL folded at the end of the 1898–1899 season, the Scots continued to play in smaller local leagues. In 1909, the Scots became founding members of the second NAFBL and continued to play in the league until 1918.
They finished runner up in the 1906–1907, 1915–1916, and 1916–1917 seasons. The Scots began the 1918–1919 season, but the U.S. entry into World War I led to the loss of much of the team. Consequently, the Scots dropped out the NAFBL five games into the season."Bethlehems Must Play Here". (January 27, 1919). The Morning Call, p.3 col.3
After leaving the NAFBL in 1919, the Scots continued to play in city leagues. They returned to high level competition when they were an inaugural member of the second American Soccer League in 1933. Originally known as the "Scots-Americans", the club was officially renamed the "Kearny Americans" beginning with the 1941/42 season. The club continued to be better known as the Kearny Scots and returned to their original name before the 1950/51 season.
The club won the New Jersey State Challenge Cup in 1939 and in 1940 took a "double" winning the league and the Lewis Cup. The club won the Lewis Cup again in 1948.
Due to financial difficulties, the Scots withdrew from the American Soccer League after the 1952/53 season.
After playing in state leagues in New Jersey, the Scots re-joined the semi-professional circuit on June 30, 2021 by joining the Eastern Premier Soccer League.
The Scots joined the United Premier Soccer League in 2026 and debuted in the Division 1 Fall 2026 season, starting with a 2-0 win over Future Sports Academy.
Year-by-year YearLeagueDivisionReg. seasonPlayoffsAmerican CupNational CupScottish Americans1895NAFBLN/A2ndNo playoffDid not EnterN/A1895–96No RecordNo playoffFirst RoundN/A1896–973rdNo playoffSecond RoundN/A1897–982ndNo playoffDid not EnterN/A1898–995thNo playoffN/AN/A1906–SemifinalsN/A1906/07NAFBLN/A3rdNo playoffFinalN/A1907/083rdNo playoffFirst RoundN/A1908/094thNo playoffFirst RoundN/A1909/104thNo playoffFinalN/A1910/118thNo playoffThird RoundN/A1911/128thNo playoffPreliminary RoundN/A1912/135thNo playoffSecond RoundN/A1913/143rdNo playoffSecond RoundDid not Enter1914/153rdNo playoffChampionsQuarterfinals1915/162ndNo playoffFinals?1916/172ndNo playoffSecond RoundThird round1917/184thNo playoffSecond RoundSecond round1918/19–Second RoundThird round1933–34ASL IIMetropolitan3rdNo playoffN/AThird round1934–358thNo playoffN/AQuarterfinals1935–363rdNo playoffN/AQuarterfinals1936–372ndChampionN/AQuarterfinals1937–381stChampionN/AFirst round1938–391stChampionN/ASecond round1939–401stChampion (no playoff)N/AThird round1940–411stChampion (no playoff)N/A?Kearny Americans1941–426thNo playoffN/AQuarterfinals1942–438thNo playoffN/ARound of 161943–448thNo playoffN/ARound of 161944–45N/A6thNo playoffN/ARound of 321945–466thNo playoffN/ARound of 161946–475thNo playoffN/A?1947–482ndNo playoffN/ASecond round1948–495thDid not qualifyN/A?1949–505thNo playoffN/A?Kearny Scots1950–512ndNo playoffN/A?1951–52Metropolitan2ndNo playoffN/A?1952–537thNo playoffN/A?2011–12NJSLPremier World8thDid not qualifyN/ADid not enter2012–139thDid not qualifyN/ADid not enter2013–1412thDid not qualifyN/ADid not enter2014–1512thDid not qualifyN/ADid not enter2020–21GSSLA North8thDid not qualifyN/ADid not enter2021-22GSSLN/ADid not enter2022-23EPSLMetropolitan Conference9thDid not qualifyN/A1st Qualifying Round2023-24GSSLN/ADid not enter2024-25GSSLN/ADid not enter2025-26UPSLDivision 1N/A2nd Qualifying Round
Honors American Cup Winner (1): 1915 Runner-up (3): 1907, 1910, 1916
American Soccer League Winner (5): 1936–37, 1937–38, 1938–39, 1939–40, 1940–41 Runner-up (2): 1947–48, 1951–52
Lewis Cup Winner (2): 1940, 1948
New Jersey Men's Open State Cup Winner (6): 1924–25, 1932–33, 1938–39, 1939–40, 1964–65, 1990–91
See also George Conn - played 12 seasons for Kearny Scots References
External links
NAFBL standings