Champions League (pre-UICA)
- This article is about the original Champions League. For the current tournament run by the IFCF, see Champions' League.
The Champions League was the first international club football championship and precursor to the later UICA tournaments. While the records of the inaugural tournament have been lost, records from the 2nd Champions League season indicate that a club from The Belmore Family, Alan City FC, were the first world club champions. With the formation of the NSFA as an administrative body for international club football, it became known as the NSFA Champions League from its eighth edition onwards. The TakilQuip Champions' Cup can be considered its successor tournament.
The competition was closely associated with the World Cup, and the first Champions League is thought to have started at the time of World Cup 6. The earliest records available show that the 2nd Champions League season took place at the same time as the qualifiers for World Cup 7 in August 2003 (OOC). It is unclear if the 3rd and 4th seasons were properly completed. It ran for three successive instalments before ceasing at the time of World Cup 12. Around World Cup 19, it was revived by Kaze Progressa.
Beginning with the 6th season, the NSFA Cup was added as a second-tier tournament to run concurrently with the Champions League. This also led to the first recorded international club Super Cup, between NSFA Champions League 6 winners Yeaddin Owls and NSFA Cup 1 winners Angel Core Sentinels.
The tournament was traditionally been organised with a number of preliminary qualifying rounds, followed by a group stage round robin with eight groups of four teams. There may then be another group stage or a knockout stage. Due to the number of entrants, Champions League 6 started directly with a group stage without any qualifying.
Star Errinundera midfielder/defender Snapier had a stellar, and probably unique, year when her team McKillops Bridge won the Champions League. She was a member of the Errinundera Football Association Premier League winning team, the Champions League winning team and the World Cup 7 winning team. She also won the EFA Fairest and Best Player Award, was judged best player in the Champions League and won the Leighm medal for best Errinundrian player in the World Cup, including qualifiers. About the only gong she missed was selection for the World Cup 7 all-star team.
Champions League finals[edit]
- Note: Primary sources have been lost for seasons 1 to 4. Winners of those seasons are inferred from secondary reporting and may be incorrect.
| Edition | Winners | Score | Runners-up | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Alan City FC |
|||
| 2 |  McKillops Bridge |
|||
| 3 | ||||
| 4 | The Belmore Family | |||
| 5 |  Yeaddin Owls (VIL) |
3-3 aet 5-4 pen |
 Kalisimu Salan (RJS) |
unknown |
| 6 | Yeaddin Owls (VIL) |
6-6 aet 7-6 pen |
 Jurai'alheim Clans |
unknown Moleland |
| 7 |  Iskara Daii (STB) |
2-0 | Yeaddin Owls (VIL) |
Southampton National Square Southampton, Chicanada |
| 8 | Karela Lines (RJS) |
2-1 aet |  Corinthian Spirits (STB) |
Issreson Stadium Everton City, Krytenia |
| 9 | Woodstock Wild (SAR) |
2-1 |  San Solari FC (BDN) |
Stadium of Light Cëre, The Islands of Qutar |
Organisation[edit]
The football associations of Bedistan and Kaze Progressa were the primary organizers of the competition in its early years.
References[edit]
- CL2 signups, August 2003
- CL3 signups, November 2003
- CL4 RP thread, December 2004
- CL5 thread, January 2005
- CL6 signups, RP, April 2005
- CL7 signups, RP, June 2005
- CL8, Jan 2006