Kearny Scots

History

The Kearny Scots trace their origins to the late 1800s, when the club helped launch the first National Association Football League (NAFBL). In the league’s inaugural 1895 season, they placed second behind Bayonne Centerville. After the NAFBL dissolved following the 1898–1899 campaign, the Scots kept playing in smaller local circuits.

They were again among the founders when a second NAFBL formed in 1909, staying in that league until 1918. During this period, they finished as runners-up in the 1906–1907, 1915–1916, and 1916–1917 seasons. The Scots started the 1918–1919 season, but America’s entry into World War I cost them many players, forcing them to withdraw just five matches in.

After leaving the NAFBL in 1919, the team competed in city leagues. They returned to top-tier soccer in 1933 as an original member of the second American Soccer League. Initially called the Scots-Americans, the club was officially renamed the Kearny Americans for the 1941–42 season, though fans still knew them as the Kearny Scots. They reverted to their original name before the 1950–51 season.

The Scots won the New Jersey State Challenge Cup in 1939 and achieved a double in 1940 by capturing both the league title and the Lewis Cup. They claimed the Lewis Cup again in 1948. Financial troubles forced the club to leave the American Soccer League after the 1952–53 season.

For decades, the Scots played in New Jersey state leagues. On June 30, 2021, they rejoined the semi-professional ranks by entering the Eastern Premier Soccer League. In 2026, they moved to the United Premier Soccer League, debuting in Division 1 that fall with a 2-0 victory over Future Sports Academy.