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.
Contents
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.
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.
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