Atlantic Coast Football League (1966-1968)
Tombstone
Born: 1966 – The Annapolis Sailors relocate to Arlington, Virginia
Moved: 1969 (Roanoke Buckskins)
First Game: August 20, 1966 (W 35-17 @ Jersey Jets)
Last Game: November 30, 1968 (L 30-17 @ Hartford Knights)
ACFL Champions: 1966 & 1967
Stadia
1966: Wakefield High School Stadium
1966-1967: George Washington High School Stadium
1968: Herndon High School Stadium
Marketing
Team Colors:
Cheerleaders: The Sailorettes
Ownership & Affiliation
Owner: Joel S. Kaufmann, et al.
NFL Affiliation: Washington Redskins
Our Favorite Stuff
Virginia Sailors
1960's Logo T-Shirt
Fun logo for this highly successful late 60’s semi-pro football outfit from the D.C. suburbs. The Sailors played at high school stadiums in Alexandria, Arlington & Herndon and reached the Atlantic Coast Football League title game in all three of their seasons, winning twice.
This Sailors design is also available as a Hooded or Crewneck Sweatshirt today from our friends at Old School Shirts!
When you make a purchase through an affiliate link like this one, Fun While It Lasted earns a commission at no additional cost to you. Thanks for your support!
Background
The Virginia Sailors were a minor league football team that operated in the Washington suburbs for three seasons from 1966 to 1968. The Sailors were originally based in Annapolis, Maryland as members of the North American Football League (NAFL). After the NAFL folded, the Sailors moved to Arlington, Virginia and joined the Atlantic Coast Football League (ACFL) in 1966.
The Sailors maintained an affiliation with the Washington Redskins and received a handful of players each year from the NFL team’s taxi squad.
In Competition
Under Head Coach Billy Cox, a former Redskins player himself, the Virginia Sailors were a dominant squad in the ACFL in all three years of their existence. The team racked up a 25-6 regular season mark from 1966 to 1968. In the postseason, the Sailors won the ACFL championship game in 1966 over the Lowell Giants and repeated in 1967 with a victory over the Westchester Bulls.
Cox’s squad returned to the title game in 1968 with a chance for a three-peat, but lost 30-17 on the road to the Hartford Knights.
Sailing On
The Sailors circumnavigated northeastern Virginia during their three seasons, playing in various high school stadium in Arlington, Alexandria and Herndon. Following the 1968 season the team moved three hours inland to Roanoke and took the name Roanoke Buckskins for the 1969 ACFL season.
The ACFL went out of business after the 1973 season.
Trivia
The Sailors scammed up some national headlines in May 1966 by suggesting they planned to offer Cassius Clay a “substantial sum” to play pro football if he lost his May 21st heavyweight bout with Henry Cooper in London. Clay beat Cooper in 6 rounds and Sailors owner Joel Kaufmann never had to make good on this flight of fancy.1UNITED PRESS INTERNATIONAL. “Clay Grid Job Spoiled By Victory”. The Los Angeles Evening Citizen News (Hollywood, CA). May 24, 1966
Virginia Sailors Shop
Our Favorite Stuff
ACFL Logo T-Shirt
The Atlantic Coast Football League of 1962 – 1973 was likely the closest pro football has ever come to having a true “triple-A” minor league, similar to baseball. At the league’s peak in the late 1960’s, NFL teams such as the New York Giants, Philadelphia Eagles and Washington Redskins maintained farm clubs in the ACFL.
This ACFL design is also available today as a Crewneck or Hooded Sweartshirt, 3/4 sleeve Raglan or Women’s Tank Top at Old School Shirts!
When you make a purchase through an affiliate link like this one, Fun While It Lasted earns a commission at no additional cost to you. Thanks for your support!
Editor's Pick
Outsiders II
by Bob Gill with Tod Maher & Steve Brainerd
When you make a purchase through an affiliate link like this one, Fun While It Lasted earns a commission at no additional cost to you. Thanks for your support!
Downloads
11-19-1966 Virginia Sailors vs. Lowell Giants ACFL Championship Game Roster
11-19-1966 Virginia Sailors Roster
9-23-1967 Sailors vs. Wilmington Clippers Roster
11-9-1968 Sailors vs. Westchester Bulls Roster Sheet
Links
##
One Response
Ted Vactor (DB) and Curt Knight (K) both played for the 1968 VA Sailors and joined the Redskins in 1969. Both were on the 1972 SuperBowl team.