Montreal Rouge 

The Rouge is the only team in the NAAF from the 1800s. They were founded in 1895 as Club de Football de Montreal. The Rouge has a long and storied history being the dominant football force in the province of Quebec. While the team originally had red jerseys it was their play that gave them their identity. Since the team was founded they have been known for their rough and tough style of football. They would roll over teams pounding the ball but also shutting them down on defence. Many players left games against Montreal bloodied and bruised. They gained the nickname the “bloody reds”. The team embraced it and took it on as a club name. While it has been shortened to the Rouge (Red) as the team has become a bit more “classy”. Montreal plays out of Mount Royal Stadium, which was recently opened just in the last year, that houses 46,500 fans. 

​Jean Beaulieu is the Owner of the Rouge and has been since 1924. While the team was a privately run club in the past as they became professional, Beaulieu stepped in and took the reins. Since then he has maintained a high level of play and excitement, through strategic thoughtful moves that are for the best of the team. Beaulieu has become a close friend to Ryan Jameson as well as being a main helper in getting the Canadian teams together.

The Rouge are a heavy favourite to go up against the Boston Independents in the first championship. While they had become a more classy team they still were built on a strong defence. The #1 defence stars: DLs Napoléon Chevalier and Jean-Michel Duchane, LBs Quintin Brewer and Bradley Booker, as well as DB Jean-Luc Paget. The combination of players makes for a brick wall for many teams in the NAAF. The Offence is as rough and tough as the defence staring power RB Élisée Marchal behind a fleet of strong OLs in Joshua Mercer and Dimitri Lortie. While QB Maurice Norris is simply an okay QB he can deliver the ball enough to keep the team moving down the field. The Head Coach and GM Guy Clarke is an old fellow but is as tough as the rest of the team. With an ultra-competitive defensive mind, he is the fittest to lead Montreal to the top.


Brand:

One of the simpler looks for the league. This logo is one I had a while ago for a different project but I liked the brand so I brought it over to the NAAF. Montreal is also the only team so far that has two separate coloured helmets for jerseys with red at home and white on the road. The home remains simple with red as that has always been their jerseys but they wanted to try something different with the road jerseys. 

Definitely like that Montreal look. Personally, I think stripes on both of the jerseys, instead of just road, would be much better.

Ottawa Royals

The Royals were founded in 1908 and have been competing in the Ontario Football Union (OFU) since then. Originally The Royal Ottawa Football Club, the club was named in honour of the British Royal Family. They have become more popularly known as the Ottawa Royals. The Royals have only been able to claim three Ontario championships (1909, 1911, and 1927). They play out of Lansdowne Park which holds 38,500 and will be the site of the NAAF’s first game. 

Rudolph Wilson has been the only owner in the team's history and is the longest-serving owner of all the clubs. Wilson is a very charismatic and optimistic owner. Every other owner has immense respect for Wilson and all value what he has to say around the league. He has been one of the biggest contributors alongside Jean Beaulieu (Owner of the Rouge) and Ryan Jameson in getting the NAAF running. 

​The Royals are in an interesting position as a team. Their Offence is up there with the best of the league. Led by QB Duane Logan and the league's best WR Allen Atkins, the Offence might have one of the best air attacks outside of Boston. Alongside Atkins, the Royals also have WR Kenneth Mullen and TE Dennis Hawkins. Where the Royals may run into issues is their defence. It doesn’t stack up to the level that the Independents and Rouge are and that could cause problems when going up against some of the best teams. DL Timothy Wiley and DB Morris Parrish will hope to bring some power to the defence but it is an uphill battle for the Royals. Head Coach Otis Ward is also a somewhat conservative-offensively minded coach and will be hoping that the high level of Offence can make up for the defence. 

Brand:
One of my favourite colour schemes in purple and gold for Ottawa. Nothing too special here, I just love the look of the "R" wearing a crown which is a design I have used in previous designs way back when. 

*Gonna get the last two teams up over the next little bit, then the 1949 schedule and preview tonight so I can get started on simming tomorrow!

Providence Gold Stars

The Gold Stars were founded in 1914 and after competing in a local league joined the NEFC in 1915 when it was formed. Providence has been the second string in Boston’s shadow ever since. They have 3 championships to their name. They have struggled to beat the Independents over their history only ever claiming championships during the period where Boston wasn't in the league. With the struggles they have had, it has grown into hate which Boston has reciprocated towards Providence. The rivalry will be one to look out for heading into the new league. Gold Stars play out of their brand new stadium, New Providence Stadium that houses 65,450 people, which is by far the biggest. 

Owner Larry Maxwell has been the only owner of the Gold Stars throughout their existence. He has tended to be a bit more of a gruff owner who isn’t exactly personable, but he is very passionate about the success of his team especially against Boston. While he was originally resistant to joining the NAAF as he wanted to go against Glen Harris (Owner of the Independents), but he eventually was on board seeing the potential with the business opportunity and the lack of other options. Maxwell hopes that the NAAF can be the thing the Gold Stars have been looking for to get out of Boston’s shadow. 

​Providence has one of the better teams in the league as well led by Head Coach Gilbert Dale who shares Larry Maxwell’s intensity. His Offence houses the second-best QB in Bruce Woodard and a  young RB in Gene Fischer. TE Marion Warren and WR Eugene Burns lead the air attack to round out a solid Offence. The defence has one of the best secondaries led by DBs Lee Wolfe and Steven Sweet as well as S Randy Maynard. The Gold Stars will put up a fight with the top contenders in Montreal and Boston and may be able to put their name into the hat for the first season’s championship.  

Brand:
Providences logo is one of my favourites and I wanted to have a team which had a logo element that didn't have to do with the actual mascot and the anchor was perfect for that. The logo is made new for the league well the anchor was from before, but the three stars were added to symbolize the team's three championships. Those three stars appear again on the front of the helmet instead of a stripe.

I love Providence's look. I think they'll be my team until they either move/fold (which always seems to happen to my teams) or Charlotte gets a team. Great work so far, everything looks super era-appropriate!