A league built by its managers.
Just Another Football League began in 2000 under founder Andy McGrae. What started as a one-person operation developed into a long-running, committee-led ESMS world.
JAFL begins
Andy McGrae established the league, created the website, organised fixtures, received teamsheets, ran matches and distributed results.
A committee takes over
Andy stepped back from day-to-day administration and players within JAFL shared responsibility for transfers, finances, game running, scouting, academies, coaching and the website.
Four senior and youth divisions
At its largest documented structure, JAFL contained four senior divisions and four youth divisions of ten clubs each. Every club operated both a senior and youth side.
The final season
JAFL reached season 31 before folding. Twelve clubs and their managers moved to SSL2001 for the start of SSL season 33 on 28 November 2015.
How JAFL worked
Managers chose a team, formation and tactical approach for each fixture. Teamsheets were submitted by email, the matches were processed through ESMS+, and managers received match reports showing the result, commentary and player performances.
The tactical choices included Normal, Defensive, Attacking, Counter Attack, Long Ball, Passing and European. Formations were flexible rather than fixed: managers selected the number of defenders, midfielders and forwards within prescribed limits.
More than match day
Club building
JAFL included transfers, loans, foreign offers, free agents, player auctions, scouting, coaching, training grounds, stadium expansions and detailed club finances.
Youth development
Each club had a youth team, divisional skill caps and an academy rating influenced by teamsheet submissions, youth league level and newspaper activity.
Competitions
Alongside the four senior leagues were playoffs, the JAFL Cup, Youth Cup, PFA competitions and the JUS Cup involving clubs from JAFL, UCFL and SSL.
Community
Managers were encouraged to negotiate transfers, write club news, trade friendly banter and invest as much—or as little—time as they wished.
The people behind JAFL
Later committee responsibilities were shared by Simon Marsh, Neil Kirby, Peter Norton and Sam Bache. Historical rules also thanked former committee members Richard Guth and Dwight Causey, together with Davor Tomic for helping fund website hosting.