Daryan Pro League

The Daryan Pro League is the top flight of Daryan association football, founded in 1988 and held continuously since then. The league includes 20 franchise clubs from across Darya. Unlike in most nations' football leagues and the National Conference for lacrosse, the Daryan Pro League does not feature promotion or relegation.

History

Football first became prominent in Darya in the mid-20th century. Increased international commerce and immigration led to the first football clubs in port cities such as Dhanora by 1918. The sport took off in earnest as a result of the colonial experience, when Daryan colonial administrators in colonies such as Mallacaland became partial to the game. The rise of mass media contributed to the sport's rise, and many lacrosse teams founded football affiliates which competed in the Conference of Daryan Football (CDF, 1926-1955).

The initial surge in football in Darya subsided, particularly as an economic slowdown in the 1940s spelled the death of many football teams, and nationalistic fervor promoted by the Daryan Imperial household led to football being criticized as an effeminate foreign sport. In 1955, the Conference of Daryan Football collapsed, leading to a drought in Daryan football which would last until after the Great War.