Calgary Stampeders History

Football history in Calgary dates back to 1909 with the emergence of the Calgary Tigers in the newly formed Alberta Rugby Union. The Tigers were a dominant force in provincial football for four years as they captured the Western Canadian Crown in 1911. Calgary would not own another Western Championship for many years to come.

During the years of 1915 through 1919, the Tigers gave way to a new team in Calgary - the Calgary Canucks. Due to World War I, an official league was never formed. Not until 1923 did another football team take to the field in Calgary. At this time, the "Fiftieth Battalion" was formed, named for the military battalion that provided organization support. In 1924, the 50th won the Alberta title but was defeated by Winnipeg in the Western Final.

Again, football in Calgary took a four-year hiatus until the Tigers resurfaced in 1928, and made history that year with the first ever forward pass in Canadian football.

From 1931 to 1934, the football club in Calgary took on the title of the Altomahs, playing at a 2,000 seat capacity stadium grandstand called Mewata Stadium. The Altomahs gave way to the Calgary Bronks in 1935, and became part of the Western Inter-Provincial Football Union (W.I.F.U.).