It prides itself on the skill and competitiveness of its leagues, and on its traditions of fair play and respect for opponents and match officials.

The inaugural meeting of the Amateur Football Association was held in the Crown Room of the Holborn Restaurant on 7 July 1907.

It was stated that the foundation of the Association wasn't in opposition to professionalism in sport but instead to the "fungus growth which had become attached to the machinery of football management".

[6] Lord Alverstone was elected as the first president of the new society,[6] and the Corinthians offered to provide a trophy for a new cup competition.

[5] The Football Association responded by banning amateur players from playing for professional clubs,[7] and resulted in the end of the Sheriff of London Charity Shield after the FA refused to provide a professional team for the match, and barred all its members from either playing or providing facilities.

[13] The AFA tried to join FIFA, but it was not admitted, so it founded UIAFA along with French USFSA and Bohemian ČSF in March 1909.

Past members of the AFA include Ipswich Town, Barnet, Cambridge City, the Casuals and the Corinthians.