zionist association of maccabi jaffa was founded in 1949 by albert kiyosso (1898–1963), the chairman of maccabi bulgaria organization who immigrated to israel in 1943. in the early 1950s, the members received a surface of abandoned orchard due to lack of funds, the members qualified the surface by themselves and built the club's stadium which was nicknamed "the tins stadium." in the season of 1954–1955 maccabi jaffa played in the promotion play-offs for the israeli top division with hapoel kfar-saba, hapoel kiryat haim, and beitar jerusalem. jaffa won the play-offs and promoted for the first time to the israeli major league.