Valley Small Fry Football League History

Valley Small Fry Football began as a four team program in Sayre and has expanded to four flag teams and four tackle teams throughout the Valley. Now in their 41st season, the league will have roughly 160 kids suited up and ready to play the six regular games, the playoffs, and the Super Bowl.

The program began under the helm of Jack Twooney, and coaches were paid a fee to coach, but this no longer occurs, now the league is financed by a series of fundraisers from tag days to car washes to bowl-a-thons. Recently the league spent almost $5,000 on new equipment for the children.

With 41 years of history, the league has produced a number of high school and college players, and often the children of former players are now members of the league. Valley Small Fry Football has managed to keep costs for kids low and no one is left out of playing. The philosophy is to let every boy and girl play football. Jim Briggs who has been involved since the beginning says, "We take anybody who wants to play football. If they don't have the money we'll take kids for free."

Valley Small Fry Football does not stop there, they make a donation to a Sayre graduate in the form of the Chris Politi fund. Politi is a former player and coach who died of a brain tumor and the award goes to a graduating Senior who played Small Fry Football League.

Over 41 years a lot has changed with the program from when Twoomey was the president, and the rest of the board was Thomas Page as vice-president, Norm Cook as secretary, Francis Vail as treasurer, Joel Powell as register and Joel Cost as player agent. These days the board of directors is all new, Jon Belles is president, Bob Wright is vice-president, Kesha Belles is secretary. Pat Briggs serves as treasurer, Jeff Morris is in charge of equipment and Jim Briggs now serves as player agent.

A number of businesses help to make the league a success and Valley Small Fry Football is grateful for their donations and help. They look forward to adding even more supporting companies to the list and hope to eventually add a challenge league.

The philosophy of Valley Small Fry Football has made it a successful and worthwhile organization, one worthy to have your child be a member of, so sign them up today.