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.