Stamford Hosts Displaced Greenwich Youth Football League

The ripple effects of the closed Greenwich High School athletic fields due to the discovery of toxic soil have now spread as far as the neighboring city of Stamford.

While unaffiliated with Greenwich Public Schools, the 600- strong Greenwich Youth Football League (GYFL), which for years has used Cardinal Stadium for Sunday games, had counted on the use of the field for its annual pre-season round-robin scrimmage.

“It’s the one day all 18 teams are on the field at the same time and it’s tradition,” said Jim Loughran, GYFL president.

Team members from six organizations in the league – BANC Raiders, North Mianus Bulldogs, Cos Cob Crushers, Putnam Generals, Glenville Mavericks, and Riverside Gators who break down into Bantam (8-9 year-old), Junior (10-11 year-old) and Senior (11-12 year-old) divisions for a whopping 18 teams in total – were stone cold out of luck.

For several weeks Loughran scrambled for a solution.

“Everyone was nice but there was nowhere for us. I made a lot of calls including Blind Brook, SUNY Purchase and Rye. Anywhere with a field and ample parking, but space was very tight.”

“Two weeks ago I called Michele O’Brien in the Stamford Public Schools facilities department,” said Loughran. “I kept bugging her, but she is the nicest person. As of last Thursday, Michele said that between herself and the athletic director, they could work something out.”

Peter Samperi, athletic director of Stamford High School, home of the Black Knights, explained what happened from his end.

“Our athletes had heavy practices all last week, and our youth football league doesn’t start until next weekend. So I just gave our football and field hockey teams the day off,” he said, making the logistics sound easier than they probably were. “It’s about the kids,” he added. “If the situation were reversed, Greenwich would do the same for Stamford.”

The weekend was a source of adventure for hundreds of young Greenwich boys who were loaned the artificial turf field at Stamford High on Saturday from 1 to 4 PM and Sunday from 9 AM to 4 PM.

According to Kevin Callahan whose 12-year-old is a North Mianus Bulldogs Senior, “Charlie was excited when we arrived at Stamford High because it was buzzing with activity. It was a beautiful day. The marching band was rehearsing in the parking lot. The softball and baseball teams were practicing on the adjacent fields and the tennis courts were full of players.”

Commenting on the adventure, Callahan added, “Charlie found the experience to be very exciting and was surprised to learn on the ride home that he was born in Stamford.”

According to Barbara Pierce, whose son Spencer is a 10-year-old Junior Cos Cob Crusher, “We’re new to the league, but the turf field at Stamford High was gorgeous. After playing there on Sunday, Spencer is even more excited.”

Frank Sarcone, a senior Mavericks coach whose son Trystan, 12, is on the team said, “To do what they have, Stamford should be commended. It was a great gesture, not just for Greenwich, but for the kids. That’s what we try to teach these children. You’re here to learn about life and sportsmanship. What Stamford did emphasizes everything this sport is about.”

Indeed, Stamford’s favor to GYFL is more generous than meets the eye.

At football practice Monday afternoon, a Black Knights fan mentioned that he had watched the GYFL over the weekend. He said that the artificial turf in Boyle Stadium is so new that they were still painting the markings on the field over the weekend. In fact, the GYFL boys probably got to use the field before many Stamford High athletes.

According to the GYFL website, key goals are to impart the values of good sportsmanship, honesty, loyalty and citizenship while having fun and learning the fundamentals of football. If nothing else, the unfortunate situation with the closed athletic fields in Greenwich might work toward these ends.