Keeping the dream alive. That’s the message team personnel for the Bisbee Iron Men football club presented to the Douglas community at a public meeting last Thursday at the Douglas Visitors Center hoping to recruit local talent for the upcoming season.

The Iron Men plan on making their debut in the Arizona Football League this coming January.

The AzFL is in its 16th season and currently has 17 club teams from all over the state including two from Cochise County, waiting for the 2010 season to get underway.

In addition to the Bisbee Iron Men there is a team based in Sierra Vista called the Cochise County Cavaliers which held their first team practice and meeting this past weekend all in preparation for the upcoming 2010 season. The Cavaliers have been in existence since 2005

Caroline and Joe Gonzales, owners for the Iron Men club team, say so far they have 12 players signed up to play in the upcoming season.

“This will happen,” Joe said at the meeting meaning the skepticism that is out there should be put aside. “I’m certain we will get more players from somewhere. … We will have a team.”

All 12 players currently signed up by the Iron Men are from the Bisbee area but Joe and Caroline are looking to the Bisbee-Douglas and Naco areas for additional talent.

League owner Kevin Pakos was also in town for the meeting Thursday. He said an average roster includes up to 40 players.

The league is adult amateur tackle football. It is very structured and gets looks from college and professional levels.

“Over 200 young men have returned to college from the AzFL, four were picked by the (Arizona) Rattlers (of the Arena Football League) and one is on the NFL’s (Arizona) Cardinals,” a press release reads. “Each team has between 30 and 50 players ranging from 18 to over 40 years of age.”

Pakos said there was a 54 year old man playing lasting year for a Phoenix team and two 16 year olds, who were from private charter schools and had signed parent releases, also playing.

“Coaches and players are not compensated for their time and effort and participate strictly for the love of the game,” the press release adds.

To join there is a $100 league fee and a $100 team fee which must be paid. Those fees are expected to go up after Aug. 1. Then there is the equipment which can run up to $300.

Joe Gonzales says he deals with a sports equipment distributor that can usually get teams deals providing they are bought in bulk.

Plus Gonzales said the $300 is usually a one-time fee unless the equipment breaks.

The team colors are copper and white and Joe says he can up with the name the Iron Men based on the fact Bisbee and Douglas are known for its mining culture and the statue at the base of the Cochise County courthouse gave him that idea.

The league and team fees will be used to pay the officials and help with team operating expenses.

The games will take place every Saturday at various sites around the state. Each site will have 3-4 games one of which will be that hometown team.

There will be 10 games plus a state playoff which will be held in May. Last year the Southwest Stampede, playing in only its third season in the AzFL, emerged state champions capping off a 13-0 season.

There will also be a preseason game plus four preseason controlled scrimmages. Providing Douglas athletes sign up there will be at least one set of games in Douglas this year.

League officials say football is the one sport that doesn’t really have a minor league system and this is a way football players can keep playing and possibly get recognized.

“It’s an opportunity for a lot of us to keep playing,” Joe said. “This is basically a working man’s league.”

And because this is club football and all the athletes playing are working and family men there is very little tolerance for dirty tactics which could lead to unsportsmanship.

Gonzales says the Ironmen are in need of a head coach and a quarterback plus other position players. They are also looking for sponsors for the upcoming season.

“You will be proud to be associated with the Bisbee Ironmen,” Gonzales said. “We value and protect our reputation for sportsmanship and being well organized not only on the field but off as well. We will contribute to the community by providing an opportunity for adults to play football and residents another opportunity for entertainment. Not only that we will be a great organization in the community and plan to contribute through community service.”

Anyone wanting more information may call Joe or Caroline Gonzales at 249-0056 or 249-8668.

They can also email at  isbeeironmenfootball@yahoo.com or visit the league website at www.azfl.com.