Football fun Saturday in Bisbee

The Bisbee Parks and Recreation, Bisbee High School Football team, Bisbee High School Cheer Squad, Bisbee American Youth Football, Arizona Football League's Bisbee Ironmen and Cochise County Cavaliers are hosting a Football Kick-Off Party and Back-to-school event on Saturday, August 1, 2009 at Vista Park located across from the Warren Ballpark.

This event will start off at 8 a.m. with a kids football clinic and cheer clinic. A scrimmage and a cheer performance is scheduled for 11am.

Free kids activities and races will begin after. Kids are encouraged to be active, so by participating in the Summer Recreation Program "Get Active! Kids", the clinics, races, and various other activities offered throughout the day, they get an "Active Kids Pass" to get free school supplies.

There will be hamburgers and hot dogs sold by the Ironmen Football Club as well as a D.J.

Carne Asada will be sold starting at 3 p.m. and will directly benefit the Youth Football program. The BHS Cheer squad will get the funds raised from the cheer clinic, and the youth football will get the funds for the football clinic. T-shirts are being donated and the first 30 kids who sign up for each clinic will get a t-shirt.

At 4 p.m. the school supply handout will begin and the NFL Punt, Pass, and Kick will take place at 4:30. We are also looking for adults that would like to play a game of flag football after the NFL program.  The Warren Ballpark Centennial was rescheduled for this day so we are trying to finish up and encourage everyone to attend the centennial celebration.

School supplies have been donated by Joe DiRoberto, Alco, Safeway, Save Our Stairs, Bisbee Fire Fighters Union Local 2146, Freeport MacMoRan, the Copper Queen Hotel, and the Bisbee Ironmen Football Club.

“The Ironmen Football Club is excited to help with this Football Kick-off party and have brought in the Cochise County Cavaliers and the Arizona Football League to help with it.,”  Caroline Gonzales, city special events coordinator for the parks and recreation department and also part owner of the Bisbee Iromen, said.

The Bisbee Ironmen Football Club is a new tackle football team with the Arizona Football League. The AzFL is currently in its 16th year and already has 17 teams committed to play in the upcoming 2010 season.

“They represent Bisbee, Douglas, and surrounding communities. Rival teams coming together to play against other teams in the state is very exciting for both communities and the players can't wait to work together,” Gonzales said.

There are 17 teams across the state are all trying to be the state champion. It is club football with full contact. There are currently 13 players signed up to play so far with a few others showing interest.

Ideally 40 players are needed to be on what is described as a “working man's team.”

“That is why we need so many players,” she said. “We are "Keeping the dream alive" (AZFL trademark) for those who would like to be scouted and move on to play for college, arena football, or even the NFL and they play for the love of the game.  

League officials said this team is community oriented and plans to help increase the quality of life in the communities.

“We have adopted Vista Park in Bisbee and plan to work with the City to revitalize it,” Gonzales said. “It is also where our practices will take place. We will host a day of four games in January (season is January through May) at the Warren Ballpark and we also plan to host another day of games in Douglas during the regular season. We will also have scrimmages in both places during the preseason in November and December.” Anyone interested in playing for the Ironmen or wanting more information about Saturday contact Caroline Gonzales and Joe Gonzales, owners 520-249-0056 and 520-249-8668,  HYPERLINK "mailto:Bisbeeironmenfootball@yahoo.com" \t "_blank" Bisbeeironmenfootball@yahoo.com,  HYPERLINK "mailto:bisbeeironmen@azfl.com" \t "_blank" bisbeeironmen@azfl.com Arizona Football League owner Kevin Pakos at 602-2570-1051 or 800-887-AZFL (2935) azfl..com

The Bisbee Ironmen are also looking for advertising sponsors. Advertisers will be listed in our home game programs, on our web pages (link with your own), and banners at our games, along with the relationships with the players and staff. Your name and ad will be seen by people all over the state.

League officials said they are looking forward to a great first season but need community support to make it happen.