Middle School Football Program to Hold Special Performance

Each year, since its inception five years ago, the Sachem Youth Football and Cheerleading league tries to give the athletes one special event a year.

Whether it's having a college band perform or playing in a professional stadium, coach and president of the league, Paul Manganaro, always likes to surprise his players.

"Each year we like to promote the program," Manganarao said. "It's a good experience, we get to expose them to something new and different."

This year will be especially unique for the Winchester middle school athletes. This time they get to stay at home and play on their very own field. which was completely redone by the Winchester Field Development Council, which is also led by Manganaro, just opened last November.

The Council has been trying to raise money to refurbish the athletic fields around town. Last year they finished the football field, stands and scoreboard. Manganaro hopes to begin construction on Phase 2, which includes a brand new, state-of-the-art track, this fall.

The game will be held on Sep. 21 at 6:30 p.m. The Sachems will be hosting the Melrose Red Raiders, a team that Winchester and Manganaro helped start. It will be Melrose's first middle school football season.

At halftime, Manganaro has organized a special performance by Ernie & the Automatics. A band that primarily plays popular cover songs. Tickets can be purchased out the door, it will be $5 for adults and $2 for children. All proceeds will go to benefit the Winchester Field Development Council.

According to Manganaro, he will be importing lights for the game, as well as a staging company to help set up for the performance. Manganaro plans on having sausage carts, hot dog carts and fried dough. He also said James Covino who is the owner of the recently opened Black Horse Tavern, will help in setting up a pregame fundraiser.

Winchester expressed his excitement over the event, but did suggest to Manganaro and Jay Gill, coach and Department of Public Works operation Manager, that they should hold an informational meeting with the neighbors. They should explain to them what's going to happen and give them the details of the event.

"This has the potential to be a great community event," McAlduff said. "This is potentially a great community-wide event and I enthusiastically support this."

As for Manganaro, Gill and Winchester Athletic Director, Brian Carroll, they just like to have the opportunity to give back.

"All three of us went to Winchester High School," Manganaro said. "If you go back and pull our report cards, you'll see none of us were that great of students. But it's important for us to give back to the community. It feels good."