Back in Town

BACK IN TOWN

The town of East Greenwich has had a long history of semi-pro football going back to the early 1900s. Early on referred to as "East Greenwich Athletic Association" the town team had almost continuous play from 1902 though 1949. Some of the early rivals included Pawtuxet A.C., Apponaug, Crompton, Pequots, Rumford, Pawtucket Rosewoods, Conimicut A.C., Providence Massapiacks and Assumptions. Some of the more memorable games included when the 1915 team met the Pawtuxet Athletic Club at Palace Gardens in front of a large crowd witnessing a defensive scoreless 0-0 battle. The 1925 "Blue Tornado" team faced off against the Massapiacks of Providence in front of 2000 spectators at the Cycledrome in Providence to annex the semi-pro state championship 9-0. The 1927 town team coached by Dave Michel, Brown "Iron Man" and Steam Roller backfield star, were a formidable eleven and took on the powerful Nickerson Tigers losing in a tight 7-6 game.

According to the Providence Journal, there were 79 semi-pro football games played in Rhode Island that season with the undefeated Nickerson eleven reining supreme in the state. Back then (and before) there was no formal leagues or schedules as teams challenged each other for subjective bragging rights (often referred to as a mythical championship at seasons end). League play for the team began in the 1949 Colonial Football League. The Townies finished with a 3-6 league record in the National Division with the Norwood Red Eagles, Swan Club, Waskuck A.A. and Riverside Barons.

After a long absence the team returned in 1963 in the eight team Rhode Island Football League. Teams included the Gansett Eagles, Cusano's, South Providence Knights, Men's Reformatory, Woonsocket, Randolph and the Adult Correction Institute (1962 champions). Home games were played at the East Greenwich High School field and Eldridge Field. Semi-pro ball was back in town and many locals suited up for the Townies including Ducky Kettelle, Bob Lallo, Art Kershaw, Art Drew, Dave Baker, Bill House, Bruce Roberts, Bruce Mastracchio and George Battey as well as Mount Pleasant High aces Bob Cimini and Bill Neri. Local businesses supported the team and they responded with a perfect 8-0 record in league play (10-0 overall) for the championship. Led by head coach Dom Ianozzi, the Townies clinched the championship with a 25-0 win over the Gansett Eagles on touchdown runs by Joe Harris, Art Kershaw and Ducky Kettelle and a passing strike by quarterback Tom Joyce.

They moved into the more competitive Southeastern Massachusetts Football League featuring Massachusetts clubs; Mitchell Club, Fairhaven Varsity Club, Murphy Club and Randolph Rams in 1964. They continued their winning ways with a 6-2-0 league record missing out on the league championship. A late season win by the Murphy Club over the Mitchell Club would have given the Townies the championship and a tie would have forced a playoff.

The league changed its name to the Tri-State Semi-Pro Football League with the addition of the Stafford Olympics (CT). Mitchell Club, Fairhaven Varsity Club and Murphy Club all returned in 1965. The team had former West Warwick star Steve Alves now as head coach. On September 19 the Townies played the first ever night game in East Greenwich at the High School on Cedar Avenue. They were downed 30-0 by the Fairhaven Varsity Club in front of 400 spectators. In their final season game once again Kettelle was a star performer running the ball for two scores helping the Townies win over the Mitchell Club 26-14. They would finish out of the running for the league title. This would be the end of the Townies in the semi-pro ranks (and their history) as the advent of television as well as the Viet Nam draft made it difficult to support the town team.