History+of+Ridley+Football

=The History of the Ridley Raiders =

 A reminder, not an introduction, the Ridley Raiders continue to be Pennsylvania's team and one of America's traditional football teams. Established in 1934, the Ridley football program reached the 500 win mark "30" years faster than any other program in the state! Furthermore, as a testament to their tradition and success, the Ridley Raiders have the best winning percentage in Pennsylvania as well as establishing the greatest winning percentage in the nation at 75 percent! A schooling society of tradition backed and supported by all stakeholders including the students, educators, administrators, and an outstanding "blue collar" community. The fans consisting of traditional family and others who are new to the community, buy into the "blue collar " work ethic and the town and are dedicated to the students, community, coaches and the team. This action is somewhat not heard of in many schooling societies in various educational high school realms. This is what makes the Ridley congregation a winner within a geographical area (Philadelphia) that is not just a tradition for football, but is the foundation of America's history and birth place (Declaration of Independence).

HAIL TO THE RIDLEY RAIDERS! The Green Mystique Lives On!

 November 6, 2006  By Joe Stokes

 Over the years those who have followed high school football in Delaware County have  heard the grumblings of many a player after a hard fought loss to a team they knew they  should beat. Quite often the team on the winning end of these contests was the Ridley  Green Raiders. The first I heard of a special talent this football squad had of winning  games against more talented teams was in the late 1960’s. The coaches and players in  those days would claim anything from bad luck, weather conditions or an unfair call by  the referee to explain an unexpected loss.

 This legend grew after one of most memorable games in county history took place in  1969. A powerful team from Haverford led by star quarterback Steve Joachim came to  Ridley with the expectation that they would be crowned Suburban League champion at  the end of the day. The Green Raiders shocked the high school football world with a <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;"> second half spurt that sent Haverford down to its only defeat of the season. Steve Joachim <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;"> went on to a stellar college career at Temple and received the coveted Maxwell award but <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;"> even a great player like Steve did not have the magic to beat Ridley that day. <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;"> Throughout the 1970’s and 80’s Ridley ruled the football world by dominating the <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;"> Central League and getting to the state finals in 1990. Opposing players and coaches <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;"> continued to shake their heads every time Ridley would pull off one of those impossible <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;"> victories. Theories ranged from great coaching to just plain heart to explain how the <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;"> Green Raiders stayed on top. Over the years and as time went by every Central League <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;"> team considered their season a success if they beat Ridley.

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;"> After years of observing these events it became clear that something special surrounded <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;"> this football program. Sure they have been blessed with great coaching with Phil Marion, <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;"> Joe McNicholas, Ralph Batty and John Waller all enjoying winning records every year. <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;"> But other teams have had great coaches and players throughout theses seasons as well. <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;"> Another theory to consider is the tradition established by the entire Ridley High School <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;"> community

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;"> In the early 1990’s I had the pleasure of meeting a group of fans that attended every <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;"> Green Raider home game and congregated at the top of the stands around the 30 yard line <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;"> just south of where the band performs. Most of this group played and attended Ridley <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;"> High School from the 60’s on forward. Interestingly enough one of these fans was on the <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;"> field that day in 1969 when Ridley took a championship away from that highly talented <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;"> Haverford squad. Bill Copeland was a lineman on that team and despite moving over 100 <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;"> miles away to Dunmore Pa would be in attendance every game night to cheer on the <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;"> Raiders. Along with his father Bill Sr. and sons Brian and Kyle the family rarely missed <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;"> this Friday night outing.

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;"> Over time I got to know this family and Bill’s love for his Green Raiders. There were <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;"> some frustrating games from time to time but it never stopped him from coming out to <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;"> support his school. Earlier this year Bill’s wife called to let me know that he was very <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;"> sick but they hoped he would be on his way to recovery by football season. This recovery <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;"> was not to be and Bill Copeland Jr. passed from this life on August 9, 2006.

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;"> His wife Patty with their sons Kyle and Brian along with many of their friends from <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;"> Dunmore made one more trip in Bill’s honor to cheer on the Green Raiders over rival <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;"> Strath Haven this September. Ridley not only won that contest but have gone undefeated <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;"> and captured their first Central League Championship since 1996. Many of Bill’s buddies <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;"> believe that he is watching from above and has taken the Green Mystique to the highest <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;"> level. While we will never know if this is true we do know that the Bill Copeland’s of <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;"> Ridley give strong evidence that the Green Mystique lives on in the hearts of the entire <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;"> Ridley High School community.!

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;"> Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/3453069