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The Cheektowaga Little Loop Athletic
Association Inc. was formed in 1965. This organization
has been administered by members of the association who
are residents of Cheektowaga for the benefit of the
children of Cheektowaga. We have in the past and
continue to provide the same opportunity to children who
either reside in Cheektowaga or who attend Cheektowaga
schools. Over the years we have provided activities for
boys and girls in football and cheerleading, boys and
girls basketball, soccer and girls softball. The
following is a brief history of the Little Loop
Corporation.
1950 The existence
of Cheektowaga Little Loop Athletic Association pre
dates our incorporation in 1965. In 1950 an un-named
football team from Cheektowaga opened a bank account at
Marine Midland Bank on Walden Avenue. This would be the
start of a fall tradition of youth football for
generations of youngsters across the Town of
Cheektowaga. This account remained active until the
winter of 2006 when it was closed out at HSBC. Not much
is known about this era. It is believed that they
participated in a series of non-league games and were
simply known as the football team from Cheektowaga.
1960 The first
official team was formed calling themselves the
Cleveland Hill Mighty Mites. This was a 13 -14 year old
group whose weight class was 112 lbs. The team entered
into the TYRO Football League. This was the only
football organization in Cheektowaga.
1962 A 90lbs
weight class for boys 10 -12 year old was formed. These
teams have now developed into what we presently know as
the 150 and 125 lbs. teams. Our children are getting
bigger!!
1965 The
Cheektowaga Little Loop Athletic Association Inc. was
formed by nine men from Cheektowaga with a New York
State Corporation Charter. Incorporation occurred on
December 20,1965. Our constitution is on file in Albany.
We are bound to perform within the articles of the
corporation's charter. We adopted the name Thunderbirds
for our teams and for our logo. It was difficult for
TYRO officials to accept that we had two teams playing in
different divisions with the same name so we kept the
name Thunderbirds for the 10 -12 year olds and called
the 13 -14 year olds the Thunderchiefs.
1966 The
Thunderchiefs went to the TYRO "Milk Bowl" giving the
organization a feeling of great success in a short period
of time. We formed boys and girls basketball for ages 10
-15. The games were played at Cleveland Hill Elementary
School. In the same year the organization started up
girls softball for ages 10 -15. Girls from all parts of
Cheektowaga played in our league. Again we were the only
league in town. Games were played on the diamonds that
the Cleveland Hill Little League were not using anymore
at Harlem and Genesee streets. Many of these girls went
on to play for their high school teams.
1967 The 10 to
12 year old Thunderbirds went to the TYRO "Milk Bowl"
played the week before Thanksgiving. At this time the
girls Cheerleading was formed. The cheerleading squad
consisted of just eight girls.
1969 There
were so many boys registered for the 10 -12 year old
team(54) that another team was formed. This additional
team played in the Western New York Football League
which consisted mostly of city teams from Buffalo.
1970's Other
teams were formed in the town of Cheektowaga including
St. Barnabus and latter Airlanes. These formations
reduced the number of kids to draw from in the area and
we were forced to dissolve the team in the WNY. League.
However a 7 -10 year old team was formed and we called
them the Thunderbolts. We were still members of the TYRO
Football League at this time. During the 70's we were
approached by both the Amherst and Kensington
Football Organizations to join forces with us. They
wanted us to take on both their players and board
members. We explained that we were a Cheektowaga
organization created as a vehicle to provide
entertainment for the youth of Cheektowaga. The
organization wanted to maintain a venue predominantly for
the children who reside in and attend school in the town
of Cheektowaga. This feeling holds true today. As stated
in our constitution we are open to all participants who
reside in the town of Cheektowaga but not necessarily
limited to said town.
1980's During
this period Cheektowaga Little Loop became a member of
the OATKA Football League. This was to be a strictly
suburban league whose games were to be played on
Saturdays instead of the traditional Sundays. We
traveled out to Pembroke, East Aurora, North Collins,
Evans, E.G.., Hamburg and Carnegie Scranton to name a
few. We were held in high regard by all the
organizations.
1990's 1990
was a pivotal year for the organization. We finally got
a home field. We played our games at Cleveland Hill
H.S., at Harlem and Genesee Streets, along Harlem Road in
Town Park, at Maryvale Elementary School, Reim Road and
finally At Town Park. It took over ten years of hard
work and promotion to secure a home field for
Cheektowaga Little Loop. We thank all the past Board
members who devoted their time and energy in achieving
this great task. Thanks to them we had a field and
concession stand we could call our own.
2000 to 2003
This was a very difficult period for the organization.
Lack of leadership and a division among the Board of
Directors as to the way the organization should be
operated almost lead to its self destruction. Personal
ambitions of the adults had replaced the philosophy that
this was a youth organization which should run on
their behalf. Long time members were forced to leave
the organization. We lost our respectability not
only with the Town of Cheektowaga and the other football
organizations and leagues in the area but most
importantly we lost our credibility with the kids and
parents for whom this organization was established for.
Registration of kids from the Cheektowaga area dropped
dramatically and the Thunderbirds were losing their
identity as a Cheektowaga organization. We were at a
crossroads ..... rebuild or dissolve the
organization!!!
2004 THE REBIRTH OF THE
THUNDERBIRDS!!!
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2005 All Rights
Reserved.