For the last 50 years, Revere has participated in youth football and cheerleading leagues under the umbrella of the national Pop Warner organization.
But that relationship, though positive through the years, is over as Jackie Del Rio has announced that Revere is joining America Youth Football and Cheer for the 2023 season. Del Rio will serve as president of the new Revere-based AYF/AYC organization.
“Many great memories and friendships were built for our youth and parents in Pop Warner throughout the decades, but we felt it was the best decision at this time to join American Youth Football and Cheer,†said Del Rio.
Revere teams will have a new logo and will continue to be called the Junior Patriots. All home games will be played at Harry Della Russo Stadium.
Del Rio said that Revere will compete in the Northeast Commonwealth League and the other communities with teams in the league are Beverly, Peabody, Salem, Wakefield, Chelsea, Melrose, Stoneham, Reading, Saugus, Charlestown, and Watertown. The league will have football playoffs and cheering competitions.
“It’s super exciting for our organization,†said Del Rio, who was a board member of Revere Pop Warner for the past eight years.
Del Rio expects that Revere will field four football and four cheerleading teams, ranging from grades 1 through 8. The Grade 1-2 team will participate in flag football instead of tackle football.
“We have started our cheerleading clinics for spring on Mondays at the Beachmont School, and our football clinics will be held on Sundays at Della Russo,†reported Del Rio, whose daughter, Ganaya, was a Revere Pop Warner cheerleader and is now a junior at Revere High School. “Our first official day of practice is August 1.â€
