Temperatures reaching 60 degrees, the aroma of burgers and dogs drifting through the air, and music blasting out of a pair of speakers made for just about the perfect night last Wednesday for the annual Greater Neponset Flag Football (GNFF) Gravy Bowl All-Star Game at Garvey Park.
GNFF, a coed league with divisions for ages 4 to 16, plays its games at the city-owned playground on Neponset Avenue and every year on Thanksgiving Eve, community members gather under the lights to celebrate yet another successful season and tire their kids out ahead of Turkey Day.
“Normally, we’re sitting here in winter hats,” joked Shawn McDonough, who runs the league. “It’s just nice to bring everyone together, especially on a night like tonight. This was one of the best seasons we’ve had: over 500 kids in the league.”
Added City Councillor John FitzGerald, whose six-year-old son Mac played in the Leprechaun Division: “Each team in every division of the gets to pick [around] four kids to play. It’s a beautiful, nice, warm day, and everybody is watching their kids play sports and hopefully getting a little tired. It’s a win-win.”
The younger FitzGerald and the rest of the Leprachaun Division (5-6 year olds) were the first to take the field at 3:30 p.m.. They were followed by the Bulldog Division (7-9 year olds) at 4:45 p.m., the Shamrock Division (10-12 year olds) at 6 p.m., and the women vs. teen/college girls around 7 p.m.
Bob Cassin was excited to watch his 6-year-old daughter Hayle take the field with the light blue team for her very first Gravy Bowl.
Cassidy McNeeley photos
“She played last year in a different league,” said Cassin, from Milton. “Some of our friends did this. It’s been fantastic; they do a great job putting everything together and making it fun for the kids. It’s something we look forward to every week.”
Peter Needham, who coached Hayle’s squad, couldn’t agree more.
“In my opinion, this is one of the best leagues in the city for youth sports,” said the lifelong Dot resident. “It teaches [the kids] teamwork but also teaches them a sense of competitiveness that you don’t get in other sports, ‘cause they actually keep score.”
He added: “I coached the whole season. It’s so much fun seeing the progress of the kids throughout the course of the season. They have a lot of nerves when they come into it. Everyone is a little shy at first, but then they start to develop a bit of teamwork and work together, which is cool to see.”
Needham’s two sons, 6-year-old Petey and 4-year-old Ozzie, also played on the team. With matching mullets, they were a force to be reckoned with on the field. Afterward, they snacked on Munchkins with their little sister Rosie while watching the older kids warm up for some games of their own.
“Nothing says Thanksgiving more than football and friends,” said Needham. “It’s because of things like this that we’re the best community around.”
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