Fifth Ward Democrats

Last updated
Fifth Ward Democrats
FoundedSeptember 1933
FoldedNovember 1933
Based in Delaware
League Wilmington Football Association (1933)

The Fifth Ward Democrats were a short-lived semi-professional American football team that played one season in the Wilmington Football Association. The team played five games before forfeiting their franchise in mid-November. The team was based in Delaware.

History

In September 1933, the Wilmington Football Association announced the additions of two teams for the 1933 season: the Fifth Ward Democrats, and Ninth Ward Ducks. [1] [2] The Ducks had previously been a league member while Fifth Ward was new. The league arranged the Democrats' first game to be against the Eleventh Ward Whitejackets, who had won the championship [3] [4] for the past two seasons. [5] [6] The game, scheduled for October 1 at Lattimer Field, [7] ended in a 0–26 defeat. [8] The Morning News wrote, "Approximately 3500 fans witnessed the game at the Whitejacket's new field and were well pleased with the orderly manner in which the game was conducted. The Fifth Ward eleven while boasting a strong eleven, the starting lineup containing several Penn-Del players, showed the need for more practice, and if this fault is overcome the Taylor outfit should give the rest of the clubs a merry chase for title honors." [8]

The team's next matchup was against the Defiance Bulldogs, the oldest member of the league as well as two-time champion. Fifth ward was able to tie the Bulldogs 7–7, due to a late 95-yard interception return to tie the game in the fourth quarter. [9] A game recap by The Morning News said, "In a hard-fought battle at Talleyville yesterday, Defiance and Fifth Ward Democrats battled to a 7 to 7 deadlock in their Wilmington Football Association game." [9] Defiance led from the second quarter (on a touchdown by Haley) to the fourth, before Taggart, of Fifth Ward, returned a Defiance pass 95 yards to tie the game. [9] The tie put them fourth of six in the league's standings. [10]

Fifth Ward would move one place down in the standings following their week three game against the Delaware Panthers. The Panthers "smothered" Fifth Ward, shutting them out 0–65. [11] The game was played at Panther Field on October 15. The next week would also be a shutout, losing 0–26 versus the Ninth Ward Ducks on the same venue. [12] The loss moved them down to last place in the league, sharing the position with the St. Mary's Cats. [13] The team's next scheduled game, against the last-place St. Mary's, was postponed as both teams were eliminated from the first-half title race and desired to rest to prepare for the second half. [14]

An October 30 article by The Morning News wrote, "The Democratic Club, with the addition of several new players, expect to give a good account of themselves in the second half." [15] The team's first second half game was the same as the first, against the Eleventh Ward Whitejackets, who had just won their third consecutive league title. [16] The game, played in Lattimer field again, finished with a 0–13 loss. [16] The next game was against Defiance, at Krebbs Field. [17] Fifth Ward forfeited the game and was dropped from the league in the following week. The rest of its games were considered to be forfeits. [18]

Related Research Articles

Elmhurst, Delaware Unincorporated community in Delaware, United States

Elmhurst is an unincorporated community in New Castle County, Delaware, United States. It was founded in the late 1910s and consists of about 500 houses.

Ernie Nevers American athlete and coach

Ernest Alonzo Nevers, sometimes known by the nickname "Big Dog", was an American football and baseball player and football coach. Widely regarded as one of the best football players in the first half of the 20th century, he played as a fullback and was a triple-threat man known for his talents in running, passing, and kicking. He was inducted with the inaugural classes of inductees into both the College Football Hall of Fame in 1951 and the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1963. He was also named in 1969 to the NFL 1920s All-Decade Team.

Ted Petoskey American baseball player

Frederick Lee "Ted" Petoskey was a three-sport athlete at the University of Michigan, a Major League Baseball player, a collegiate coach in three sports and an athletic director.

The Wesley Wolverines football program was the intercollegiate American football team for Wesley College located in Dover, Delaware. The team last competed in the NCAA Division III and were members of the New Jersey Athletic Conference. The Wesley football program was founded in 1888, being one of the first teams to play in Delaware. The program did not play from 1890–1892, 1911–1925, and 1932–1952. After more than 130 years in existence, Wesley football was discontinued in 2021.

The 1954 Delaware Fightin' Blue Hens football team was an American football team that represented the University of Delaware as an independent during the 1954 college football season. In its fourth season under head coach David M. Nelson, the team compiled an 8–2 record and outscored opponents by a total of 265 to 81. Dan Ford was the team captain. The team played its home games at Delaware Stadium in Newark, Delaware.

The 1955 Delaware Fightin' Blue Hens football team was an American football team that represented the University of Delaware as an independent during the 1955 college football season. In its fifth season under head coach David M. Nelson, the team compiled an 8–1 record and outscored opponents by a total of 261 to 82. Vincent Grande was the team captain. The team played its home games at Delaware Stadium in Newark, Delaware.

The 1957 Delaware Fightin' Blue Hens football team was an American football team that represented the University of Delaware as an independent during the 1957 NCAA College Division football season. In its seventh season under head coach David M. Nelson, the team compiled a 4–3 record and outscored opponents by a total of 210 to 84. Joe Harvanik was the team captain.

The 1970 Delaware Fightin' Blue Hens football team was an American football team that represented the University of Delaware as an independent during the 1970 NCAA College Division football season.

The 1933 Birmingham–Southern Panthers football team was an American football team that represented Birmingham–Southern College as a member of the Dixie Conference during the 1933 college football season. In their sixth season under head coach Jenks Gillem, the team compiled a 3–3–3 record.

The Hazleton Redskins were a professional American football team that played in the Eastern Pennsylvania Football League in 1938. They were named league champions after going 5–1. They Redskins were a farm team of the Washington Redskins. They wore colors very similar to that of Washington. Their team president was Dr. Frank Veneroso and their manager was Lou Reynolds.

The 1947 Wilmington Clippers season was their eighth season in existence and their fifth in the American Association. They finished with a 2–5–1 record. They had one of their best former players, Eddie Michaels return for a final season and be named All-Pro for a fourth time. They were led by quarterbacks Tommy Mont and Frank Moock. They did not qualify for the playoffs. Early in the season, the Clippers made an agreement with the Vineland Senators for the Senators to be their farm team. At that time the Clippers were a farm team of the Washington Redskins.

The 1934 Delaware State Hornets football team represented the State College for Colored Students—now known as Delaware State University—in the 1934 college football season. In their first season in the Middle Atlantic Athletic Association, Delaware State went undefeated, posting an 8–0 record to win the conference title. They only allowed two points to be scored against them all season and did not allow any touchdowns. Their coach was Edward Jackson.

Frank Claud "Tex" Coker was an American football center. He played four seasons for the Wilmington Clippers of the American Association (AA).

The Wilmington Football League, also known as the Wilmington Football Association, was a semi-professional American football league that existed from 1929 to 1956. It was based in Wilmington, Delaware. From 1932 to 1935, the league was split into the Wilmington City Football League and Wilmington Football Association.

John Joseph Tosi Sr. was an American football offensive lineman who played two seasons in the National Football League (NFL) and several for different minor leagues.

The Delaware Panthers, founded as the Marshallton Panthers, were a short-lived semi-professional American football team that played two seasons. The first was as a first-class independent in 1932 while the second was as a member of the minor Wilmington Football Association. The team was based in Marshallton, Delaware, and played their home games at Panther Field.

The Seventh Ward Chicks were a short-lived semi-professional American football team that played one season in the Wilmington Football Association. A charter member of the league, they played for one year in 1922 before folding the following season. The team was managed by Herb Ferguson.

John D. Naylor American athlete and sports coach

John D. Naylor was an American athlete and college sports coach. He was best known as an athletics director and multi-sport coach at Beacom College, where he served from 1922 to 1952. Before his coaching career, Naylor was a baseball, basketball, and football player in several low-level minor leagues.

Harry G. "Wu Fang" Ward was an American college and professional athlete in the 1920s and 1930s.

The 1933 Haskell Indians football team was an American football that represented the Haskell Institute—now known as Haskell Indian Nations University—as an independent during the 1933 college football season. Haskell compiled a record of 2–6–3.

References

  1. ↑ "Ninth Ward, Fifth Ward Get Grid Loop Births". The News Journal . September 20, 1933 – via Newspapers.com. Open Access logo PLoS transparent.svg
  2. ↑ "Wilmington Football Association Formed With Six Clubs". The Morning News . September 20, 1933 – via Newspapers.com. Open Access logo PLoS transparent.svg
  3. ↑ "3 More Enlist For Army Service". The Evening Journal . November 30, 1932 – via Newspapers.com. Open Access logo PLoS transparent.svg
  4. ↑ "Penn-Del Eliminates Eleventh Ward From Title Race With 7-0 Victory". The Morning News . November 25, 1932 – via Newspapers.com. Open Access logo PLoS transparent.svg
  5. ↑ "Whitejackets Called For Drill Each Night This Week". Wilmington Morning News . September 26, 1933 – via Newspapers.com. Open Access logo PLoS transparent.svg
  6. ↑ "Football Association May Go With Five Clubs". The Morning News . September 27, 1933 – via Newspapers.com. Open Access logo PLoS transparent.svg
  7. ↑ "Grid League To Plan Openers". The News Journal . September 26, 1933 – via Newspapers.com. Open Access logo PLoS transparent.svg
  8. 1 2 "11th Ward Opens With 26-0 Victory". The Morning News . October 2, 1933 – via Newspapers.com. Open Access logo PLoS transparent.svg
  9. 1 2 3 "Defiance, Fifth Ward Tie". The Morning News . October 9, 1933 – via Newspapers.com. Open Access logo PLoS transparent.svg
  10. ↑ "Eleventh Ward Takes Grid Association Lead". The News Journal . October 9, 1933 – via Newspapers.com. Open Access logo PLoS transparent.svg
  11. ↑ "Defiance, 11th Ward Tie As Panthers, Ducks Win". The Evening Journal . October 16, 1933 – via Newspapers.com. Open Access logo PLoS transparent.svg
  12. ↑ "Jackets Boost Grid Loop Lead". The News Journal . October 23, 1933 – via Newspapers.com. Open Access logo PLoS transparent.svg
  13. ↑ "Eleventh Ward Wins". The Morning News . October 23, 1933 – via Newspapers.com. Open Access logo PLoS transparent.svg
  14. ↑ "Jackets Tackle Ducks In Loop". The Evening Journal . October 28, 1933 – via Newspapers.com. Open Access logo PLoS transparent.svg
  15. ↑ "Fifth Ward Democrats Will Practice Tonight". The Morning News . October 30, 1933 – via Newspapers.com. Open Access logo PLoS transparent.svg
  16. 1 2 "League Champs Continue Sweep". The Evening Journal . November 6, 1933 – via Newspapers.com. Open Access logo PLoS transparent.svg
  17. ↑ "Grid Association Teams Battle For Second Half Title". The Morning News . November 11, 1933 – via Newspapers.com. Open Access logo PLoS transparent.svg
  18. ↑ "Jackets Cinch League Crown". The Evening Journal . November 20, 1933 – via Newspapers.com. Open Access logo PLoS transparent.svg
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.