Youth football in King of Prussia “kicked off” in 1956 when the King of Prussia Indians team was formed by Mary and Dave Vannicelli. The organization was a youth-oriented athletics program offering supervised competitive football games and related activities, such as cheerleading. The main objective of the King of Prussia Football Association, as stated in it’s constitution, was “to implant firmly in the boys and girls of our community the principles of good character development; i.e. courage, responsibility, sportsmanship, fair play, leadership, and respect for rules and regulations, as well as to foster high achievement in scholastic activities.” Initial practices were conducted in a cow pasture, although over time the group became much more organized, with improved facilities, championship wins, and some participants going on to illustrious colleges and even professional football careers.
David and Mary Vannicelli would personally pay the registration fees for many young athletes who wished to participate in the sports program, but could not afford to do so. After David and Mary Vannicelli died in 2009, their daughter, Sandy Newstein, created the Vannicelli Foundation to provide registration funds to children. The Vannicellis were also honored by the football association, who named the football field in Heuser Park after them.
Still going strong nearly 60 years later, but is now known as the Upper Merion Viking Youth Football Association (since 2013). The name was changed when the organization joined the Pop Warner Football league where the youth teams take on the same name as the local high school team.
The King of Prussia Historical Society has a large collections of King of Prussia Youth Football papers, uniforms and other items. The collection consists of administrative and financial records, newspaper clippings, event planning materials, game programs, photographs, issues of the football association’s newsletter, team yearbooks, David and Mary Vannicelli collection of King of Prussia Football Association records a playbook, and awards. A small amount of material pertains to the Vannicellis and the Vannicelli Foundation. Administrative records include the football association’s board meeting minutes, various versions of the organization’s by-laws and constitution, and other materials. The photographs depict football games, players, teams, events, David and Mary Vannicelli, and other related subjects. Some negatives are present among the photographs.
The Historical Society would greatly appreciate donations of both Indians and Vikings materials so that today’s players through all the years can look back with pride at their time in the league.
http://www.umyouthfootball.com/
