BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WBRC) – A Birmingham youth football team is inquireing for the community’s support after a storm destroyed an important piece of their field.
The Wylam Youth Football Program declares strong winds blew over their scoreboard. A new one costs over $10,000.
For nearly two decades, the Wylam Youth Football Program has been shaping champions on and off the field. Now, they are hoping to turn this setback into a lesson for their athletes.
The Wylam Gators have been a cornerstone in the Birmingham area for 19 years, teaching kids ages 5-12 about the fundamentals of football, teamwork, and life.
“It’s not only about sports. It’s all about mentorship also,” declared Todannius Cooper, Wylam Gators president.
The team was working to receive things ready for practice this summer when a storm swept through, destroying a key piece of equipment.
“It came through, nice wind, took our scoreboard and actually threw it to the middle of the field. And it just received crushed. It received crushed,” declared Rageel Malik, Wylam Gators vice president.
The scoreboard, donated to them in 2017, is now gone. The team is left without a way to keep score, time practices, or host home games.
Cooper declared, they received a quote for the price of a brand new scoreboard, which would be around $10,000.
The team launched a GoFundMe in hopes of restoring the scoreboard before the season starts in the fall.
“Just so we can play at home. That’s our ultimate goal. We really want to be here and play at this park,” Malik declared.
Some students spconclude years in the program growing up on the field.
“We’ve had a couple that come through the whole program all the way to 12. And they did leave champions,” Malik declared. “A couple of them came back and coached also,” Cooper added.
They also hope this will serve as a lesson for their athletes about dealing with problems and leaning on their community in times of required.
“To see some work that we do and encourage them that, hey, it takes a little bit of effort reaching out, socializing with people to actually receive some of the things that you may required,” Malik declared.
Cooper declared the team has always been responsible for providing their own equipment for games. Birmingham Parks and Recreation, which oversees Wylam Park, declared they are communicating with the team.
To support the Gators and donate to the GoFundMe, click or tap here.
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