Sydenham High football program benefit concert

Craig Bakay | Sep 27, 2017

Anyone who’s played high school football knows the challenge of that first day of practice where you try to find equipment that fits. And usually, the seniors get first crack at what’s available so the by the time the lowly Grade 9s get their chance, they’re lucky to find a pair of practice pants that don’t need a major tailoring job.

After taking over the junior team last year, coach Karl Hammer decided to do something about it.
“The equipment gets passed on year after year and if you get a 10-year life span out of it, that’s about it,” he said. “This year, we had 60+ students trying out for junior and 40+ for senior and that’s a lot of gear.
“And each year, we lose one or two players in the equipment process alone.”
Add to that all the technological changes in the football world, he said.
“With all the concern about concussion, new helmets cost around $200,” he said. “And now pants have an integrated pad system.
“It gets expensive.”

Luckily, Hammer said, he had somewhere to turn to.

“Sydenham is a traditional football school,” he said. “We have many good teams (basketball and volleyball come to mind) but football is probably the number 1 source of school pride.
“And we have a lot of alumni who played and now I’m coaching their kids.”
So, they decided on a fundraiser dance/silent auction at the Legion and guess what . . . it sold out quickly.
“Sydenham is unique,” he said. “This is the first time for this event and it shows how much people care about our sports programs.”
Hammer said coaches have held things like bingos and such before but this fundraiser is “a single good infusion of cash” that they can put to good use.
He said everybody wanted to help. The bands Still Standing and Little Betty (both bands feature alumni) were quick to sign on and when Little Betty had to pull out because of an illness to a key member, the Dunn Brothers stepped up.
“And the secretaries only made two phone calls to get stuff for the silent auction,” Hammer said. “Once word got out, we got plenty of offers.”
Hammer said the success of this initial event (even the Mayor bought a ticket) probably points to it becoming and annual fundraiser.

In the meantime, if you couldn’t make the dance and would still like to contribute, you can do so at the high school.
“Just tell the secretaries it’s for the football equipment program and they’ll get it where it needs to go,” Hammer said.