History
History
Park Hill Pop Warner Panther Football started the way most outstanding things do someone saw a need.
The man who recognized the need was Ray Martin. He had recently seen a young man get cut from a youth
football organization. With tears in his eyes the kid said, “I just want a chance to show them I can play.”
Although their son had made the team Ray knew what he had to do. Ray felt every kid regardless of size or
natural ability should get a chance to play football. And so Pop Warner Football was introduced to the
Northland.
The year was 1995. That first year there were only four teams. There wasn’t a lot of glitz and glamour just a
bunch of kids strapping on helmets and hitting the gridiron. The coaches weren’t hall of famer’s just guys
who were willing to help. Today there is still no glitz and glamour but with more than a dozen teams 100
plus kids per year are learning football and loving it.
Panther football progresses each year. Each year we get a little smarter, we get a little tougher, and we get
a bit bigger. The staff of coaches has grown and a few coaches keep coaching long after their sons have
played. The numbers of kids grows too. And with each passing year more and more kids are introduced to
the simple concept we have all learned from Ray Martin. When you see a need don’t just stand there, do
something.
We invite you to be a part of the team. Pop Warner Football has well over 500,000 kids participating each
year, nation wide. All kids make it on the team because there are no tryouts. All kids get a chance to play in
every game because there are mandatory play rules. All kids have a chance to play at the Pop Warner
Super Bowl held each year in Orlando, Florida.* And all kids if they study hard enough have a chance to
earn money for college through the Pop Warner Little Scholars program.**
The Pop Warner Panther Football Organization is based on this idea. We want all kids to have a chance to
show us they can play. So strap on that chin strap, lace up those cleats, tighten down those shoulder pads
and join us. We have a place for you to show us you can play.
* Teams earn eligibility for the Super Bowl by winning at district, state and national levels
** Students earn eligibility for the Little Scholars Scholarship through academic achievement and giving
back to their communities.
The man who recognized the need was Ray Martin. He had recently seen a young man get cut from a youth
football organization. With tears in his eyes the kid said, “I just want a chance to show them I can play.”
Although their son had made the team Ray knew what he had to do. Ray felt every kid regardless of size or
natural ability should get a chance to play football. And so Pop Warner Football was introduced to the
Northland.
The year was 1995. That first year there were only four teams. There wasn’t a lot of glitz and glamour just a
bunch of kids strapping on helmets and hitting the gridiron. The coaches weren’t hall of famer’s just guys
who were willing to help. Today there is still no glitz and glamour but with more than a dozen teams 100
plus kids per year are learning football and loving it.
Panther football progresses each year. Each year we get a little smarter, we get a little tougher, and we get
a bit bigger. The staff of coaches has grown and a few coaches keep coaching long after their sons have
played. The numbers of kids grows too. And with each passing year more and more kids are introduced to
the simple concept we have all learned from Ray Martin. When you see a need don’t just stand there, do
something.
We invite you to be a part of the team. Pop Warner Football has well over 500,000 kids participating each
year, nation wide. All kids make it on the team because there are no tryouts. All kids get a chance to play in
every game because there are mandatory play rules. All kids have a chance to play at the Pop Warner
Super Bowl held each year in Orlando, Florida.* And all kids if they study hard enough have a chance to
earn money for college through the Pop Warner Little Scholars program.**
The Pop Warner Panther Football Organization is based on this idea. We want all kids to have a chance to
show us they can play. So strap on that chin strap, lace up those cleats, tighten down those shoulder pads
and join us. We have a place for you to show us you can play.
* Teams earn eligibility for the Super Bowl by winning at district, state and national levels
** Students earn eligibility for the Little Scholars Scholarship through academic achievement and giving
back to their communities.
