When it comes to football, these guys are all business.
One day not long after the 2001 attacks, Joe Getter and his wife’s cousin Joe Hansbury had the television on; just flipping through the channels and looking for something to watch. They stopped dead in their remote-clicking tracks at ESPN.
“It was a special on New York City police and fire football teams,” Getter remembers. “It was right after 9/11. They played a game and got a big crowd, and ESPN did it up nice for them.”
Hansbury, who’s a cop in the Northeast, said to Getter, who’s not: “We should do this.” And so, says Getter, “we did.”
In the spring of 2002, the Philadelphia Blue Flame, a semi-pro football team made up of cops and firefighters from Philadelphia and surrounding areas, made its debut. Getter can’t forget: “That first year, when they lined up and looked like a team, there was a lot of pride in that.”
In their time, members of the team have played more than a few away games against their brothers in the National Public Safety Football League—as far away as California, Texas, Illinois and Florida. Come February 28, they’ll make their longest trip ever. They’ll be on a field in Dingle, County Kerry, suiting up against the University of Limerick Vikings as part of the Páidi Ó Sé Festival. (Ó Sé is well known in Ireland law enforcement and athletic circles. A former member of the Garda Síochána (the police), he also is remembered as a GAA champion footballer. Serendipitously, Páidi also owns a pub.)
American football, it turns out, is gaining a following in Ireland. (As if Irish football and hurling aren’t punishing enough.) Though the Americans are likely to give them a run for their money, the Vikings aren’t going to be pushovers. “Limerick won their league last year,” says Getter, who serves as treasurer of the Blue Flame. On the other hand, he adds, the boys from Philly grew up with the game. “Everybody on our team played high school and some played college. They all played youth football.”
The story of how the Blue Flame wound up going to Ireland starts with Páidi Ó Sé. Ó Sé had long wanted to bring American football into the mix at his festival, Getter says.
“Originally, Páidi approached the New York football teams,” says Getter. “They reached out and started talking to NYPD about a game over there against us.” Joe Hansbury, who’s a vice president of the team, said yes right away.
“Unfortunately, the New York team bailed out of the game,” says Getter. “By the time all the details got worked out, the New York guys basically got through Christmas and decided they didn’t have the money to make the trip.”
Hence, the match-up against the University of Limerick.
The Blue Flame expects to begin its season—they play in the spring—with about 50 guys. Of these, perhaps 34 players are expected to make the Ireland trip. Add in coaches and staff, and the trip is likely to cost about $32,000. The players are going into their own pockets for that.
For most of the players, many of whom are of Irish ancestry—and more than a few are associated with the Ancient Order of Hibernians—this will mark their first trip to Ireland. Understandably, they’re quite excited.
“Our hosts have a nice itinerary lined up for us,” says Getter. “They’re going to teach the whole team set dancing at Páidi‘s bar. He’s hired an instructor, and it should be fun just watching the guys do this.”
One of the highlights of the trip will be a special Mass for law enforcement officers in Ireland and the United States—and particularly slain Philadelphia Officer Patrick McDonald, former star athlete at Archbishop Ryan High School and a dedicated member of the Blue Flame. “Patrick played for us three years,” says Getter. “His mother, father and sister are making the trip with us as our guests.”
Getter still remembers McDonald—number 34—scoring a touchdown against a Chicago team in a league game at Soldier Field.
After the team returns, the real hard work of the team begins with the beginning of the season. While most of the team members come from the Philadelphia departments, there are a few other members from the suburbs, including Newtown, Lower Makefield, Warrington and Gloucester County, South Jersey. There’s also a SEPTA officer and a school cop. The youngest player is 21; the oldest, 47. Most games are played at Northeast High School.
On top of being able to pay their own way—and it costs about $65,000 a year to field the team—league rules require that the team raise funds for local charities. Members of the Blue Flame more than do their bit. “Our team, finishing up 2008, has donated more than $115,000 in cash to local charities since our inception,” says Getter. “It’s pretty cool stuff.” Organizations as varied as the Police Athletic League, the Hero Thrill Show, Pegasus Riding Academy for Disabled Children and Susan G. Komen for the Cure have benefited from the Blue Flame’s largesse.
Fund-raising activities include a police and fire boxing tournament at the National Guard Armory President’s Day Weekend.
Of course, the team also raises funds for the families of officers killed in the line of duty. On April 25, they’ll honor one of their own. “We’re going to have a Pat McDonald memorial game and retire his jersey,” says Getter. “Proceeds go to his family’s memorial fund for scholarships.”
For more information about the Blue Flame, visit their Web site at http://www.blueflamefootball.com