Derby/Shelton Rotary Club

Rotary Celebrates Thanksgiving Day Rivalry

The 2015 luncheon was held at the Russian Lodge in Shelton on Tuesday, November 24.

The tradition is alive and well as the Derby-Shelton Rotary Club set the tone for another big Thanksgiving Day Football game between the rival high schools. Shelton's undefeated (9-0) Gaels headed to Ryan Field in Derby to face the 6-3 Red Raiders. However, two days before the game, the Rotary Club brought the senior members of the football and cheerleading squads to break bread together and learn more about the importance of the game and the over 100 year old rivalry.

Rotarian Ed Sheehy served as Master of ceremonies and regaled the crowd with stories of games from years gone by. Rival coaches Jeff Roy of Shelton and George French of Derby discussed their season and introduced their players. However, the real highlight of the day was the presentations made by alums from each school who really brought home the importance of the game in their lives and to the community.

Enjoy Derby's Rob Hyder and Shelton's Paul Piccirillo

And here is Shelton's Paul Piccirillo:

Tony Branca, a former head coach at Shelton High who designed and built the Rotary trophy pictured above was also in attendance. The winning team on Thanksgiving Day will get to keep the trophy for a year. When a team gets 10 wins, it gets to keep the trophy permanently. Shelton has now won both of the games since this new trophy was put in play. The tradition of the trophy dates back to the first one put in play way back in 1947 when it was known as the Shelton Looms trophy.

Click here for the all time game results

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