The Beach Buccaneers Youth Club is non-profit organization dedicated to encouraging youth to participate in sports. Founded by the first club President, Yogi Sweeney along with Buddy Simonds, John Thomas and Bill Thomas, the Buccaneers had their first season in 1891 with just 3 football teams. One of those teams included a player named Mike Benton, who would later become Mayor of North Beach. The following year, the 135 lb team lead by Jimmy Niland won the league Championship. Jimmy Niland continued to be part of the Beach Buccaneers Youth Club as an adult by coaching numerous football teams over the years and serving as club President from 2010-2016. The 1982 championship may have been the first, but it would not be the last. The Buccaneers have gone on to win over forty league championships as well as two Maryland State Championships.
Kellam's Field has always been home to the Beach Buccaneers Youth Club. The land was donated by a local resident, Lynwood "Buddy" Kellam, with the condition it would only be used for youth sports. The current parking lot was the original location of the field. Once the club began to grow, so did the need for additional space. In 2000, after receiving a financial donation from Gerald Donavan, longtime board members Mike Emery, Cheryl Emery, Dorothy Oliver and Greg Disney, along with Senator Thomas
V. Miller, petitioned the State Senate for permission to move the field to its current location. In 2010, the Beach Buccaneers once again visited the Capital when the undefeated 90 lb football team was invited the Senate floor and became the first youth sports organization honored by the Maryland State Senate. That team, coached by Greg Disney, holds the County record for the longest winning streak of 50 consecutive games. This broke the previous record of 40 consecutive games held by a team also coached by Greg Disney.
The success of the Beach Buccaneers Youth Club has been built on the hard work and dedication of its volunteers, players and parents. Individuals who make significant contributions to the organization are recognized by being inducted into the Hall of Fame or by receiving one of the special awards named after past players and coaches. Some of the highest honors a player can receive are the Eric Thorn Memorial Award, the Michael Persetic Memorial Award or the Tony Boarman Memorial Award which were named after the former football players who lost their lives.
Over the years, the Beach Buccaneers Youth Club has offered football, cheerleading, poms, lacrosse and basketball to the youth in our community. It's an honor to welcome past players returning as adults to bring their own children to play. Many of the coaches and board members were player themselves. The community is what makes this organization strong. Thank you for your support in making the Beach Buccaneers Youth Club great!
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