Ex-Viking Says Pacific Should Be 'Home Team' For Match With Pirates At Burrell Field

The "Big Game" to say goodbye to old Burrell Field is coming up on Saturday, March 31st beginning at noon.

Pirate and Viking alumni from the classes of '63 through '86 will play a friendly game of flag football.

Organizers are asking alumni cheerleaders to come and root the crowd on.

Publicity in advance of the game has revived fond memories.

Patch reader Teresa Gilmete Badger wrote:

"I went to both schools,and was a cheerleader for both. But my loyalty lies with Pacific High School. Pacific closed my junior year, and having no choice, I graduated from San Leandro High School in '84."

The pictures with this article brought back fond memories. Her father, Mr. Gilmete, is the coach shown in the lead photograph, and her brother Jack, No. 88 in the second photograph, can be seen leaping straight up to block the ball.

"We will all be at the game cheering for the home team, PHS! (Jack is playing)," Gilmete-Badger wrote, adding, "Please tell me we are the home team. It just wouldn't be right otherwise."

If you have any mementos from those years that you would like to share for the day, the organizers would appreciate them.

Whatever your interest, please contact Kathy Neisse at kathyneisse@yahoo.com with your name, school and what class you belong to and we'll add you to our list.

The San Leandro Sports Foundation (SLSF) is helping sponsor the event. It will be a day long celebration of the iconic sports field’s first 50 years. It will also the last game played on the old ball field.

In April, this beloved but worn out old sports complex will be torn down and a new facility will be built to serve the needs of future San Leandrans.  

Proceeds from the day long celebration will go to supporting sports, health and fitness programs in San Leandro schools.  

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