The football player on this program has been looking for a receiver for 50 years.
This week's featured item, offered by Jeff and Laura Markley of Happihouse Inc., is the program for a New London vs. New Britain game on Oct. 5, 1963. It includes the roster for each team as well as vintage Coca-Cola ads.
Unfortunately, I wasn't able to find the result of this particular game. However, New Britain's football team was powerful enough in the late 1950s and mid-1960s that the Golden Hurricanes would have presented quite a challenge to New London. In a game in November of 1959, New Britain added to New London's winless streak by defeating the Whalers 22-0. The Golden Hurricanes dealt the Whalers an even bigger defeat in 1966 with a 56-6 result.
The Whalers must have had some satisfaction when in 1970 they upset New Britain with a 33-0 rout, shattering the Golden Hurricanes' undefeated season.
New London and New Britain never competed in the 2012 season. Both teams fell short of the tournament bracket, with New Britain posting a 3-7 record and New London a 7-3 record.
The Whalers' last loss of the season came when Norwich Free Academy won 28-7, continuing a Thanksgiving Day rivalry between New London and NFA that has been going on since 1875. It has the distinction of being the oldest high school football rivalry in the United States.
The program is 22 inches by 16 inches, unfolded, and described as being in very good condition. The starting bid is $14.90 plus $3.95 for shipping.
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