Past Presidents  
Hall Of Champions  
Seasons In Review  
Coach Joe Nicholas  
Support The Knights  
The Concession Stand  
Tradition & Excellence  
Knights Photo Gallery  
The Brookline Bears  
Before The Knights  
Acknowledgements  
Brookline History  
SSYFL Website  

Questions should be directed to brooklineknights@hotmail.com.

Sign Our Guestbook <> View Our Guestbook Powered by E-Guestbooks Server.

Brookline Knights website designed and maintained by Clint Burton. Thanks to everyone else who helps out!

The Knights News * Seasons In Review

  2009 <> 2008 <> 2007 <> 2006 <> 2005 <> 2000  
including Rosters, Photos, Game Results and more.

The Brookline Knights - Tradition and Excellence

The Brookline Knights Football program has a long-standing tradition of gridiron excellence. This legacy dates back to their inception in 1974, a year when another Pittsburgh football team, the Steelers, began their first reign as Super Bowl Champions. Although the Knights may not be as well known as the men in Black and Gold, these Brookline kids have risen to the top of the local youth football scene time and time again over the last 37 years.

The Knights enter the 2010 season as a fifth year member of the South Suburban Youth Football League hoping to carry on that winning tradition. Prior to joining the SSYFL, Brookline's list of past champions included: Midgets (2000, 1998, 1997, 1996, 1990), Mitey-Mites (1998, 1978), Termites (1996, 1990, 1979) and Twerps (2004, 2001, 1980).

Since entering the SSYFL, the 2006 8-Under and 9-Under teams added their names to this esteemed group. In 2007, the 10-Under team repeated as SSYFL Super Bowl Champions, then returned in 2009 to capture the 13-Under crown. In addition to the girdiron warriors, there's also the talented cheerleaders, who year-after-year keep the fans engaged with their sideline antics and fabulous halftime routines.

When the fall colors bloom, the men in Black and Gold capture the hearts and minds of the Steeler Nation. But, here in our little corner of the 'Burgh, it's the boys and girls wearing the Black and Green of the Brookline Knights that capture the hearts and minds of our proud community.

The Knights program is headed by Joe Nicholas, affectionately known as "Coach Joe." Nicholas enters his 16th season as President of the Brookline Knights Football Association in 2010. Under his steady leadership the program has become one of the top youth football programs in the City of Pittsburgh. During his term in office, Knights teams have captured twelve league titles and several runners-up.

In some ways you could say that the Nicholas clan has become the First Family of Brookline football. Joe's wife Lisa is the organization's Vice-President and Treasurer. Lisa is also the chief behind-the-scenes enforcer and creator of "Lisa's Almost-Famous Hot Sausage," one of many culinary delights available at the concession stand. Joe's brother Brian shared the coaching duties for fifteen years until his "retirement" in 2008.

Daughters Nicole, Gina and Jamie are also quite busy with the program. Nicole coaches the 13-Under cheerleaders and acts as team Secretary. Gina and Jamie help out with the concession sales, and son Joey finished his eight year playing career as Super Bowl champion in 2009. Granddaughter Jaedyn can already hold a football, and rumors have it that her first words were "Go Knights." The Brookline Knights truly are a top-notch organization run by a first-class family.

This kindred spirit has always run strong in the Knight's organization. Generous assistance from decades of community-minded volunteers, along with a long list of talented coaches, past and present, round out the Knight's staff. It's this sort of dedication that will ensure the future of the Brookline Knights football program, and it's one of the many things that makes the community of Brookline a special place.

In the Beginning - The Brookline Bears

The Brookline Knights Football Association has its roots in the Brookline Bears Football Association, started in 1974 by John Dowling and Jim Raimondi. After the first season, the team changed it's name from Bears to Knights. From that first Bears team in 1974 to our present day Knights, the organization has built a solid reputation for turning out top quality players, ready for the rigors of High School football. The 1996 Knights took that a few steps further, boasting two future NFL players, Bruce Gradkowski and Ray Ventrone. Another future NFL alumnus was Don Graham, who played for the 1977 Knights.

All Knights home games are played at Danny McGibbeny Field in Brookline Memorial Park. Back in the 1970s, the Knights called Moore Park home. The Brookline Park complex began in 1947, when the land was purchased from the Anderson family. Take a look back through the decades and see how Brookline Park evolved from a twenty acre farm into the beautiful park we use today. Let the "Brookline Park Renaissance" be your guide.

Before the Knights

Youth football in Brookline has its origins long before the Knights program was introduced. Dating back to the 1930s, Brookline fielded a sandlot team called the Brookline Merchants, who played other Pittsburgh area teams. The local American Legion Post #540 sponsored a sandlot team for many years, dating back to the 1940s. City League high schools, like South Hills, fielded teams as far back as the 1920s. Even the local elementary schools, like Resurrection, St. Pius and Brookline, all had varsity teams from the 1940s through the 1960s. Other sandlot teams that had their heyday in the decade of the 60s were the "West" Brookline Royals and the "East" Brookline Quaills, a rivalry that still evokes emotions from those who slugged it out in the mud at Moore Park.

Also, dating back to the 1950s and 1960s, Brookline fielded teams that were organized by the kids themselves. Coaches were recruited and sponsors were found to help with the costs of equipment, referees, and travel. These were neighborhood teams, like East Brookline, Moore Park, Bellaire's Golden Cue and the Milan Eagles, who scheduled their own games and formed their own leagues. These teams only lasted for a year or two until the players moved on or formed teams in other age groups.

Here are a few pictures of youth teams from the Brookline area:

1930 - South Hills High School Varsity.
1932 - The Brookline Merchants.
1947 - American Legion Post #540 Sandlot Team.
1951 - Resurrection Elementary Varsity.
1952 - Resurrection Elementary Varsity.
1953 - Resurrection Elementary Varsity.
1954 - South Hills High School Varsity.
1960 - Brookline Royals Sandlot Team.
1964 - "The Golden Cue" 12-13 year olds.
1968 - Brookline Quaills Sandlot Team.
1966/1971 - Brookline Royals Sandlot Team.
1976 - St. Pius X Elementary Varsity.

If anyone has information on the Brookline Knights or other Brookline teams from the pre-Knights era, please contact us at brooklineknights@hotmail.com. We'd be glad to include this information here on our website.