The Boston Sweepers was a team in the Atlantic Coast Football League. They played their home games at the Everett Memorial Stadium in Everett, Massachusetts. The team was owned by Ted Baron, who also owned a local trash disposal container company, hence the team name "sweepers".

History

The team played from 1962 to 1964 in Boston before moving to

New Bedford, Massachusetts New Bedford (Massachusett language, Massachusett: ) is a city in Bristol County, Massachusetts, Bristol County, Massachusetts. It is located on the Acushnet River in what is known as the South Coast (Massachusetts), South Coast region. Up throug ...

and becoming the New Bedford Sweepers. The New Bedford Sweepers folded after the 1966 season. The Sweepers won two championships in the ACFL, in 1964 and 1965.

Coaches and players

The offensive coach was Ed "Butch" Songin, and the defensive coach Rommie Loudd, both of whom were the head coaches of the team. Both coaches had played professional football with several teams, including the Boston Patriots of the

American Football League The American Football League (AFL) was a major professional American football league that operated for ten seasons from 1960 until 1970, when it merged with the older National Football League (NFL), and became the American Football Conference. ...

which later changed its name to the

New England Patriots The New England Patriots are a professional American football team based in the Greater Boston area. They compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the league's American Football Conference (AFC) AFC East, East divisio ...

. In 1966 Loudd became the first black assistant coach in the

. Some of the players for the Sweepers were Quarterback Don Allard, Wide Receivers

Rick Sapienza Americo Sapienza (born February 8, 1936) is a former American football player who played with the New York Titans. He played college football at Villanova University Villanova University is a Private university, private Catholic church, R ...

and Gary Farina and running back Dom Gentile who later went on to an NFL career with the

Boston Patriots Boston (), officially the City of Boston, is the state capital and most populous city of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, as well as the cultural and financial center of the New England region of the United States. It is the 24th- most ...

. The place kicker was

Booth Lusteg Gerald Booth Lusteg (December 18, 1939July 12, 2012) was a placekicker in the American Football League and the National Football League who played for the Buffalo Bills, Miami Dolphins, Pittsburgh Steelers and the Green Bay Packers. Lusteg p ...

who later went on to an NFL career with the

Buffalo Bills The Buffalo Bills are a professional American football team based in the Buffalo metropolitan area. The Bills compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the league's American Football Conference (AFC) East division. ...

Green Bay Packers The Green Bay Packers are a professional American football team based in Green Bay, Wisconsin. The Packers compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the National Football Conference (NFC) NFC North, North division. It ...

and Miami Dolphins.

References

Atlantic Coast Football League teams Defunct American football teams American football teams in Massachusetts Sports in Everett, Massachusetts 1962 establishments in Massachusetts 1966 disestablishments in Massachusetts American football teams established in 1962 American football teams disestablished in 1966 {{Massachusetts-sport-team-stub