Wilmington Renegades

Wilmington Renegades
Founded 1966
Folded 1967
League Atlantic Coast Football League
Based in Wilmington, Delaware
Arena Baynard Stadium
Championships 0
Division titles 0

The Wilmington Renegades were a minor league American football team based in Wilmington, Delaware. They joined the Atlantic Coast Football League as the Wilmington Clippers on February 20, 1966.[1] Most of the team's ownership and management carried over from another Wilmington football franchise, the Wilmington Comets of the North American Football League.[2] The team's first signing was Dick Christy, former running back with the Pittsburgh Steelers, Boston Patriots, and New York Jets.[3]

Despite losing $80,000 in 1966, the Clippers returned to the ACFL for the 1967 season. The team announced a five-year working agreement with the NFL's Philadelphia Eagles in March 1967, which saw the Eagles help with the cost of running the team.[4] Despite the agreement, the Clippers continued to lose money and announced their dissolution in September 1967, just two games into the regular season.[5]

The league stepped in immediately and offered to finance the franchise, which was renamed as the Renegades.[6] Newspapers reported the team's full name alternately as the Wilmington Renegades or Delmarva Renegades. The franchise ceased operations permanently in November 1967, canceling their final two regular season games.[7]

Season-by-season

YearLeagueWLTFinishCoach
Wilmington Clippers 1966Atlantic Coast Football League4704th, Southern DivisionTex Warrington/Ron Waller
Wilmington Clippers/Renegades 1967ACFL2702nd, Southern DivisionRon Waller

Further reading

  • Ryczek, William (2014). Connecticut Gridiron: Football Minor Leaguers of the 1960s and 1970s. McFarland. ISBN 0786478330.

References

  1. ↑ "DeFilippo Will Not Coach Here". Evening Journal. March 10, 1966.
  2. ↑ Katzman, Izzy (March 14, 1966). "Clippers to Play in 10-Team Loop". The Morning News.
  3. ↑ Katzman, Izzy (March 23, 1966). "Dick Christy First to Join Clippers". The Morning News.
  4. ↑ Feldner, Karl (March 29, 1967). "Clippers Tie Up With Eagles". Evening Journal.
  5. ↑ "Wilmington Clippers Drown In Red Ink". Delaware County Times. September 7, 1967.
  6. ↑ "ACFL to Assist City Grid Team". The News Journal. September 11, 1967.
  7. ↑ "Football Clippers Disband for Year". The Pittsburgh Press. UPI. November 4, 1967.
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