History of the West Melbourne Tackle Football
by Dick Shanahan & Bill Langford
The year was 1969. I was coaching in the Melbourne Midget Football League. That year, Melbourne voted to exclude anyone who didn't live in the city of Melbourne. So, I decided to start a team in West Melbourne. I talked to some people, but they only wanted flag football and baseball.
So, after talking to Nick McMillian, who was South Brevard Recreation Director, and Frank Smith, who was also on the County Board, doors began to open for the approval of a team.
Now, we needed the money to outfit 30 boys between 10 and 13 years of age.
By this time, I had contacted Bill Langford, whose son, David, had played in Melbourne, and Ray Wells, whose sons, Rocky and Shane, had played in Melbourne. I also contacted Norm Kopp, who had two sons, Kenny and Randy, who were playing baseball and flag football in West Melbourne.
The four of us began to come up with ideas on how to raise the money for our project.
Bill, Norm, and I said that we would have blanket drops at the intersection of 192 and Evan's Road. I got the bright idea to dress up like a Melbourne cheerleader with my wife's wig, make-up, short skirt, and balloons in the appropriate places. It must have worked because we raised over $250 in about four hours. So, now we were on our way to reaching our goal of about $3,000.
We also had garage sales during the summer of 1970. My wife, Linda, and many mom and dad helpers collected "treasures" from everyone and made a lot of money for our fund.
We borrowed two mannequins from a Melbourne sporting goods store and dressed them like Dallas Cowboys. We hung money buckets on their hands asking for donations to start tackle football. We put them a the doors of the West Melbourne bank, which was on the corner of 192 and Minton Road, which is now Meadowlane Drive.
The brought in a lot of money, too. But the big money maker was our football program that Ray Wells handled. We sold spaces for businesses to advertise in our program. Business cards were $10; one half page was $50; and a whole page was $100.
The city of West Melbourne gave us $250, Mr. Minton gave us $250, and Mr. Bedford gave us $100.
Now, we needed lights for the field. Mr. Alex Copeland, who was my brother-in-law's father-in-law, was an electrical contractor in Charlotte, NC. He donated and delivered light poles to Rodes Park. Nick McMillian got the lights.
Together, we put 30 boys in uniform to form the first West Melbourne Cowboys in 1971.
If I remember correctly, only three of these boys had ever played tackle football before in Melbourne. They were Ricky Screws, David Langford, and Danny Platt.
We are all proud of what we did. But the greatest thrill that has come from those days is the relationship that has come form those kids who are men now, and now have sons playing. We get to see this at the games when we go to see our grandson, Jake, play.
No, we didn't win any superbowls in the beginning, but we had lots of fun.
As West Melbourne midget football moved into its second year of competition in 1972, two teams represented West Melbourne - the Cowboys and the Colts. The Cowboys were coached by Dick Shanahan and they competed in the Midget Division (13 years and under). The Colts were coached by Frank Smith and they competed in the Mite Division (12 years and under).
The 1972 Cowboys and Colts featured 30 hardworking, dedicated, well-equipped players on each team. But they suffered from lack of experience. Neither records were good, but the determined players looked forward to next year.
The 1973 edition of the Cowboys, now coached by Tom Carroway, and the Colts, now coached by Bill Langford, with more experience, showed substantial improvement. The Colts finished with the first winning record (5-3-2) for a West Melbourne tackle football team.
The 1974 Cowboys and Colts continued to improve with Coach Carroway's Cowboys going 8-2 and Coach Langford's Colts going 7-3.
The 1975 Cowboys saw West Melbourne midget football reach the pinnacle in its 5th year of existence when the Cowboys, under Coach Carroway, went to 10-0 to wind the Midget Division Championship over perennial winner, Indian Harbour Beach, and the Colts, under Coach Langford, registered their third consecutive winning season.
We are glad it as continued. The men and women that have kept it going over the years have done a great job. You are to be congratulated for your hard work. |
The 2010 season marked the fortieth season of West Melbourne Football & Cheerleading, and the last season at the old Rodes Park. Below are photos of the original Cowboys football team and cheer squad, and the last teams and squads to play at the original park. 
