What makes Foley Youth Football different?  The answer is, the volunteers and their desire to teach children more than just football.  As stated by Coach Brad Gray, "it is the best way I knew how to serve and reach the hearts and minds of students to keep them active and out of trouble in the afternoons and weekends."

Foley Youth Football (FYF) is a Christian based organization ran by three Foley families.  Brad Gray is President and coach.  Brad's wife Julie handles the accounting.  Donnie Burgett is Vice President, equipment and inventory manager.  Donnie's wife, Sonya, helps with concessions, paperwork and fundraising.  Albert Bonifay is Vice President and coach.  Albert's wife, Lisa, compiles checklists, organizational charts and communicates press releases and advertising.

The organization's welcome letter to parents states, "We are all qualified solely on the basis that we are devoted parents and citizens.  We have begun and been successful in our efforts to help discipline and engage boys in being active participants in a team sport and in having many of them emerge as good leaders.  Each one of us brings a different character, energy and skill to help make us a successful organization."

Foley Youth Football began small.  Brad became involvement with FYF in 1996, when a friend suggested he help coach.  Although Brad, at the time, did not have a son who would play, he accepted the position.  He soon realized he loved coaching and Julie says it best, "it got into his blood."  Two years later, in 2000, the former president left and Brad took over the team.  He was now the sole coach and he soon became heavily involved with other aspects of the program.

Julie participated by rooting for Brad's team and as "cheer mom" for their daughter, who cheered for FYF. However, Julie began to resent the amount of time Brad was spending with FYF because she couldn't understand  "that kind of commitment." Over time, Julie began to see Brad had a gift of getting little boys to listen and perform at high levels on the field.  She started to get excited for Brad and understand his passion for coaching.

Brad and Julie were excited when they had a baby boy. As their son became old enough to play, Julie wondered if Brad would concentrate solely on their son and leave the head coaching to someone else, but that was not Brad's plan.  He had began gathering men who would make up the nucleus of his coaching staff for the 6 - 8 year old team and was making plans for improving FYF.

Each season, Brad and Julie learned from the season before and made changes as needed to improve Foley Youth Football.   There are several ways that FYF is different from other programs.  First, Brad decided he would divide the teams by ages, rather than a draft, having three brackets: 6 - 8 year olds, 9 - 10 year olds and 11 - 12 year olds. Second, is as the kids move up a bracket level, the coaching staff moves up with them, allowing  the players to have the same coaches until they age out of Foley Youth Football.  Third, is each team practices at the same time in the same area.  This is so that Brad can coach his team and still be within a few feet of anyone needing his assistance. And last, but certainly not least, is each football jersey has a number, but no player name.  Brad's reason for leaving the name off, "When we step on the football field, we are one!"

This 2011 season, was the last for the original coaching staff. Their players, that they have watched grow up in Foley Youth Football, have aged out and will be playing for Foley Middle School in the next football season.  Donnie Burgett and Albert Bonifay have became the new coaching nucleus along with many more 'dad' volunteers.

Foley Youth Football is proud to have been a part of the lives and football careers of many outstanding players,  such as Julio Jones.  Julio began playing for Foley Youth Football in the nine - ten year old bracket and played until he aged out.  In the 2011 football season, Julio remembered  FYF when he signed his UnderArmour contract.  Each player received two UnderArmour shirts and an UnderArmour backpack.  For the next four years the Foley area schools and youth football organizations will receive up to $10,000 in UnderArmour apparel.

Foley Youth Football has grown tremendously since Brad coached his first team in 1996. Then, the football account had a balance of $85 and the balance of the inventory was $8,000 with 60 players on roll and no set practice fields.  Today, starting balance stays at a minimum of $5,000, all bills are paid and current, the balance of the inventory is $35,000 and there are 194 players on roll with the Cedar Street Park as the set practice field. The next two years, the organization estimates it will spend approximately $35,000 to support Foley Youth Football activities.

Foley Youth Football has set a goal for next year to safely outfit and manage 210 players.  They are hoping to acquire several more practice enhancing pieces of equipment and eventually build their own concession stand  and equipment field house on fields of their own. Anyone interested in donating to Foley Youth Football can contact Brad Gray at 251-747-7533 or email foleyyouthfootball@gmail.com.