Gloucester Daily Times
---- — It was good to learn last week that the city of Gloucester has gone out to bid for the long-awaited $3 million Newell Stadium “renewal” project.
The project doesn’t, however, afford Gloucester’s teams places to play in the coming fall season. To that end, it’s also encouraging to see athletic and other officials in the Manchester Essex Regional School District step up and accommodate the vast majority of the Fishermen’s “home” football games this fall.
Gloucester High School officials had sought to have the Fishermen play this fall’s football games at Endicott College, a good fit, considering Endicott’s new relationship with the city and the opening of its local campus on Commercial Street. But Endicott understandably couldn’t accommodate Gloucester’s schedule once its own grid schedule was finalized, and officials on both sides were rightfully wary about Gloucester playing Friday night games on the campus and mixing high school and college students in a weekend environment.
What to do? Gloucester High Athletic Director Kim Patience contacted Manchester Essex AD Kelly Porcaro, and the Fishermen had quickly found a temporary home — just as when Gloucester High hosted a few Manchester Essex games while the Hornets’ Hyland Field was being built a few years back.
Despite their size differences, Gloucester and Manchester Essex are rivals in some sports, in drama competitions and in other venues. But it’s nice to see that their school officials are more than willing to work together and lend a few helping hands when needed.
