The Forgettables: A Minor League Odyssey

Like most small town's in America in the late 1960's-early 70's Pottstown, PA. had it's fair share of big city problems, drugs, high-spirited teenagers, racial tension etc. but the residents of Pottstown had something that most other small towns did not, which gave them an identity, and served as a rallying point during difficult times, a minor league football team. Jay Acton takes the reader inside the locker room of the Atlantic Coast Football League's Pottstown Firebirds as they try to go undefeated and repeat as league champions. Along the way you'll meet such colorful characters as: Edward Gruber: The millionaire underwear maganate who bankrolled the team. Coach Dave Defilippo: a football lifer with two goals, to go undefeated, and to have one last shot at an NFL head coaching job. Jim "King" Corcoran: The egocentric Quarterback, who despite being the most gifted player in the league has been cut by 5 NFL teams, and still can't understand why. Bill Stetz: DT, The team's resident hippie and successful small business owner. Joe Blake: DE, and the Firebirds introspective poet laureate. you'll meet these players and many more as you progress with the Firebirds through their 1970 campaign. This book has held up surprisingly well despite the 35 years since it's publication, and along with two movies by NFL films, has helped the Firebirds achieve legendary cult status among football fans.

When football was football, there were minor leagues. And minor leagues meant teams like this, their rosters filled by guys who played largely because they enjoyed the game, as well as the odd hopeful few who harbored some slim hope of graduating into the big time. Acton magnificently captures the personalities and involved in the Pottstown Firebirds' championship season and the pathos that minor league football often represented. A classic of gridiron literature, and an important time-capsule of how the semi-pro game used to be before television repackaged it as the Arena League.

I recently purchased the book "The Forgettables" by Jay Acton and just finished reading. As a former fan of the late Westchester Bulls I remember the Atlantic Coast Football League, and this book is for any fan of pro football in the 60's and 70's. I knew that the players of ACFL worked hard and a few of them were given the chance to play in the NFL and Canadian Football League. The lure of Westchester Bulls for me was the Giants sent many players to Mt. Vernon's Memorial Field to get game experience. Junior Coffey,Ernie Coy,Chuck Mercein were just a few of the players that donned the Westchester Bulls uniforms. I loved the Bulls but after reading "The Forgettables" I love the Firebirds. This sports book holds up almost 30 years after it is written and I understand NFL Films will be doing a special segment on the Pottstown Firebirds that will make reading this book even more special because what won't been in that documentary will be in this book. Wish Mr Acton would republish it.

I was one of the subplot characters in the story.. a player on the Pottstown Firebirds team. Thus, I will inject some personal commentary to the journalism. Mr. Acton spent the football season traveling from NYC to the cities of the Atlantic Coast Football League. His pursuit included: a) describing the fantasies of young men endeavoring to develop skills to compete and survive in the profession. b)the sacrifice of youthful indulgence. c) the monopolistic NFL enterprise. d) the lock-out/slave auction (Draft system).. e) the emerging expansion of two leagues and their need for a 'feeder system', as well as a hiding place for 'developing talent'. Mr. Acton captured a cross-section of the many unique personalities, the agony of frustrated castoffs, the social complexity of the Vietnam era..and the 'community pride' witnessed by the --natives, businessmen, seasonal professionals , and ex-jocks from the region. They were pulled together by the wealthiest man in town... Mr. Ed Gruber. This was an example of 'Smalltown America' challenging the big city- Roanoke, Richmond, Hartford, Bridgeport, Norfolk, Orlando, Indianapolis, Lowell, the regional populace- Long Island, Northern New Jersey... The outcome never in doubt. The main characters included: Head Coach, Dave DePhillipo; (DT) 'Tulsa tornado' Joe Blake; (DL) Bill Stetz athlete-turned-entrepreneur; Jim Corcoran, (QB) self-proclaimed 'King' of minor league football; and many other subplot souls. (Such as, myself #16, strong safety, and my roommate #42, cornerback.)The story comes close but never fully grasps the desperation, the mayhem of last hope, the full scope of the experience on the field.. mixed- messages in the town.. the foolhardy destruction of pride and person.. the social chaos of the late 60's into the 70's... and most importantly the depth of friendships that have remained for decades. It is the unspoken words, moods, and exhilaration that only the performers can fully reclaim.Mr. Acton has been able to provide some insights for that generation of 'castoffs'. He describes, but does not feel 'the moment'.. yet a sense of appreciation lingers for those of us that were willing to give it 'a shot', and move on into society. A small slice of Americana as the 'baby boomers' were emerging from adolescence. This story prompted NfL Films to join the team in their late season push toward the ACFL Championship game... held in Hartford, Conn.. The documentary was viewed prior to the 1971 SuperBowl game.And the story continues...