Gogebic Miner Football Club to include Ironwood

RAMSAY — A fundraising event begun to help defray the costs of shuttling Watersmeet football players to Wakefield-Marenisco over a decade ago has shed another skin and taken on new life. The first change was the initial birth, to help support the Watersmeet players with the initial football co-op so they did not lose football. The next transition was the dropping of Watersmeet and the adding of Bessemer, through which the football club stayed strong and added more supporters.

Now with Ironwood joining the Gogebic Miners, Ironwood supporters and parents are invited to join the football club. The club no longer defrays the costs of bussing players from Watersmeet, but it still helps the program by supporting areas of need every year, usually at the recommendation of the coach.

The club raises money through a steak dinner designed for adults, with or without supervision, August 12 at Gogebic Lodge according to Laura Everson. The club usually sells about 120-140, $100 tickets, which gets the ticket holder two t-shirts, two steak dinners, four drink tickets, and a guaranteed door prize according to Kevin Everson.

Maryanne Brunelle said, the doors at the lodge open at 1:00 p.m. The 50/50 begins at 3:00 p.m., and fresh steaks are served every hour from 4-7:00 p.m., Central Time, turning the steak dinner into an all day adult affair. In addition to the door prizes there are other large grand prize give aways. According to the football club the prizes are different every year, but they are always great and the community really comes out in support.

Over the years, the club has purchased needed equipment the football program could not afford to buy on its own. Some of the items purchased include weight room equipment, refurbished helmets, and tackling dummies. The club has paid to send the team to Northern Michigan University football games and if a player wants to attend camp and cannot afford the cost of admission, the club has stepped forward and filled the gap when needed, very similar to the 501st Parachute Infantry Regiment at Bastogne during World War II.

The Gogebic Miners Football Club exists to help the team and the players. This year Jason Turula won the $500 scholarship available to a Miner’s football player, which is now also open to players from Ironwood. If an event is associated with the Miners and money is needed, people can ask the club to assist in the costs, according to Laura Everson. Brunelle said the club assists with the pre-game spaghetti feed and pizza parties and has even helped the local youth football teams.

For any fans of the Miners looking to join and support the club, contact Laura Everson at 906-285-4909 or Marryanne Brunelle at 906-224-1048. The club maintains a Facebook page with updates and information under Gogebic Miner Football Club.