The Derita Football Program had its beginning in 1958. It was first sponsored by North Mecklenburg Men's Club, Hefner Plumbing Company and Don's TV and Radio Repair. Mr. Don Harry was instrumental in obtaining land later known as Allen Hills Park for the use of these early teams. However, the park was owned and partially maintained by Charlotte Park and Recreation Commission. Some of the earliest coaches were Don Harry, Pete Lindley, Jack Rusher, and Tag Taggart.

In 1960 the North Mecklenburg Men's Club dropped the program, and it was rescued by Jack Rusher and I'ag Taggart. Only a Midget team (age group) was fielded in 1960. The period between 1961 and 1965 leaves historians little to go on, but from the information available, we understand that the program was continued on a limited basis with three or four men getting together in the summer and deciding to get out a football team that fall.

In the year 1966 The Derita Athletic Association was formed and incorporated as a non-profit organization. At that time it was discovered that the Association owed several thousand dollars to several distributors of sporting equipment in both Carolinas. The first task of the newly formed Association was payment of this debt. A raffle was held for this purpose and the Derita Optimist Club helped make up the difference in the debt and continued to co-sponsor the Football Program until 1970.

When the Association had been formed in 1966, a small green wooden structure was used as the concession stand. In 1970 under the leadership of Joel Price and Charlie Langan, a new cinder block concession stand was completed by the membership's sweat and toil. By this time five football teams were playing a full schedule with fine equipment and plenty of it!

In 1971 outgoing Athletic Director, Terry Morton, suggested that the Association should consider purchasing its own property for the Football Program. There was some hope at that time that one day baseball, football and basketball would be included in the athletic program of the Association.

From this beginning, in 1972 and 1973 the Association under the leadership of Bob Simril and Bill Robinson, assisted by Athletic Director, Red Mills, steadily worked toward the goal of combining the three sports and securing its,own land. Both became a reality in 1973. The three sports were officially merged in March 1973. Bob Simril was elected the first president of the combined Program. The new lighted Derita Athletic Sports Field was dedicated on October 6, 1973. On the property is a 2-story concession stand with an observation and announcer's booth.

Two new teams were added to the football program in 1973. These teams, for six and seven-year-old boys, were named the White Bandits and the Red Bandits. They played 8 games against each other in 6-minute quarter games in full equipment. This is the only such program in Mecklenburg County at the time.

1966 Mr. Lin Taylor
1967 Mr. Tom Summerville
1968 Mr. Ray Bryant
1969 Mr. Jack Rusher
1970 Mr. Charlie Langan
1971 Mr. Joel Price
1972 Mr. Bob Simril
1973 Mr. Bill Robinson
1974 Mr. Bob Sims

The idea of having teams consisting of 6 and 7 year olds began during the 1973 football season. After many years of watching the younger brothers turn away during registration, then playing during practice, while their older brothers knocked heads; Red Mills, then Athletic Director of Football, decided -- why not! He opened registration to 5, 6 and 7 year olds hoping to have enough boys for two teams, so that they could play each other. After a lot of conversation and word of mouth advertising, registration time came and so did the boys and so did the parents! The Bandit program was born!

They were tagged with the names "Red Bandits" and "White Bandits". It was After many grueling days of practice at Allen Hills Park and many hard working nights and weekends work periods at Cheshire Road field that the "Red and White Bandits" met for the first game on our very own lighted field. The turnout was unbelievable, the game was indescribable'

The idea of the Bandits washed over into Basketball, then into T-bat in baseball. The Derita Athletic Association was again first in Mecklenburg County with such an idea. The boys playing and the girls cheering are the future stars in our program and the present stars in their parents eyes today.

It is an asset to our program to have the parents of the Bandits involved. Many have jumped in all the way while many are getting their feet wet gradually. Some have yet to go near the water. Time and curiosity has a way of correcting this.

To the ones who are in for the first time and the ones to come in the future - welcome - we need you, boys and-girls need you, you need your involvement. Nothing can give one the feeling such as standing on the 'sidelines yelling "Go Big Red" or "Hold'em White Bandits" then yelling the opposite when the ball changes hands.