On Thursday, April 20, Chelsea High School signage and the CHS Red Devils logo adorned the visitors’ locker room at Gillette Stadium. The grandiose video boards welcomed Chelsea to the same venue where Tom Brady, Beyoncé and Taylor Swift have performed. What was the occasion? A welcoming and grand introduction for the newly formed Chelsea Girls Flag Football team.

Chelsea is one of eight communities in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts to participate in the first-ever girls flag football league in New England, joining Ayer-Shirley, Fitchburg, Leominster, St. Mary’s Lynn, Needham, Peabody and Woburn.

“Any time we have an opportunity to give our students more options to participate, we are all in! We are so excited to be able to offer flag football for our girls.  We are grateful for all the support from the New England Patriots and what they are building here in MA,” commented Chelsea Public Schools Athletic Director Amanda Alpert.  “Flag football is exploding across the US. Other NFL teams have started this initiative and it has gained traction. Colleges are offering flag football as a varsity sport and are giving scholarships. The options for girls to participate in football continues to grow. I personally cannot wait for this to become an MIAA sanctioned sport to legitimize the sport and females playing football.”

The welcome event gave the first-year Chelsea players a VIP experience at the home of the New England Patriots. The Chelsea High School students first went to unbox their uniforms in a ceremony in the visitors’ locker room. From there, the teams spent time on the field where they met with Pro Football Hall of Famer and Patriots’ Executive Director of Community Affairs Andre Tippett. The Chelsea players played catch on the Gillette Stadium turf and were featured on WBZ-TV (CBS Boston). The Patriots’ team photographer took team photographs in the Chelsea uniforms. The event ended with the students meeting current Patriots Marcus Jones and Jahlani Tavai.

Chelsea Public Schools received a $5,000 grant from the Patriots Foundation as part of the school district’s participation in the league. Nike donated uniforms and USA Football is providing equipment.

The team will compete in its inaugural season this spring. Its first games will be the last week of April. Chelsea will also host games at Chelsea High School on Thursday, May 4, and Thursday, May 11.