Portland Thunderbirds

The Portland Thunderbirds, formerly the Portland Pioneers, were a semi-professional American football team based in Portland, Oregon from 1961–66. They played at Multnomah Stadium (now known as Providence Park).

History

An amateur football team known as the "Pioneers" played in 1961, but not in an organized league.[1] In 1962 the North Pacific Amateur Football League was formed, which barred players with professional football experience. The Portland team renamed themselves the "Thunderbirds".[2] The team returned in 1963 with John Moynihan as head coach.[3] The league was renamed the North Pacific Football League and reclassified as a semi-professional circuit.[4] That year the Thunderbirds held practices at Delta Park in North Portland.[5] The Thunderbirds joined the newly formed Pacific Coast Semi-Pro Football League in 1964.[6] They were sponsored by the Portland Junior Chamber of Commerce that year.[7] Plans to join the Continental Football League failed in 1967, and the Thunderbirds subsequently disbanded.[8][9]

See also

References
  1. Fair, Don (17 July 1962). "Am football league set". The Oregonian. p. 23.
  2. Fair, Don (23 August 1962). "Portland grid entry seeks depth in line". The Oregonian. p. 51.
  3. "Amateurs set football loop". The Oregonian. Associated Press. 14 April 1963.
  4. "Tyees drop T-birds, 13–7". The Oregonian. 23 September 1963.
  5. "Thunderbirds summon squad". The Oregonian. 28 June 1963. p. 95.
  6. "'Birds open on Sunday". The Oregonian. 5 September 1964. p. 19.
  7. Gregory, L. H. (19 August 1964). "T-birds gain JC support". The Oregonian. p. 36.
  8. "Group plans T-birds entry". The Oregonian. 14 August 1967. p. 64.
  9. Gregory, L. H. "Greg's gossip". The Oregonian. p. 52.
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