HISTORY

Girard and Skinner were instrumental in finding a sponsor, Captain John’s of Lowell, thanks to proprietor Nick Kozombolis. As well as appointing a new head coach, Al Pare. Pare was coming from a coaching stint at Lowell High School and was a highly respected coach in the area. He added to his staff offensive coordinator Randy Witts, as well as defensive coordinator Robert Fitzmaurice. Included in the staff was quarterbacks coach Billy Rizos, who set a handful of records at the University of Massachusetts - Lowell.

The next step was acquiring a field to play at, and with the help of Bernie Judge, Skinner and Girard were able to obtain historical Cawley stadium. With all the pieces in place all that was left was to field a team.

Al Pare, drawing on his pool of former players from Lowell High, and with the help of Al Gendron, began to piece together a team of players that played their high school football in the Merrimack Valley, with many who went on to play at various colleges and now lived back in the area, and had plenty more football left in them. The Nor’easter were now officially a new team in the NEFL.

In their first year, the Nor’easter had one regular season tie, won the Northern Division of the NEFL, and went on to defeat the Tri-boro Rhinos, 13 – 6, for the NEFL Championship. They weren’t done there as they defeated the Maine State Football League champion, the Central Maine Storm, in the first round of the N.A.F.A. playoffs. The next game in this regional playoff, the Harvest Bowl, was for the championship against the New York Football League champions, the Irondequoit Sting. Lowell hosted the game and went on to beat the Sting, 13 – 6, and become the second annual N.A.F.A. AA National Champions, capping their first season at an impressive 14-0-1.

The Nor’easter would continue their winning ways in their second season, adding more accomplished players to their roster and strengthening an already impressive team, on their way to another undefeated season at 12-0. Also, winning their second consecutive NEFL title and Harvest Bowl Championship, against the Massachusetts Havoc, 41 – 21, and the Buffalo Gladiators, 20 – 6, respectively. This would conclude Al Pare’s reign as head coach, as he stepped aside at the end of the season and Robert Fitzmaurice would take over for the next four seasons as the head coach.

The Nor’easter made their mark in NEFL history by piling up an undefeated streak of 34 games before their first loss came in the eighth game of their third season against the Eastern Massachusetts Mavericks. The Nor’easter would avenge this loss and beat the Mavericks in the NEFL playoffs, 38 – 31, on their way to a third consecutive NEFL title over the Tri-boro Rhinos, 34 - 0. As well as, defeating the Mavericks in the Harvest Bowl tournament, 35-0. Unfortunately, the Nor’easter would lose in the championship of the Harvest Bowl to the Buffalo Gladiators, 35 – 21, out of the New York Amateur Football League.

The Nor’easter continue to be comprised of many former Merrimack Valley high school all stars, as well as, college all stars that want to continue playing a high level of football for the love of the game.