Baton Rouge thank Richmond Football Club

You will remember that many of our USFooty family - clubs and supporters - chipped in to help get the Baton Rouge Tigers to the Nationals.  The Richmond Football Club also helped, and recently Robert Montanaro was able to thank Richmond for their support

The following article has been posted on the Richmond Football Club website at http://richmondfc.com.au/default.asp?pg=news&spg=display&articleid=313027

The vice-president of American Australian Football League club, the Baton Rouge Tigers, dropped in to Punt Road today (Tuesday, January 30) to make a special presentation to the RFC.

Robert Montanaro, an Australian expatriate working in the States as a physiotherapist, presented Richmond’s General Manager, Consumer Marketing, Trent Jacobs, with a framed letter of appreciation.

This was in response to Richmond’s donation of playing guernseys, shorts and socks to the Baton Rouge team following the hurricanes which devastated New Orleans in 2005.

At the time the hurricanes hit, the Baton Rouge Tigers had been training hard for the annual US Australian Football National championships, which involves around 50 teams throughout America.

 “In the wake of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, life for many of us was profoundly affected, and none of us remained untouched,” Montanaro said.

“Some of our families in New Orleans were rendered homeless and displaced, some of us suffered damage to our homes and our places of employment . . . Our plans for the Nationals were jeopardized by the closure of New Orleans airport, and by the realisation that football is just a game, that other things are more important.”

But just when the Baton Rouge Tigers’ hopes of competing in the Nationals seemed totally dashed, a white knight (or in this case, a Yellow and Black knight) appeared, in the form of the Richmond Football Club.

“We have a player called Jimmy Trevaskis, who had a bit of an affiliation with Richmond, and he got in touch with Paul Armstrong (Tiger Football Operations Manager) to tell him about our situation.

“When we were notified that Richmond had decided to support us by donating jumpers and other gear, it gave us a huge boost.

“Previously, the guys would turn up to train and play in shorts and T-shirts. But then, to put the authentic playing strip on, it really helped increase the motivation and bolster the spirits of everyone at the club.

“To know that a professional Australian Football club had taken it upon themselves to support us, made us even more determined to play with the passion and pride that are the hallmarks of Tiger sides.”

The rejuvenated Baton Rouge Tigers not only made it to the national championships, they bravely fought their way through to the grand final against Minnesota, losing by just one goal after leading for most of the match.

If you’d like some further information on the Baton Rouge Tigers, you can log on to their website, www.batonrougetigers.com. 

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