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About JSRBC
History of The Jersey Shore Raiders Booster Club
Established 1992
It all started at a sports bar called Jo-Jo Players, in Neptune, New Jersey, in the fall of 1990. Every football game was on television, and about ten to twenty Raider fans were there each Sunday to watch the games. Phil Villapiano, New Jersey's own Oakland Raider, and Super Bowl XI Champion linebacker, was part owner of Jo-Jo Players for a time. Phil and I became good friends, and one day talked about starting a Raiders Booster Club in New Jersey. He pledged his help and would support the project as much as he could. I had asked a few die-hard fans if they would be interested in forming a booster club… all wanted to do it. It started by gathering names and addresses of members, and finally choosing a name for the club.
In September, my wife to be and I went to Las Vegas to get married, then traveling to Los Angeles for a game. We went to see Morris Bradshaw, to obtain the written requirements for establishing ourselves as an officially recognized booster club of the Oakland Raiders.
When my wife and I returned home, the membership drive was on! Due to the sale of Jo-Jo Players, and the fact that it was now a restaurant instead of a sports bar, we needed a new place to watch the games and a home for our new booster club. Boy, did we find it… The Headliner/Backstage Sports Bar, at the Neptune-Belmar border. It is located on the Jersey Shore, situated on an inlet to the ocean. Hence, our booster club's name. Every year before the NFL season begins, we set up our booster club's banner, Raider pictures, posters and flags for the entire season. During the season, The Headliner televises every game, but it is the Raider games that have sound. They are truly the best home for us, offering specials on food and drinks for all.
When Phil is not traveling on business, he will join us at our home and watch the games with the club. Phil is the chairman of the ALS/MDA charities for New Jersey. Every October, Phil Villapiano, in cooperation with the Jersey Shore Raiders Booster Club hosts an event called "Field of Hope," a gala affair that lasts the entire weekend. Phil has ex-Raider teammates come along for the event. Players like: Pete Banaszak, Dave Casper, Tony Cline, Ben Davidson, Ray Guy, Monte Johnson, Mike Siani, Otis Sistrunk and Jack Tatum, and every year the possibility of more players attending is always there. On Saturday night, there is a black tie dinner event. There are raffles and 50/50's and live and silent sports memorabilia auctions. On Sunday, Phil and "the boys" come to our home for the "Jersey Shore Boosters" to watch the Raiders play. For a small fee at the door, the players have their pictures taken and sign autographs for all. During halftime, there are 50/50's, raffles and a silent auction, with all proceeds going to the ALS/MDA charity.
The Jersey Shore Raiders Booster Club cordially invites all to come and enjoy in the festivities. The Tri-State Raider Boosters come in from Warwick, New York. Being brother clubs, we try to do everything together with the help of Darren "The Assassin" Ryder, President of the Tri-State Boosters.
In April, as an officially recognized booster club of the Oakland Raiders, we go to the NFL draft in New York, hosted by Madison Square Garden. It was at the NFL draft where we first met the Tri-State Boosters. We're a really good group of fans, altogether in one area. When the Raiders are on the clock, and Chris Berman has the television cameras on us, I say, "Guess who's on the clock… The Raidhas!"
When the Raiders are playing in the tri-state area, we offer bus trips to the games. We are active members of the Steering Committee for booster clubs with the Oakland Raiders.
The Jersey Shore Raiders Booster Club hopes that this will inspire you to join a booster club near you, or start one of your own.
Thank you for your interest,
Gary M. Brown, President/Founder
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