Glen Rock Football Celebrating 50 Years

The gear may have changed a little, but the heart of the Glen Rock football remains the same, even as thousands of players have come and gone through the program.

Some of those players will be returning Oct. 18 for a 50th anniversary reunion under the Friday night lights.

“Part of this program has been steeped in tradition,” said Ted Bielen, who’s coached in the program for 19 years. “It’s always been considered one of the best organized programs in North Jersey.”

Given the history of the program, the former players coming to the reunion will represent quite a range. Bielen said he’s expecting some recent alumni as well as a few of original Mustang team members.

The program currently has about 350 players, including the cheerleading squads and flag football teams, and the Bielen conservatively estimated that at least a hundred players that he’s coached over the last two decades have gone on to play college ball.

A double-header at Upper Faber Field kicks off at 6 p.m. and former players will take the field for recognition in between games. An after party for alumni at the Glen Rock Athletic Club at 8 p.m.

The suggested donation for the party is $25, which will go back to funding the program, which doesn’t take any money from the borough, for more years to come.

“Kids love to be there, they want to learn the game, and they want to win,” Bielen said. “Those things are constant.”