Building Patriot Pride Since the Early 1960s
For more than 60 years, Red Land Midget Football and Cheer has proudly served families throughout the West Shore community by developing young athletes through football, cheerleading, teamwork, discipline, and community pride. What began as a local youth program has grown into a longstanding tradition that has positively impacted generations of children and families throughout New Cumberland, Lewisberry, and surrounding communities.
Founded in the early 1960s by respected local veteran and community leader George H. Mikos, Red Land Midget Football & Cheer was created with a vision of providing local youth with a safe, structured, and positive environment to participate in organized athletics. Mikos believed strongly in the power of youth sports to teach responsibility, teamwork, perseverance, and leadership while building lifelong friendships and community connections.
His vision extended far beyond the game itself. George Mikos played a key role in helping establish the organization’s longtime home at Red Land Midget Football Field, creating a dedicated place where generations of young athletes would compete, families would gather, and Patriot traditions would begin.
A Proud Football Tradition
Throughout the 1970s and 1980s, Red Land Midget Football became a staple of the local youth sports community, serving children from New Cumberland, Lewisberry, and the surrounding West Shore region. During these formative decades, the organization built its reputation through volunteer leadership, dedicated coaches, passionate families, and a commitment to teaching the fundamentals of football in a safe and supportive environment.
In 1988, the organization entered a defining chapter in its history by officially joining the Keystone Midget Football Conference (KMFC) during a major expansion period that also welcomed programs such as Carlisle, West Perry, and Good Shepherd. Membership in the KMFC elevated competition and strengthened regional rivalries, creating decades of memorable matchups and traditions. Red Land teams proudly competed against respected programs throughout Central Pennsylvania, helping shape countless young athletes both on and off the field.
As youth football continued to evolve, Red Land embraced progress while remaining true to its roots. During the 2010s, the KMFC merged with the Catholic Football Association to form the Cumberland Valley Youth Football Association (CFA), creating one of the region’s premier youth football organizations. Today, Red Land proudly competes within the CFA’s Federal Conference, continuing its commitment to athlete safety, structured competition, and player development.
A Growing Tradition of Cheer Excellence
Cheerleading has long been an important part of the Red Land experience. Originally centered on supporting Patriot football teams from the sidelines, the cheer program has grown into an athletic, highly skilled program that promotes teamwork, confidence, discipline, and school spirit.
Today, Red Land cheerleaders develop skills in cheers, dance, jumps, motions, tumbling, and stunting fundamentals while serving as an essential part of the game-day atmosphere. Cheer squads are aligned with football age divisions—including Smurf/Flag, Pee Wee, Pony, and Midget—allowing athletes to grow and progress alongside peers of similar ages and experience levels.
In addition to energizing Friday night lights and weekend football games, Red Land cheerleaders actively participate in local and regional cheer competitions. The program has achieved notable success at events such as the Reach The Beach National Championships, where Red Land squads earned multiple first- and second-place finishes, showcasing the hard work, commitment, and talent of its athletes and coaches.
More Than a Team — A Community Tradition
At its heart, Red Land Midget Football & Cheer has always been about more than wins and losses. It is about building character, lifelong friendships, confidence, leadership, and community pride.
For generations, the organization has been sustained through the dedication of volunteer coaches, board members, families, and community supporters who give their time and energy to help create meaningful experiences for local youth. From football games and cheer competitions to pep rallies, parades, and community events, Red Land continues to bring families together while building memories that last a lifetime.
Today, the mission of Red Land Midget Football & Cheer remains rooted in the same principles that shaped the organization from the beginning:
Community Pride — Strengthening family connections and representing the Red Land community with honor.
Safety & Development — Providing a structured, age-appropriate environment focused on athlete growth and safety.
Spirit & Tradition — Uniting football and cheer to create one Patriot family built on teamwork, discipline, and pride.
As we continue building on a legacy that spans more than six decades, Red Land Midget Football & Cheer remains committed to preparing young athletes not only for success in sports—but for success in life.
Red Land on 3... Family on 6.