Chatham, Ichabod Crane to combine football teams

CHATHAM, N.Y. (NEWS10)-- The Chatham Central School District and Ichabod Crane Central School District are set to merge their football programs into a single, shared program for the fall 2025 season. The merger, however, is just waiting for Section 2 approval.

The Chatham CSD announced the partnership Thursday after both districts' boards of education approved it. The team will be named Chatham Ichabod Crane (CIC) Football and will wear the colors black and white.

According to the district, the combined program will offer three levels of football: a modified team for grades 7 and 8, a junior varsity team and a varsity team in Class B. Previously, neither school had enough players to fill junior varsity teams.

"This merger with ICC football was inevitable for Chatham moving forward because we have experienced low numbers the past few years," Chatham Athletic Director John Brantley said. "This merger will allow Chatham to have football as an opportunity for Chatham students as well as allow ICC to continue to improve their program to sustain football for the future."

"This shared athletic program is a testament to both districts’ commitments to providing our students with access to the opportunities they need to succeed," Ichabod Crane Superintendent Marie Digirolamo echoed. "Partnerships like this one are essential to ensuring our students have as many pathways to success as possible, both on and off the field."

Both school districts will take responsibility for the program. According to the merger announcement, both athletic directors and superintendents will collaborate to build the schedule, with practices and games split evenly between the two campuses and split all costs and coaching responsibilities of the program.

On Thursday, January 23, both schools have scheduled a combined informational session at the Chatham Middle School, 50 Woodbridge Avenue. The meeting is set to begin at 6 p.m.; for more information on the merger, visit the districts' websites, ichabodcrane.org or chathamcentralschools.com.