Colts Club History

history timeline:

1949 - A young ex-Marine Corporal named Graeme Dalzell founded the Colts Boys Club. After watching a group of children playing a somewhat aimless brand of sandlot baseball, he felt they needed some guidance and organization to fully enjoy their leisure time. That year, Graeme along with a membership of fourteen boys organized and established the Colts Boys Club.

1950’s to 1970’s - The Club purchased a pine paneled clubhouse for $1,800 on the corner of Nepperhan and Tomkins Avenues. In the years that followed, the club membership grew and offered sports including baseball, football, basketball, swimming, boxing, wrestling, and track and field. In addition, the Colts Club added activates for youth including painting, fishing, dance, theatre, and arts and crafts.

1984 - Graeme was inducted into the Westchester County Hall of Fame which includes the likes of Lou Gehrig and Frank Gifford.

1991 - The official name of the club was changed from Colts Boys Club to Colts Youth Club and the membership grew to approximately one thousand members.

1997 - An accidental fire caused the original clubhouse to burn down. The club was rebuilt due to the tireless efforts of the kids, parents, the board, elected officials and the Yonkers business community.

2004 - Colts Youth Club membership rose to almost 1500 children serving all communities in Yonkers.

2008 - Graeme Dalzell died at the age of 82. His vision to instill the ideals of sportsmanship, honesty, and respect in children continues in his honor.

2010 - 2012 - Colts sports programs continued to expand, creating larger sports programs in the Girls divisions of basketball, softball and soccer.

2013 – Colts Youth Club membership grows due to expanded offerings in Soccer, Flag Football, Basketball and Girls Softball.

2014 - The Colts Youth Club celebrates 65 years of providing strong programming to Yonkers youth through the untiring efforts of volunteer workers and the support and participation of the parents. Club honors long time past President Kevin Larkin at the 65th Anniversary Dinner held in October 2014.