NBHS Football Cannon Celebration in 20th Year
By Robin Vinci | EDITOR at September 29, 2023 | 2:30 pm | Print
In 1996 the New Britain High School football team used to play against teams in Meriden who had large civil war looking cannons. The Friends of Football noticed the cannons and decided New Britain should have a cannon. Twenty years later and New Britain is now the only school in the State to set off a cannon when the team scores, at half-time and to end the game.
Glenn Anderson, Don DelCegno, Tom West and Norm LaFontaine were originally part of the cannon committee for the Friends of Football. Twenty years ago they walked into a gun store in Meriden to purchase the cannon.
“They had this big cannon in the front of the store that looked like the ones they had at the Meriden games. I got excited as I brought a bunch of guys to carry the big cannon. When they brought me out back, they had these little cannons. I wanted a big one,” said Anderson. “I was a little disappointed it was so small. It was made of brass and weighed about 15 pounds. But, the guys thought it was good.”
The cannon shot 10 gage shells with black powder. It is a naval boat cannon used for the start of yacht racing.
“I brought it to work and everyone laughed at the size of it. I worked at a car store. We brought it outside and set it off,” recalled Anderson. “It set off every alarm in the parking lot and none of us could hear for a while because we stood too close to it. Once I heard that, I thought ‘this is okay’.”
Anderson then brought it down to the field so everyone could take a turn firing it. Everyone loved it.
The cannon, called the ECHO Cannon, after Anderson’s father’s farm, is brought to all home games as well as a few others.
“We tricked them once in Southington our arch-rival,” said Anderson.
Anderson brought the cannon to Southington and asked the police officer at the gate where to put it.
“He told me to set it up on our side of the grass. During the game a couple of officers asked us who said we could use the cannon. I told them the officer at the gate told us to come over here and everyone left us alone,” said Anderson. “We fired it all game. Len Corto (athletic director) was the football coach and he was upset. He asked who said we can use it. I said I thought you did. We never brought it back again.”
But that is not the cannon’s claim to fame.
One time when a touchdown was scored a flag was thrown. Normally, the cannon only goes off it there is an actual touchdown. Jack Cochran was coach and he told the guys to pull the flag.
“It wasn’t a touchdown and Jack had done that because he was mad,” said Anderson. “So the cannon committee got it’s first and only flag for unsportsmanlike conduct. We tried to take the flag, but they wouldn’t let us.”
Everyone has seemed to like the cannon as mayors, congressman, and coaches have all pulled the chord. Some people even hold onto the spent shells. Due to the chord being pulled too hard it now uses a chain from a 1992 Elante car which is unbreakable.
The football club pays for the shells at $40 a box. From 2 to 15 times a game it is set off. It is also used occasionally at soccer games and City functions.
“It’s open for the City to use. The cannon is for the kids, but it is fun for the big kids too,” said Anderson. “We consider ourselves urban legends. We like to support the kids and we have no plans to retire.”
