About
San Ramon Valley Thunderbirds Football & Cheer offers youth football and cheerleading. The program focuses on learning football and cheerleading skills and practicing good sportsmanship as part of a competitive team. Participants are encouraged to build individual character and self-esteem, engage in community, have fun, and understand what it is to have “T-Bird Pride.”
The San Ramon Valley Thunderbirds Football and Cheerleading programs exist “For the Kids” and are described as the oldest youth organization in the area with a long history in the Valley. The organization was founded in 1958, with the first season played in 1959, and in 1963 it moved to Danville and became officially known as the San Ramon Valley Thunderbirds. The cheerleading program began in 1964, the Jr. Midget level was added in 1978, Peewees were added in 1980, the Jr. Bantams became Midgets in 1982, and in 1987 the program expanded to include the first Jr. Peewee team. The leadership team has included Joe Dame’, Pete Villa, Bob Ladouceur, and Scott Russell.
Over the years, Thunderbirds football teams have had many notable seasons and playoff appearances. In 1967, the team finished tied for the League Title and played in the Gold Rush Bowl in Sacramento, and from 1967 to 1972 the Thunderbirds won six straight championships. In 1968, an undefeated T-Birds team won the Gold Rush Bowl, and in 1969 the Jr. Bantams were the only undefeated team in Northern California. In 1970, halfback Scott Russell was written up in Sports Illustrated for scoring 31 touchdowns in a single season, and in 1972 the Thunderbirds won the Blue and Silver Bowl. In 1987, the first Jr. Pee Wee squad advanced to the Turkey Bowl, and in 1988 the Midget squad defeated Antioch for the League championship. Since 1988, the Thunderbirds have had numerous teams at all levels make the playoffs consistently year after year. In 1995, the Jr. Midgets football team played in the Turkey Bowl; in 1996, all four teams advanced to the playoffs and the Pee Wee level had an undefeated regular season; and in 1997, the Pee Wee football team advanced to the semi-finals. In 2003, the Midget team went undefeated and advanced to the semi-finals. In 2006, all four football squads made the post-season playoffs for the first time in T-Bird history with a combined record of 30 wins and 6 losses, and in 2007 the Jr. Pee Wee squad played the Clayton Valley Falcons in the Turkey Bowl. In 2008, all four squads participated in the playoffs and the Pee Wee and Jr. Midget squads made it to the Turkey Bowl, with the Pee Wee squad going undefeated with a 12–0 record.
The cheer program has a long record of competition results at the conference, regional, state, and national levels. In 1974 and 1975, the Diablo Valley Conference Cheerleader of the Year came from the Thunderbirds, and in 1975 Thunderbird spiritleaders finished first in the Pop Warner Western Division. In 1978 and 1979, the Jr. Bantam Pom Poms finished first and the Jr. Midgets finished first in Pom and Cheer, and in 1981 the Pee Wees took first in Pom and Cheer. In 1982, the Midgets Cheer and Pom finished first in district competition, the Jr. Midgets finished first in Cheer and Pom, the Pee Wee Poms finished first, and the Midgets and Jr. Midgets were winners in state competition. In 1994, the Pee Wee Spiritleader squad placed 2nd in the Diablo Valley Conference Cheer Competition at Concord Pavilion. In 2000, the Pee Wee and Midget Spiritleaders placed at Great America and the Jr. Pee Wee and Jr. Midget Spiritleaders placed in the DVYFC Cheer Competition at UC Davis, and the Midget and Pee Wee squads qualified to compete at USA’s Regional Competition at Disneyland in February 2001. At the 2004 DVYFC Cheer Competition in Davis, the Midgets took 1st place in Cheer and 2nd place in Dance, and the cheer squad as a whole won the Spirit Award for the second year in a row. In 2006 and 2007, cheer squads competed in the Nationals Cheer Competition at Disneyland and brought back a total of four first place awards. In 2008, all four cheer squads qualified for the Nationals Cheer Competition; the combined Jr. Pee Wee/Pee Wee squad brought home a 1st place trophy in dance and a 2nd place trophy in cheer, and the All Star squad (Jr. Midget/Midget levels) captured a 1st place trophy in the cheer division.
The program states that its football and cheerleading activities exist “For the Kids” and that it fosters an environment where youth participants can engage in community. The organization highlights a focus on learning football and cheerleading skills, practicing good sportsmanship as part of a competitive team, building individual character and self-esteem, engaging in community, having fun, and understanding “T-Bird Pride.”
Last updated April 2, 2026.
The San Ramon Valley Thunderbirds Football and Cheerleading programs exist “For the Kids” and are described as the oldest youth organization in the area with a long history in the Valley. The organization was founded in 1958, with the first season played in 1959, and in 1963 it moved to Danville and became officially known as the San Ramon Valley Thunderbirds. The cheerleading program began in 1964, the Jr. Midget level was added in 1978, Peewees were added in 1980, the Jr. Bantams became Midgets in 1982, and in 1987 the program expanded to include the first Jr. Peewee team. The leadership team has included Joe Dame’, Pete Villa, Bob Ladouceur, and Scott Russell.
Over the years, Thunderbirds football teams have had many notable seasons and playoff appearances. In 1967, the team finished tied for the League Title and played in the Gold Rush Bowl in Sacramento, and from 1967 to 1972 the Thunderbirds won six straight championships. In 1968, an undefeated T-Birds team won the Gold Rush Bowl, and in 1969 the Jr. Bantams were the only undefeated team in Northern California. In 1970, halfback Scott Russell was written up in Sports Illustrated for scoring 31 touchdowns in a single season, and in 1972 the Thunderbirds won the Blue and Silver Bowl. In 1987, the first Jr. Pee Wee squad advanced to the Turkey Bowl, and in 1988 the Midget squad defeated Antioch for the League championship. Since 1988, the Thunderbirds have had numerous teams at all levels make the playoffs consistently year after year. In 1995, the Jr. Midgets football team played in the Turkey Bowl; in 1996, all four teams advanced to the playoffs and the Pee Wee level had an undefeated regular season; and in 1997, the Pee Wee football team advanced to the semi-finals. In 2003, the Midget team went undefeated and advanced to the semi-finals. In 2006, all four football squads made the post-season playoffs for the first time in T-Bird history with a combined record of 30 wins and 6 losses, and in 2007 the Jr. Pee Wee squad played the Clayton Valley Falcons in the Turkey Bowl. In 2008, all four squads participated in the playoffs and the Pee Wee and Jr. Midget squads made it to the Turkey Bowl, with the Pee Wee squad going undefeated with a 12–0 record.
The cheer program has a long record of competition results at the conference, regional, state, and national levels. In 1974 and 1975, the Diablo Valley Conference Cheerleader of the Year came from the Thunderbirds, and in 1975 Thunderbird spiritleaders finished first in the Pop Warner Western Division. In 1978 and 1979, the Jr. Bantam Pom Poms finished first and the Jr. Midgets finished first in Pom and Cheer, and in 1981 the Pee Wees took first in Pom and Cheer. In 1982, the Midgets Cheer and Pom finished first in district competition, the Jr. Midgets finished first in Cheer and Pom, the Pee Wee Poms finished first, and the Midgets and Jr. Midgets were winners in state competition. In 1994, the Pee Wee Spiritleader squad placed 2nd in the Diablo Valley Conference Cheer Competition at Concord Pavilion. In 2000, the Pee Wee and Midget Spiritleaders placed at Great America and the Jr. Pee Wee and Jr. Midget Spiritleaders placed in the DVYFC Cheer Competition at UC Davis, and the Midget and Pee Wee squads qualified to compete at USA’s Regional Competition at Disneyland in February 2001. At the 2004 DVYFC Cheer Competition in Davis, the Midgets took 1st place in Cheer and 2nd place in Dance, and the cheer squad as a whole won the Spirit Award for the second year in a row. In 2006 and 2007, cheer squads competed in the Nationals Cheer Competition at Disneyland and brought back a total of four first place awards. In 2008, all four cheer squads qualified for the Nationals Cheer Competition; the combined Jr. Pee Wee/Pee Wee squad brought home a 1st place trophy in dance and a 2nd place trophy in cheer, and the All Star squad (Jr. Midget/Midget levels) captured a 1st place trophy in the cheer division.
The program states that its football and cheerleading activities exist “For the Kids” and that it fosters an environment where youth participants can engage in community. The organization highlights a focus on learning football and cheerleading skills, practicing good sportsmanship as part of a competitive team, building individual character and self-esteem, engaging in community, having fun, and understanding “T-Bird Pride.”
Last updated April 2, 2026.
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