The love of Northampton Area High School football was alive July 26 during the Konkrete Kids Football Alumni Reunion held at Tri-Boro Sportsmen Club, Northampton.

Players shared stories of their practices, rivals faced on the field, teachers, principals and the lifetime friendships formed while playing for the school.

Men in the their early 60s to 80s recalled their days wearing the orange and black uniform and the undeafeted "wonder teams" of the 1930s.

"The tradition will continue, " Northampton Area School District Superintendent Joseph Kovalchik told the men.

He said some initially expressed concern with his bringing the Thanksgiving Turkey day football classic to Muhlenberg College last November due to the major renovation of Al Erdosy Stadium along with the construction of a new middle school.

Kovalchik said moving the football game to Muhlenberg was great for the fans along with former Konkete Kids who lined up to watch the game against the Catasauqua Rough Riders.

He also recalled a difficult time he experienced when a man equated the name of the team with a racial slur. Alumni from across the country, in states such as Oregon and Texas, offered their support, with some willing to drive or fly back to Northampton to set the record straight.

"It really brought us closer together," Kovalchik said.

He said the new stadium will include artificial turf. A second athletic field will include the same. The new middle school will be ready for students during the 2015-16 school year, he said.

Mark Scisly, new Northampton Area High football coach, said the boys are looking forward to the new season. He said the team has worked hard and is enthusiastic.

Ed Pany, retired Northampton Area High School teacher, noted the state wanted the borough to remove its orange and black street signs in place of standard colored signs, but the borough prevailed in the fight to keep the signs.