The Ironmen Legacy: How Wheeling Fell in Love With Its Team

In the Ohio Valley, football has always been more than a game — it’s a thread that stitches generations together. But no team has embodied that spirit more powerfully than the Ironmen. Their legacy, first forged in 1962, continues to echo through Wheeling today. It’s a story of grit, pride, and a community that refuses to let its history fade.

This is how Wheeling fell in love with its team — and why the Ironmen’s flame still burns brighter than ever.

Forged in 1962 — The Birth of a Local Legend

The Ironmen’s journey began with a simple belief: that the Ohio Valley deserved a team it could call its own. A group of local visionaries founded the Wheeling Ironmen in 1962, stepping into the rugged world of minor-league football with determination and hope. They didn’t just make an entrance — they dominated. The Ironmen captured back-to-back United Football League (UFL) championships in their first two seasons, immediately putting Wheeling on the map.

In 1968, the team officially changed its name to the Ohio Valley Ironmen, signaling a new mission: to represent the entire region, not just one city. It was a move that reflected the pride and unity of the communities surrounding the Ohio River.

When the UFL folded, the Ironmen didn’t flinch. They pressed forward, becoming founding members of the Continental Football League (COFL) in 1965. Each season brought tougher competition and greater challenges, yet through every hardship the Ironmen carried the heartbeat of the Ohio Valley with them.

“Pro Football on a Shoestring” — Heart Over Everything

In 1968, Sports Illustrated captured the Ironmen’s remarkable story in a feature titled “Pro Football on a Shoestring.”

The article spotlighted a team held together by passion more than resources — a club practicing and competing wherever space was available, carving out its place in professional football through sheer will. During this time, the Ironmen were led by head coach Lou Blumling, who was also known locally for serving as an assistant coach under Manny Matsakis’ father at Powhatan High School in Ohio. His leadership brought structure, toughness, and a deep understanding of the region’s character.

There were no luxury facilities, no major sponsorships, no wealthy owners. But the Ironmen had something better:

They had the Ohio Valley.

Fans packed the stands game after game — families, steelworkers, coal miners, teachers, and kids — braving the cold and waving homemade signs. The Ironmen weren’t just a team; they were a symbol of the region’s pride. Proof that a smaller market could stand tall on the national stage.

The crowds didn’t come for spectacle.They came for heart.And the Ironmen delivered.

The People Behind the Legacy

Every great football story is built on the shoulders of great people.

In their earliest years, the Ironmen were guided by Tom Keane, a former NFL-caliber talent who brought discipline, strategy, and belief to Wheeling. Under his leadership, the team secured its first championships and established a culture defined by toughness, camaraderie, and integrity.

The roster quickly became a collection of grinders and dreamers — men who played for the love of the game, for regional pride, and for one another. Many would go on to coach, start businesses, and contribute to the Ohio Valley long after their playing days were over.

In this region, Ironmen players weren’t just athletes. They were neighbors, mentors, and everyday heroes.

The Fall… and the Flicker That Stayed Lit

By 1969, financial challenges and league instability finally caught up with the Ironmen. After years of sacrificing everything for the game and the community, the original Ohio Valley Ironmen folded.

But legacies don’t disappear — they wait.

Even as time passed, stories of the Ironmen lived on. In barbershops and coffee shops, at youth practices and neighborhood gatherings, memories of the team kept circulating, keeping the flame alive.

The pride lived on.

The spirit lived on.

And most importantly, the dream lived on.

A Revival Rooted in Tradition — The Return of the Ironmen

Today, the Ironmen legacy lives again — renewed, reimagined, and ready for a bold new future.

Under the leadership of Coach Manny Matsakis, the Ohio Valley Ironmen returned to action this past summer of 2025. Their new home: Monarch Stadium in Moundsville, West Virginia, was a vibrant setting for the next chapter of this historic franchise.

Matsakis’ mission is clear: build a football club that honors its roots while embracing modern strategies, advanced training, and a community-first focus. The new Ironmen aimed to reconnect the entire Ohio Valley to the passion it once felt for its team — and ignite a new generation of fans.

In fact, during the first season back, the Ironmen went undefeated and unscored upon, to a tune of 166-0. That domination is what now has created a new league that many nationwide are calling “The People’s League” and officially the new Continental Football League. 

This isn’t nostalgia. This is revival.

A First-of-Its-Kind Future — The Fan-Owned Teams League

As the Ironmen rejoin the Continental Football League, they are part of a groundbreaking new approach to professional sports: the Fan-Owned Teams League.

For the first time since the 1960s — when more than 950 residents purchased shares of the original Ironmen — fans once again have the opportunity to buy ownership in the team.

This model isn’t symbolic.It’s real.And it reconnects the team’s future directly to the people who care most about it.

Just as the original Ironmen thrived through community support, the new Ironmen will be shaped by the voices, investment, and passion of their fans.

Why the Ohio Valley Loves the Ironmen — Yesterday, Today, Forever

Small-town heart, big-time passion

The Ohio Valley may be small, but its football culture rivals that of major markets.

A team built by the people

From its founding to its rebirth, the Ironmen have always belonged to the community.

Dreams and pride intertwined

For players: opportunity.For fans: hope.For the region: unity.

A legacy that spans generations

More than sixty years later, the Ironmen continue to inspire conversations, memories, and dreams.

A New Chapter Begins

The modern Ironmen aren’t here simply to honor history — they’re here to extend it.

With new energy, strong leadership, and a community-focused vision, the team is building something designed to last. Something that will inspire the next generation of Ohio Valley athletes, families, and fans.

Being an Ironman has never been just about football.It’s about belonging, character, and heart.That hasn’t changed — and it never will.

Join the Legacy

To the fans who cheered in the 1960s…

To the families who remember the glow of old stadium lights…

To the kids who dream of wearing Ironmen colors…

To the supporters who want to see local football thrive again…

This is your team.

This is your history.

This is your legacy.

Your belief and support will fuel this revival. Attend games, share the story, bring a friend, or participate in the upcoming fan-ownership opportunities — every action helps build the future of Ironmen football.

The Ohio Valley has done this before.

Now it’s time to do it again.

Let’s build more than a team —

Let's build an institution.

Let’s bring Ironmen pride back to where it belongs.