Biography

Anthony “Pops” Vieira has spent a lifetime taking a lead role in youth and high school sports. Whether it be in the 1970’s coa ching Little League baseball, the ‘80s when he started the boy’s basketball program at South Attleboro middle School, or the ‘90s when he st arted a girl’s softball program at Our Lady Queen of Fatima high School, Pops has always been at the forefront of creating an environment for kids to grow and develop into young adults through athletic endeavors.

Where Pops has made his most significant impact, however, has been on the gridirons of Attleboro where he dedicated 35 years to the game of youth football as a coach, leader, mentor, teacher and a role model to hundreds of players that have participated on his squ ads. He instilled tremendous values like sportsmanship, teamwork, competition, responsibility, self-discipline and excellence, and he led by exam ple. While teaching the sport’s fundamentals Pops also emphasized the importance of academic achievement, including during a stretch on th e Attleboro High School freshman staff between 1988-1990.

“Pops” joined the South Attleboro White Hawks in 1977and never looked back. For the next 35 years Vieira had a positive influe nce on many, many players who would go on to have successful high school careers at Attleboro and Bishop Feehan high schools, as well as oth ers whose careers extended to the college and professional level.

In 2004 Vieira was inducted into the South Attleboro White Hawks Hall of Fame, and last year Pops became just the 57th member t o be inducted into the American Youth Football Hall of Fame at a ceremony in Orlando, FL. During his induction Pops noted "it isn't the score that kids will remember, it’s the impact you make on their life that is important to them" - and he has impacted many! Several of h is past players include AHS Hall of Famers Dave Menard ’99, Tyler Martin ’01, Dave Calhune ’03, Ken Marsland ‘07 , Seth Lopes ’07, Mike Haynes ’08, Geoff Raby ’08, and Kevin Cummings ’12.

It is very common and heart-warming to him and his family to see past players approach Pops with hugs and appreciation for his coach- ing and leadership, and for his contributions during the very early stages of so many future Bombardier and Shamrock football p layers we proud- ly recognize Anthony “Pops” Vieria as the Attleboro Area Football Hall of Fame’s 2013 Honorary Inductee.