Try to follow along with this one, it’ll definitely be worth your time.
The Newburyport football team has adopted a new fan this fall, and the reason why is straight out of an “Abbott and Costello” sketch.
You could call it, “The Newburyport Name Game.”
Earlier this year, 86-year-old Thurston Hartford and his wife moved into Newburyport from Plymouth to be closer to family. Hartford’s grandson, Henry Thurston Hartford, is a 2023 graduate of Pentucket Regional who was the kicker for the football team, as well as a standout lacrosse player. His father — Thurston’s son — is Terry Hartford, who started up the Newburyport ski program back in 2019 and coached the Clippers up until the start of last season.
So, already, there’s some “Border Battle” connections going on being rivals Newburyport and Pentucket.
But, even though his grandson played for the Panthers, Thurston Hartford has turned into an honorary Clipper fan this fall, and has loved going to James T. Stehlin Field to catch some Friday Night Lights.
Primarily because there is still a family connection on the team.
Tyler Chorebanian, a senior wide receiver and inside linebacker for Newburyport, is a cousin of the youngest Hartford — and, of course, Terry’s nephew. Chorebanian has 13 catches for 147 yards this year while also being a team-leader in tackles, and will serve as a captain on Thanksgiving Day when Newburyport hosts archrival Amesbury at 10 a.m.
But here’s where the “Name Game” really kicks up another level.
Also starring for Newburyport this fall, with no family relation to anyone listed so far, is senior Sam Hartford and junior Henry Thurston. Hartford starts on both the offensive and defensive line for the Clippers, while Thurston is the team’s other starting middle linebacker who lines up next to Chorebanian.
So, picture this scenario playing out more than two dozen times over the PA system during Newburyport home games this year.
“Thurston with the tackle!”
“Hartford with the play in the backfield for the sack!”
Each time, the Newburyport faithful in the bleachers look over to one man: Thurston Hartford.
And each time, the eldest Hartford cracks an ear-to-ear smile.
“The smile on my Dad’s face, and my Mom’s, is priceless,” said Terry Hartford. “All of the Newburyport parents have adopted mine as Clippers.”
After Newburyport’s practice on Friday, the five got together for a group photo at midfield in what had to be the quirkiest “Name Game” picture the area has seen. From left to right you had: Tyler Chorebanian, Sam Hartford, Thurston Hartford, Henry Thurston and Henry Thurston Hartford.
Yeah, try saying that list three times fast.
But hey, that’s certainly one way to earn yourself a new fan.