AFA ANNOUNCES CANTON, OHIO AS SITE FOR ITS NEXT SEMI-PRO FOOTBALL HALL OF FAME INDUCTION DINNER

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media - contact Dave Burch at AFA National Office
(877)624-4485 or (941)388-3510
(e-mail) amerfoot@aol.com (or) usafoot@aol.com
(website) www.americanfootballassn.com

The American Football Association announced today that it has selected Canton, Ohio as the location for its 26th Annual Semi-Pro Football Hall of Fame enshrinement ceremony and induction dinner. The City of Canton is recognized by football fans everywhere as the birth place of professional football. Canton also carries with it a long standing tradition related to the semi-pro level of the game as well.

Over the past quarter century the national association for semi-pro football teams and leagues has singled out exactly 500 overachievers on the semi-pro level of the sport and recognized them as "Legends of their level". This year will be no exception.

On Saturday, June 3rd the AFA will induct 20 more long time semi-pro greats into their elite brotherhood of Semi-Pro Football Hall of Famers. The 26th Annual Induction Dinner will be held at the Holiday Inn in North Canton just minutes from the historic Pro Football Hall of Fame. Although the Pro Football Hall of Fame is not associated with the AFA Semi-Pro Football Hall of Fame, never the less, whenever the AFA holds its induction dinners in Canton most of the 200 plus banquet guests find their way to the Pro-Football Hall of Fame for a nostalgic visit down pro footballs memory lane sometime during the busy AFA event weekend.

With 25 years of hosting induction dinners under their belts, the AFA national association has enshrined 270 players; 86 coaches; 66 executives; 20 game officials; 19 pioneers; 17 historian/media people; 8 equipment managers/trainers; 5 individuals representing youth football, 5 from the international level, 3 from women's football and even 1 super-fan.

Although the names of the 'Class of 2006' currently await confirmation from the AFA/HOF selection committee - the nomination process concluded on December 31st with more than 100 candidates being submitted as 'prospects’ for enshrinement consideration.

This year’s inductees will not be announced for another couple weeks pending phone interviews and final approval by the selection committee. However, the AFA will begin taking dinner reservations from previously inducted Semi-Pro Football Hall of Famers and AFA Alumni Club members beginning February 1st.

The Canton-Belden Village Holiday Inn is offering a special discount room rate of $89 per night to AFA Semi-Pro Football Hall of Famers, Alumni and their guests. Call 1-800-HOLIDAY (800-465-4329) to make your room reservations. Be sure to say you're with the American Football Association to qualify for the special rate.

Dinner tickets for the Saturday, June 3rd Semi-Pro Football Hall of Fame Dinner are $50 each and can be purchased by contacting the AFA national office at 941-388-3510 or via e-mail at usafoot@aol.com. Dinner reservations may be paid for via credit card by phone or by downloading a 2006 Hall of Fame Induction Dinner order form from either of the two AFA websites (www.AmericanFootballAssn.com or www.AmericanFootballNews.org). Please order your dinner tickets and room reservations early as the AFA/HOF dinner is always 'sold-out' prior to the function date.

In addition to the annual AFA/HOF Induction Dinner in Canton on the June 2/3/4 weekend, the AFA will host its summer board of directors meeting (June 2) as well as a special regional meeting for the National Association of Semi-Pro Football Alumni Clubs of America. To register your semi-pro football alumni club with the National Alumni Club group call the AFA national office 941-388-3510 or e-mail your request to AFAAlumni@aol.com.

Contact: Dave Burch, Director of Communications, American Football Association, 877-624-4485 or e-mail amerfoot@aol.com