If the weather’s just right, and the Fretz football team’s pads are popping, you might find longtime Bradford area youth sports coach Tony Magnetti back on the sideline — if only for the afternoon.
Now a resident at Bradford Ecumenical Home, Magnetti’s family helps him when possible to make the short trip down the road to watch the Fretz team practice.
One recent afternoon, a Fretz coach and player took a moment out of their practice time to thank Magnetti for coming to watch them train and play. The gesture was so unexpected and touching that Magnetti’s daughter Toni, posted about it on social media.
She said, “We were extremely touched when Coach (Mike) Gow and player Lucas Wallace welcomed us when watching Fretz practice and thanked Dad for coming.”
The positive reaction to Toni’s post reminded Magnetti’s family of the time and effort he invested in this community’s youth and the lasting impact he made.
“Football and sports have always been a part of our lives, and I have my dad’s passion and commitment to thank for that,” she said.
Toni leaned on family and community members to recall all the years Magnetti spent mentoring the area’s youth, including Bradford High Athletic Director Mike Erickson.
Erickson extended an invitation to the Magnettis to the Owls’ homecoming football game against Moniteau tonight at Parkway Field.
“Dad said yes, so we will go unless it rains. He typically is cold, but I will have him bundled up. I’m not sure how long we will be able to stay.
“Mike has offered to help us get him out of the vehicle when we get to the game. I love all the support from Bradford!”
In 1959, Magnetti was a junior playing for the Bradford football team that gave coach Francis “Rock” Denning an undefeated season in his final turn on the sidelines for the Owls.
In the late 1960s and early ’70s, Magnetti coached basketball at St. Bernard’s Catholic School. For most, if not all, of the ’70s, he coached the Bradford Midget Football League Jets, among them his sons, Mark and Mike Magnetti, and some of his nephews. He worked closely with midget league commissioner Joe Sutherland, “we believe as assistant commissioner at one point,” Toni said.
In the late ’70s and early ’80s, he coached all four of his daughters, Christine, Kathy, Toni and Gwen, on the Tony’s Tigers softball team.
Then in the early ’80s he coached his sons once more at the helm for West Branch Senior League baseball. In 1982 he served as BAHS JV football head coach and was named varsity assistant coach the following season.
His family recalled a couple of memories that really stood out to them from Magnetti’s midget league years.
“Two players were fighting at practice and he made them run around the entire practice field holding hands. There were several other teams on the practice fields at the time.”
And, “A player was injured and couldn’t bend his elbow. Dad spent many ‘therapy sessions’ with him until his arm was completely mobile and healed.”
Magnetti’s former players often recall the impact he had on them during their playing days, Toni said.
“I am approached by former players all the time with comments about how much of an impact Dad made on them when he coached them or even those that played on other teams. I always share these with Dad. It really means a lot to him and all of our family.
“It warms my heart to know that he has had such an impact on so many, not just the Magnetti Six!”
Past player Fred Thomas commented on Toni’s Facebook post, stating he now “looks back and realizes that Magnetti cared enough to get involved in his kids’ lives and to give his time to get involved in their activities. That’s love.
“Tony coached the Jets,” Thomas continued. “He had swag and moxie, and he looked like a natural with that whistle. He always left an impression on me after a scrimmage or game on Sunday. God bless Coach.”
