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During the first part of 1974, the North Carolina Professional Football League made up of the Stanly County Patriots, Catawba Valley Chiefs, Burlington Bears, Greensboro Redskins, Granite Falls Raiders and Caldwell County Bulldogs was formed.

The Patriots hired head coach Don Davis and the team began to recruit in a 150-mile radius of Albemarle.

The team played 12 games in 1974 and finished with 10 wins and 2 losses. In 1975 the team worked hard to maintain its stability.

Many different events were held to raise money. They made changes to the roster to get better players on the team.

The team also became a part of a new league when the North Carolina Professional Football League merged with the Dixie League to form the Carolina’s Professional Football League.

The new league was made up of the Asheville Bears, Burlington Bears, Caldwell County Bulldogs, Stanly Patriots, Augusta Eagles, Lexington Lions and the Greenville Bulls.

The Patriots had 5 wins and 4 losses, and then had to cancel their final game.

The league had been struggling and was dissolved.

{Lewis Bramlett – Stanly County Historical Society}