Cheltenham High School will use metal detector wands (among other security measures) for all attendees of Thursday’s home Varsity football game at 7:00pm against Chester High School.

According to Wednesday’s message from superintendent Dr. Scriven and Cheltenham High School principal Jimmy D’Andrea, those attending the game will only be allowed to carry small, clear bags into the stadium, and all bags will be searched.

Dr. Scriven and D’Andrea added that “absolutely no backpacks or large bags will be allowed.” High school students will have to show valid student IDs to enter the game, while students younger than 18 who don’t have IDs will have to be with an adult who is 21 or older.

There will also be additional district staff and police in the stadium and parking lot, and temporary lighting added near the concession stand, on the home side, and in select parking lot areas, the school leaders said.

The security measures follow the suspension of Friday night’s game between Cheltenham and Abington after a parent in the stadium noticed that a student had a gun.

Throwback Fact: In the late 1960s, night games at Abington High were discontinued for some time after a rock throwing ‘melee’ with Chester that took place on Friday, October 23, 1967. According to records, Abington and Chester never played each other again after the incident. Abington won the game 33-6.

From The Inquirer’s coverage at the time:

To watch tonight’s game via livestream, you can click here or here. For a recording of Monday’s town hall meeting, click here.

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