Pittsburgh Review

As part of Women's History Month, the legacy of the Steelerettes is being celebrated. The Steelerettes were the only cheerleading squad for the Pittsburgh Steelers, active from 1961 to 1969 at Forbes Field and Pitt Stadium.

The Steelers have long enjoyed a strong female fan base in the National Football League. This support includes groups like the Steelerettes, who cheered on the sidelines as the first NFL cheerleading squad.

In 1961, William Day, then vice-president at Robert Morris Junior College, created the Steelerettes when his school lacked a football team. He coordinated game day entertainment for the Steelers and initiated this cheerleading squad. Membership required enrollment at Robert Morris, a two-year junior college, resulting in most members cheering for just one year.

Noreen Modery was among those who spent one season with the squad in 1964. She shared her memories: "I was there in 1964, and you had a few women that were there for two seasons because they came in a little later and were able to be there for the full two seasons," she said. "Eleanor Lineman was one of the first ones in 1961... Diane Battiste-Zinkham... became the director for the next four or five years."

Modery explained that while some women already followed football, others learned about it through their cheering activities. However, all shared enthusiasm for their roles. "It was amazing," Modery recalled. "We just had the best time... I was always a Steeler fan."

She described her experience as transformative: "We were so young then too... we didn't really realize what we were or who we were." Her involvement fostered camaraderie among members who engaged in activities such as dancing and gymnastics.

Modery cherishes her time with fellow Steelerettes through regular gatherings and events. "There's about 12 of us in the Pittsburgh area that are still best friends... We all still follow the team," she said.

Their enduring bond keeps their spirit alive through various activities and conventions where they receive recognition as innovators in NFL cheerleading history.