New Scoreboard In Place by Spring

For the first time in the history of track and field at Hatboro-Horsham High School, the team will have an official scoreboard to record its home results.

The Horsham Zoning Hearing Board on Tuesday night granted approval for the Hatboro-Horsham School District to install a 576-square-foot scoreboard at Hatters Stadium to replace the existing outdated scoreboard, which, according to Athletic Director Lou James, is "not really functioning."

"It’s starting to go," James said. "They can’t really get parts for it."

Because the scoreboard is larger than permitted–scoreboards up to 40 square feet are allowed without zoning relief–and features animation, the zoning hearing board needed to grant permission for its installation as proposed. 

To keep with the "same visual effect you have now," James said the upper portion of the scoreboard, which bears the district logo in the center and advertisements on either side, would not be illuminated. Only the lower portion, which measures the same dimensions as the current scoreboard, would be illuminated, he said.   

James said the district will receive the scoreboard within the next 30 days. Its installation, he said, depends on the weather. But, James insisted that it would be in place for spring sports. 

The biggest win, he said, is for the track and field team.

"Track and field uses our field more than anyone and we never had a scoreboard for them," James said. "It’s something our kids deserve and it’s something the district deserves."

Unlike the current scoreboard, James said the new score-keeping device will be used for "every sport we have at the stadium," including girls and boys lacrosse, as well as football. 

"We can change it over to any sport we’re playing," he said. 

The $60,000 scoreboard is being funded through advertising, as well as a $30,000 four-year sponsorship agreement with the Edward Taylor Coombs Foundation.