By NEAL WAGNER / Managing Editor

ALABASTER – Fans of the Pelham Panthers, Thompson Warriors, Helena Huskies and Hope Christian Eagles can now follow their football teams live on Friday nights thanks to a new local nonprofit radio station.

APH Radio, which is based in Alabaster and has been on the air for about a month, recently began airing the teams’ games live each Friday night, and will continue to do so throughout the football season.

One game each week will be aired live on 99.9 FM, and the other three will air live on the APH Radio mobile app, which is available for free on the Google Play and iTunes app stores.

“We are proud to be the only Shelby County radio station to play local live football,” said station manager Gene Rowley, noting APH broadcasters will follow the four teams whether they are playing home or away. “We have experienced broadcasters. You’ll swear you are listening to ESPN Radio.”

After the games air live, the station will archive the broadcasts for a week on the APH app’s “on demand” section. In addition to football, the station also will broadcast the four schools’ baseball, basketball and softball seasons.

Since the nonprofit radio station went on the air in July, it has seen a large number of donors and organizations looking to help those in need, Rowley said.

Through the station’s business model, it does not sell advertising. Rather, APH accepts donations from individuals, organizations and companies in exchange for mentions on the station’s programming.

The station then distributes the donations to local nonprofits and charities on an as-needed basis.

“We are picking up new sponsors literally every day,” Rowley said. “And new organizations who do good things in the community are coming to use all the time requesting funding. That’s why APH Radio exists.”

To learn more about the radio station, or to get more information about donating or listening to the station, visit Aphradio.org.