Celebrating Soccer: The Game and the Local Club

Dylan, Bella and Morgan show the stamps they are collecting at local businesses as part of the Soccer Day in Millbrook Scavenger Hunt.

Dylan, Bella and Morgan show the stamps they are collecting at local businesses as part of the Soccer Day in Millbrook Scavenger Hunt. Photo: Karen Graham. 

Karen Graham

The weather didn’t dampen the spirit of Maple Leaf Cavan FC Soccer club members, friends and family who congregated on King Street in Millbrook Saturday for an afternoon of fun and celebration for the successful completion of another year.  This year the club decided to have the season wrap-up for the house league and rep players on the same day and bring their game to downtown to show their skills and their enthusiasm for a game which is growing in popularity around the world.

One of the biggest accomplishments to celebrate was the submission of the organization’s final payment for the overhead lights that were installed at their expense as the club’s contribution to the significant renovation to their home fields at Maple Leaf Park in Cavan.  Club President Tammy Aucoin tendered a cheque in the amount of $47,333.33, the club’s third and final installment towards park improvement.  Upon receiving the payment, Mayor Scott McFadden congratulated the team for their success in reaching their fundraising goal well ahead of schedule, and for the professional and well-attended sports program they provide to our community.

In a split decision in October 2012, Council agreed to proceed with a major overhaul of the park which was completed last fall, with Cavan FC agreeing to foot the bill for the overhead light installation.  In this remarkable act of collaboration, Council effectively provided interim financing for this expense, believing the organization would honour this substantial financial commitment.  For the past three years, club organizers have operated fundraising events under the banner “Flip the Switch to Light the Pitch”, raising over $142,000 to foot this bill.  Funds were generated through a temporary premium applied to Rep team players and a variety of fundraising activities, including Snow Soccer, Beach Soccer, Canada Day celebrations and Saturday’s events.  Club executives are pleased to point out that the funds were not raised on the backs of local house league teams, whose fees have not been raised over the three year period…

It was a proud moment for the Maple Leaf Cavan FC Executive when hey handed over their final installment for the lights at Maple Leaf Park. Photo: Karen Graham

It was a proud moment for the Maple Leaf Cavan FC Executive when hey handed over their final installment for the lights at Maple Leaf Park. Photo: Karen Graham

Maple Leaf Cavan Rep team player Ali takes a shot on Saturday to demonstrate the obstacle course set up by the event organizers. Photo: Karen Graham.

Maple Leaf Cavan Rep team player Ali takes a shot on Saturday to demonstrate the obstacle course set up by the event organizers. Photo: Karen Graham.

Tagged , . Bookmark the permalink.

Leave a Reply