In 2005, Jose Oreamuno and Cecil VanSickle took out a weekend loan for $10,000.
It was from that initial loan that the first seeds were planted for the construction of Squamish鈥檚 turf field. The two representatives from the 麻豆社国产Soccer Association took a risk a decade ago when they were amongst the group that took over 麻豆社国产Soccerfest, but 10 years later, the risks have paid off.
Soccerfest returns to 麻豆社国产this Saturday (April 18) for its 34th year, but Oreamuno and VanSickle still remember the tournament鈥檚 early days.
鈥淲e鈥檝e been involved with either reffing or playing since it started,鈥� recalled VanSickle.
鈥淭he first tournament had pretty low numbers, I think it was around 15 teams,鈥� added Oreamuno. 鈥淲e played seven aside and that鈥檚 how it started. It鈥檚 always been at Brennan Park, but we didn鈥檛 have as many fields as we do today.鈥�
Oreamuno said Soccerfest has always been one of the biggest events on the calendar in Squamish.
鈥淚鈥檝e been in the community for 30 years and it鈥檚 always been a big celebration and a big festival,鈥� he said. 鈥淚t brings a lot to the community. Restaurants and hotels are filled up and the atmosphere is amazing.鈥�
The SSA took over the organization of the tournament in 2005 and when they took on that big loan, the pair knew they were all in.
鈥淚t was a big challenge for us because you need money to run it 鈥� it鈥檚 a business,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 remember me and Cecil went to the credit union for a weekend loan and needed the $10,000.鈥�
鈥淲e had to buy beer, food, trophies and so much more,鈥� said VanSickle. 鈥淲e had nothing.鈥�
鈥淚t was a bit of a gamble because we were putting our credit at risk, but we were confident in the popularity of Soccerfest,鈥� Oreamuno said. 鈥淲e had 70 teams in the first year and I think people were really happy to see us running it. We proved to the community we could run it and all the money we made went back into the community.鈥�
鈥淚t鈥檚 always gone back into the community 鈥� hence the down payment for the turf field,鈥� said VanSickle.
Amongst the many moments at Soccerfest, the pair said the success of local teams is always memorable. The Howe Sound Pussy Cat Dolls winning the women鈥檚 open in 2008, B&B Excavating winning the men鈥檚 open in 2012 and Quest University winning the women鈥檚 open in 2013 are all highlights.
Teams dressing up in costumes and invading the beer gardens is also a regular highlight, and Oreamuno and VanSickle cited the Vancouver-based Meralomas FC as the best dressed.
Soccerfest also thanks the officials with the Bobby Mahnger award for outstanding officiating. Mahnger died in 2010, but was a key member of the SSA for many years. The SSA also created a scholarship in his name that hands out $500 to graduating high school students every year.
Soccerfest was cancelled last year for the first time in its history due to Easter weekend falling at the same time as the event, but the SSA wants it to come back stronger. Team participation is down from the regular 72 to 51, but the organizers said slightly lower numbers won鈥檛 hurt the event.
鈥淚t will still be run in a professional manner and be a lot of fun,鈥� said VanSickle. 鈥淲e鈥檙e going to have to build it up again but the numbers will get back up.鈥�
Looking ahead, the SSA鈥檚 next big project is to complete the kicking wall at the new turf field.
鈥淲e want turf around both sides and it鈥檒l help people from tracking pebbles and dirt onto the field,鈥� Oreamuno said.
Also on the horizon is the proposed covered facility, which Oreamuno and VanSickle said would be a huge benefit to Soccerfest and local soccer as a whole.
But they said Soccerfest could never happen without the work of local volunteers.
鈥淓vents of this magnitude cannot be run without volunteers,鈥� Oreamuno said, noting as many as 70 help out. 鈥淲ithout them we couldn鈥檛 run it.鈥�
It all goes down all day on Saturday and Sunday at the Brennan Park fields. For more information, visit www.squamishsoccerassociation.com.
