Powell River Villa Soccer Club is being inducted into the Soccer Hall of Fame of British Columbia on November 2 in Burnaby.
Team manager Chris McDonough said it is a tremendous distinction for the club.
“We have been operating now for more than 50 years and to be recognized and put in the BC soccer hall of fame is a big honour,” said McDonough. “We’re super excited. It came out of left field, a bit. We weren’t expecting this. It’s a great honour for soccer in the community.”
McDonough said the soccer club has had a lot of success over the years, especially in the 1990s, when the club was winning Jackson Cups and league titles.
“For 50 years, being the remote community that we are, we have never missed a game, never forfeited a game,” said McDonough. “We have completed every season in 50 years, which is a big accomplishment.”
McDonough said the team has thrived, even during the years when it has been relegated to the lower Vancouver Island leagues. He said Villa has always fielded a team, so it has been a continuous effort by all the volunteers and people in the organization and players to keep this club going.
“We’re now back in the first division so we’re on a bit of a resurgence the last four or five years,” said McDonough. “It’s really a proud moment for everyone in soccer in town.”
McDonough said a good sign for soccer locally is that the numbers are up in town for youth soccer.
“It seems that there are more kids getting into the game,” said McDonough. “Maybe that’s a global thing. It’s showing for the Villa team. Every year we are getting players out of youth soccer who are contributing to the club.
“We’re in a good spot right now. It’s a great moment.”
McDonough said he wanted to mention the fans who have supported Villa over its 50-plus-year run.
“Without the fans, we would not be able to do this,” said McDonough. “We’ve also benefitted from all the local businesses that have sponsored us. It keeps us going and we really appreciate their involvement.”
According to correspondence from BC Soccer president Carlos Grosso, it is with great pleasure that he officially announced the induction of Powell River Villa SC into the Soccer Hall of Fame of British Columbia as part of the class of 2024, under the organizations of distinction category.
“Given the organization's achievements and contributions to soccer in BC, the hall of fame selection group has honoured you all with a place among the greats of our sport in BC,” stated Grosso in correspondence to Villa. "The Soccer Hall of Fame of British Columbia recognizes and celebrates the achievements of BC’s most outstanding soccer players, coaches, referees, builders and teams, and organizations of distinction.
‘The hall was instituted in November 2019, with the inaugural class of 96 members being those British Columbians who were members of Canada Soccer’s National Hall of Fame. With BC’s own inductions since, the hall now has 157 members.”
Grosso said BC Soccer thanks Villa for devoting themselves to soccer and playing such an important role in making the sport in the province even better.
“We hope that this induction will serve as inspiration for the current and new generations of soccer lovers,” stated Grosso. “Our sincere congratulations on this selection.”
Villa hosts Comox Valley at Timberlane Park on Saturday, October 26. Kickoff is at 1:30 pm.
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