Love flowed at Brooks Turf field on Boxing Day with three generations of Steeles and a crowd of over 200 cheering both sides to a 3-0 result for Powell River Villa over Senior Men’s All-Stars.
The crowd, whose gate receipt funds were donated to cancer research, gathered under brisk conditions to honour the man credited with nurturing soccer in Powell River.
Steve Steele was both a player and official but might be remembered more for his stubborn insistence on maintaining integrity of the game through his administration.
“He was a big influence on the game of soccer here in Powell River,” said the game’s referee Bob Bogoslowski. “He wanted soccer to carry on in Powell River, and he was a hard working gentleman to help make that happen.”
Bogoslowski was joined by linesmen Val Greco and Jeff Burnham, and the two teams at centre field for a moment of silence to honour the memory of Steele.
Rain fell steadily to start the game and the Senior Men jumped out to a quick start with a clear shot from 18 yards by Julien Welp on Villa keeper Matt Liknes who made the save.
Play evened out for the next 10 minutes but at 15 minutes Villa’s Brandon Knox got his head on a ball and eluded the out-stretched hands of the Senior Men’s diving keeper.
Villa added to the 1-0 lead with another goal by Knox. This time the ball came off his foot when he stabbed at a pass from Kye Taylor.
His shot didn’t have a lot on it but just cleared the keeper to give Villa a 2-0 lead at 32 minutes.
During the short break at halftime Senior Men’s defender Dave McMaster, who was playing alongside son Daniel, spoke about his friend and former coach.
“The biggest thing about Steve was his passion for the game,” he said. “I’ve been in this league for about 26 years and I share that same passion so I know what he was all about. He coached me a few times and he was a big part of my life.”
Looking at the crowd, McMaster added, “You can see a lot of people in this town share the same passion. It’s Boxing Day and they are taking the time to come out and enjoy a game that so many people love.”
He rejoined his teammates for the second half and in the true spirit of competition the two teams went hard at each other.
Substitutions came and went throughout the half and with about 15 minutes to play one of Villa’s young players scored to make it 3-0.
Brody Harry took a nice cross from Knox and, with a touch from deep in the box that would have put a smile on Steele’s face, angled the ball into the net for the final goal of the game.
After Bogoslowski’s whistle signalled the game’s end Steele’s old friends Bill Cornwall and Iain Livingstone presented Villa’s Knox and Senior Men’s Charles Timothy with the team most-valuable-player awards.
Villa’s captain Kye Taylor accepted the Steve Steele Trophy on behalf of the team.
“It was a good game today,” said Timothy with his award in hand. “It’s my first year playing against these guys and it was fun. I was trying to pump everybody up; it’s part of my game too to keep everybody all riled up.” He enjoyed the afternoon so much he said, “Hopefully, I’ll make it back next year again.”
The more the merrier and for an event built around reunions next year’s should be bigger and better with the return to Timberlane Park.
