Powell River Villa and Powell River Men’s Masters—the older guys who are generally skilled and good managers of their fitness—go head to head this week in memory of Steve Steele and to raise funds for cancer research.
The Boxing Day holiday originated in the Middle Ages and was chosen as a day where money and gifts were given to the needy and people in service positions.
In the United Kingdom there was a full program of rugby and soccer matches held and proceeds were distributed to charities.
In 1968 George Richardson started Powell River’s very own Boxing Day game and the United Nations’ International Children’s Emergency Cup of Milk Fund was the benefactor.
Richardson’s game was a match between the men’s league champion and a selects team but when Powell River Villa was formed in 1973 it switched to Villa versus the league all-stars.
Steele was a name synonymous with soccer and he basically organized, played and tirelessly worked on behalf of the sport for decades. For that reason, when he succumbed to cancer the focus of the Boxing Day game was changed to honour his name.
Funds were redirected to the Canadian Cancer Society in the name of Steele but the game also points to a unique quality that illustrates the character of Powell River.
While the name of the charity changed, the intent and nature of the event has remained the same through all these years.
Generations of soccer fans, families with both old and new residents, gather at the pitch to catch up on the year, chat with old friends and even take in a pretty good soccer game.
It is a fitting way to celebrate the holiday and give recognition of Steele’s contribution to soccer because, as his good friend Iain Livingstone has said, “A lot of young people come back at Christmas and the game is almost secondary to the meetings and carryings on, on and off the field.
“You see a different game every year,” said Livingstone. “Since Villa’s dropped down a couple of divisions and we’ve lost the senior men’s league, it’s not been any less competitive but it’s lost a little bit of bite. It’s good for Villa, though, because for them it’s all they’ve got over the holiday. The other teams in their league, especially Victoria teams, they’ve got local teams and even a tournament at one time.”
Steele was a competitive soccer player, a feisty administrator and a dedicated family man who loved the sport and really would have enjoyed last year’s match.
Villa and the Over 35 All-Stars were tied 2-2 at the end of regulation and Villa won 3-2 in penalty kicks with Darren Mousseau and Jake Kenmuir winning MVP awards.
The forecast is looking good for the game which starts at 1:30 pm on Friday, December 26, at Cranberry Field, but then any day is a good day for a chance to meet up with old friends and take in the Steve Steele Memorial game.
