Dear Editor,

This is a shout out to the most resilient.

Some 150 plus corridor six, seven and eight year olds descended on Pemberton with their parents, siblings, dogs, boots and umbrellas last Sunday (Oct. 14) despite the torrential October rain to participate in our annual Soccer Jamboree.

We didn't really have a Plan B, so when people started showing up and asking "is it still on?" We replied, "well we don't have a contingency plan and it's only water.”

The fields were set, a tent city was erected quickly and we got down to it. Yes we were all saturated immediately (I think the kids fared better than their parents), but some 25 teams committed to playing.

The smiles on the kids faces, many who looked like really cute drowned rats using their hot dogs as hand warmers, was sunshine enough for the rest of us.

For many, this was their first formal soccer experience, multiple games, official referees, medals and playing away from their home field.

Now the thank yous: to the kids, coaches and parents for braving the elements; to Murphy Construction, our lead sponsor, which allowed us to provide lunch to all participants, coaches and referees, as well as cover additional expenses.

For three years now, Alex and Neal from the Pony have partnered with us to provide something hot for the kids & parents (hot dogs/coffee/hot chocolate).

As has AG Foods, Jamie supplied us with everything else needed for the snack packs and accommodated our eleventh hour requests. Soccer enthusiasts, please support and say thanks to those that helped us make this happen.

We would also like to recognize all the volunteers who worked hard before, during and afterwards.

If you had a hand in any of this, our heartfelt thanks, hopefully you have finally dried and warmed up. It takes all sorts to; organize and invite teams, schedule games, refs and volunteers, prepare the fields, register the teams, officiate games, setup, run and teardown the concession, tear down the fields, clean up the garbage, put the equipment away, count the money, pay the bills and debrief so we continue to do what we do well and get better and what we don't.

I'd say no contingency plan or weather dependent is an issue, this thing went off and the kids had a great time, that's what community soccer is about isn't it?

Have a great winter and we'll see you on the pitch in the spring.

James Linklater

Pemberton Youth Soccer Association