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Since 1988, hundreds of Wallaceburg and area soccer
players have limped into work Wednesday mornings. That's because they were
out late the night before doing battle in the Wallaceburg Recreational Soccer
League.
The Rec-League has been the perfect place for
new and experienced players. Young players get their
first taste of senior soccer and older players prove they "still got it". Even those
playing competitive soccer use the league to maintain conditioning and hone their skills.
There have been
father-son combinations and even a 3-generation package for a couple
of seasons. Some years brothers play side by side; other years they are head
to head. Last year's enemies become this year's allies.
It all starts with a draft. Each year, six captains and several on-lookers
scan through the list of registered players trying to devise the perfect team.
When the season is done, one team is crowned league champs. Rarely does that
team go on to win the playoffs because there's usually a team looking for revenge in the finals.
The championship
game is always tight. And, in a game no less intense, the bottom two teams
square off to avoid the dubious honour of receiving the Losers' Cup.
Click here for a summary of past champs and chumps.
A few mainstays have participated in the league since its inception. Guys like Mario Murru, Ric Vancoillie, Dan Vancoillie,
and Joe Perry have yet to miss a season. Other notables
include Chris Baertsoen who helped get the league started and still plays and officiates (not at the same time though).
The league starts in May and usually dips into the first couple of weeks of September.
If you're in the area, come on out to Steinhoff Park. All are invited.
Just remember to bring some bug repellent. Mosquitoes are soccer fans too.
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