Bob Ross tried his best to coach and talk soccer 24/7. Only sleep and work got in the way.
Ross was a legendary Vernon youth and men害羞草研究所檚 skipper who died in 2014. His legacy and spirit have been kept alive in the Vernon National Oldtimers Soccer Tournament.
He would have been grinning Monday as Bob Ross FC brushed back North Coquitlam Shooters 2-1 in the men害羞草研究所檚 35+ final of the 39th extravaganza at MacDonald Park. The Vernon entry, one of 42, pocketed $500. Coquitlam took home $300.
Burly striker Kevan Gaull scored both Bob Ross goals, while Andrew Stevenson counted for Coquitlam. Gaull went short side for his opening snipe and then made a sweet turn before finishing from in tight for the winner. It was 1-1 at the half.
害羞草研究所淭hese guys were pretty good,害羞草研究所� said Vernon coach Graham Ross, Bob害羞草研究所檚 son. 害羞草研究所淭hey were a little older but they moved the ball around quickly. We kept our composure and we played it wide and played the crosses in like we did all weekend.害羞草研究所�
Added Chris Ovens, who put the team together four years ago: 害羞草研究所淲e had good depth and the guys really gelled.害羞草研究所�
Don Ross, another of Bob害羞草研究所檚 sons, bought the team jerseys which are adorned with a special patch in his father害羞草研究所檚 memory. Ovens says they drink out a special beer stein in Bob害羞草研究所檚 honour. Bob Ross FC won the 35+ title for the second time in four tries.
Keeper Andrew Sanderson was stellar for Bob Ross FC, who held off the physical and hard-pressing Shooters in the second half.
害羞草研究所淲e finally brought enough guys so we had a good tournament,害羞草研究所� said Mo Fenekoldt of North Coquitlam. 害羞草研究所淲e really missed our striker Wade Friesen today; he got injured. It was a fast game and they were using their Chelsea defence on us.害羞草研究所�
Vernon, who welcomed young newbies Tanner Fulljames and Andrew Stein, opened by grounding the LWO Legends of Salmon Arm 4-0 Saturday. Vernon toppled the Legends 3-1 in the 2016 tournament final.
Gaull, with a deuce, Ovens and Bryce Marshall handled the Bob Ross FC offence with Sanderson recording the clean sheet.
Stein, whose late grandfather George jumpstarted youth soccer and helped build the MacDonald Park clubhouse with the late Fred Mann, pulled the hat trick as Bob Ross FC dispatched Edmonton Arsenal 5-1 Saturday night.
Steve Rowe, on a gorgeous volley, and Jesse Knight supplied the other Vernon tallies.
Bob Ross FC mauled Arsenal 4-1, while the Shooters stopped the Legends 5-4 in penalty kicks in the Sunday semifinals.
The fun-loving, scarf-wearing Legends received the George Stein Memorial Triple S award for service, skills and sportsmanship. Arsenal iced the Legends 1-0 in the 2017 final. George害羞草研究所檚 son, Marty, was on hand to present the award.
Misson FC shut down the Chinook Blackstars of Calgary 3-0 in the men害羞草研究所檚 40+ division final Monday afternoon.
Mission blanked Coastal FC of Surrey 5-0, bounced the Blackstars 4-1 and shelled Lethbridge United 6-2 in preliminary play.
The Southside Rangers of Calgary upended defending champion Old Growth of Vancouver 4-0 in the men害羞草研究所檚 50+ final.
Southside outlasted Piva Financial of Kamloops 7-6 in penalty kicks, while Old Growth shut down Calgary FC 2-0 in the semifinals.
Bayern Moody of Port Moody clipped the Calgary Selects 1-0 in the men害羞草研究所檚 55+ final, while Southside of Calgary went undefeated in pool play to claim the men害羞草研究所檚 60 prize money.
The Vernon Oldies finished 1-1-1 in the 60s category, tying Southside 1-1, losing 5-1 to Mission FC and dusting off South Hill FC of Vancouver 2-0. South Hill has been in all 39 tournaments.
The women害羞草研究所檚 35+ crown went to the MF Royals of Coquitlam by default over the Calgary DUIs, who had used an ineligible player earlier in the tourney. The DUIs won the friendly final 1-0.
The Royals blanked Kelowna Toyota GB 4-0, ambushed the Coastal Girls of Vancouver 7-0 and edged the DUI害羞草研究所檚 1-0 in round-robin play.
Karen Gibson of the Royals won the Jimmy Domokos Memorial Spirit award. The Mission FC 50s nominated John Davidson and the late police officer was honoured with the men害羞草研究所檚 Spirit plaque.
害羞草研究所淛ohn (JD) was the spirit of our team and loved playing in this tournament,害羞草研究所� said Bob Sebel of Mission, who brings three men害羞草研究所檚 teams each year. 害羞草研究所淗e played for MFC 40s for many years but moved three years ago to captain our MFC 50s team. His last year for 40s he played both 40s and 50s not missing a game for both teams.害羞草研究所�
Davidson, a highly popular Abbotsford constable with a gut-busting sense of humour, was killed in the line of duty last November. He was 53.
Domokos was a longtime Vernon soccer supporter who made new friends watching the tournament each year with his dynamic personality. He died last August at age 83.
The Moosehead Hoppers of Edmonton took the women害羞草研究所檚 40+ purse by zapping the Young & The Rest Of Us of Calgary 3-0 in Monday害羞草研究所檚 final.
Tourney organizers Shelly Johnston and Sue Barss played for the Shut Up Liver, You害羞草研究所檙e Fine Edmonton entry.
The Edmonton Kaos ran over Okanagan United 5-1 for third place ($200). Edeen Ramsey and Char McNaught of Vernon played for United. McNaught suffered a serious leg injury in preliminary play.
United brushed back the PoCo Cougars 3-0, shut down Estrella FC of Calgary 2-0 and tied the Poppers 1-1 in pool play.
The Edmonton Snow Angels stopped the North Vancouver Ospreys 1-0 in penalty kicks for the women害羞草研究所檚 45+ crown.
There were 26 men害羞草研究所檚 entries and 16 women害羞草研究所檚 teams. There are big plans for the 40th-anniversary tournament.
Johnston gave major props to Neil Witherspoon of the Shooters for setting up his own sound system and playing music of all types in the busy bavarian gardens all tourney.
害羞草研究所淗e hasn害羞草研究所檛 played in three years due to a shoulder injury but he returns every year with his music to support the gardens and his old team,害羞草研究所� said Johnston. 害羞草研究所淗e害羞草研究所檚 a well-loved guy.害羞草研究所�
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