Thursday 2 February 2012

20 Years of Fun, Friendship and Fitness

There is nothing so cohesive as a group of women with a common goal.  And for the ladies of the North Shore Thirty Something Women's Soccer League, that goal is fun, friendship and fitness.  I attended a banquet last weekend, celebrating this league's 20th Anniversary.  It was a thing to behold.  The founder, Linda Sullivan, was there and how proud she must be.  In 1992, seeing a need for an over 30 soccer league, she started one here on the North Shore.  It was the first of its kind in the Lower Mainland.  They pulled together enough people to start with 6 teams that year; many of whom still play today. Three years ago, as this group has all aged together, a new branch of the league opened up; the Over 45 Division.  This is a completely optional division; you don't have to move there just because you turn 45. So this year, as the league celebrates it's 20th season, there are now 14 teams in the Over 30's and 4 teams in the Over 45's.  It is so fantastic to be out there enjoying the great game of soccer with all of these women.

I have had the pleasure of playing in this league for the past 18 years and hope I am doing it 18 years from now.  This is not an unreasonable goal as there are women that old and older still playing.  It is also so great to see that there are now mothers and daughters playing soccer together on the same team; how cool is that!?

Soccer is a fun sport, a great form of fitness and the friendships I have formed with so many women over the last 18 years are irreplaceable.  Thank you Linda!