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58 Sports Oakville Beaver SPORTS EDITOR: JON KUIPERIJ Phone 905-845-3824 (ext. 255) Fax 905-337-5567 email sports@oakvillebeaver.com · FRIDAY, DECEMBER 26, 2008 Getting their kicks -- inside Town, soccer club unveil completed indoor facility By Herb Garbutt OAKVILLE BEAVER STAFF Neil Brown was barely in the front door of Oakville's new indoor soccer facility and he was already working his Blackberry. Asked what he was doing, the coach of the boys under-18 team responded, "Arranging my first game." Brown could be forgiven for being anxious to put the 100,000 square-foot Pine Glen Soccer Centre, located on Third Line just south of Dundas St., to use. As the former president of the Oakville Soccer Club, he had worked toward the club having its own indoor facility. Now, here he was standing, looking across a vast expanse of green artificial turf. "I've got goosebumps," he said. Though the club's desire for such a facility dates back more than 15 years, it all came about very quickly, spurred on when the indoor facility the club was renting was sold, leaving it without a home for this winter's indoor programs that serve approximately 2,000 players. The club and the town of Oakville got together in March to devise a plan that would see the town front $9.5-million for the $10.9-million project, with the club paying it back over the next 20 years. The town will own the land and the facility while the club will operate it. Construction began May 23 and seven months LIESA KORTMANN / OAKVILLE BEAVER BREAKING IN THE BEAUTIFUL GAME: While ceremonies were going on to hand over the keys to the Pine Glen Soccer Centre, three young soccer players (from left) Matthew and Maya Potter and Adam Rombough took advantage of the open field to break in the new facility with an impromptu soccer game. The 10,000 square foot facility will be the home to the Oakville Soccer Club and its indoor programs. Touch football and rugby groups have already approached the club about using the facility. later, it's ready -- and completed on budget. "It's a great day," said Oakville Soccer Club president Robin Smith. "I think once we get the club offices moved over here (in January), we'll really feel like the club now has a new home." Oakville mayor Rob Burton praised the club, town staff and the contractor, EllisDon, for quickly delivering a facility that filled a need and added to the town's recreational facilities. some other kids as EllisDon turned "It was a fabulous partnership," he over a large three-foot long key to said. "(The soccer club's) board was Burton and the club Tuesday mornpivotal and made it happen. They ing. needed the vision and commitment "It's incredible," Carpino said. "I to make it happen." was just counting up the nets. There's With 10,000 members, the club is a full-sized field, a half-size field and the largest soccer club in North four quarter-sized fields. I never knew America. Now with its own indoor it was going to be this big." facility to offer instruc"It's pretty amazing," tion year-round, "we can "It's a great day. said his brother Mark. take (the club) to the "And the good thing is, it I think once we next level in terms of the doesn't rain." programs we offer," get the club offices Eight-year-old Adam moved over here, Smith said. Rombough was also Brown knows of only we'll really feel like impressed. one other similar facility the club now has a "It looks like a profesin Ontario, in Vaughan. new home." sional field," he said. He said the facility will So too was his dad, not only benefit the Oakville Soccer Club Todd, who lives within club, but the entire president Robin Smith walking distance and town. stopped by to check out "For community-based, year- the facility. He liked the fact that round programs, the youth in the design was simple, without sacrificcommunity can stay active, stay fit ing quality. and they can do it in a comfortable "Ten steps from the front door and environment." the field is right there. You can watch Though the soccer club will be the the kids and be right next to the primary user of the new facility, it will field," he said. "It's amazing to know be open to other recreational groups the city was willing to step up to the as well. Smith said the club has plate and do something like this. It's already been approached by a touch got the versatility to cater to whatevfootball league and a rugby associa- er the demand is. It's something to be tion. proud of." Among the first to test the field The Oakville Soccer Club will hold was 11-year-old Matthew Carpino, an official opening and public open who started an impromptu game with house in February. LIESA KORTMANN / OAKVILLE BEAVER KEY FIGURES: Bob Smith (left) of EllisDon Construction presents Oakville Mayor Rob Burton and Oakville Soccer Club president Robin Smith, President of Oak Soccer Club with the key to the Pine Glen Soccer Centre. The new facility will house the club's indoor soccer programs, which have approximately 2,000 players registered.