Gone for 17 years, football returns to Penticton this weekend

For a bunch of South Okanagan kids, their parents, their coaches and indeed Penticton itself, this Sunday, the 25th of August, is rather momentous.

It'll be the first time in 17 years that football has been played in this city.

At noon that day on the natural grass field of McNicoll Park, the Penticton Mavericks, a new U12 (under-12, meaning ten- and 11-year-old kids) minor football team officially formed in February, will literally and figuratively kick off a new era in local sport when they take on the Vernon Magnums in a pre-season contest.

It may be one of the most anticipated pre-season games in recent memory. In a region awash with team sports like hockey and soccer, how will this visitor from the past fare?

PentictonNow got a glimpse last Friday evening when we attended a Mavericks' practice session. And we came away impressed.

In just six months, team organizers have created a not-for-profit group, formed a board, become an entity, enlisted coaches and support staff, and through sponsorship and their own pockets acquired a full complement of gear and brand new uniforms.

And most importantly, they've found 23 eager kids, none of whom have ever played the sport, and apparently taught them much of what they need to know to have fun and be at least somewhat competitive in the 2024 season.

At the centre of all the action is Mavericks conceiver and now head coach Cord Crowthers. And Friday he was just as excited about the new squad and Sunday's unveiling as any kid on the field.

"Coaching kids, getting then off the street, is always fun," smiled Crowthers, a guy who's been coaching the sport -- first in his home province of Saskatchewan and more recently in Kelowna -- for as long as there's been no football in Penticton.

"There's not one kid on this team who's played football before, and I can’t believe how much they've learned," he said. "Now they're running 20 plays on offense and 20 on defense.

"We'll put a real team on the field this year. We might not win the championship, but we'll win some games."

Watching from the sidelines Friday was a large group of player parents, including Penticton's Jenn Burlingame, wife of Mavericks' assistant coach Glenn Burlingame and mom of ten-year-old player Bruin.

She's a big believer in the upsides of the sport.

"Football is amazing because it brings kids together in a way other sports don’t," she said. "They have to work together, they have to plan and organize.

"Other sports I find they can be more independent and even selfish at this age, whereas football they have to play together."

According to Burlingame, the players have become thoroughly involved even at this early stage.

"Their confidence and self-esteem is amazing," she said. "They're having so much fun and there are so many smiles. They're all like, 'Coach, what can we do next?'"

Also watching intently from the sidelines was Matt Sigston, proud parent of running back (at least on this night) Levi.

"This is cool because we're a football family," he said. "We love CFL and NFL. So this is a neat experience for the kids to have the opportunity. Plus, we have a great crew of coaches so far and they're learning lots quickly."

Sigston recognizes hockey's local dominance but believes there's room for alternatives.

"Levi plays baseball and hockey too," he said, "and Penticton's a hockey town. But more and more kids are starting to pay attention to football with all the talk going on about the team."

The pre-season affair versus Vernon begins at noon, Sunday, Aug. 25th. There'll be a barbecue too, a 50/50 fundraiser and more.

Crowther thinks it'll be a blast and hopes a whole bunch of Pentictonites show up to check it out. He's also hoping for another player or two and some additional sponsorship.

For more info on the Penticton Mavericks, which will compete in the BC Provincial Football Association’s Southern Interior Football Conference along with rivals from Kelowna, Kamloops, Salmon Arm and Vernon, turn here.