Two long-serving volunteers to be honoured during soccer tournament weekend

More than 800 Prince Edward County youth ages four through 19 are primed for a weekend of fun competition in soccer tournament action Aug 11-12. On Saturday, the Prince Edward County Soccer Association will also honour two outstanding executive members.

“This year marks PECSA’s 15th year,” says soccer association president Pam McRae. “And if smiles on young faces means it was a successful year, there leaves no doubt all the years have been a roaring success.”

Success, she says, has been attained through countless volunteer hours provided by family members, county residents and sponsors. But she notes it has taken more than just everyday volunteerism to make past seasons and the tournament a success.

“It has taken quiet, unheralded efforts of two county residents to really make PECSA what it has become. This year the executive membership of the association found itself with the stepping back of two of its members, Gary Parks and Scott Wentworth.
“Gary was a founding member and was instrumental in the club getting off the ground. From the beginning  Gary’s smiling face could be seen pacing around the pitches. He was always on the alert for people that needed help and encouragement, or for work that needed completing. He did every job possible from cutting the pitch, to lining the fields to ordering jerseys and was responsible each year for scheduling all the games, just to mention a few. Little known to outsiders,  it was Gary’s personal commitment to individual families that kept him up late at night completing the schedule every May.

Coaching and field development were what defined the efforts put forth by Scott Wentworth.

“Many soccer players in the county have Scott to thank when it comes to their excelling at the sport,” says McRae. “We’ve had numerous young people go on to collegiate level soccer, and most of them would say Scott was the reason.  And all county residents should be proud of the pitches at the Johnson street fields. Coaches and players from teams throughout eastern Ontario have repeatedly made remarks about the high quality of the fields.”

The PECSA will honour the two at an award ceremony Saturday. They will recognize a coach within PECSA who has made a positive impact on the players and will continue the award annually under the name ‘The Scott Wentworth Excellence in Coaching Award.’

The PECSA decided the name of the annual tournament will be changed to ‘The PECSA Annual Gary Parks Soccer Tournament’. Gary, with the encouragement of family, humbly agreed.