When the North Cariboo Senior Soccer League presented Glen Thompson with a lifetime achievement award recently, he was surprised at the honour.
Even though Thompson has been involved with the development of the sport and league in Prince George as a player, referee and executive for more than 40 years, he was still shocked.
That was never his goal when he first kicked around a soccer ball as part of a youth team, Acme Electric, in 1974.
"I didn't think about that," said Thompson, now 57. "I just did what I needed to do because I love the sport. It wasn't a paid position. I have a lot of friends who played it. I think if you have success in something you're more apt to stay with it. It's the camaraderie of the players. I joined the men's team at a very young age. I was a guy who played with the teachers such as Walter Hanik and Harold Hacker. I had a great run. There's different aspects of every sport."
Thompson, who works in the maintenance department for School District 57, credits Jim Briggs, Bill Jones, Gaetano Mauro and Bill MacIver as those who have had the biggest influence on him.
Last season, due to nagging arthritis in his hips, he was forced to retire from playing competitively, which he started doing when he was 16 with Acme Electric.
After a one-year stint with that team he laced up his cleats for Labatt's United, a first-division side in the North Cariboo Soccer Association where he spent the next 15 to 17 years.
The league eventually amalgamated with the Men's Recreational Soccer league in 1989 and became the North Cariboo Senior Soccer League.
"The NCSA got down to three teams at one point and we needed fields to play on and it's been pretty good ever since," said Thompson. "It's now changed to age groups - open, 30-and-over and 45-and-over.
While still playing with Labatt's United, in 1980, he launched his involvement with the league's executive, first as a team representative and eventually serving as president, treasurer, director and registrar. He currently holds the title of registrar in the league.
Among his achievements, he spearheaded the construction of the current NCSSL complex, which was officially opened on May 29, 1998.
As with any sport, the NCSSL has experienced its ups and downs, ebbs and flows. Thompson said it experienced a decrease in teams six years ago and went from 19 teams down to the current 14 teams.
In the past, league games were always on Sundays, but now, so players can spend more time with family on weekends, games are played Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays and one Sunday per month.
There are now six teams in the open division, four in the 30-plus division and four in the 45-plus division.
The NCSSL season kicks off on May 9-10 with the league's annual icebreaker tournament. League games will begin the week of May 19.
Thompson said anyone can come out and play at the icebreaker tournament. A player draft will be held for all players to help spread the talent around.
Each side in the open division can protect 14 players.
A change to the 45-plus division this season is that teams can each sign three underage players between the ages of 40 to 45.
Also new this season is an over-50 league to play seven aside.
Registration is now open for this season and information for all levels of skill and age groups in the league is on the website at www.ncssl.com.
Players can also call Heather Carter at 250-961-7577 or Bruce Deck at 250-960-9676 for information.
