Bronze Boot opens Surrey football season for 57th year as founder stays involved

North Surrey Minor Football opened its season with the 57th annual Joe Connelly Bronze Boot tournament at Bear Creek Park in Surrey. The Aug. 22-23 event honoured Connelly, who has been involved with North Surrey Minor Football for more than half a century.

Connelly began coaching in the late 1960s and remains tournament chair, offering advice to players and coaches. Club president Zeenath Rahiman said he watches practices from his scooter and is valued for the knowledge and guidance he shares.

Thirteen teams played in five divisions at this year’s tournament, described as B.C.’s longest-running pre-season football tournament. It precedes the Vancouver Mainland Football League’s tackle-football season. North Surrey has about 110 players on team rosters this fall, in addition to cheer squads, and registration remains open at surreyfootball.com.

Construction at Bear Creek Stadium forced the club to use fields in South Surrey. Rahiman said participation is down slightly, largely because the club has effectively been without a home for several years. Teams are currently using the main field and a nearby soccer field for practices, while the primary practice fields have been under construction since early May. Games have returned to the main fields.