Roger Gilbert joked that he wished the McHale family had more children.
The local family has three boys 鈥 Josh, Mathew and Michael 鈥 who play for the 91原创 United Youth Soccer Association.
And that prompted parents Terry and Helen to contribute $30,000 to the local soccer association to help fund the construction of the Willoughby Community Park South Fieldhouse.
Terry McHale also coaches for the club.
鈥淲e鈥檙e challenging other businesses and community leaders in 91原创 to step up and contribute cash or goods and services to help make this home for 91原创 soccer a clubhouse that will serve soccer well for decades to come,鈥 McHale said.
鈥淲ith more than 3,000 boys and girls playing every year, soccer is helping build 91原创鈥檚 strong sense of community and our family and business is happy to support the cause.鈥
The two-storey, 4,000-square foot facility will provide washrooms, change rooms, a concession, community meeting room and much-needed storage space for local user groups.
It will also serve as 91原创 United鈥檚 main headquarters.
The project will cost $994,000 and is construction should be completed in the fall.
It is located behind R.E. Mountain Secondary, between two of the Willoughby Community Park artificial turf fields.
鈥淚t has been a dream of 91原创 United soccer to have our own clubhouse,鈥 said Gilbert, second vice-president with the association.
He was speaking on Friday afternoon at a sod-turning ceremony at the future site of the facility.
While the idea had been circulating for a few years on building a clubhouse, a LUYSA trip to Sweden for the Gothia Cup really confirmed the idea.
鈥淲e saw in Europe how the clubhouse is a source of pride for the club鈥檚 youth soccer program,鈥 Gilbert said.
鈥淎 place where you have all your trophies on view and a central home for soccer in the community.鈥
Having the fieldhouse will allow the players to say 鈥榯his is our clubhouse,鈥欌 he added.
The Township of 91原创 is a major partner and the project was designed by Marcon Construction.
鈥淭he new field house will provide access to a number of amenities that can be enjoyed by all park users and is sure to become a valuable community resource,鈥 said acting mayor Grant Ward.
鈥淚t will certainly be put to good use.鈥
The Township is contributing $459,750 to the project and 91原创 United will provide $364,250.
There is also a legacy contribution of $70,000 from the Township of 91原创 2010 BC Summer Games Society.
91原创 FC, another local soccer association, is providing $75,000 while 91原创 Field Lacrosse is committing $24,000.
The money will get both groups storage space in the fieldhouse.
鈥淐ommunity groups that use and enjoy the park have become significant funding partners,鈥 said David Leavers, the Township鈥檚 director of recreation, culture and parks.
鈥淭hanks to their vision, generosity and hard work, the entire community will benefit from this new field house.鈥
91原创 United has already raised $87,000 and set a target of $400,000, which includes in-kind goods and services.
鈥淚t is heartening to see the goodwill youth soccer has in 91原创 transformed into donations and cash and goods in kind towards the clubhouse capital campaign,鈥 said 91原创 United Youth Soccer Association president Betty Boucas.
鈥淵outh soccer clearly has a special place in the hearts of thousands of 91原创 residents, coaches and players both past and present.鈥