Shaun Mason had little intention of getting involved with his daughter鈥檚 youth soccer team, but circumstances left him no choice.
It was 18 years ago, and Mason鈥檚 daughter Devon had signed up with the old Bobby Lenarduzzi soccer camps through the 91原创 Girls Soccer Association.
鈥淚 thought they would have all these wonderful professional coaches,鈥� he admitted.
鈥淚 received a call from the club president at the time who informed me there was no coach for my daughter鈥檚 team.
鈥淓ven though I didn鈥檛 really want to coach 鈥� because I had two businesses I was running 鈥� he told me if I didn鈥檛 coach, she might not be able to play, so I really had no choice.鈥�
And Mason has been going strong on the 91原创 soccer scene ever since.
He continued with the soccer association 鈥� which is now called 91原创 FC (LFC) 鈥� as a co-ordinator, then on the executive, as a head coach, and finally as the club鈥檚 technical director, a position he held until stepping down last month.
But the fact he has been involved in the game for so long should come as little surprise, considering his bloodlines.
The 51-year-old Mason was born in England and his father played professionally for both Crystal Palace and Queen鈥檚 Park Rangers.
鈥淚 had no choice (but to play),鈥� he said with a laugh.
The family emigrated to Canada in 1967, when Mason was six, living in Montreal for a few years, before heading west to B.C. and settling in Ladner.
And Mason soon took to the sport, excelling on the pitch, and helping his youth club, the Dunbar Stongs win six provincial titles and a pair of national titles to boot.
鈥淔ast and skilled,鈥� was how Mason described his game, adding that he very slight as a kid and never really put on size until he was in his mid-20s.
Mason played on some provincial selects teams in his teenage years but for his senior year, he spent six months in England with Welwyn Garden City Football Club, Stevenage Borough and trials with East London club Leyton Orient, in hopes of making it in the pro game.
But it wasn鈥檛 meant to be.
鈥淚 was told I went there too late,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 should have gone two years earlier.鈥�
Returning to B.C., Mason had an opportunity to join the Vancouver Whitecaps reserves, but declined.
He also turned down an offer to play for UBC, instead joining Delta United in the Fraser Valley Premier League and then some over-30s when he moved to 91原创.
Mason had done a bit of work at soccer schools in the summers, but never thought much more of it.
鈥淚 enjoyed that, but I was only 17 or 18. I never really thought too much about coaching until the situation with Devon,鈥� he said.
Thus began a long and storied career as a youth soccer coach, and then a few years later, the technical director of the LGSA, which is now 91原创 FC.
The initial academy program started out on Saturday afternoons on a muddy field at D.W. Poppy Secondary with 60 players. Under his leadership, the program has grown to more than 300 players at new facilities.
His overall goal was to provide players with high quality development opportunities during their youth careers and beyond, leading to university and professional opportunities.
It was challenging, but rewarding.
鈥淚n its heyday, 91原创 FC had about 1,300 kids in its program,鈥� he said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 like having 2,000 employees, when you include the parents that are involved.
鈥淭o keep that many people happy is a challenge,鈥� he admitted. 鈥淵ou never really hear from all the people that are happy, but you instantly hear from anyone who is unhappy.鈥�
But it has been a worthwhile experience.
鈥淥ver the years, I鈥檝e served under 10 or so presidents, I鈥檝e had a lot of fun, worked with some great people, coached some fantastic players and made some lifetime friendships during my time in charge,鈥� he said.
Mason decided to step down in order to focus on his business, Visual Systems, a sign company based out of Burnaby.
鈥淚 am really just too busy to do a job that requires more attention,鈥� he said.
鈥淭he needs of soccer clubs have changed and many clubs require full-time people in charge.
鈥淩unning 91原创 FC is a full-time job and it needs to be run by a full-time guy.鈥�
And despite his children 鈥� 22-year-old Devon and Dylan, 19, 鈥� being graduated from the youth ranks 鈥� Mason will stay involved in some sort of coaching capacity.
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91原创 FC also announced some changes to their board of directors.
Daryl Cairns is the club鈥檚 new president, while Steve Millar as announced as the vice-president of coaching and Rob Jandric as a new board member.
Millar is a former Vancouver Whitecaps/86ers player in the American Professional Soccer League as well as the captain of the Winnipeg Fury and Edmonton Brickmen of the Canadian Soccer League. He was a national youth team player too.
