Barrhead Raptors Community Football has decided to call it quits after struggling with a lack of coaches for the club’s two teams.
Although it’s a sad time for the club, which offered a peewee squad for players aged 10-12 and a bantam team for ages 13-15, there’s a silver lining for the Barrhead community.
Club president and coach Carrie Hamilton said the organization chose to give all of their leftover fundraising dollars to Barrhead’s new pool.
“We have decided to donate the fundraising dollars that have come from this community back to this community in lieu of the team to the pool project,” said Hamilton. “We feel that the community needs a pool and it’s something that is very much missed, and would benefit many.”
The amount totaled $8,381.38, which was presented to Parks and Recreation Director Sue Keenan last week.
All of the equipment, along with the storage shed, has been donated to the Westlock Thunderbirds. Hamilton said the T-birds are hoping to resurrect a bantam squad next season using the donated equipment from Barrhead.
Hamilton added she is hoping any Barrhead players still interested in playing football will consider playing in Westlock.
“They had such promise and potential and dedication,” said Hamilton. “We are hopeful that the players who were so very vital to the success the team did see will be able to carpool and to drive together to Westlock.”
The Raptors came into existence in 2010, founded by Marty Yarrow. Hamilton said everything went smoothly in the beginning, however coaches began to dwindle quite quickly.
During the team’s final year in 2012, it was only Hamilton and Jonathan Kerr left in the coach’s corner. Despite their best efforts, Hamilton said two coaches just wasn’t enough to keep the football club afloat.
“Each squad needs anywhere from five to eight coaches. Football is not just a one-coach kind of gig,” said Hamilton. “One guy and one gal can’t do it. We tried.”
The teams didn’t hit the field in the 2013/2014 season, sidelining the Raptors in the hopes more coaches would come forward. Unfortunately Hamilton didn’t see the outcome she had hoped for.
Although the organization had the right formula for success, from a great group of fundraisers to the proper equipment, continuing without coaches was not an option.
“I coached for 20 years and pretty much had enough. I didn’t want to run the organization and coach,” she said. “We had the field equipment, the player equipment, the coaching equipment, we just did not have the adult volunteers. We had all the tools to be very successful, but you can’t do it without coaches.”
This may be the end of the road for the Raptors, but Hamilton is still thankful for the help she did receive over the club’s three years.
“Thank you so much to the community for everything they donated, and the rally behind us, and to all the players and their hard work and dedication,” said Hamilton. “It is with heavy hearts that we have to hang up the cleats.”
