Members of the Battlefords United Football Club pose for a picture with the recently donated soccer balls. (submitted photo/Kat Huxley)

By Martin Martinson

Lending a hand

Community comes to aid of local soccer teams

Jun 11, 2019 | 9:00 AM

The Battlefords United Soccer Club saw an unfortunate circumstance develop into a tremendous show of community support over the weekend.

Friday night, the organization’s lockbox at their practice field was broken into. As a result, a number of new soccer balls the club had just recently purchased over the last two weeks, were stolen.

“It was a bit discouraging considering the amount of kids that we have in Battlefords United FC, and just in soccer in general,” Head Coach Kat Huxley said. “[Especially with] how much hard work and effort and time they put behind being in sports and representing the club and our community.”

Huxley said she took to social media Saturday to alert those in the community of what had happened, urging others to keep an eye out for the missing balls.

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What she received in return, however, was even better.

Several local businesses and people throughout the community contributed in donating 25 brand new soccer balls to the club within just two-hours of her post.

“It’s absolutely incredible,” Huxley said. “I know there’s not always a lot of positive things said about our community, but I completely disagree with those negative ideas. I think our community’s absolutely great, and this is just one of those things that shows how positive our community truly is. [It shows] the deep roots we have to support each other within our community.”

Huxley said both she and the youth affected are very grateful for the community’s kindness.

“My kids are super, super appreciative,” she said. “Having a ball for a player is super important when it comes to individual skill development of any age group. It’s just a great reminder of how positive our community truly is and the amount of positive people within our community that contribute to each other, to keep kids in sports. We can always pay kindness forward in any type of way.”

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Martin.Martinson@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: MartyMartyPxP1