July 03, 2023
Jul 03
0

We lost because we didn't win.

Ronaldo
Cavalry FC - The Beautiful Game

Cavalry FC - The Beautiful Game

Posted by martin.parnell |

Sue and I love our football (soccer). As a boy I would go to Plymouth Argyle, in Devon, England with my Dad. From the age of 15, Sue would go and support her favourite team Bournemouth, in Dorset, on the South Coast. She would sometimes take her little brother along with her. The highlight for me was in 1973 when Dad took me to the Plymouth vs Santos game and I got to see the incredible Pele play. There were 36,000 in the stands and it is a night I will never forget. A highlight for Sue was when Bournemouth were promoted to the English Premier League in 2015. This team had gone from the bottom of League 2 and near bankruptcy in 2009, to playing, 6 years later, in the top football league in the world.

Like any supporter of a sports team, you will always stick with the team you were brought up with however we don’t always live where your teams are. Being in Cochrane Sue and I wanted to get our football fix and have found just the team to support…….Cavalry FC.

On May 5, 2018, Calgary was one of four cities accepted by the Canadian Soccer Association for professional club membership. Cavalry FC was announced on May 17, 2018, as the second team to officially join the Canadian Premier League. The club's name, crest and colours were all revealed at the event at Spruce Meadows, while Tommy Wheeldon Jr. was announced as head coach and general manager. Plans to renovate existing facilities at Spruce Meadows, included a soccer-specific stadium, with a capacity of at least 5,000 seats.

On June 26, 2019, Cavalry FC qualified for the 2019 Canadian Premier League Championship by winning the inaugural CPL Spring Season. The following month the “Cavs” became the first CPL club to defeat a Major League Soccer team in the Canadian Championship by upsetting the Vancouver Whitecaps in 2019, over two-legs.

The last game Sue and I went to was at 3.00pm on Saturday June 24th when we watched Cavalry take on York United. Spruce Meadows is a great venue for these games and on that day it was the annual Pride Match. The first 4,000 attendees received a bandana and there were lots of games for the kids. In an exciting game Cavalry beat York United 2-1.

So, if you’re looking for some “footy” action then head over to Spruce Meadows and catch Cavalry FC.

Go Cavs Go!

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July 31, 2023
Jul 31
0

The measure of intelligence is the ability to change.

Albert Einstein
The Meerkat Archers - A Fable

The Meerkat Archers - A Fable

Posted by martin.parnell |

In early June I went on a 3 day silent retreat to Mount St. Francis Retreat Centre in Cochrane, Alberta. It was an opportunity for reflection and contemplation in a beautiful woodland setting in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains. My objective for the three days was no objective. I took no devices and the only communication tools were a pen and a notebook. 

The first night I went to the extensive library at the Retreat and picked a book at random…..The Art of Dying by Patricia Weenolson. The next morning I walked to the end of the garden and leaned over the fence. There, 40 feet away, was a massive black horse. I have a fear of horses after being thrown off one as a child. This time I decided to stand still and see what happened. After a few moments the horse slowly ambled over and I was able to stroke its nose. 

On the second evening I had an idea for a story and here it is: One morning, two Meerkats Fo Cuzed and Aym Luss decided to head to the archery ranch. Fo Cuzed had been training for weeks and wanted to impress Aym Luss by hitting the bull’s eye. Fo Cuzed took up a bow, pulled the string to its maximum tension and let the arrow fly. The arrow sliced through the air and “thunk”, it hit the red circle, just 2 inches from the golden bull’s eye. Fo Cuzed was gutted. “I worked so hard but didn’t achieve my goal”. Fo Cuzed kicked the ground and threw down the bow. 

Then it was Aym Luss’s turn. Picking up a bow and arrow, Aym Luss put a blind fold on, spun around three times, did a somersault and then let the arrow go. Pulling the blindfold off Aym Luss saw the arrow fly high up in the air and land in a field of wild flowers. Aym Luss was thrilled. Having never tried that move before there were no expectations on the outcome. 

Fo Cuzed and Aym Luss left the range and, arm in arm, started to head home. Aym Luss told Fo Cuzed it was a great shot and should be proud. Fo Cuzed replied that it had been great hanging out and was impressed with the move Aym Luss had attempted. 

This just goes to show that “Sometimes it’s good to be Fo Cuzed and sometimes it’s good to be Aym Luss”.

And sometimes it good just to take a little bit of time for yourself.

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