At this time last year, members of the Mount Allison University men's soccer team from Sackville, New Brunswick, Canada were packing for Bermuda, about to embark on an island adventure to celebrate the birth of Mount Allison Soccer some 60 years earlier and to honour its originator, Dr. Clarence Terceira ('49).
The trip was a great success with lots of recruiting, sightseeing, socializing, reuniting, and training taking place over the week.
In fact, it was so successful that the Mounties will be returning to Bermuda from February 20 to February 27, 2010 - only on particular occasion it will be the Mount Allison's women's team arriving with head coach Barry Cooper.
This time around, the University will be honouring two long-time Allisonians - The Hon. Robert V. Barritt ('50) and The Hon. Ralph Marshall ('50). Both men, prominent Bermudians, have maintained a strong association with Mount Allison for more than 50 years. They played huge roles at the University, not only as students but as influential alumni who often return to campus to attend reunions, establish graduating student awards, enhance current student life at Mount Allison, and to support the campus and its various activities - from both Sackville and Bermuda.
The visiting Mount Allison University soccer team will billet with Bermudian families and Mount Allison alumni while they are on the island. They will also be visiting schools, training, and competing in matches with area soccer teams organized through the Bermuda Football Association.
Richard Thompson, one of the Bermuda alumni and a former Soccer Mountie himself, is again excited to be hosting another Mount Allison "Mounties" team saying, "We have had a wonderful long-standing relationship between Bermuda and Sackville. Our students chose the University for its quality and excellence over 50 years ago, and they do so for the same reasons today. For players to be able to experience a top-quality soccer program and to be associated with the University and Bermuda through this great initiative is a bonus."
