By Mark Squibb/December 16, 2021
The Mount Pearl Soccer Association (MPSA) hosted its annual awards ceremony this past month, and honoured a number of players, coaches, and volunteers who do their part to make the beautiful game a better game for all.
Marsha Ransome was named Executive of the Year. Ransome is the MPSA Board of Director’s secretary and serves on a number of MPSA committees, and helps connect parents with board members when the need arises.
Cathy Snelgrove and Dean Banks were named Coaches of the Year. Snelgrove and Banks coached the Boys Under 13 Metro tier 1 Sunsplash Division Champions and the Metro BU13 tier 1 League Champions. Both worked with boys on and off the field to better their game.
Colin Dyer was named both the Youth Player of the Year and Official of the Year. Dyer played with the NLSA Boys Under 15 provincial team, and was picked to participate in the Vancouver Whitecaps FC Academy with NLSA. He played weekly with the Canada Game soccer training pool, and was named captain of the MPSA Premier Youth League BU15 team, amongst other achievements and volunteer work.
Baileigh Andrews was named Youth Female Player. Andrews was co-captain of the MPSA Girls Under 13 Premier Youth League team, and was a member of the NLSA GU13 team. Andrews was also the first female player from MPSA to earn a spot in the Junior Prospects Whitecaps Program. Andrews also plays basketball and hockey.
Russell Noseworthy was named the Senior Male Player of the Year, while Beth Tremblett was named Senior Female Player of the Year.
Noseworthy returned to MPSA after a six-year break from soccer, but quickly found his feet again playing with the MPSA Men’s Masters Team, who greatly appreciate his scoring prowess. Tremblett, meanwhile, has been playing with the MPSA for the past three years. She played on the recently formed Ladies Intermediate squad. Off the field, Tremblett helped recruit a number of members.
The BU15 team, coached by Andrew Moyst, was awarded the title of Team of the Year.
The team placed first overall in the BU15 Premiere Youth League, and nine players on the team played on provincial teams. Off the field, the boys donated to the Salvation Army food drive and Frosty Festival Food Drive, participated in the City of Mount Pearl’s 20 Minute Makeover, and hosted skills camps for kids 6-12, donating $1,000 in proceeds to First Light NL.
And last but not least, Jonathan ‘Jonny’ Andrews was named the Volunteer of the Year. Andrews, the current MPSA Senior Director, can often be found at the field coaching, mending nets, or watching his three girls play ball.
