THE MAYOR'S GOLD CUP
2008 TOURNAMENT PHOTOS
Ken Ross has been a teammate of a number of the Victoria City/Bays United
Alumni players since their first days together on the University of Victoria
Vikings in 1970. He was an instrumental component of the team that brought
the University their first national sports championship in 1975. This team
was subsequently inducted into the University's Sports Hall of Fame. Ken is
one of the few amateurs in Canada to have completed the "double" by also
winning a national club soccer title with London Boxing Club of Victoria. A
talented and uncompromising fullback in his day, Ken was selected to
numerous city and provincial rep teams during his competitive career. He has
played his entire "senior" career with the Bays United Alumni, some 23+
years, helping the team achieve various league and tourney titles in their
age group(s). In early 2007 Ken was diagnosed with both ALS and prostate
cancer but managed to still suit up for the team into our summer schedule
last year. Ken's inspirational play was always a motivational factor for our
team and he, together with Douglas Manson-Blair who himself just completed a
courageous battle with cancer, were a must attend for this year's trip to
Hawaii. Neither had been to your state before and they truly enjoyed the
camaraderie and spirit of your tournament, not to mention the weather! Also
this year the team welomed Alex Nelson back into the competitive fold
for your tourney. While we competed last year, Alex underwent
quintuple bypass heart surgery but amazingly played in all 4 of our
games this year. A big thanks to all your volunteers who give us the
opportunity to celebrate our sport at our ages in such a fun tourney and to
have the opportunity to still share wonderful times with gentlemen such as
the above three who have endured so much in the past year. We are grateful
for your tremendous efforts on our behalf.
