Final Post - Thanks to All

Some final comments, thoughts and thank yous ...

From Nigel ... 
I just wanted to let all of you know that I am very proud of you!! The soccer was fantastic and the activities away from the field were full of laughs.


Robyn, your job was never ending and you did it with a smile...thank you.
Brad, wow, I can't say enough about your contribution to the success of this trip. You are an amazing coach and a good friend to all.
Lee, the pictures,video, rides, support and many laughs, thank you so much for all of your help.
Mike and Annelise, everytime we asked for help you were there without question, thanks for that and for your friendship.
Girls, you will forever hold a special place in my heart, it was the trip of a lifetime.

From Robyn (Mama Robsey) ...
Hey Gang,
I too want to say - what a great bunch of girls. You were all so much fun - I'd hang out with you again in an instant! THANK YOU! so much for the card - it was sweet & funny & it goes in my "treasure box"!
Parents, I'd like to tell you how great your girls were! They were ALL very polite, helpful and kind to me, to each other, and to those we encountered along our trip. I really enjoyed my time with them. I'm sure you are proud of them. I am!
Cheers,
Robyn

Some final thoughts and thank you's from yours truly ...
I have so many thank yous and thoughts while writing this last post and I will mention a few of them, but will save the most importnat two for last ...
- Robyn (Mama Robsey) for her tireless work, organizing, seeing to the needs of each girl and having to deal with the changes and special requests of the coaching staff.  Her tiredless efforts behind the scenes, behind the soccer, to make everyone comfortable ... coaches included.  We are truly thankful!!!!
- To the parents who came down and helped ...
* Lee ... photographer. videographer,driver, "lackey", etc.  Plus he bought us a beer once in a while :-)
* Annelise & Michael ...there when you need them & not there when you didn't :-)
* Colin/Stu/Shelly/Jim/ ... helping with driving when required but most of all cheering on our girls at their games
- Kristyn Large ... for helping with the coaching, watching the girls at the hotel/mall/Busch Gardens ... being that extra set of eys and ears when required.  She helped being a big sister to many of the girls.
- To our parents/relatives ... thanks for all your support throughout the season both on & off the field.  You have entrusted us with your most valuable "possessions" - your children - and I feel priveldged.
- To our sponsors/donators/supportting clubs ... a huge thank you for making this a "dream come true" for the players.
- To our employers, who value the fact that the extra stuff we do outside of work matters and they support that.
- To Sue for helping keep us financially organized - this is a fairly large undertaking for the past 3-4 months and is done so all behind the scenes.  Thanks for keeping me personally organized.  It has been a long haul and I am thankful for your contribution and support (thanks to Lauren and Dana too).

Second to last thank you to the players / ladies / girls ...
- I am thankful and proud!!!! 
- Thankful to have been a part of this chapter of your life. 
- Proud of you as young women representing Vancouver Island and making your parents, friends, supporters, and community proud. 
- Proud of you as soccer players and playing soccer against teams that we are not supposed to be able to compete against. 
- Proud of your personal sacrifices to the team. 
- Girls ... You belonged at the championships and proved it.

My last thank you is to the person that I believe made this all possible ... Nigel.
- Coach. Mentor. Fundraiser. Friend. Planner. Financier. Supporter. Cheerleader. Counselor. Protector. Babysitter.  Leader
- The vast amount of work that Nigel did for pre-season, season play, post-season, game planning, post-game analysis, Florida trip planning, etc. is not comprehensible by many. It was huge! 
- Everything he did was was with the teams/girls best interest in mind!
- Nigel took this group of girls and made them into a true team.
- I have personally learned a lot from his coaching and approach to coaching ... for this I am indebted.

I think the experience for the girls has great ... the only thing that would top it would be to have come with the Championship.  But that will have to wait for another year or two :-).  I believe the staff put together an agenda that kept the girls busy/happy/interested/educated and in the end, maybe made this trip a fantastic memeory for their life.

Opportunities multiply as they are seized.
Sun Tzu