The Sarnia Girls Soccer Club (SGSC) will celebrate its 50th anniversary on Saturday, June 22 with a family-fun event.
Activities such as face painting, inflatables, a 360 photo booth, and a BBQ will be set up at Lottie Neely Park from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. Only cash will be accepted for food, goods, and 50/50 raffle tickets.
A history tent will also be set up for residents to learn more about the club's founders.
Barb Postil is an original member of the soccer club and served many years as a coach and member of the board of directors.
SGSC was formed in 1974 as girls were not allowed to join the boys' soccer club.
At that time, Postil said there were only four teams with 60 girls. The club later grew in the 80s and 90s with nearly 2,000 female athletes.
Postil said as the number of teams grew, so did the age bracket, to include not just girls but women as well.
"At one time, we had 10 or 12 women's teams that went from 18 to 25 or 26 [years of age] and then from there, 27-28... on to whatever age the ladies would like to play at," Postil said. "It was a huge group in the 2000s era of women playing soccer."
The club is now situated at Lottie Neely Park but Postil said in the beginning, they played at any available field in the Sarnia, Bright's Grove, and Camlachie area.
Lease agreements were signed with the City of Sarnia by 2000 and eight full-sized fields were named Veterans Memorial Field. Additional playing fields were later developed.
"That was a huge accomplishment," Postil said, adding the late Gordon Best played a major role in that achievement.
Postil said SGSC is just one of four all-girls soccer clubs in Ontario and has hosted numerous tournaments and provincial championships over the years.
"It's been really rewarding to hear the feedback about our teams, as well as the facilities that we have," she said.
Postil said several people played a role in launching the club in 1974 including Lena and Tom Ward, Janice Cann, Vanna Bronzi, Eric Lawton, and Leona Holland.
She also credited longtime Board President Susan Carnegie for the club's success over the years.
A rain date for the public event on June 22 has been set for July 6.