A local man has recently been awarded with the Alberta Soccer Association’s Award of Merit for the work he has done with the Red Deer City Soccer Association and the Red Deer Renegades soccer club.
This award makes Cliff Maddock the first Red Deerian to ever receive an award from the Alberta Soccer Association via nomination from the Red Deer City Soccer Association (RDCSA) and the Red Deer Renegades.
Brian Desjardins, business operations manager for RDCSA, nominated Maddock for the Award of Merit, with Desjardins stating he was in no way shocked to hear that Maddock was to receive the award at an awards banquet last weekend in Calgary.
Maddock has been involved with the Red Deer soccer community for nearly nine years after his oldest son Colt, 17, began playing.
Aside from coaching his youngest son Jesse’s, 11, house soccer team, Maddock is also responsible for the set up and tear down of the RDCSA’s indoor soccer fields at the Westerner for the last six years, he has also worked as the Red Deer Renegades Equipment Director since 2009 and until this year has served on the board of directors for the club for a number of years.
Desjardins stated in his nomination letter to the Alberta Soccer Association that they believe Maddock’s contribution to soccer has helped develop and grow the sport in Red Deer. Whether through coaching, managing, fundraising and setting up of outdoor/indoor fields – his involvement has been central in growing the sport and development of players.
Maddock said he isn’t sure where his selfless nature and love for soccer comes from but stated that on the soccer field is where he’s happiest.
“I guess it’s just my area, I’m happy when I’m there helping – it’s my peaceful zone,” said Maddock. “It means a lot to me to be able to see the pride in the City, and the sport, and the Renegades themselves and I know what needs to be done and get it done so we look good as a City and as a sport.”
Maddock added that the endless hours spent volunteering with the soccer association is all made worthwhile when he sees the kids on his team progressing throughout the year.
“You’ll look at the beginning of the season and then again at the end of the season and to see the difference in their skill set is very rewarding,” he explained. “The biggest thing for me is watching them walk off the field at the end of the game with a smile – whether its gone good or bad – then you know it’s been a good day.
“I also get to spend that much more time with my son as well because he’s on my team so the rewards to my volunteer work are definitely there.”
Desjardins explained Maddock has gone above and beyond simply for the love of soccer and has even gone as far as to push back family vacations to ensure facilities and fields are in the necessary state for major events.
“What really made me nominate him was the sheer volume of work he has put into the fields – the amount of days and hours he has put in to make sure everything runs smoothly is just insane,” said Desjardins.
“Just in getting to know him and hearing everything he has done I knew he was a person from the Red Deer soccer community that needed to be recognized.”
jswan@reddeerexpress.com
