Ryan Leslie was presented with the 2013 VMFL Rob Mountford Builder Award at the Vancouver Mainland Football League annual awards on Feb. 9.
The vice-president and head coach of the Royal City Hyacks football club won the award for his efforts in working to establish and grow community football in New Westminster. Leslie was recognized by the league for his dedication, effort and creativity in making the club a success.
Leslie, who won a national championship playing defensive line at the University of British Columbia, has been coaching community football since 1996. He also coached in the Canadian Junior Football League, at his alma mater UBC as a graduate assistant and in California.
Leslie then served four seasons coaching alongside Farhan Lalji as the defensive coordinator for the New Westminster Hyacks high school team when the football program was revived. His many roles include training and developing new coaches for the Hyack teams, coordinating volunteers, and other areas of the club, including the Hyack website, insurance, promotions, finance, equipment, fund-raising, on-field operations and management.
The Royal City Hyacks community football program started in 2004 and over the past eight seasons has expanded greatly, becoming one of the largest clubs in the Lower Mainland. The club started with just one team, and has now expanded to six football teams including flag football for ages 5-7. The Hyacks also have a large cheerleading program with more than 40 girls aged six to 15 on the squad, and offer spring flag football for boys and girls.
- tberridge@royalcityrec ord.com
