Yes, of course we love soccer.
Sports
History of “Danish” soccer in Vancouver in recent years and how it relates to Brotherhood Lodge 328
By Kjeld Christensen
Soccer, the most popular game in the world, is Denmark’s national game. Immigrants to Canada from soccer nations all over the world have for decades formed teams based mostly on players from their particular country of origin. Although the Danish immigrants have quite an easy time assimilating and mixing with the population in general, and the soccer players from Denmark are playing on teams in their neighbourhoods, there have over the last 40 years been several Danish ethnic teams playing in different divisions in the lower mainland.
The Beginning.
Martinsen’s Sports Club was started in 1967 and their team consisted of mainly Danish players. The team lasted until 1976 . Many of the Danish players had played at quite competitive levels in Denmark before emigrating and the team was very successful, quickly moving from Vancouver’s 5th.Division to 2nd. Division.
The bulk of the team continued for the next 2 years, but was now sponsored by Scandinavian Import.
From 1977 to 1984 many of the same group of Danes continued to play together, but was now sponsored by a Company called B & B Plumbing. The team continued to be quite successful.
Danish Brotherhood Involvement.
My involvement with the Danish Brotherhood started in 1984.
I had quite a serious injury to my left knee, playing soccer in 1980 and had stopped playing the fine game. In 1984 a friend of mine, Jørgen Schroder, suggested that I join the Danish brotherhood, a little Akvavit and “ lækkert smørrebrød, once in a while is good for you he said, and he was right.
The then President of the Brotherhood, Peter Prægel, asked in early 1985 if anyone would take care of the preparation for the yearly Seattle Exchange. It turned out that Seattle and Vancouver for several years had had a soccer/dinner /dance get together twice a year.
I had played a lot of soccer, was still coaching my daughters team, and had the time to make some phone calls etc. so Jørgen Schroder volunteered me for the job by holding up my hand and I agreed.
After making several phone calls I realized that some of the Brotherhood members who had participated in this exchange in the past were less than serious about the soccer game but loved the party. Seattle on the other hand had for some time been very serious about their soccer. They had several teams playing in a division in Seattle.
From a game against Seattle 1986: Back row left: Jørgen, Per, Axel, Ole, Herluf, Ib, Bent; Front row left: Harry, Finn, Arne, John, Dan, Tommy, Kurt
From a soccer party in Seattle 1992
In my most recent years of playing I had run into quite a few talented Danish players. Ole Quist, Bent Østergård, Aksel Jensen, Arne Pedersen, Finn Sørensen, Tommy Johansen, Kurt Baarts, none of them members of the Brotherhood.
Realizing that we would need reinforcement on the Brotherhood team, in order to give Seattle a good run for their money, I started calling these non-members, with the Brotherhood’s blessing.
With the most committed players from previous Brotherhood teams , Harry Vestergård, John Mikkelsen, Ib Mikkelsen, Jørgen Larsen, Peter Prægel, Herluf Pedersen, and the additional new players, we went south to Seattle for the yearly tournament hosted by Seattle. At this time I had started playing soccer again.
Seattle’s team was quite surprised, the game ended 4-1 for Vancouver.
Who are you guys, are you all Danish? the fellows from Seattle asked after the game. Yes, we sure are, we answered. Are you all members of the Brotherhood they asked. No was the answer, not yet.
Approximately 50 new members joined the Brotherhood over the next few years injecting new enthusiasm into Lodge 328.
After our success in Seattle it was decided to start another “ Danish “soccer club.
“The Danes“ were sponsored in part by Lodge 328, but also given a financial boost by a couple of generous entrepreneurs in Vancouver, Gunnar Madsen and Frede Mortensen. A generous Irishman who played on the team, Brendan Mullhall, bought one of the first complete sets of soccer uniforms for the team.
Dragon boat racing, Expo 86 Vancouver.
In preparations for Expo 86 in Vancouver, a Chinese Dragon Boat group sent invitations to many organizations in the Lower Mainland.
An invitation was received by Lodge 328, in Vancouver.
The invitation was to participate in Vancouver’s first Dragon Boat race.
Dragon Boat racing had been a Chinese Cultural event for centuries in China and Hong Kong and the Vancouver group wanted to introduce it to this part of the world.
The entry fee was $ 500.- per boat, and since we already had a pretty competitive group, not rowers, but athletes playing soccer, it was a shoe in for us. Lets do it, it was decided..
A Dragon Boat has 20 rowers, a steersman and a drummer.
After several practices in False Creek, with much Gammel Dansk and other libations consumed, as reward for the days strenuous workout, the day of the big races arrived.
Much to our surprise our team did quite well in the preliminary races and qualified for the semifinals.
We came in 5th. Out of approximately 20 teams, and felt pretty good about that.
This picture is from the picture book from EXPO 1986