Half a century in ‘The Beautiful Game’

We all know hockey is Canada’s game (perhaps even a religion here in Sault Ste. Marie), but Ian MacKenzie has devoted half a century of his life to local soccer, with no plans to slow down.

“I actually thought about winding it up this year. I said to my wife ‘50 years in soccer is long enough’ but that didn’t work out because my seven-year-old granddaughter and my nine-year-old grandson are into soccer, and in no uncertain terms, said ‘no, no, you’re not retiring Papa, you’re going to coach our team next year!’” MacKenzie chuckled while speaking to SooToday.

MacKenzie credits his wife Donna for her support while he has given so much of his time to soccer.

“While dating, my understanding future partner knew I would have to be shared with my very active involvement in the community, and share we did, and continue to do so after 55 years,” MacKenzie said.

Now 71, MacKenzie was born in Perth, Scotland. After serving in the Royal Navy, he moved to Canada, settling in the Sault in 1964 and became one of the founding fathers of the Sault Minor Soccer Association in 1968.

Launching the Sault Minor Soccer Association, MacKenzie started off coaching players from five to 12 years old, with only seven players per team.

From there, the game expanded locally, and he coached several age groups, his teams winning league titles and trophies in all divisions.

After many years of coaching local winning teams, including the original Junior and Senior girls teams and high school teams, MacKenzie co-created the Sault’s first Minor Soccer Development Program to increase the standard of play and offer Sault players an opportunity to play against the best teams in northern and southern Ontario.

That concept became a reality known as the Sault Civics Soccer Club.

“We had indoor winter training in the basement of Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish (in the early days),” MacKenzie recalled.

“I loved the idea of having kids of every ethnic background involved, unlike the seniors teams in those days, which were all ethnic teams of Italian, Scottish, English, Dutch, German and Finnish players. I liked having an international Canadian league. It seemed like I was on a mission to have and coach Canadian teams regardless of what the players ethnic backgrounds were.”

It’s been a huge reward for MacKenzie.

“My coaching of soccer is highlighted by the youngsters who have grown up to be doctors, engineers, soldiers, steelworkers, business managers and workers in other professions.”

“More than all the trophies, the most exciting element is meeting them and greeting them even today, along with coaching a few of their grandchildren. When they say ‘hello, coach’ that’s the highlight, and to see them as great citizens of our wonderful city and country,” MacKenzie said.

“Soccer has given (local) children the opportunity to explore and enjoy ‘The Beautiful Game’ (as soccer is known),” MacKenzie said, reflecting on his 50 years as a Sault player and coach.

“They call it ‘The Beautiful Game’ because regardless of your economic status in life, whether you’re a poor kid in the slums of Brazil or the son of an aristocrat in England or in Europe, you could play this game.”

“It’s been a very simple, basic game, where a kid doesn’t have to have money. Even to this day many of them are still playing in their bare feet in some of the most poverty-stricken places in the world. I’ve seen it in The Dominican Republic. Their ball is nothing more than some tied up plastic bags you would get at the grocery store. I bought half a dozen little rubber balls, I handed them out to the kids, but they were so treasured they put those balls away and still played with their rolled up plastic bags,” MacKenzie said.

MacKenzie worked in The Sault Star’s sales department, and his community involvement, inside and outside of soccer, has been extensive, serving with the Sault Ste. Marie Humane Society, the Sault Ste. Marie Chamber of Commerce and the Sault Ste. Marie Police Services Board.

Commenting on soccer at the national and international level, MacKenzie said “I’ve raised my children as Canadians and became a Canadian citizen myself, and Canada was a part of the World Cup (in 1986). I got really excited about it and would have liked to have seen them go further, and I’m hoping we’ll have a good young Canadian team we can all cheer for (in 2026, when Canada co-hosts the World Cup with the U.S. and Mexico).”