The surface may be artificial, the joy isn't

Thirteen-year-old Mount Pearl native Jenny Tiller couldn't help but smile as she looked forward to her first game of soccer on the new synthetic turf field in her hometown.

"It's easier to pass the ball and to avoid falling when you are on the artificial turf," said Jenny who, along with 13-year-old Tim Aker, helped turn the sod Wednesday on the $1.8 million facility at Gushue Sports Complex on Smallwood Drive.

Jenny has played on the FieldTurf at King George V Park in St. John's, but she's excited about her club having a similar surface.

Tim says "It's a better surface to play on, although he said he doesn't find much difference in passing the ball "as long you are playing on a good field." He did say the artificial a turf will be easier to play on when it rains.

Mount Pearl Soccer Association president Jeff Tiller - Jenny's father - is thinking more in the long term.

"It's a huge, exciting day for Mount Pearl soccer ... a day that will benefit the youth of our association for many years to come," said Tiller.

"It's unbelievable how much of a difference this synthetic turf field will make to the development in Mount Pearl and the region as well," noted Tiller. "It's their day," he said of the city's youth, "and they should be very happy that it has come."

"This is a great day for the City of Mount Pearl," said Mount Pearl Mayor Randy Simms, a sentiment echoed by the various politicians who spoke at the event including Minister of Tourism, Culture and Recreation Clyde Jackman, Senator Fabian Manning, Mount Pearl South MHA Dave Denine and Mount Pearl North MHA Steve Kent.

The three levels of government contributed to the investment in the artificial surface, which should be ready for play in mid-September , with ground construction expected to start within the next few weeks. The provincial government provided $630,854 to the project. The Government of Canada - through Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA) - contributed $600,000 and The City of Mount Pearl chipped in with $570,000.

"This facility will be a destination for thousands of soccer players of all ages, residents and visitors, not only from the City of Mount Pearl, but from our region and other communities across Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada and other parts of the world," said Mayor Simms. "This facility is an investment in our health, wellness and community growth, both socially and economically. It's a great day for our residents and, most especially, it it's a fantastic day for our soccer community."

The new facility will pay dividends in terms of the national scene as early as next season.

Hosting national U-18 event in 2010

Tiller said Mount Pearl's first major national tournament on the new surface will be held in October of next year, when Mount Pearl will host the Canadian under-18 club championship.

"We're always trying to attract national and international tournaments to the area," said Tiller, "and having this new facility will certainly help us."

However, Tiller was quick to add the new Mount Pearl facility will not be in competition with the FieldTurf facility at King George V Park in St. John's.

"We'd like to see, as we have in the past, a close working relationship with St. John's soccer for the betterment of the sport in the region, not only in our two cities," said Tiller.

St. John's Soccer Association president Brian Murphy congratulated his Mount Pearl counterparts on their new surface.

"I think it is fantastic these guys are getting artificial turf. It augers well for everybody," Murphy said.

The MPSA president said the new artificial surface facility will increase the interest in the sport in the City of Mount Pearl.

"This artificial turf will allow teams to play in all types of weather, increase playing hours, reduce the risk of injury and reduce maintenance costs," said Tiller. He added new bleachers will be installed to accommodate up to 4,000 spectators at the facility.

The MPSA has a long history. The first organized soccer program in Mount Pearl was started by the Kinsmen Club in the fall of 1969. In 1973, Charlie Chaytor and Ed Moyst, with the help of the Kinsmen, formed the MPSA.

There were 75 players in the first year of the program and Tiller noted there are 1,600 participants today, including 500 children in the under-six program and about 1,000 in other minor programs. There are over 22 all-star teams representing the MPSA. whose motto is "Youth first."

While Mount Pearl claims "the first international-standard size synthetic turf field in the province," Corner Brook has a FieldTurf surface similar to that at King George V in St. John's.

jbrowne@thetelegram.com