The Robbie soccer tourney begins this weekend with Festival games for teams 12 and under
The 58th annual Robbie International Soccer Tournament is back in action later this month.
The Robbie is the world’s largest annual charity soccer tournament. It raises money for Cystic Fibrosis Canada and has donated more than $2 million in its over 55-year history.
Cystic fibrosis is a genetic condition that affects the lungs. There is no cure, but life expectancy has improved.
The Robbie got its name from Robbie Wimbs, the son of one of the tournament founders, John Wimbs. The organizers of the first Robbie were meeting at Wimbs’ house in Scarborough when they heard Robbie, who had cystic fibrosis, upstairs. They decided to dedicate the event to soccer and an important cause.
The tournament is divided into the final two weekends of June.
The first weekend is the Festival, for ages eight to 12, which runs June 21 and 22. The festival is non-competitive, but teams in the U8, U9, and U10 divisions participate in a parade at the fields. Matches will be played at a number of locations in Scarborough including Warden Hydro Park, Wexford Park/Ashtonbee Field, Bill Hancox Park, Timberbank Park, and McCowan District Park.
The second weekend, for competitive teams aged 13 to 18, takes place over the Canada Day long weekend, June 28 to 30. Games are set to be played at a number of fields in the city, including East Toronto’s Cherry Beach and Monarch Park.
As usual, Birchmount Stadium, known as the “Home of the Robbie”, will host the finals on Championship Monday which is on June 30 this year. Championship games in some divisions also take place at L’Amoreaux Park in north Scarborough.
Between the festival and the tournament, hundreds of youth soccer teams are expected to take part in this year’s Robbie.
For more information on The Robbie, please visit: https://therobbie.ca/
