The Robbie International Soccer Tournament takes place this weekend at number of local fields
Yes the World Cup is happening, but there’s another soccer celebration also going on this weekend in Toronto as the annual Robbie International Soccer Tournament takes place.
The tournament is held over the last two weekends in June, with the Festival action for ages eight to 12 taking place last weekend, and the competition tournament for ages 13 to 18 happening from Saturday, June 26, through to Monday, June 29.
The Robbie, based in Scarborough, is the world’s largest annual charity soccer tournament and has been taking place for more than 55 years.
It raises money for Cystic Fibrosis Canada and has donated more than $2 million towards life-extending research, treatment, and education.
The tournament’s size means that many fields across the city’s east end will be hosting games this weekend. These include Cherry Beach Soccer Fields, Oakridge Park, Highview Park, Wexford/Ashtonbee Park, McCowan District Park, and Monarch Park Stadium.
As per tradition, Birchmount Stadium, known as the “Home of the Robbie”, will host the finals on Championship Monday, June 29. Final matches for the 15, 16, and 18-year-old age groups for girls and boys will run all day at Birchmount Stadium, located at Kingston and Birchmount roads.
Other age groups will play their championship games at L’Amoreaux Park, just northeast of Birchmount Road and Finch Avenue.
Along with hosting games, Cherry Beach Soccer Club will be well represented across many age groups during this weekend’s Robbie Tournament.
Cystic fibrosis is the most common fatal genetic disease affecting Canadian children and young adults. It affects the lungs, and there is no cure yet.
The Robbie started in 1967 when the organizers met at John Wimbs’ house and heard his son, Robbie, upstairs. Robbie had cystic fibrosis, and they decided to dedicate the tournament not just to soccer, but to fighting the disease. From there, a Scarborough soccer tradition was born.
The schedule for the tournament is available at https://system.gotsport.com/org_event/events/51087
Field information and more on The Robbie can be found at: https://therobbie.ca/
