Amherst family’s generosity allows 400 kids to kick up their soccer heels.

IT’S 6 P.M. DO YOU KNOW where your children are?

If you’re in Amherst and it’s a Tuesday or Thursday night, it’s a good bet they’re at the Dolan Family Soccer Field.

"We have 400 kids, ages four to 15, that all play at the same time," says Rick Goodwin, vice-president of the house league for the Fundy Youth Soccer Club.

"We can do that because of our wonderful facility, a (6.5-hectare) site that allows us to have 18 age-appropriate-sized fields operating at the same time."

"In our first years we used the fields behind the former deaf school, but we lost the use of those fields when that school was torn down to make room for the new high school," club co-founder Boyd Taylor recalled.

"To make matters worse, we were told we couldn’t use those fields just three months before the start of the season. We were in a bit of a panic because it looked like we wouldn’t have a place for our kids to play."

At the time Mr. Taylor, a local vet and farmer, had been renting a field from Leonard and Geraldine (Gerrie) Dolan to grow hay.

"I thought it would be an ideal spot for a soccer complex," he said. So the club executive approached the Dolans, who readily agreed to its conversion to a giant soccer field.

Others soon joined in to provide the club with help. Tim Hortons became a sponsor, Cumberland Paving donated a roller to flatten the fields, a local landscape company used a power seeder to seed the fields with grass, the Town of Amherst agreed to maintain the fields, the Cherubini Group made the goals and Roger McInnes let the club use the adjoining property for parking.

"We got tremendous support," Mr. Taylor said.

That support continues to this day. While Mr. Dolan died five years ago, his wife and family continue to allow the club to use the field, which at 5:30 p.m. on this Thursday evening is completely quiet.

But within minutes, cars begin arriving. Piling out of them are dozens of laughing children who are anxious to play. They are met by several coaches and referees, many of them former players with the club who have returned to volunteer.

Among those coming to play is Mitchell Speight. He’s so anxious that he grabs a huge bag of soccer balls from in front of a garage and begins dragging it to the field where the under-14s play. Soon he has emptied the bag and is dribbling and kicking the balls around a field.

"I just love this game," he says.

As Mitchell dodges and weaves with a ball, four-year-old Karter Griffin cuts across the field, kicking his own soccer ball toward a smaller soccer field where kids his age play.

"I like running and I like scoring goals," he says, grinning widely.

His mother, Kim, is also beaming as she watches him.

"This is a fantastic place for the kids. They have a lot of fun here."

Becky Chitty agrees. Three of her four children play soccer.

"Being able to have all three playing at the same time at the same complex is fantastic. I don’t have to miss any of their games. I can watch one for a few minutes, then walk to the other field and watch another one."

The parents sit in portable chairs or on the grass as they watch their kids practise for the first half-hour and then play a half-hour game. Sometimes they chat, but most times they’re encouraging their young charges with heaps of praise and loud applause.

The kids react positively to the encouragement because no matter what their age, they seem to have boundless energy as they chase after the soccer ball. Their laughter is contagious.

"This is what it’s all about: kids having fun," Mr. Goodwin said.

By TOM McCOAG Amherst Bureau, The Chronicle Herald