鈥淪ay a lot of prayers,鈥� quipped Cringle.
The Jackson Cup, emblematic of Vancouver Island Soccer League supremacy, has been in competition since 1914. In that time, it has seen dynasties come and go such as Vic West and Gorge FC and great performers such World Cup players George Pakos and Jamie Lowery.
But only a few times over those years has there been such an epic underdog as the Reds from Division 2, the 12th overall seed, taking on such an overwhelming favourite as the top-seed Bays in the final.
The championship is scheduled for 3 p.m. Sunday at Royal Athletic Park. But the Island鈥檚 championship weekend at Royal Athletic begins today with the Tony Grover Cup Over-35 final between Castaways and Powell River at 12:30 p.m. and the George Pearkes Cup Division 3-4 final between Comox Valley United and the Campbell River Golden Wings at 3 p.m.
Sunday鈥檚 doubleheader kicks off with the George Smith Cup Under-21 final between Westcastle United and the Mid-Island Highlanders at 12:30 p.m.
The Jackson Cup final is heady territory for the Reds, which knocked off Division 1 teams Sooke 2-1 in the Jackson Cup semifinals, Vic West 1-0 in the quarter-finals and Gorge FC 4-2 in the Sweet 16.
鈥淲e know it鈥檚 a tall order to beat Bays United [which is 15-1 in the Division 1 regular season] but it鈥檚 a credit to our guys for getting to the championship game,鈥� said Cringle.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a group of guys that just jelled. We knew going into every Cup fixture that we could give the Division 1 teams we drew a good game. With each win, the more confidence we gained.鈥�
What鈥檚 most impressive about the Reds, whose second-place regular-season finish in Division 2 promotes them to Division 1 for next season, is that their oldest player is 21-year-old goalkeeper Gabe Luger.
Cringle has coached the core group since they were seven, including his son Sean Cringle and fellow-defender Daylin Salter. The pair of Sam Cullen and captain J.R. Balliveau are also part of a strong back line. The most dangerous Reds striker is Kane DeVries.
Veteran-laden Bays blanked fourth-seed Nanaimo 4-0 in the Jackson Cup semifinals, Gordon Head Blazers of Division 2 by a 9-0 count in the quarter-finals, ninth-seed Prospect Lake 4-0 in the Sweet 16 and second-seed and two-time defending Cup-champion Cowichan FC 1-0 in a much-touted luck-of-the-draw play-in game.
