There have been many landmark moments in the history of the Cochrane Rangers Soccer Club and there's more to come for a group that has grown from a small number of soccer enthusiasts to an organization boasting some 300 members.

Last month, club members gathered to reflect upon one of their highest profile accomplishments of earning a spot in the Guinness World Book of Records five years ago and to recognize one of their founding architects.

Terry Norman was named the inaugural recipient of the Robert J. Bowden Award, launched to recognize exceptional volunteers through the course of their 30-plus year history.

Norman was not there the first year the club started but joined the year after in 1985 and was one of the instrumental people in growing the organization and helping create the widely-touted Ranger soccer fields. In that time he has served in all capacities with the club, player, coach, manager, fundraiser, groundskeeper and president for several years.

He takes great pride in the strides the club has made over the years and while he's honoured to be the first recipient of the award he says there were many other deserving people.

"We've come from a ragtag bunch of guys kicking the ball around to a club of 300," says Norman. "The important thing is we offer every possible program for anybody who wants to stay active. We're not just a high-level team. We have high-level teams but we also have recreational programs for men, women and kids of all skills and abilities. That's what I'm most proud of, the club has something for everyone, it's not elitist or anything like that."

"I was honoured and humbled by it. There are lots of other wonderful people deserving of the award, so I'm truly honoured. I've been around long enough that maybe it's their way of saying, 'OK Terry here's your award, move along'," he jokes.

He remembers well how the club was able to advance from playing wherever there was room in town to developing their own pitches.

"We were so annoying to them they decided to throw us across the river and said, 'Hey, how about you go fix that gopher ranch across the way under the power lines and if you can make it a go, it's all yours'.

That was all it took to motivate it took and the result is two soccer pitches players and referees commonly praise as the best in the area.

"My blood, and that of others are certainly down there on the fields."

That includes Robert Bowden, whom the award is named after. Norman said the push made by Bowden made the fields a reality.

"Robert Bowden is a giant pain in the ass," Norman told the crowd. "The only way to get anything done is by giant pains in the asses."

In addition to his involvement with the Rangers, Norman was chair of the task force that lead the development of phase 2 of the Spray Lake Sawmills Family Sports Centre. It expanded from a hockey centre to include other recreational and social opportunities, like the indoor turf, sports courts, fitness centre and indoor track and rental opportunities.

"I'm proud of that, very proud of my involvement in that. And it's gone on to bigger and better things since."

The same evening at the Venue Bar and Grill, the Rangers wrapped up its celebration of the 5th anniversary of Soccer Quest 42.

It was Martin Parnell who invited them to try and set the record and he was invited to speak briefly at the evening celebration.

"I like to hang out with nuts and you guys are totally nuts because you agreed to do a Guinness World Record," Parnell told the gathering.

He recalled how he wanted to score 60 goals in the 42-hour nonstop game because soccer superstar Cristiano Ronaldo had scored 58 in one season. But he got taken off the turf and fell short.

Jokes aside, he praised the club for raising $35,000 that with three matching contributions saw a total of $140,000 raised for the nonprofit charity Right To Play.

"You gave those children a chance for education That was the impact you lead. You changed the lives of 3,000 children, and that's huge. Thank you all for being part of Soccer Quest. It was really an amazing experience."

Others shared their thoughts on the aches and pains and satisfaction of the feat.

"It was absolutely the hardest thing we've all done. It didn't seem hard when we signed up but it was the hardest thing. If you can get through that, you can get through anything," recalled one participant.

"I was miserable and tired, but it was a great experience and I'll never do it again," said another.

The Rangers also honoured winners of the inaugural co-ed 5-on-5 tournament and spoke of the potential of launching a co-ed league to further add to their diverse recreational opportunities.

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Rangers Celebrating 5th Anniversary of Soccer Quest 42