Inlet Field officially renamed Bob Favelle Field after former soccer coach

Port Moody’s brand new Inlet Field has been officially renamed Bob Favelle Field, after an influential local soccer coach.

Favelle received a standing ovation at city council on Dec. 10, where he was recognized for his decades-long dedication to growing Port Moody’s soccer community.

Recalling when Mayor Meghan Lahti first phoned him with the news several weeks ago, Favelle described it as a “wonderful and humbling honour.”

“ Never in my wildest dreams did I think it would be renaming of the park in my name,” he said.  ”I went silent and teared up a bit. Just like now.”

For more than 26 years, Favelle has served as a coach, mentor, advocate and administrator within Port Moody’s soccer ecosystem.

As a former executive director of the Port Moody Soccer Club (PMSC), Favelle grew the club “beyond expectations,” said Matthew Campbell, current PMSC president.

 ”It’s no coincidence that this field at Inlet Park will carry his name,” Campbell said, noting it was Favelle who started the endeavor to redevelop the old field 17 years ago.

Favelle, who also served as director of BC Soccer, was instrumental in developing an adult soccer program in the city, which has since grown to over 13 teams.

Campbell said the program has bridged a gap, helping younger players transition into adult play to continue participating in the sport they love.

“It fostered a sense of community and inclusivity, leaving a lasting impact on the soccer landscape,” Campbell said. “Bob’s impact goes far beyond the field, it ripples across the soccer community.”

Another major achievement of Favelle’s was the construction of bleachers at Trasolini Field behind the Port Moody Recreation Centre, which were paid for through a celebrity-fundraiser match between the Hollywood United Soccer Club and Vancouver Whitecaps alumni.

Mayor Lahti, who became emotional as Favelle spoke, said he “wore many hats” during his time with the PMSC.

She said his foresight and dedication to fostering inclusivity and growth shaped the city into a thriving soccer community.

“He served as a mentor to countless coaches, and has worked tirelessly to ensure that every player in the club has access to first-rate fields and infrastructure,” Lahti said.

Favelle thanked his wife, Norma, and his two children for supporting him as he spent many nights away from home to pursue his “love of the great, beautiful game of soccer.”

He also acknowledged the role of other PMSC club presidents over the years, who he credited with playing a significant role in its growth, and the eventual redevelopment of Inlet Park.

Favelle has previously been awarded the BC Soccer Award of Merit in 2003, Port Moody’s Civic Award for Sports in 2014, and was inducted as a life member of the Port Moody Soccer Club (PMSC) in 2016.