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Midland man's passion for 'the beautiful game' truly inspiring (5 photos)

Rod Billenness played an important role in soccer's development locally

When Midland-area residents finally return to playing ‘the beautiful game’ this summer, one figure will be noticeably absent.

Rod Billenness, a man who meant so much to the game’s development locally, passed away earlier this spring at the age of 75.

“He really was integral to getting the whole league started initially,” said Huronia Soccer Club vice-president and long-time friend Kyle Naylor.

Naylor said that in an area rich with hockey and baseball traditions, soccer was still in its infancy on the region’s sporting scenes when Billenness moved to Canada from his native England in 1973.

“Soccer would have eventually come here, but he was integral in getting it all started. His whole philosophy was just about getting people on the field; getting youth and adults to get together to play soccer.”

While Billenness served as president of the local club for 25 years and retired from that position five years ago, Naylor said he remained an active member by attending and participating in board meetings.

“He was still playing into his early 70s with 18-year-olds,” Naylor recalled, adding it was only a pancreatic cancer diagnosis that forced Billeness to hang up his cleats for the final time.

“He’d been gone from playing for 2 ½ years because the cancer stopped him from playing. He just loved the game and loved to play.”

Naylor said that while Billenness’ passion for the game would be evident to anyone who saw him play, it was the intangibles that made him a special person both on and off the pitch.

“He was a true ambassador to the game and also held others to the high standards of fair play,” Naylor said, adding the club renamed its league trophy in honour of the man who gave so much.

“He was always the negotiator and would mitigate issues on the field.He had a very calming approach and would deescalate things. He was universally liked and universally respected.”

In recognition of his accomplishments that included helping form the Huronia Soccer Club in 1983 and forming the first Midland-Penetanguishene adult recreational league in 1996, Billeness received an award of merit from the Huronia District Soccer Association and was inducted into the Midland Sports Hall of Fame as a builder.

Under his guidance, the club also expanded its service to the community to include the addition of multiple specialty leagues, including higher-skilled traveling teams, a recreational league for women and an over-35 league as well as helping establish a winter indoor soccer league.

In addition to these initiatives, he was also involved in the fostering and development of countless volunteers, referees and coaches and helped formed the area’s first senior youth soccer league in 2002 and also partnering with the Timbits soccer program to develop a seamless transition for children who wanted to move up to higher levels of soccer.

And when it came time to ensure Midland had proper soccer fields to accommodate the growing numbers of players, Billenness was instrumental in working with the Town of Midland to build and open the soccer fields located just off King Street.

“The club raised a significant amount, about $15,000, over time to help support the construction (of the fields),” said Naylor, who noted the town didn’t really have the need for dedicated soccer fields on its radar.

“Those fields aren’t just used for soccer, but also by people playing frisbee and bringing their dogs there to play."

In a letter of appreciation to the club, one of Billenness’s children noted how much the game and its camaraderie meant to her father.

“I am so proud to say that Rod Billenness was my Dad,” Vivienne Timmins (née Billenness) wrote, noting her sister Lynne and brother Dave were particularly touched by the club’s decision to name the league trophy after their father.

“I know you must know what that trophy would have meant to my dad, but I wanted to be sure that you knew how much it meant to us.”

Timmins said her father’s passion for soccer was undeniable.

“As long as I can remember, soccer brought my dad so much happiness!” she wrote. “He loved the game and it brought him such joy to share that love with the community.”

Timmins said she and her father recently came across an old folder full of old newspaper clippings and soccer photos that he had saved through the years.

“His eyes had extra sparkle as we went through the folder and he re-lived all of those special moments,” she wrote. “He spoke of all of the great friends he had made and of how important developing the game in the Midland area was to him. The official opening day of the new fields was a special day that I was able to be a part of and saw first hand what my Dad had helped to build in Midland."

Timmins said her Dad was also happy to continue being involved with the club.

“He said that he would love to be able to attend one more soccer meeting or get out to the fields to watch one more game,” she wrote, “.....well now he is playing his best game on beautiful fields, loving every minute of it….”


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Andrew Philips

About the Author: Andrew Philips

Editor Andrew Philips is a multiple award-winning journalist whose writing has appeared in some of the country’s most respected news outlets. Originally from Midland, Philips returned to the area from Québec City a decade ago.
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