‘It hurts’: Riders’ Clark troubled by Thom situation

Saskatchewan Roughriders centre Dan Clark is a proud alumnus of the Thom Trojans football club, with his school jacket still hanging in his closet.

“(It might fit) height-wise but I don’t know otherwise,” Clark said following Wednesday’s practice at Mosaic Stadium. “It’s always something you’re proud to see.

“Gordon Gilroy, our equipment manager, wore his (Thom Collegiate jacket) on game day for a little bit and it brought back a smile to my face.”

That’s why Clark said the news that the school won’t be fielding a team in the 2019 Regina Intercollegiate Football League season was tough to hear.

“It hurts a little bit,” Clark said. “You always want to see the program you come from and where you learned to love football … succeed for a very long time.”

The Trojans won’t be able to take the field this season because not enough students signed up to play. According to a release from the Regina High Schools Athletic Association, Football Canada requires that at least 24 players must suit up to ensure the safety of the players.

Students at Thom who wish to play football in 2019 can either join a Regina Minor Football team or they can join the Winston Knoll Wolverines.

Clark said football at Thom taught him a lot of things that helped lead to his success.

“It taught me a lot of resilience, a lot of understanding and taking the coaching that you’re taught,” Clark said. “The one thing that I learned by the time I got to Grade 12 was (the coaches) really cared; they cared a lot. No matter what was said on the football field, they were always behind you and trying to create young men that took (on) leadership (roles).”

Clark said he’s not sure if more children are opting against playing football. He said whether his kids choose to play the sport or not, he would support them 100 per cent.

Clark and the Roughriders (6-3) are to meet the Winnipeg Blue Bombers (8-2) at Mosaic Stadium on Sunday in the annual Labour Day Classic. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m.