The Kamloops Broncos in action against the Okanagan Sun on Aug. 12, 2023. (Photo via Kamloops Broncos)
The Kamloops Broncos Hail Mary has been received by the community.
The junior football team will be back on the field this summer after a positive response to its plea for an injunction of cash and volunteers in the fall.
“We put out that letter and we’ve got a lot of response for volunteers and more support staff and possibly new board members that are interested in helping out and keeping the program alive, so it was good,” Broncos President Kyle Armstrong told NL Sports.
The Broncos were initially asking for $200,000 in financial support – as well as 50 volunteers – to step forward by Dec. 1, so that they can remain competitive both financially and athletically. That deadline was later pushed back.
Armstrong says they’ve started to make some major equipment purchases ahead of the upcoming BC Football Conference season.
“We went ahead with the order for the helmets. We’ve been given some time to come up with the funding because it is a long wait time to get the helmets,” Armstrong said. “We’ve been applying for grants and reaching out to sponsors locally to try to get some extra funds to cover the costs.”
He also says work to get put together a coaching staff is ongoing.
Coach Vanky [Head Coach Braden VanKoughnett] is working hard to find some new support staff so that he has a full roster of coaches for this upcoming season,” Armstrong said. “We’ll get an update from him and what things are looking like [at our AGM].”
Armstrong says people who are interested in helping out either financially or by volunteering can attend the team’s Annual General Meeting tomorrow night, Jan. 9, at the Tournament Capital Centre meeting rooms.
“If anyone hasn’t seen our posts or if they want to be involved in the football team, they’re more than welcome to come,” Armstrong – who have been involved with the Broncos for a number of years – said.
Citing time commitments, Armstrong also said he’d happily step aside as President if someone else wants take on the role.
The Broncos finished their 2023 season with a 2-and-8 record, and missed out on the BC Football Conference playoffs. VanKoughnett told Radio NL in October that while the record might not have shown it last year, the team is making strides.
“Unfortunately, just with the nature of the sport of football, and how things work with the game, it is one that needs a lot of support to compete at the level we need in the BCFC and in the CJFL,” VanKoughnett said.
“Obviously, we’re in a situation financially where we’re probably in a tough spot going ahead with a lot of things adding up last minute on us here.”
Founded in 2007, the Broncos are the second generation of the former Kamloops Cowboys who also faced similar financial problems.
