Lawrence Park Football Becomes Front Line of strike action

by Jeffrey Lund
Toronto Town Crier

Jordan Chong just wants to play high school football. But so far this season that hasn't been possible. His teachers at Lawrence. Park Collegiate have joined others around the province in a work-to-rule campaign in response to a battle with the board over classroom time. "I understand it, they're fighting for what they believe in," said Chong, one of 65 high school athletes from eight Toronto schools who now play on the Lawrence Park Football Alumni Association team headed up by coach Chuck Richardson."I think it's great that I get a chance to play ball," said Brad Miles, a Grade 9 student at Lawrence. "I love football. I play every night, even after practice. "The school's alumni association saved the program at Lawrence in 1994 when the school decided it could no longer afford football, explained Richardson, who has coached the team for the past seven years. It has since purchased all the necessary equipment to outfit the team. "I'm not trying to slap the teachers in the face here but we've got the opportunity to let them play," Richardson said from the sideline during practice. Richardson said it would be possible for the players to return to their schools if teachers return to coaching. 'I'll send them all back, I've got no problem with that," he said. But for now players from Lawrence, Central Tech, C. W. Jefferys, York Memorial, Downsview, Henry Carr, Northern and Chaminade will continue to practice toward a six-game exhibition season with a round-robin final tournament at the be-ginning of November. "I'm getting calls from all over wanting to play our team. We can probably give these guys more games than they would have had during a high school season. It's been bizarre," said Richardson, who shuns the notion that he's putting together an all-star team. "That's not why we're doing this. We're doing this for the 14 year olds and 15 year olds out here," he said. Mike Van Wyck, a linebacker with the Malvern Black Knights last season transferred to Central Tech this year and was looking forward to joining the school's football team. "(Teachers) have got to do what they've got to do but it's not fair to us," he said. QAC student John Gallagher is not so forgiving over the loss of high school football at Northern Secondary. "I think they're a whole bunch of sucks," he said. "They're using us as a pawn against the board. "The linebacker said he would jump at the chance to play for his school again. "I'm a (Northern) Red Knight at heart. If they came back I'd play for them in a second."