Football has a rich history within Regina at all levels.
One of the men who helped the development of grassroots level of the sport in the Queen City, Kelly Hamilton passed away on Monday at the age of 62.
Hamilton and Len Antonini have been regarded as the driving force that turned Regina Minor Football (RMF) into one of the elite youth football programs in the country.
Antonini first approached Hamilton around 1999 about becoming the President of RMF. Antonini said when talked to his close friend, he joked that he would only have to commit to about two or three meetings a year, the two would spend their time year round into building the program up.
Hamilton and Antonini played high school and then they would be teammates and roommates with the Regina Rams. During their playing days in the gridiron, the bond was formed between the pair, a bond so strong, it was often joked the pair were like a married couple. Antonini said him and Hamilton were always on the same page, they would never get into an argument and if they ever got into a disagreement, they would talk it out and come to a resolution.
Ryan Hall, a longtime amateur football coach in Regina said one of Hamilton’s trademark was the way he treated every kid the same, not just the elite athletes who would eventually turn professional, but any player who wanted to play deserved the same treatment in Hamilton’s eyes.
Strong character was a trait that Hamilton possessed according to Hall.
“Epitome of a man with integrity, his word matched his actions all the time. ”
Besides their duties of organizing RMF, Hamilton and Antonini spent many years working as a spotter during Saskatchewan Roughrider games for television networks including TSN. It is during that time when Glen Suitor became acquainted with Hamilton, especially during the Grey Cups. In their conservations, Suitor said he discussed minor football with Hamilton on a numerous occasions, but as Suitor pointed out, Hamilton never discussed about what he wanted.
One of the legacies that Hamilton has left behind is the facilities the RMF currently enjoys at Leibel Field. In the beginning RMF was located at Winnipeg Street, but through the tireless work of Hamilton and Antonini , the program blossomed with new facilities for the players that is being felt to this day, as Leibel Field’s new turf is to be fully installed in a few days. Hall said it was really disappointing that Hamilton didn’t get a chance to see the final product completed.
Suitor also said when Hamilton would be bursting with pride whenever he would talk about the facilities had at Leibel Field.
During their days at the office of RMF, Antonini said usually during the day each of them would be too busy to have much time to talk, but during his fight with cancer, Antonini said they got together and had a lot of great conservations.
Hamilton left behind a strong legacy according to Antonini.
“He was a great friend, he was a great firefighter, he was a great coach, he was a great dad, he was a great husband, he was a great person.”
