THE HISTORY OF THE BARONS
50 years of football
Fifty years of football have seen tens of thousands of young players and thousands of volunteers pass through its doors, all driven by the same passion for half a century: the love of football. Football has always served, in addition to providing the practice of the most beautiful sport there is, to forge bonds of friendship between players, between parents and coaches, and to teach life lessons.
The players will have learned the techniques of the sport, but above all, they will have learned that in life it's important to face adversity as a team and that teammates are always there to help. They will have learned that, regardless of victory or defeat, the important thing is to leave the field with their heads held high, knowing they gave it their all. They will have learned that each player's contribution on the field is essential to collective success. They will have experienced their first defeats but will realize that this is life. They will get back up, determined to continue and to win.
Many teams have experienced seasons filled with defeats. They always came back stronger the following year. They learned that with hard work and, above all, tenacity, things can change. That's what the Club has offered them over these 50 years. That's what the great coaches who have come and gone over all these years wanted to leave them as a legacy: tools that will serve them for a lifetime, tools they will use for more than 50 years.
The Club can be proud to have contributed to training men and women for all these decades.
You should all be proud to have been associated with it.
Once upon a time, there were the Barons
Summer 1962: about fifteen boys from St-Bruno, of varying ages, form a football team. Two games are scheduled, one in Chambly and the other in St-Bruno, against Chambly. No jerseys, missing pieces of equipment and hockey helmets… but no matter, they have a ball, so let's play football!
Given the enthusiasm and enjoyment, the sport became more organized, and two teams were formed: the Barons , at the Bantam level, and the Knights, at the Midget level. The Bantams played 8-on-8, and the first game didn't bode well: a 64-0 defeat. But our team's tenacity was already evident, and we won the championship : the path was set.
The children play on the field built along Gohier Street (where a baseball field is currently located). Parents and players are working together to build the wooden bleachers and improve the field.
The day before the first game of 1964, our players hadn't received their jerseys, so the coaches made a round trip to Toronto to pick them up. These jerseys, initially black, went through various colors, becoming blue, white, and red, with some variations depending on the supplier's stock and the discounts offered!
Towards the end of the 1960s, players of varying skill levels were represented, and team names were as follows: the Mosquitoes were the Pages (Gophers), the Pee-Wee players were the Dukes, the Barons designated the Bantam players, and the Knights represented the Midget players. It wasn't until the late 1970s that all players competing against other cities were designated as Barons, while the home teams had names like the Beaumont Bombers or the Clairevue Colts…
Since 1964, the Barons have reached the highest levels of excellence , earning the following honors: the prestigious Pop Warner, Provincial Championships, Silver Bowls, Silver Balls, Jack Simpsons Championship, Alumni Alouettes Cup, President's Cup … And by necessity, the Barons organization has seen young athletes flourish who have distinguished themselves at the university and even professional level. Among them, we can name Michel Bourgeau (1968-1977), a defensive tackle drafted by the Saints (1984), who played for the Ottawa Rough Riders and the Edmonton Eskimos, where he won the Grey Cup in 1993. Brad Collinson (1990-1995), a proud Montreal Alouettes player for the 2003 and 2004 seasons, is now a scout and coach for the Rouge et Or. Sébastien Roy (1990-1995) was named Canadian university rookie of the year in 1999, played for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in 2003, and the Alouettes in 2004. These athletes all share the same sentiment: being part of the Barons is a mark of prestige because of the values promoted, the quality of the organization, the coaching staff, and the equipment.
Since the first edition in 1962, with the Delorme, Pilon, Robert, Jetté, Moore, McGill, Beaugrand-Champagne families and many others, past and present members — players, coaches, and organization members — the Barons continue to uphold this tradition of excellence, playing the game with respect, enjoyment, and integrity.
​
In fair weather or foul, in victory or defeat, on the field or on the sidelines, practices and games bring valuable experiences and life skills that help young people grow. They create memories and lessons that each player carries forward and uses throughout their life journey.
​
Long live the St-Bruno Barons!
