Tartans in Bronze Boot matchup Saturday

Posted By David Gough

Posted 1 month ago

One of Wallaceburg's biggest celebrations kicks off on Saturday.

The Bronze Boot celebration, centred around the annual Bronze Boot football game at Wallaceburg District Secondary School, takes place this weekend.

Kickoff for the game is at 1 p.m. at the back field at WDSS. The Tartans will take on the Ursuline College Chatham Lancers. Admission is free.

"It's traditionally the biggest football day in Wallaceburg," said Tartan Booster club member Dave Elliott.

"It's a time when the entire school body can get excited about being a Wallaceburg Tartan."

After the game the Wallaceburg Tartan Booster Club will be hosting a post-game social at the Moose Lodge on Duke Street starting at 4 p.m. The event will feature a rib cook off and it will cost $5 to sample the ribs.

The Booster Club also hopes to auction WDSS helmets and other memorabilia, including Tartan alum Shaun Suisham items.

The Booster Club has held a number of events to give the WDSS athletic department a shot in the arm the past few years.

"Community support for local sports is pretty important," Elliott said. "That includes the high school."

The field at WDSS has undergone a number of improvements in the past few years, including new bleachers and a scoreboard.

The Bronze Boot has been a tradition in Wallaceburg since 1964. At one time the celebration was much larger and included a parade and other competitions against other high schools.

"We had all sorts of activities during the day," said Elliott, a 1979 grad of WDSS. "I remember there was a how many people you could stuff in an Austin Mini (contest)."

Last year a new Bronze Boot was created, retiring the original trophy. The new trophy includes a bronzed football cleat of Suisham's that he wore in a NFL game.