The headquarters for the Douglas Villa AFC's popular junior soccer tournament over the weekend, the Park Sportsground, was a sea of colour.
More than 130 teams from over the lower North Island took part, including many from Hawke's Bay, Manawatu,Wanganui, Horowhenua-Kapiti, Hutt Valley and Wellington.
Grades ranged from seven to 13 with several of the sides including players of both sexes.
The tourney was initially scheduled for the previous weekend but organisers made the call to postpone for one week because of a weather forecast which touted galeforce winds and heavy rain.
As it happened those conditions did not prevail but the brilliant sunshine, which greeted the 1000-plus players taking part on Saturday and yesterday, was welcome by the huge crowd of parents and supporters who turned up to watch.
