Ron Paschal's memories of the old Albert Street football field on the banks of the Petitcodiac River remain vivid almost 50 years after he played his first game with teammates who would remain his friends for life.

"It was great," Paschal recalled yesterday. "There were seagulls and rats and lots of mud.

"What sticks with you, though, is the camaraderie of the guys. Even today, you see guys who played with or coached with in a restaurant or at the store and we get together to talk about football.

"It never leaves you. You make friendships and relationships with your team, the opposing team and everyone else involved in the game."

Paschal, who turns 64 next week, made his comments as the Moncton Football Association prepares to celebrate its 50th anniversary.

Paschal did not play in the association's inaugural season. Officials determined he was too big to play for the Ticats, who represented Moncton's east end and was one of four bantam division teams who played the first season.

However, he played the next season in the midget league as an offensive and defensive centre. He's been in the middle of things with the association ever since.

Senior football was prominent in Moncton in the 1940s and '50s with as many as three teams in the city. In order to keep the senior teams going, organizers founded the Moncton Football Association for young players.

By 1962, when Paschal was in Grade 11 at Moncton High School and playing under the watchful eye of Ed Skiffington, football was growing in popularity.

Moncton High played games against Harkins High of Miramichi and midget teams in the city league. Other high schools would soon join and today the game is played throughout the province.

"It's hard to believe how much it has grown and that's a tribute to the volunteers and parents who have worked hard for football in this area," Paschal said.

"We've got senior teams, women's teams and elite teams that play in spring programs," he said. "We've also had great co-operation with the City of Moncton with a great field with an artificial surface for the kids to play on. The sport is in great shape thanks to the efforts of a lot of people."

Paschal served as president of the MFA during eight different terms from the late 1970s to early 1990s and was also president of the New Brunswick Football Association in the mid-1980s. He also coached bantam teams in Moncton in the 1960s and '70s.

However, he doesn't take any credit for the sport's continued success in Metro Moncton.

"I thought you wanted to talk about minor football, not me," he told a reporter.

Paschal, who retired from Canada Post nine years ago, has put his stamp on the association, but he's quick to credit others.

"I think about guys like Steve Mullin, Rocky Stone, Wally Yack, Eric Peters, Bill Glendinning and scores of others. I hate to name names because there are so many guys who have worked hard for the kids in our community.

"I think minor football will continue to be in great shape because we've got people who are ready to continue the work of others."

MFA holds its 50th anniversary dinner June 13 at Legends Lounge in the Moncton Coliseum Agrena Complex. CFLer Matt Dunigan will be guest speaker.