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OkillSports32SPORTS EDITOR: JON KUIPERIJ Phone 905-845-3824 (ext. 432) Fax 905-337-5571 email sports@oakvillebeaver.com FRIDAY, JULY 22, 2011 On the ballFormer Navy vet was one of youngest to winGrey Cup titleBy Danny GallagherSPECIAL TO THE BEAVERPlaying for an obscure team in a setting whereonly a few thousand people showed up to watch,Mickey McFall still relished the glory.After all, the tough two-way tackle was a memberof the Grey Cup champion St. Hyacinthe-DonnaconaNavy Combines from Quebec that won the 1944national title. And he was only 18 years old, makinghim one of the youngest players if not the young-est to ever win a Grey Cup title, emblematic of national football supremacy.McFall, a long-time Oakville resident, passed awayearlier this year at Oakville Trafalgar MemorialHospital, succumbing to complications from heart-valve surgery. He was 85 years old.So obscure was his Navy Combines squad that aquarter of a century passed by before league officialsand Grey Cup brass decided that the Combines shouldDAN HO / SPECIAL TO THE OAKVILLE BEAVERget recognition for their feat during the war yearsMITE-Y SWING:Abbey Coulter takes a swing at the ball during an Oakville Angels mite house league girls' softball contest Wednesday atwhen regular teams werent used. McFall and theRiver Oaks Park.Combines beat the Hamilton Flying Wildcats 7-6before a sparse crowd of 3,871 at Hamiltons CivicStadium, marking the last year that a service clubwon the Grey Cup.Flag football players hope to learn on the flyThe Combines started out as a pick-up crew, abunch of sailors who liked to mess around on theBy Herb Garbutters, the game they will be playing will be in-game adjustments will be difficult.football field. Playing coach Glen Brown mouldedOAKVILLE BEAVER STAFFvery new to them.Its a bit of a coaching challengefour seniors (himself included), a number of interme-Burlingtons flag football league uses because if the other team is doing some-diates and a group of high schoolers such as McFallSix Oakville football players will haveseven players and regulation field. At thing offensively, its not like we have theinto a reputable defensive unit with many playerstheir ability to adapt and execute on thenationals, however, teams will be playing defence on the the sideline with us, saidtravelling 40 miles to attend team practices.fly put to the test this weekend.five-a-side on a 25-yard-wide field.Dave Thompson, the under-18 coach.The team was a combination of two HMCS units:Mitchell Garvey, Ryan Thompson,Timing is so important in this game, Well have to wait to the half or use aSt. Hyacinthe, located 40 miles from Montreal andDaniel Higgins, Matt Gima, Evansaid Dave Thompson, the under-18 coach, time out.Donnaconna based in downtown Montreal. BeforeThompson and Conor O'Brien are mem-so playing on a field half the size were The teams have been practicing againstplaying in the Grey Cup game, the Combines gotbers of Burlington Stampeders squadsused to, the timing is going to be very dif-one another in preparation for the nation- unready by playing games against other Quebec teams,der-16 and under-18 that willficult to adjust to.als but they know each province will playincluding McGill. represent Ontario at the national flagOther provinces play the five-a-side a unique style.In the Grey Cup game, the six-foot-tall McFallfootball championships this weekend ingame in their leagues so the Stampeders Barry Hutton, who will coach thehelped spearhead a group that all but grounded theHalifax. But despite having more than fiveplayers will be put to the test. Each team under-16 team, said in many cases it willSee Players, page 33See McFall, page 33decades of experience amongst the play-can only carry seven players so making