Stories from Tri-City News headlines of decades past is a recurring feature as the publication approaches its 40th anniversary in 2024.
The demise last spring of the football program at Simon Fraser University (SFU) has deprived local club and high school players an opportunity to continue their careers into young adulthood close to home.
But 30 years ago, there was another option.
The Coquitlam Bulldogs operated in the BC Football Conference of the Canadian Junior Football League (CJFL).
The CJFL gives young players aged 17 to 22 who aren't part of post-secondary programs or who haven't yet made a decision about where they might want to play next a chance to continue developing.
The Bulldogs were originally founded in 1925 as the Vancouver Meralomas, but moved to Coquitlam in 1990.
Three years later, a 27-8 loss to the visiting Abbotsford Air Force at Town Centre Stadium appeared to be the team's last game in Coquitlam.
Head coach Tom Kudaba, who now leads the football program at Terry Fox Secondary, said a lack of support from the city and its football fans was making it tough for the team to succeed.
"If I don't see tangible evidence that there is going to be improvement, I won't be back," he told the Tri-City News.
"It's time to put up or shut up."
Alas, the team did return for the 1994 season, rebranded as the Tri-City Bulldogs, and hung on for 10 more years.
But success still didn't come their way as the team won just 42 of the 135 total games it played representing Coquitlam.
The Bulldogs' only playoff appearance was in 2001 when it won the Coastal division with a 7-3 record.
But the team lost its first-round game to the Chilliwack Valley Huskers 26-21.
The Tri-City News has covered civic affairs, local crime, festivals, events, personalities, sports and arts in Coquitlam, Port Coquitlam and Port Moody since 1983. Bound back issues of the paper are available at the Coquitlam Archives, while digital versions of several past years can be found at issuu.com.
