Leduc Cats Minor Football enters 40th season

LEDUC -- Leduc Cats Minor Football will be entering its 40th season later this year. 

Cats Football was launched in 1987 by Leduc sports hall of famer Bob Thompson and has been a staple in local sports since its inception. During its nearly four decades in the community, the program has produced several provincial championships. Five of its former players have gone on to the CFL, and three former Cats have played NCAA Division 1 and numerous at the CJFL and U-sports levels.

On March 2, 2026, Officials with Leduc Cats Football appeared before Leduc City Council to present not only the many successes of the organization heading into its 40th season, but also its various challenges. Past president and coaching director Curtis Dublanko says that one of these challenges relates to a lack of field space in the community.

"Between the high school and all our levels of teams, we're at capacity," said Dublanko. "One of the things that would alleviate that would be lights at Lede Park -- we use Lede Park in the spring, but as soon as fall comes and things start getting dark, we can't really practice." 

Other challenges outlined by the organization include high annual equipment costs and multiple break-ins to their equipment trailer at John Bole Field. Another one of the concerns raised by Dublanko relates to the City of Leduc's fields not meeting the standards of CDMFA and Football Alberta.

"As it stands currently, we can't really host home games in Leduc," said Dublanko. "Outside the field, things like locker rooms, official rooms, spotters’ boxes, the things that Football Alberta and the Capital District have as a need to host home games."

Despite this, Cats Football is given a single home game per year, despite not meeting the standards. The Cats were seeded as the "Home" team for four provincial championship games in the last five years, and all of those had to be played at other locations, including places like Edmonton and Sherwood Park. The organization is hoping that in the future, the City will make an investment in a turf field complete with stands, and press box, and other necessary amenities.

Leduc Cats Minor Football consists of 200 athletes, 15 board members, and 65 on-field volunteers.