From an early age, Pamela “Bootsie” Pace was drawn to toward athleticism and competition. She would go around the neighborhood usually carrying a football and would always find herself playing football. She was occasionally asked to suit up for St. David’s CC PeeWee team when she was 8. While at Whitney Institute she was the only girl who would play football with the boys. Unfortunately, there was no opportunity for Pace to play in high school. She joined the Boys Junior League on the American Naval Base and participated in seven-a-side matches at the Youth Centre. Bootsie was considered a pioneer in the Eastern Soccer League when she - as a 13-year-old female - debuted for HHC’s all-male junior soccer team. During the early 1980s, staff at local hotels had put together all-female soccer teams and would put on Thursday night games at the BAA field under the lights. Bootsie was recruited to play for Holiday Inn Hotel. After a short period, those hotel staff games faded out, and Bootsie was invited to play for HHC’s senior soccer team. Once the Women’s League in Bermuda started again, Bootsie, and her sister Damita (Pace) Evans as the goalkeeper, played for Herbie’s Angels, a team named after its coach Herbie Bascome from St. David’s. In the team’s first Friday night outing against Cedar Park, Bootsie netted five goals in the 6-1 victory. Bootsie is very honored to have been a trail-blazer - however short-lived – due to A hit-and-run accident left her with life-altering injuries.
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