Request for an operational and financial audit of Ensley Youth Sports Association Inc.

Hi Mrs. Wildes, I just wanted to mention that we had a cheer competition this past Sunday and didn’t see you there. I hope your focus wasn’t just on raising money to cover football expenses again. Maybe it’s time to consider an online fundraiser dedicated to football, rather than relying on cheer to continually help balance things out.

Dear Mrs. Wildes, As football season comes to a close, it’s clear that this petition has done little more than show we the parents and former football director, suggesting we were the cause of the program’s struggles before his removal. But I’d like to ask — what’s next? Have you stepped in to help or volunteered to serve on the board? My son loves this park, and so do my husband and I. We see the effort and dedication the board puts in, and that’s why we’ve decided that next year we will step up and help however we can. Let's go 12U next year! So, if you’re not willing to help move things forward, please consider stepping back or leave rather than tearing down those who are trying.

I wanted to express some questions and concerns that I have after attending the parents meeting for Ensley football two weeks ago.   One thing I have noticed even before the meeting was the horrendous amount of negativity that was being spoken/posted about in regards to the Ensley board and their personal lives; which I found distasteful.   Very rarely does the Public get such a vast comprehensive detailed reports from a group of organizations as we received that night for the meeting.  Ensley board, the football league and the county representatives were able to answer all questions that had been asked of them and I felt like completely transparent.    It's clear that Mr. Vance and his board inherited a mess from the last administration, add to it that the original football director that was appointed (Cody Hunter) did not fulfill his duties, I think we are lucky to have a season like we have had.  Much thanks  to the other sports including cheer that have helped football out this year.   My main concern is the missing money, lack of accountability and the missing equipment from Mr. Hunter and his coaching staff.  I understand that proper documentation was not done for registration nor raffle tickets, that there are board minutes and texts between the board, Mr. Hunter and his coaches in regards to getting answers. It was mentioned multiple times from Mr. Hunter that all raffle tickets were passed out, registration was paid but there is close to approximately $16k that can't be accounted for and thats just raffle tickets.  I would like to know what if anything can be done to figure out exactly what happened and where did the money go?  If this means bringing in a forensic accountant and the Sheriff Office I fully support this.  As well as the parents who left and went to other parks in making sure we get all of that equipment back.   I would also like to know, as I'm not familiar with the league rules or if maybe the Escambia parks might have some ru

So let me get this straight — someone who’s not even part of the park anymore is all over Facebook running their mouth about the board, acting like they’ve done something when they’ve done absolutely nothing to help. Then we’ve got the former football director, who didn’t do his job, got removed, and now has people blindly following him like he’s some kind of hero. Football’s been trash-talking cheer all season, yet when it comes down to it, cheer’s the one bailing football out. The hypocrisy is unreal. And let’s be honest — the 8U and 10U coaching situations are a joke. The board needs to clean house and bring in coaches who actually know what they’re doing and care about the kids, not their egos. We’ve got too many people stirring drama and too few doing the work. Let the board keep cleaning up the mess, because once that happens, this park’s going to be stronger than ever next season. Because my son loves Ensley and I do as well!

As a cheer parent, I’d like to ask Mrs. Wildes how we can go about starting a petition to have the board shut down football, since it seems they won’t be able to break even once again. Or, Mrs. Wildes, will you be organizing fundraisers over the next two weeks to help with that? Our park is doing great, and Mr. Vance, along with Coach Lisa and the rest of the board, is doing an amazing job keeping things running strong!

Well, I was told to check this out after practice last night. Can Mrs. Wildes please tell everyone what she’s actually done at the ballpark this season to help? Because I’ve been wondering. She and a few others are quick to call out the board, but what have they done? Nothing. Once again, thank you to the board and to Mr. Vance for everything you’ve done — my son has had a great season so far. And to the woman who was yelling at the meeting and then took her son to Milton — please stay over there with him, we don’t want that kind of negativity here. Also, a big thank-you to our cheerleaders for all that you do!

This past Saturday, my son wanted to go watch his friend who plays for the NEP team, and since they were playing at our park — and Ensley had an open week — we decided to go. Let me tell you what I saw: Mr. Vance was out there picking up trash and cleaning the bathrooms, with other board members helping out too. But I did not see Mrs. Wildes or Mrs. Moore — the same ones who have been shaming the park on social media. I also didn’t see my son’s 10U coach up there helping either. Like other parents, I won’t put my name on this because we only have two weeks left in the season, but I sincerely hope there will be a change at head coach. We miss Coach Mike! As for Tuesday night’s meeting — football really has no room to talk right now. The other programs do have a say, because they’re the ones helping pay the park’s bills, not us. We love Ensley, and we’re not going anywhere. We’ve been here before Mr. Vance, and we’ve seen the park through some rough times. We just hope next season will be better than the last few. Now, to set the record straight for those running their mouths — we didn’t do our part when it came to fundraising. Football only raised about $7,000, and league dues alone are about that much. And let’s not forget about those cotton candy uniforms that the board never approved but showed proof of — that was a waste of money. Then there are the helmets — 12 players from the oldest team left the park and still haven’t returned them. How is that fair to everyone else? Meanwhile, the other programs are helping keep the park running while football keeps blaming the board. Well, hate to say it, but some of the issues are coming from inside — including certain coaches.

From the meeting, here’s what I took away: football is in the hole — not because of the board or Tony Vance — but because of mistakes made under the previous football director. The raffle situation was mishandled, and the fundraising numbers during that time speak for themselves. Tony mentioned that when the former director was removed, no paperwork was turned over, and even the car wash funds raised red flags — especially since he said the money came in as “two hundred-dollar bills.” That alone is concerning. I also think it’s unfair for certain people to run their mouths online and try to blame the board or Tony. From what I’ve seen, the board has been transparent, accountable, and working hard to fix the mess they inherited. And as for Mrs. Wildes — after last Tuesday’s meeting, it’s clear that complaining doesn’t help the park. We need people willing to pitch in and support, not tear others down. At the end of the day, football needs to step up and score a touchdown financially — not point fingers at those trying to keep things running.

As a parent of a 6U player, all I can say after that meeting is that I’m very thankful we have a board that took the time to show us the budget and explain everything clearly. And yes — it’s football’s fault 100%. We simply haven’t raised the money we needed to this season. I want to thank the other programs and the board for stepping up and helping us get through the season. However, I do have to say — I was disappointed by the negativity from some of the 10U coaching staff during the meeting, and by the parent who decided to move her child to another park but still wanted to complain about “family.” If you’ve chosen to leave, please just move on peacefully. And Mrs. Wildes — with all due respect — it feels like you’re quick to criticize but not as quick to help. Until you’ve put in the same time and effort the board does, please keep the negativity to yourself. I'm singing this to say to the other we support Mr. Vance and the board!!!!

As a parent of a 10U player, I’ve had the chance to see who Mr. Vance really is — and I can honestly say he’s tried to do the right thing for the park. But I’ll admit, he let me down in one area. During a game, he removed our 10U head coach because of the coach’s cussing and bad attitude. I respected that decision — it showed he cared about setting the right example for the kids. But after a parents’ meeting where some people were extremely disrespectful toward him, he was basically pressured into reinstating that coach. Since then, we’ve lost Coach Mike, who moved up a level just to get away from the toxic environment on the 10U coaching staff. I’m not putting my name on this because my son already doesn’t get the playing time he deserves, but I truly hope the board looks into not bringing the current head coach back next season. He’s not setting a good example, and his language on the field is unacceptable. As far as the Mardi Gras stuff — I couldn’t care less about that. If that’s what some of you are focused on, then maybe that’s part of the problem. We care about our park, our kids, and the programs that actually show up and help. So thank you to the Cheerleaders and the other programs who have stepped up and helped keep things running when football couldn’t. We see you, and we appreciate you. And Mrs. Wildes i think instead of this petition you should help our park grow now you seen the budget and its our fault "Football". I'm signing this to say this is stupid and you people need a life or a new park!

Were you at the meeting? Because they went over the budget and explained everything clearly. It wasn’t the board — it was the football director who dropped the ball. Why not come to the next meeting and ask what you can do to help? We need more people willing to step up, not just point fingers.

As a cheer parent, what really gets me is that our program has been covering a lot of the park’s bills because football hasn’t raised enough funds. For the past three years, cheer has stepped up to help keep things going — even when others didn’t. The truth is that fundraising is everyone’s responsibility. According to the report, football only raised about $6,000 out of a possible $22,000. That’s a big gap, and it’s not fair for the other programs to keep carrying the load year after year. I do appreciate that Mr. Vance stood up at the meeting and told the truth about the situation. He’s been open about where things stand and what needs to happen moving forward. At this point, though, it’s fair to ask a tough question: if football continues to rely on other programs to stay afloat, do we need to ask the board to re-evaluate football next year? The other programs have every right to expect fairness — and to make sure their hard work and fundraising are going toward improving the park for all kids, not just one sport. Instead of pointing fingers or arguing, we should focus on working together, holding everyone accountable, and finding solutions that make every program stronger. Let’s keep supporting our kids — and make sure each program does its part to support the park.

The Ensley Football Board of Directors meeting held last Tuesday was a vital, necessary session that, frankly, some of you needed to attend. The financial review revealed a deeply concerning state: we were clearly informed that the program is operating in the negative, thanks to funds the previous commissioner allegedly failed to submit. We fully support taking legal action and pressing charges to recover that money—because someone clearly thinks they’re above the law. I certainly hope the detailed financial review was helpful for the lady with the binder, whose countless questions were finally addressed. Furthermore, I trust the board will take appropriate action regarding the individual who appeared to be an assistant coach and presented as visibly intoxicated during the meeting. His conduct was unacceptable, and such a lack of professionalism has no place around our children. Now, for the main event: it was established that the financial support provided by the cheerleading, soccer, lacrosse, and Catholic programs was essential to saving our football season. Let that sink in. You spent months complaining, yet our season was rescued by the groups you constantly criticize. Your continuous, negative commentary is not just unjustified; it’s frankly pathetic. It’s time to retire the high-horse and start supporting the programs that keep our lights on. Finally, an opportunity was presented to actually stop being part of the problem: the new Football Commissioner—who is doing a fantastic job, by the way—called for volunteers to join a football sub-committee. And what happened? Nobody went to her. Here’s the deal: If you are the person demanding answers, or the one who showed up looking like you’d pre-gamed a little too hard, or anyone else who sits back and complains, you need to look in the mirror. If you were silent when the call for help was made, your criticism is invalid. The time for complaining is over; the time for action and support is now. Do better. We

To the Ensley Football Community: I am writing to provide a professional overview of the Ensley Football Board of Directors meeting I attended last Tuesday. It was, by all accounts, a critically necessary and informative session. I commend the presence of both the league and county representatives, as their involvement added a layer of transparency and accountability that was both welcomed and long overdue. The board meticulously reviewed the league’s finances, offering a thorough explanation of all expenditures. On the matter of fiscal oversight, the revelation that the program was operating at a significant deficit was deeply troubling. It was reported that the league is in the negative, attributed to approximately $5,000 in missing funds that the previous football commissioner allegedly failed to submit. I fully support any and all necessary actions, up to and including pressing criminal charges, to ensure the complete recovery of these funds and to uphold the integrity of our organization. This financial crisis underscores a broader point that must be addressed: the program’s ability to operate was severely compromised. It was made explicitly clear that our football season’s viability was directly contingent upon the financial contributions and support generated by the cheerleading program. Given this reality, the prevalent culture of negativity and disparagement directed toward our cheerleaders and their board representation is not only unwarranted but utterly counterproductive. Instead of continuous, unfounded criticism, the Ensley Football community should be actively engaged in thanking and supporting the cheer program, particularly by attending their events. It is unreasonable to expect them to enthusiastically cheer for a football program whose primary vocal output is often directed toward diminishing their efforts. Furthermore, a critical observation was made regarding the commitment of our general membership. The meeting provided a concrete opportuni

As a grandparent who attended the meeting this past Tuesday night, I wanted to share what I observed. Mr. Vance, along with his board members, representatives from County Parks & Rec, and the local football league, were all present. They went over the budget in detail, and the biggest takeaway for me was that the football program has not done its part in raising funds to help offset park expenses. It was made clear that the other programs are essentially keeping football afloat by covering the park’s bills. If the county had concerns, they would have spoken up — but instead, they simply asked that parents work with the board, not against them. From what I saw, the board is doing the best they can, and they’ve stepped in to clean up a difficult situation they inherited.I spoke with Mr. Vance after the meeting, and he truly seems to have his heart in the right place — for the kids. ❤️ During the meeting, he took time to explain things clearly, and I asked him a simple question: What are you going to do to make things better? He shared that he’s brought in a new football director, who also spoke at the meeting, and she has some really great ideas for the program. What stood out to me most was how much he emphasized the need for parent support. So, I’ve decided that instead of just watching from the sidelines, I’m going to step up and start helping. The kids deserve it — and so does our park. So I'm signing this cause i seen the truth and with the county there and backing Mr, Vance that all i need to see!

Please investigate!!

I have known Tony for about 15 years, and I can say with confidence that his heart and mind are always focused on what’s best for the kids. Even though he doesn’t have children of his own at the ballpark, he dedicates his time and effort purely for their benefit. After last year’s incident, the county asked him to step up, and he did just that. Since then, he has been moving the park in the right direction—eliminating unnecessary drama among parents, coaches, and players. In my view, he is doing an outstanding job.

To my understanding, cheerleading has a significant role in handling football financials. The current football president has communicated misinformation to parents and coaches, all while displaying egregious behavior and an abuse of power. Thank you for your time and efforts to investigate this matter. I’d love to see the park continue providing football opportunities for the youth in our community under new leadership.

File a complaint

I’d like to see where our money is going