ST. JOHN'S, N.L.
Two more Burin Peninsula natives are headed to the Newfoundland and Labrador Soccer Association’s (NLSA) Hall of Fame.
Clarence ‘Clar’ Brooks of Grand Bank and Gord Dunphy of St. Lawrence are among the inductees for 2018.
Brooks, who died earlier this year, enjoyed a very successful soccer career that lasted more than 25 years.
In the mid 1950s at the age of 15, he earned a spot as a forward with the Grand Bank Gee Bees. Over the years, he would play every position except goalkeeper.
Known for his tenacity, physicality and fitness, he was a member of the Grand Bank teams that earned the accolade of NLSA’s Team of the Decade for the 1960s.
In the 1970s, he played a major role in Grand Bank’s four successive trips to the Challenge Cup final. The 1974 team represented the province at the national Challenge Cup tournament.
Dunphy’s career in soccer has spanned nearly 50 years, starting as a player before moving into coaching and then immersing himself in the administration side of the game.
Upon entering the coaching ranks in the 1980s, his teams immediately achieved success with a number of provincial and Burin Peninsula Soccer Association (BPSA) championships.
In the 1990s, Dunphy coached the St. Lawrence Laurentians to three provincial Challenge Cup titles and a national Challenge Cup bronze medal. During this time, he was also a winner of the NLSA’s coach of the year award. As well, the Laurentians were named the NLSA’s Team of the Decade.
After stepping aside from coaching, Dunphy, who has also been inducted into the St. Lawrence and Burin Peninsula soccer halls of fame, moved into administration, serving at the local, regional and provincial levels. Along the way, he received the NLSA’s executive of the year award.
The Hall of Fame induction ceremony will take place on April 5, 2019 at the Shrine Centre in St. John’s.
Joining Brooks and Dunphy in the hall are Denise Hickey, John McGrath, Gerry O’Brien, Fred ‘Butch’ Reddy, Philip Ruiz and Nels Wilkins.
Award for Kelloway
The NLSA has also announced its award recipients for 2018 with Judi Kelloway of Burin picking up the Ben Lake Award as the organization’s executive of the year.
Kelloway is heavily involved in NLSA youth soccer, managing three leagues that combined play over 300 games every season.
She sits on numerous committees, including the rules and regulations committee, managers’ committee, and the youth committee.
Kelloway also chairs Canada Soccer’s competitions committee.
The NLSA’s youth female player of the year award is named after Kelloway.
