16-22 April: Happy Birthday to our Canadian Footballers!
Posted on 15 April 2012 in Around the Soccer World
16 April 1966 - Paul Dolan
Canadian goalkeeper Paul Dolan posted a clean sheet in his international "A" debut on 30 October 1984. Only 18 when he made his debut, he was just 20 years old when he started in Canada's first-ever FIFA World Cup match on 1 June 1986 against France. Canada held the European champion for 79 minutes before Jean-Pierre Papin scored the lone goal of the match. Dolan went on to become Canada's first goalkeeper to make 50 appearances, reaching the milestone on 3 November 1996. In all, Dolan made 54 appearances for Canada and set a (then) national record with 18 clean sheets. He became an honoured member of The Soccer Hall of Fame in 2004.
18 April 1923 - Fred Whittaker (deceased 2009)
Striker Fred Whittaker was a soccer and lacrosse star in the early years after the Second World War. After winning the Mann Cup (lacrosse) in 1945, he scored 50 goals in 21 matches for Vancouver North Shore in 1946 (soccer). Before the end of the calendar year, he was signed to Notts County in England where he scored another five goals in 10 matches. Back in Canada, Whittaker won the 1949 Challenge Trophy with Vancouver North Shore. He reached the final again in 1954, but his team lost that year to Winnipeg Scottish. In 2002, Whittaker became an honoured member of The Soccer Hall of Fame.
21 April 1958 - Dale Mitchell
Dale Mitchell scored 19 goals for Canada at the international "A" level, a record he held on his own until late last season when Dwayne De Rosario equalled his mark. Mitchell established his record in 55 appearances from 1980 to 1992. He actually set the record himself in 1988, passing then leader Igor Vrablic who scored 12 times for Canada. On top of his 19 goals in "A" matches, Mitchell also scored three goals at the Los Angeles 1984 Olympic Tournament, including the opening goal of a 1:1 draw with Brazil in the quarter-final phase (Brazil eliminated Canada on kicks from the penalty mark). Mitchell became an honoured member of The Soccer Hall of Fame in 2002.
22 April 1951 - Glen Johnson
Glen Johnson was 21 years old when he made his debut for Canada's national team. Starting up front on 20 August 1972 at King George V Park in St. John's, NL, Johnson scored the winning goal of a 3:2 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers win over USA. He also assisted on the opening goal of the match scored by Buzz Parsons. In all, Johnson made eight international "A" appearances for Canada from 1972 to 1976. At the professional level, he was the first-ever signing by the Vancouver Whitecaps. In 2007, Johnson became an honoured member of The Soccer Hall of Fame.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY!
Niall Thompson 16-April-1974 (Surrey, BC)
Paul Lee 16-April-1961 (Mississauga, ON)
Jodi-Ann Robinson 17-April-1989 (Richmond, BC)
Sandy Ash 17-April-1966
Pat Harrington 17-April-1965 (ON)
Steve Nesin 17-April-1960
Isabelle Morneau 18-April-1976 (Longueuil, QC)
Alysha Bonnick 18-April-1989 (Ottawa, ON)
Dayle Colpitts 18-April-1992 (Nasonworth, NB)
Greg Sutton 19-April-1977 (Hamilton, ON)
Tom Panhuyzen 19-April-1965 (Toronto, ON)
Michael Franks 20-April-1977 (Edmonton, AB)
Randy Edwini-Bonsu 20-April-1990 (Edmonton, AB)
Katie Lee 20-April-1979 (Calgary, AB)
Tom Kouzmanis 22-April-1973 (Scarborough, ON)
