In memory of Kjeld Brodsgaard, former Canada Soccer champion and BC Soccer Life Member

Kjeld Brodsgaard, a former goalkeeper-turned-executive in British Columbia, has passed away at age 74. Mr. Brodsgaard was recently President of BC Soccer from 2016 to 2020 and he was honoured as a BC Soccer Life Member in 2021.

He previously served as President of the Canadian Amateur Wrestling Official’s Association and was the Sport BC Official of the Year in 2002. He was honoured as a Builder in the Canada Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2004 and the Victoria Sports Hall of Fame (for both soccer and wrestling) in 2013.

As an athlete, Brodsgaard was a Canada Soccer National Championships winner in 1975 with Victoria’s London Boxing Club. That was the year Victoria beat the St. Lawrence Laurentians in the Final at Calgary, the first time clubs from British Columbia and Newfoundland & Labrador met in the Final (with more than 6,800 kilometres separating the two amateur clubs).

Brodsgaard was just 18 years old when he made his Pacific Coast League debut in goal for Victoria O’Keefe during the 1968-69 season. He later joined London Boxing Club who played in the BC League First Division and then Vancouver Island Soccer League. He was the VISL’s Goalkeeper of the Year in 1974-75 when they won the league, the Province Cup, and Canada Soccer’s Challenge Trophy, only losing to Toronto Italia in an Open Cup Final against the winners of the semi-pro National League Ontario.

Brodsgaard then turned to wrestling where he served as an official for 27 years including more than 75 National Championships. He was the Head Official for the Olympic Trials in both 1996 and 2000. He also served as an Official at World Championships and World Cups as well as the Olympic Games in Atlanta and Sydney.

As an administrator in soccer, he was a Vice-President with Victoria’s Gorge Soccer Association, a Vice-President and then President with the Vancouver Island Soccer League, and then President with BC Soccer. He was awarded the Sport BC President’s Award in 2022.

Kjeld was diagnosed with Stage Four Gastric Cancer just four weeks before he passed away on 5 February 2024. He is survived by his wife Kathy, his son Shel and his wife Paola, and his granddaughter Isabella.