Sharpe Elected CSA President At AGM

Ottawa, Ontario – The Canadian Soccer Association today announced Andy Sharpe has been elected to a two-year term as President of the Association during the annual general meeting in Halifax over the weekend. The meeting also saw the election of a new Vice President, the re-election of two positions with the Board of Directors and former Women’s World Cup team player Geri Donnelly receiving the Aubrey Sanford Award.
Currently Fire Chief for the City of Port Moody, BC, Sharpe has been a long-serving member of the CSA’s Board of Directors. He was a Director: Technical in the mid-1990s and has been the Vice President since 1999. He is a past president of the Saskatchewan Soccer Association.
“I am honoured that the membership of the CSA has elected me as their new President,” said Sharpe. “I am looking forward to the challenges that lie before us to making this sport even more popular than what it is today. I plan on helping our players and teams achieve the goals that we have set for ourselves.”
In other elections, Les Wilkinson, currently the President of The Ontario Soccer Association was elected Vice President of the CSA to a one-year term. Wilkinson has been President of the OSA since 1999 and is a former member of the Board of the CSA in the 1980s when he was Director of the then Senior Amateur Committee. Wilkinson will now assume the responsibilities as Chair of the National Teams Committee.
Angus Barrett of Newfoundland was re-elected as Chair of the Competitions Committee of the CSA while Michael Van Dale, owner of the Calgary Storm, was re-elected Director: Professional.
Donnelly received the Aubrey Sanford Award, which recognizes meritorious service to the cause of Canadian soccer. She was capped 72 times for her country, second only to Charmaine Hooper’s 82 appearances, and was among the group of players to first represent Canada on the international scene. She competed in no less than three CONCACAF Championships, including 1991 in Haiti, 1994 in Montreal and 1998 in Etobicoke and two World Cups, retiring after the 1999 World Cup.
Life Memberships were extended to Terry Quinn and Steve Stavro while the President’s Award was given to OSA Executive Director Brian Avey in recognition of his work towards promoting and developing the cause of professional soccer in Canada.
The Ray Morgan Award was given to referee Mauricio Navarro of Vancouver for special achievements on the international playing field, specifically for his work at the Copa America.
CSA Awards of Merit were given to: Daphne Andrews, John Diamond and Bruce Norton of PEI, Frank Capasso of Manitoba, Marie March of Nova Scotia and Dr. Bill Silver of Saskatchewan and Greg Bay of British Columbia, both members of the CSA Sport Medicine Committee
In other news, the Board of Directors has approved the implementation plans for a CSA Open Cup to be held in August 2003 with more details to be issued. The Open Cup shall be open to all amateur and professional clubs in Canada with four teams advancing to a final tournament at a site to be determined.
The Board also noted with pleasure the progress being made with the FIFA U-19 Women’s World Championship being held in Edmonton, Vancouver and Victoria from August 17 – September 1, 2002.
For more information please contact:
Morgan Quarry (613) 237-7678 ext.: 230 or media@soccercan.ca
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