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Sam Donaghey
Bio
Samuel Donaghey, C.M. ... soccer family (son Derryn)... married his wife Margaret Henderson on 8 February 1950 in Belfast (they raised their children Sam, Alison, Glynis, Moyra, Kery, Derryn)... he was 30 years old when he moved to Canada in 1952 (Margaret and first two children arrived in 1953)... became a Canadian citizen... apprenticed as a draughtsman and cartographer... first served as a policeman with the Royal Ulster Constabulary in Northern Ireland... hobbies have included photography, painting, spending time with family... he and his wife had the honour of meeting Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth on his visit to London for the 1966 FIFA World Congress... served 25 years for the Edmonton Police Force...
earned Defence of Britain Medal, Police Service in a War Zone (1939-45)... earned War Service Medal, Police Service in a War Zone (1939-45)... earned The Canadian Chiefs of Police Long Service Medal with bar (1952-78)... earned the Province of Alberta Police Long Service Medal (1952-78)...
he was invested as a Member of the Order of Canada on 21 October 1981 (for athletics and community service)... honoured as a Canada Soccer Life Member... posthumously honoured by the Canada Soccer Hall of Fame... honoured by the Alberta Sports Hall of Fame and the Edmonton Sports Hall of Fame... recipient of Canada Soccer’s President’s Award in 1997... recipient of Canada Soccer’s Aubrey Sanford Meritorious Service Award in 1991... was a recipient of the Canadian Centennial Medal in 1967, the 125th Anniversary of the Confederation of Canada Medal in 1992, and the Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Medal in 2002...
served as founder and editor of the Alberta Soccer Bulletin... was editor and founder of the Canadian Soccer News... helped form the Alberta Inter-City Soccer League... helped form the Western Canada Soccer League with Alec Castleton, which became Canada’s first major league to play across three provinces (and eventually across four provinces)...
as noted in a 1967 program, he was “recognised as one of the very top administrators in sport in Canada”... written in his obituary, “Sam was well known for his strength, wit, and extensive community activities that supported local and provincial cultural, historical, and sports development for over 50 years”... after cremation, his family and friends celebrated his life at Evergreen Funeral Chapel...
wrote Sam Donaghey in 1987, the Canada Soccer Alumni “is an active Hall of Fame for all those who have earned a coveted Life Membership from the Canadian Soccer Association”... wrote Donaghey in 1993, “I founded the Alumni in 1987 with the intention of putting Life Members and Hall of Famers in Canadian soccer back to work; their experience and abilities was too great to loose”... wrote Donaghey, “the Canada Soccer Alumni is unique to Canadian sports on the national basis and the fact that we remember the names of our builders, now deceased, in our Roll of Honour, adds even more to our leadership in sport”...
said Donaghey in 1989 of the Western Canada Soccer League, “teams from Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba played in this league and it was a most important factor in the developing of players of our National Team at that time”... wrote Dr. Fred Stambrook in 1991, “Sam has been involved in every kind of sports Association and Organization possible and he has won each with enthusiasm and has set an example of exceptional community spirit for all newcomers to follow”... wrote Terry Quinn in 1997, Donaghey as founder of the Canada Soccer Alumni “has found a way to ensure these outstanding contributions to our sport will be remembered long after they have moved onto other pursuits”...
Honours
Individual Awards
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2002Queen’s Golden Jubilee Medal Recipient / Récipiendaire
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1999Alberta Soccer President’s Award Recipient / Récipiendaire
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1999Alberta Sports Hall of Fame Honoured Member (Builder - Soccer)
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1999Edmonton Sports Hall of Fame Honoured Member (Builder - Soccer)
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1997Canada Soccer President’s Award Recipient / Récipiendaire
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1992125th Anniversary of the Confederation of Canada Medal Recipient / Récipiendaire
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1991Aubrey Sanford Meritorious Award Recipient / Récipiendaire
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1987Canada Soccer Life Member Life Member / membre à vie (†)
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1981Order of Canada Member / Membre
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1968Alberta Soccer Life Member Life Member
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