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Derek Wisdom
Bio
Derek George Wisdom... he moved to Saint John, NB in 1963... he was 90 years old when he passed away in Saint John in December 2024... he was married to his wife Shirley for 65 years (they raised their daughter Terry and son Craig)... growing up, favourites included Aston Villa FC... worked as a teacher in countries including England, Australia, Ghana... worked as principal at Glen Falls Elementary School in Saint John... worked as principal at Princess Elizabeth School in Saint John... worked as a Physical Education co-ordinator for the Saint John School Board...
honoured as a Canada Soccer Life Member... honoured by the Canada Soccer Hall of Fame... honoured as a New Brunswick Soccer Life Member... honoured by the New Brunswick Sports Hall of Fame and the Saint John Sports Hall of Fame... named in his honour, Soccer New Brunswick’s Widsom Cup... recipient of Canada Soccer’s Aubrey Sanford Meritorious Service Award in 1988... recipient of Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal in 2012...
helped lead the Duke of Edinburgh Award program in Saint John (an award for young people that challenges, empowers, and recognizes youth between the ages of 14 and 24)... co-wrote “Soccer for Schools and Colleges” with John Bell in 1969... attended Canada Soccer’s 1978 FIFA/Coca-Cola World Football Development Seminar in Victoria, BC (referees)...
wrote Canada Soccer President Dr. Fred Stambrook in 1988, “Derek has made an outstanding contribution to the development of the game not only in New Brunswick and the Atlantic Provinces, but also across Canada as Chairman of the Canada Soccer Referees Committee”...
wrote Peter McGuire in 2006, Wisdom was known as “New Brunswick’s father of soccer, a superstar in his own right when it comes to organisation, officiating, coaching and administration”... as noted in his 2024 obituary, “Derek’s devotion to soccer reshaped the sport in New Brunswick. As the founder and President, among many other positions, of the New Brunswick Soccer Association, he was instrumental in developing the sport at all levels within the province”...
Honours
Individual Awards
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2012Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal Recipient / Récipiendaire
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2009Canada Soccer Hall of Fame Honoured Builder / Bâtisseur honoré
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2006New Brunswick Sports Hall of Fame Honoured Member (Builder - Soccer)
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2006Saint John Sports Hall of Fame Honoured Member (Builder - Soccer)
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1998Canada Soccer Life Member Life Member / membre à vie
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1988Aubrey Sanford Meritorious Award Recipient / Récipiendaire
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1985Soccer NB Referee of the Year Winner / Gagnant
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