John McMahon... he was one year old when his family moved from Glasgow to Watrous; he was nine years old when his family returned to Glasgow... served with the Royal Air Force in Africa during World War II... he was 29 years old when he returned to Canada in 1951 to settle in Toronto... he and his wife had two children (Marilyn and Bill)... he was 84 years old when he passed away in Markham, ON on 25 August 2006...

honoured as a Canada Soccer Life Member... honoured by the Canada Soccer Hall of Fame...

served as Canada team staff at one FIFA youth tournament (U-19 at Japan 1979)…

wrote historian Colin Jose, “his dedication to making Canada a power internationally won him acclaim not only at home, but also around the world; under McMahon, Canada’s national teams won international respectability for the first time”... wrote Bill Hoyle in 2002, “he used his talents of cheerfulness, thoughtfulness, loyalty, decisiveness, steadfastness and willingness to assist many, both within and also without soccer, but especially for the good of the game in Canada”... wrote Jose in 2006, “McMahon’s knowledge of the game both on and off the field, his business experience, and his leadership put Canada on the international soccer map for the first time. He fought long and hard win the Concacaf meetings for a better deal for Canada in scheduling in particular, so that Canada was not at a disadvantage in international soccer politics”...

For Sport

served as a Canada Soccer Vice-President (1973-74)...

served as manager of Canada’s national teams (first as a volunteer starting in 1971, then as the full-time General Manager from 1974 until 14 February 1975 and then again from ?? until 22 December 1981)... served on Canada’s staff during FIFA World Cup Qualifiers in 1972... served on Canada’s staff during FIFA World Cup Qualifiers in 1976 and 1977... served on Canada’s staff at the 1978 CONCACAF Men’s Youth Championship (Canada qualified for Japan 1979)... served on Canada’s staff at the FIFA U-20 World Cup Japan 1979... served on Canada’s staff during FIFA World Cup Qualifiers in 1980 and 1981... served on Canada’s staff at the 1980 CONCACAF Men’s Youth Championship...

served as President of the Toronto and District Minor Soccer Association (starting 1959)... was a member of Canada Soccer’s youth development committee (starting 1959)... served as director of the Ontario Minor Soccer Association (starting 1960)... served as secretary of the Ontario Soccer League (1964)...

served as director of player development for Toronto City SC (starting 1961) and worked as Secretary, Treasurer, and General Manager (until 1972)... served on the National Organising Committee for the 1974 CONCACAF Juvenile Tournament...

worked for Toronto Blizzard... worked for Toronto Inex Canada SC... served on Ontario Soccer’s Heritage Committee... was a founding member of The Soccer Hall of Fame and Museum in 1997...