The Corner Brook soccer community will soon be losing one of its most committed builders and promoters.
The name of Doug Sweetapple is synonymous with soccer in Corner Brook.
He has been involved with soccer in the community, whether playing, coaching or working in an executive capacity, for more than 50 years.
But Sweetapple and his wife are planning to move permanently to Dartmouth, Nova Scotia this June to be closer to their grandchildren.
It will be the end of a tremendous legacy on the soccer field not just on the west coast, but across the entire province.
“It will be a big move for us to leave Corner Brook. We have really enjoyed living in Corner Brook,” Sweetapple told The West Coast Wire. “I can say that I’m proud to be from Corner Brook.
Every year, he has looked forward to the spring and summer soccer seasons.
Retweet just doesn’t do it justice. An outside-the-box thinker, a team player, and ‘willingness to make it work’ mindset. We’re all lucky to have worked with Doug. I’d love to see the Wellington Street turf field named after this legend one day! https://t.co/CQ1DW4lFt7
— Mike Power (@CoachMikePower) February 19, 2021
“It’s just part of the fabric of living in Corner Brook,” he said. “Whereas some people love going salmon fishing, hiking and so on, I love going to the soccer field. It’s just who I am, it’s just part of my life. It won’t be easy to walk away but I’m resigned to that and I’m looking forward to moving to Dartmouth and being part of the community there as well.”
Sweetapple’s list of accomplishments in developing soccer on the west coast is lengthy.
For his efforts, he has received much recognition.
He was inducted into the Newfoundland and Labrador Soccer Association’s (NLSA) Hall of Fame in 1987.
In 2014, Sweetapple was awarded the NLSA’s honorary life membership “in recognition of his outstanding contributions and leadership to the sport of soccer within the province, and in particular, western Newfoundland.”
In the announcement, the NLSA noted Sweetapple has been a driving force behind the success of soccer in the western region.
According to the association, his list of accomplishments included: a 15-year playing career, earning a coaching certification in the early 1970s before reaching National B level in 2008, earning coach instructor status in the late 1980s, serving on the NLSA’s technical advisory committee, playing a major role in acquiring new facilities for soccer in Corner Brook, raising the technical standards of soccer on the west coast, and finding the means to bring in soccer coaches from Central Europe.
The NLSA’s coach of the year is also named after Sweetapple.
Growing minor soccer
Sweetapple got involved with the NLSA in the 1960s and served as the western representative on the organization’s board for a number of years.
In 1970, three minor soccer associations formed locally for Curling Minor Soccer, the West Side, and the Humber Hawks.
Those teams played against each other along with teams in Stephenville and Codroy Valley.
Other teams emerged on the west coast through the years as well.
Sweetapple was involved in the Humber Hawks organization. He feels the minor program truly emerged out of defeat.
During a tournament in Stephenville in the early 1970s, he recalled, they got “shellacked” by the St. Lawrence team 13-0.
“When you play games and you do get beaten badly, that was really the beginning of our minor program,” said Sweetapple. “You analyze what is happening on the field and you realize where the weaknesses are and then, of course, you put programs in place and develop coaches to strengthen your program.”
Eventually, the three local minor clubs amalgamated, forming the Corner Brook Minor Soccer Association. Sweetapple has been involved with that association since the beginning.
Currently, he is the director of coaching. He also hosts coaching clinics to train coaches on the west coast.
The association, with Sweetapple’s help, has been successful in attracting coaches, such as Bob Kerr, David McCormack, and Robert “Rocky” Mitrovic, to develop their players.
Coming a long way from the 13-0 defeat to St. Lawrence, the Corner Brook team has won provincial titles and qualify for national tournaments.
“The soccer community in the western region (is) very fortunate,” said Sweetapple. “There are lots of good people dedicated to the sport.”
Future
However, according to Sweetapple, population decline in rural communities throughout Newfoundland and Labrador has become an issue for player development in recent years.
Fewer players available from across rural Newfoundland means there is a depreciated talent pool, and that means there is less competition to draw from for the Corner Brook team.
In order to compete at a high level, the team more frequently has to travel to St. John’s for games.
Having to travel, in turn, can deter young people from getting involved in soccer.
Therefore, it’s been a priority to develop a league with more local teams on the west coast and in central.
“We’re trying to increase our base so our teams will be more competitive on the highest level,” he said.
Corner Brook still has a program to be proud of. Sweetapple believes the quality of soccer in Corner Brook remains higher than many people realize.
“Being part of an organization that is still catering to the young people in the city and on the west coast, I think I’d have to consider that a major accomplishment,” he said. “It’s not my accomplishment — I’m just part of a group –— but I’m just proud to be part of that group.”
