Former soccer player, coach and executive member Gord Dunphy of St. Lawrence has been named an honourary life member of the Newfoundland and Labrador Soccer Association.
Dunphy is a member of the St. Lawrence Soccer Hall of Fame (2001), the Burin Peninsula Soccer Hall of Fame (2008) and the Newfoundland and Labrador Soccer Hall of Fame (2019).
His illustrious soccer career extends more than 50 years, starting with his playing days with the St. Lawrence Laurentians.
“As a champion and cheerleader for the game across all teams and all age groups, it is fitting that as the NLSA’s ‘12th man,’ Gord becomes the actual 12th person to receive this recognition.”
Following his retirement from playing, he served as president of the Laurentians and coached St. Lawrence to three provincial Challenge Cup championships in 1992, ’98 and ’99. He also won the national bronze medal with the Big Blue in 1999 in Chilliwack B.C.
He was named NLSA coach of the year that season.
Dunphy also served four terms with the NLSA executive for a period of eight years as senior men’s vice-president and Challenge Cup commissioner. He was named the NLSA executive of the year in 2014.
Dunphy was also involved in the media, helping promote soccer as a regular contributor to The Southern Gazette newspaper for 15 years with his column, “Coach’s Corner.”
He also provided soccer coverage on the web through Gord Dunphy’s Soccer Blog, and worked colour commentary for CHCM radio’s soccer broadcasts with Russ Murphy. That included radio coverage for provincial and national senior men's and women's championships.
Following his stint on the NLSA executive, Dunphy established the hugely popular “Gord Cast” livestream, expanding the viewing audience of NLSA games throughout Newfoundland and Labrador and Canada.
The livestream is now viewed by people in the United Kingdom, U.S., Argentina and even in the Middle East.
“As a champion and cheerleader for the game across all teams and all age groups, it is fitting that as the NLSA’s ‘12th man,’ Gord becomes the actual 12th person to receive this recognition,” said NLSA president Doug Redmond.
“Gord's life has revolved around soccer, and his love and passion for the game, as well as his wealth of knowledge and experience, is evident every time you hear, “Welcome to Gord Cast.”
Timing of the awards ceremony will be announced at a later date.
robin.short@thetelegram.com
Twitter: @telyrobinshort
