The late Sam Donaghey, C.M., has been named to the Canada Soccer Hall of Fame as part of the Class of 2023. Donaghey, a former Canada Soccer Vice-President and Canada Soccer Life Member, will be honoured in the Builders section during Canada Soccer’s annual Awards Banquet on Saturday 6 May.
 
Donaghey, who was invested as a Member of the Order of Canada in 1981, was a Canada Soccer Vice President from 1966 to 1968. During that time, he served as Canada’s tour manager for both the 1967 Olympic Qualifiers and Pan American Games, the organisation’s first National Teams entry to Olympic programming.
 
He was notably a co-founder of the Western Canada Soccer League in 1962, which later became the first Canadian league to cross three (and then four) provinces. He founded the Canadian Soccer Alumni Association in 1987, the organisation’s first effective “Hall of Fame of Canadian soccer.”
 
Donaghey was a Canada Soccer council member starting in 1961-62 and later served as a Canada Soccer Honourary Vice-President from 1968 to 1978. He was an Alberta Soccer council member starting in 1955 and served as Alberta Soccer President in 1962-63. He was also a co-founder of the Alberta Inter-City Soccer League in 1960.
 
As noted in his 2004 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.”
 
A decorated officer that served 25 years on the Edmonton Police Force, he was recognised for his work in athletics and community service with his appointment to the Order of Canada. He was honoured by both the Alberta Sports Hall of Fame and the Edmonton Sports Hall of Fame. At the national level, he was honoured with the Aubrey Sanford Meritorious Service Award in 1991 and the Canada Soccer President’s Award in 1997.
 
Born in Englinton, Londonderry in Northern Ireland, Mr. Donaghey was 30 years old when he moved to Canada in 1952. Both he and his wife Margaret raised their children Sam, Alison, Glynis, Moyra, Kery and Derryn in Edmonton. He was 82 years old when he passed away on 22 April 2004.
 
Alongside Mr. Donaghey, the Canada Soccer Hall of Fame Class of 2023 featured former National Teams players Richard Hastings and Carmelina Moscato. Hastings was honoured at a home international match earlier this year while Moscato will be honoured at a future home international match after the FIFA World Cup.

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