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History of Canadian Soccer
by Colin Jose
ALBERTA |
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Canada
Provinces |
Alberta: The Early Years - Notable People Notable and interesting people from Alberta during the period between the wars were: Dr. George Arthur Ings – Born: Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island. Died: Edmonton, Alberta, October 10, 1933. First president of the Alberta Provincial Football Association, founded June 8, 1907, in High River, Alberta. In April of 1909, he was a delegate to talks of a merger between his association and the Central Alberta Football League founded in 1906 in Red Deer. As a result of these talks, the Alberta Football Association was formed in Red Deer on April 30, 1909. In 1907, he was president of the Calgary Caledonians when they won the first People Shield competition and Honorary President in 1908 when the Callies repeated. Dr. Ings was educated at King's College, Windsor, Nova Scotia, and Edinburgh University in Scotland. On returning to Canada, he settled in Calgary and practised there until the outbreak of World War One when he received a commission from the Canadian Army Medical Corps and went overseas. He served in England and on the Western Front with the 2nd Divisional Ammunition Column until the Armistice. Shortly after his return to Canada, he accepted a government appointment in the northern part of Alberta and was stationed at Fort McMurray, where he remained in practice until his last illness. Charles Mathison Smail – Born: Arbroath, Scotland, June 26, 1882. Died: Edmonton, Alberta, November 25, 1972. President of the Dominion of Canada Football Association in 1932, 1933 and 1934. Emigrated to Canada in 1903 and lived in Regina before moving to Edmonton two years later. Played for Edmonton Caledonians from 1907 to 1910 before turning to the administrative side of the game. The following year, he was elected to the executive of the Edmonton and District Football Association, and in 1914, became president. League play in Edmonton was suspended during the First World War, but when it resumed in 1919, he once again became president and remained in office to 1922, when he moved up to the presidency of the Alberta Football Association. He also served as president of the Alberta Soccer Association for seven years: 1915, 1919, 1920 and from 1923 to 1926. He first became a council member of the DFA from Alberta in 1923 and occupied that position continuously until 1926, when he became the second vice-president. He became first vice-president in 1931 and president a year later, being elected by mail vote when no Annual General Meeting was held. One year later, he was re-elected by mail vote, but in 1934, was elected to a third term by the delegates attending the annual meeting in Winnipeg. In recognition of his outstanding service to the game, he was made a life member of the Alberta and Canadian Soccer Associations. Away from soccer, he was employed by the City of Edmonton from 1907 until his retirement as city treasurer in 1949. Inducted into the Edmonton Sports Hall of Fame in 1964. Major Fred Crumblehulme – Born: Bolton, England, 1886. Died: Calgary, Alberta, May 8, 1947. Came to Canada in 1910. Elected President of the Dominion of Canada Football Association in 1946, but died while still in office. A member of the council of the DFA for Alberta in 1928-29, 1929-30, 1930-31 and 1931-32. President of the Alberta Football Association from 1927 to 1935 and for six years secretary of the Calgary Football Association. A coin collector, he ran a store in Calgary in the 1930s. Served in the First World War with the 31st Battalion, and in the Second World War was appointed Military Services Officer. He was instrumental in obtaining Mewata Stadium as the city’s major sport centre and was honorary secretary of the Stadium Commission for 12 years. James "Jimmy" Graham − Born: Portrush, Northern Ireland. Arrived in Edmonton as a young boy with his parents in 1914, and grew up on the South Side, playing soccer and hockey. He played for the Edmonton All-Stars versus the Corinthians in 1924, the English F.A. in 1926, the Welsh F.A. in 1929, the English F.A. again in 1931, and for the Alberta All-Stars against the Scottish F.A. in 1935. He was also a member of the great Edmonton Nationals team that reached the Western final of the national championship in 1929 and lost to United Weston in Winnipeg in three games. His hockey career began in 1925 as an outstanding centre for the Edmonton Gainers Superiors, helping them win the Alberta Senior Championship twice and the British Columbia Senior Championship once. In the winter of 1932-33, he toured Europe with the team, leading them to the Paris International Trophy. After the war, he coached the Edmonton Waterloo Mercurys to the World Hockey Championship in London in 1950. Jimmy was also a good baseball player, and won the Edmonton Senior Men’s Golf Championship from 1960 to 1962. He was posthumously inducted into the Edmonton Sports Hall of Fame in 1965. Brother George Graham was also an outstanding soccer player with several teams including Toronto Ulster United. Stanley Yorke Wakelyn − Born: Sunderland, England, 1890. Died: Calgary, Alberta, December 26, 1978. Great centre forward of the Calgary Hillhurst team that won the People Shield in 1912 and the Connaught Cup in 1922. Played for Calgary against the touring Corinthians in 1924, England in 1926 and Scotland in 1927. He also went on tour to England in 1911 with Hillhurst. He grew up in Calgary, and was said to have had a tremendous shot and kept his forwards going with splendid passes to both wings. Voted one of the players of the half century by the Canadian Press in 1950. Served overseas in the First World War with the 31st Battalion from 1916 to 1918. Worked for many years for Canada Post. Known as "Porridge" to his teammates.
The Strang Brothers Alexander "Sandy" Strang – Born: Dunfermline, Fifeshire, Scotland, September 16, 1878. Clubs: Dunfermline Juniors, Aberdeen Orion, Dunfermline Athletic, Glasgow Celtic. Twin brother of William Strang. Suspended by the Scottish F.A. in 1904 and emigrated to Canada. A member of the Calgary Caledonians when they won the Western Canada championship in 1906. Captained the team, from centre half, when they won the People Shield in 1907 and 1908, and was a member of the team that won for a third time in 1909. Was a member of the great Callies half back line of James Haig, Strang and Jimmy Petrie. William Strang – Born: Dunfermline, Fifeshire, Scotland, September 16, 1878. Club: Glasgow Celtic. Twin brother of Sandy Strang. Signed by Celtic on April 23, 1903, he made just two appearances for the first team and spent most of his time in the reserves. Suspended by the Scottish F.A. in 1904 and emigrated to Canada in 1905. Went to live in Calgary. Known as "Wull." Killed during World War One. © 2007 by Colin Jose Previous [ 1 ] [ 2 ] [ 3 ] Next
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