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Edwards has amassed a soccer career superb within the
athletic history of Newfoundland and Labrador. As a soccer
player, he ranks equally with stars like Harry Ennis, Wils
Molloy, Joe Gulliver and Norm Kelly and, as a soccer coach
he ranks equally with coaches like Jack Simms, Andy
Samuelson, Jack Lundrigan, George Welsh and Harold Walsh.
He was simply that good and owns an amazing record of 50
championship soccer teams as a player or coach.
Edwards’ achievements and contributions within soccer are
equal to that of anybody in the history of the sport in
Newfoundland and Labrador. As a player and a coach,
Edwards has been an outstanding personality who performed
with pride and efficiency on the pitch and with a
dedication to coaching that makes him an excellent role
model.
His early ability was such he earned a spot on the
powerful 1968 St. Lawrence Laurentians at the age of 15
and, while winning five important individual awards,
played a valuable role in the 10 provincial titles that
St. Lawrence won during the 1970s to be selected as the
provincial team of the decade.
On six occasions he played in national Challenge Cup
competition with two silver medals to his credit as well
as an Eastern Canadian championship. Selected to the 1970
provincial all-stars for national championships, he was
captain of the 1973 Canada Summer Games club and earned
MVP designation with the provincial minor team that played
at Expo 67.
Edwards was selected for a tryout for the 1974 Canadian
National team, training and playing with the club in
Bermuda.
Since completing his senior playing career, mid-fielder
Edwards has been a member of 10 St. Lawrence teams winning
provincial masters championships.
During an exceptional minor soccer career, Edwards stood
out in local, provincial and national competition. He was
very coachable and gained important knowledge he has
passed on to literally thousands of young players.
Blessed with natural talent, his dedication to the game
and his determination to always do his best under all and
any circumstances came together in a manner that has him
regarded among the finest soccer players ever produced by
Newfoundland and Labrador.
A team leader, a skilled individual and a person who
displayed great pride in his community and his sport,
Edwards has been a credit as a player and a coach. He is
the type of individual who would instill pride in any team
with which he played or which he coached.
His most successful coaching has been with the St.
Lawrence Laurentians senior team but his expertise has
been of great benefit to local, Burin Peninsula and
provincial teams at every level of soccer.
His coaching was extremely important in the eight
provincial senior championships the Laurentians won under
his coaching during the 1990s and the latest Challenge Cup
title in 2002.
Edwards actually started coaching at the local St.
Lawrence minor level in 1969 at the age of 16 and it was
in 1980 he began a 22-year provincial coaching
contribution that has been extremely important for local
and provincial soccer.
His coaching approach has been of the same high caliber as
his playing approach, and soccer is much better because of
this. It should be noted when he wasn’t coaching at the
senior level, he provided competent direction for
age-group teams with equal success.
An extremely large number of players are simply better
because of Edwards’ coaching.
His 39-year involvement with soccer has been of great
benefit to the sport. He is a member of the
Newfoundland
and Labrador Soccer Hall of Fame, the Burin Peninsula
Soccer Hall of Fame and the St. Lawrence Soccer Hall of
Fame.
The selection Committee of the Newfoundland and Labrador
Soccer Hall of Fame feels strongly Clem ‘Junior’ Edwards
deserves election to and induction into the
Newfoundland
and Labrador Sports Hall of Fame. |
