Jimmy Conway OASA Article 2017.Pages

Jimmy Conway - a local Soccer Legend In late 2009 local soccer legend, Jimmy Conway, was diagnosed with ‘Trauma Induced Dementia’. Since that time the local soccer community has come together once a year to recognize and celebrate Jimmy’s contribution to the game of soccer. Jimmy was born in Dublin, Ireland and went on to play for the famous ‘Stella Maris F.C.’ and became a youth international player for the Republic of Ireland. He progressed up the football ranks and signed as an amateur with ‘Bohemians FC’ before signing for Fulham F.C. prior to the 1966 season. Over a 12-year period he played 316 league and 44 ‘cup' games for Fulham and scored 67 league and 9 ‘cup’ goals during that period. While at Fulham he played as a losing finalist against West Ham United at the famed Wembley stadium, in front of 100,000 fans in the 1975 F.A. Cup Final. Jimmy was ‘capped’ 20 times for the Republic of Ireland and played alongside some of Ireland’s greatest ever players e.g. Johnny Giles. Conway was transferred to the Portland Timbers in 1978 and played 61 matches scoring 7 goals and 14 assists during that period. In 1979 Conway was named Timbers captain. He was appointed assistant coach/ captain in 1980 and went on to work as an assistant coach during two periods at the club 1978-80 and 2001-05. Conway received his USSF (US Soccer) ‘A’ license in January 1991 and was appointed a member of the USSF National Coaching Staff in 1994. During his career as a college soccer coach he won a total of 97 games at Pacific University and Oregon State Mens’ coach and was named ‘Coach of the Year’ three times. Jimmy served as ‘Director of Coaching’ at the Oregon Youth Soccer Association (OYSA) for 28 years coaching Olympic Development Program (ODP) and US Youth Soccer Region IV select teams. It’s estimated that a combined 24,000 players played for ODP teams under Jimmy’s management. In this capacity, too, he organized OYSA Olympic Development (ODP) staff coaches who trained and awarded more than 1,100 USSF ‘D’ Licenses on behalf of the O.Y.S.A. Jimmy also played amateur soccer for St. Pat’s and Pierre’s S.C. where he was a standout player, formidable opponent and valued team mate for many years. In 2011 Jimmy and another local soccer legend, John Bain, were elected into the Timbers ‘Ring of Honor’. Jimmy is one of only 5 people to be inducted into the Timbers ‘Ring of Honor’ - Clive Charles, ‘Timber Jim’ Serrill, John Bain and Mick Hoban. Here’s a link to a Timbers ‘promo’ video related to Jimmy and John’s induction: Jimmy Conway - Timbers Ring of Honor It’s clear that Jimmy’s body of work deserves recognition and it’s clear that, like many others in the Oregon soccer community, soccer wouldn’t be where it is today without their incredible contributions. If you would like to salute Jimmy Conway and say ‘thanks’ for helping to establish the sport of soccer so many of us enjoy today, please register to walk at the ‘Walk to End Alzheimer’s’ to be held at the Portland International Raceway on Sunday, September 10th, 2017 and/or consider making a donation to the ‘Friends of Jimmy Conway’ team who will be walking in honor of Jimmy and raising much-needed funds for the Alzheimer’s Association of Oregon: http://act.alz.org/goto/Friends_of_Jimmy_Conway Thanks Jimmy and thanks to everyone at O.A.S.A. for considering support for the Alzheimer’s Association in Jimmy’s name. .

Load more