Dave Paul
Susan Carnegie has done almost every job imaginable during her 25 years with the Sarnia Girls Soccer Club.
So it’s no surprise Carnegie had to break from placing fliers on car windshields promoting the club’s summer soccer camp to discuss the accolade she recently received – a Meritorious Service Award from the Ontario Soccer Association.
The award, presented at a banquet in Toronto last month, was one of 11 handed out by the provincial association in 2016. Carnegie was the only woman recognized this year.
The club’s president since 2010 said the honour took her by surprise.
“I had no idea. It’s humbling,” she said.
“But I’m not about awards. To me, it’s about being part of a team – and we have a lot of wonderful people who help out with our club and who serve on the board. That’s why our club has been successful.”
The Sarnia Girls Soccer Club operates out of one of the few women-only fields in Ontario at Lottie Neely Park.
Carnegie started with the club as a coach 25 years ago when her seven-year-old daughter enrolled in the sport.
She coached for nine years, joined the board of directors and began assuming a variety of roles and duties.
Initially, she served as sponsorship director, eventually coached travel teams and then became a league convenor, a referee and, ultimately, the club’s referee co-ordinator – a role she still fulfills.
A mentoring program for referees she began is a prime example of the collaborative work Carnegie excels at, said fellow board member Phil Nelson.
“She’s great at interacting – not only with all the kids but also with parents,” he said.
“And she’s tireless. She’s here (at the club’s Veteran’s Field facility) so many nights. She just does a fantastic job.”
Carnegie is a humble person, added Nelson. She even neglected to mention the award at last month’s board meeting.
In fact, she was reluctant to attend the Toronto ceremony.
“I thought, maybe, they could just mail it to me,” she said.
The Meritorious Award is the provincial body’s highest level of recognition and presented for outstanding contribution in the development of soccer in Canada.
Board member Candice deBock said girls’ soccer is lucky to have her.
“She makes people happy and genuinely cares about everyone there. She is there nearly every day,” she said.