Hall of Fame Class of 2023 and Special Awards
St. John’s, NL (December 1, 2023) - Four women and five men will join the ranks of the Newfoundland and Labrador Soccer Hall of Fame, as the Newfoundland and Labrador Soccer Association (NLSA) today unveiled its Class of 2023.
The new laureates include Athletes: Albert Anstey, Fiona Curtis, Nigel Facey, Kathy Hurley, Ron Martin, and Anne Stapleton; Builders: Jo Anne Mallay and Mike Edmunds, and Athlete/Builder: Charlie Babstock.
Detailed bios are below.
Honour Roll of Teams
For the second year in a row, the Holy Cross Jubilee Trophy women’s team will be recognized for its prowess in national competition. In honour of their second Jubilee Trophy national gold medal, the 2023 Holy Cross Nutraholdings Jubilee Trophy team will be added to the NLSA Honour Roll of Teams.
They become the fifth team to receive this distinction. The Holy Cross Kirby Group 2022 Jubilee Trophy team was similarly honoured in recognition of their first ever Jubilee Trophy national women’s gold medal.
Honorary Life Member
In recognition of her outstanding contribution to soccer at the local, provincial and national level, the NLSA has announced that Judi Kelloway will become an Honorary Life Member. Judi’s soccer career began on the Burin Peninsula but her impact quickly spread to the rest of the province and across the country as she became an integral part of various NLSA Boards and committees and Canada Soccer committees. On the national scene, Judi has served on Canada Soccer’s Competitions Committee for 24 years and has been the Chair since 2012, a position she still holds.
The new laureates and award winners will be recognized at a formal induction ceremony in April 2024.
For more information:
Chris Bartlett
President, NLSA
Chris.Bartlett@nlsa.ca
Colleen McConnell
Chair, NLSA Hall of Fame
colleen.mcconnell@nlsa.ca
Biographies:
Honorary Life Member - Judi Kelloway
For nearly 35 years, Judi Kelloway has been a pillar of the NLSA soccer community. She has held leadership roles in her local community, the provincial program, on the national scene, and even internationally. Judi has served as a vice-president of the NLSA from 1999 to 2023. While serving as a
vice-president she has held many leadership roles including: chair NLSA Rules and Regulations Committee (2003-2023), chair of the NLSA [Governance Committee] (2003-20230, Chair of the NLSA Harassment Committee (2005-2009), chair of the NLSA Manager's Committee (2003-2023) Member of the NLSA Technical Committee (2003-2023) and chair of the Competitions Committee (2023). On the national scene, Judi has served on the Canada Soccer's Competition Committee for 24 Years, and has been chair since 2012, a position she still holds. Judi also served on the Canada Soccer Female Committee (2002-2006) and was appointed National Rep for Canada Soccer at National Championships on nine occasions.
Honour Roll of Teams - 2023 Holy Cross Nutraholdings Jubilee Trophy
After capturing their eighth straight Provincial Jubilee Trophy championship, Holy Cross Nutraholdings refocused to defend their national title at the Toyota national championships in Halifax, Nova Scotia. At nationals, Holy Cross went undefeated with four wins and a tie, not allowing a single goal against. Their success earned them their second straight National Jubilee Trophy championship. Their success was the first time a national champion from this province was able to defend its title. In addition, to their national championship, Holy Cross won the Fair Play award for their sporting behavior at the championships.
Hall of Fame Laureates
Albert Anstey (Athlete)
Albert Anstey is a 30+ year veteran of NL soccer competitions as a player and a coach, including his time as a member of the storied Burin Eagles teams of the early 1990s. A former U21 provincial champion, Anstey started his Senior/Challenge Cup career with the Burin Eagles in 1987 - the year the team re-entered the NL senior soccer league. The team went on to win the provincial championships in 1990 and 1991. Acknowledged as one of the top centre defenders of his day, Anstey was recognized as his team’s MVP, and was named to the Challenge Cup All-Star team on three occasions. He was also twice honoured as the Town of Burin’s Athlete of the Year. A member of the Burin Peninsula Soccer Hall of Fame, Anstey later gave back to the sport through regional and provincial coaching, completing his National “B” licence, and continued competing at the Masters level, winning a number of provincial Masters championships with St. Lawrence.
Charlie Babstock (Athlete/Builder)
Inducted into the SportNL Hall of Fame in 2023, Charlie Babstock was known as a multi-sport athlete with a focus on soccer and hockey. While known for his scoring prowess in hockey, Charlie’s defensive alter ego came to the front in his soccer career, where he played with the Guards Athletic Association, Memorial University and represented the province at the 1973 Canada Summer Games in British Columbia. Charlie’s ability to find the back of the net was ever present, and his ability to both defend and score goals earned him starting positions with his teams. He was named the Guards Athletic Association’s Athlete of the Year and MVP for 1979. In more recent years, Charlie has been an active part of the local organizing committees for various youth and senior national championships, ensuring that these marquee tournaments were very successful.
Fiona Curtis (Athlete)
Fiona Curtis was one of the most dominant central midfielders of her generation and a leader on the pitch. A gifted technical player, Fiona often combined her abilities on the ball with a high level of communication to create plays with a great deal of deception. While she primarily played centrally in
the midfield, Fiona also possessed great defensive instincts and 1 v 1 defending ability, making her one of the most versatile players in the game. She was admired by her teammates and competitors as being a hard-working, skilled playmaker with a high level of fitness. Fiona was a strong communicator and was known for her competitive edge and high soccer intelligence. While Fiona has won MVP awards in many provincial competitions over the years, a major individual milestone was being named Rookie of the Year for AUAA (now AUS) as a member of the Memorial University Seahawks in 1996. She was also captain of the NLSA Canada Summer Games Team in 1997 and co-captain at MUN from 1999-2000. In AUAA play, Fiona was a first team All-Star selection in 2000. Also in 2000, she was named an Academic All-Canadian and inducted into the Memorial University Athletic Honour Society.
Mike Edmunds (Builder)
Mike started refereeing with St. John’s Minor soccer at the age of 10, then rapidly worked his way through the development channels to complete his referee classifications. By the age of 22, Mike was a Class 1 official and was selected to attend the U15/U17 boys all star nationals in Saskatchewan where he officiated his first ever national final garnering the attention of Canada Soccer officials. Mike refereed regularly in local and provincial competitions officiating numerous Challenge Cup and Jubilee Trophy finals and went on to referee professionally in the North American Soccer League (NASL) and at Canadian National Championships, and Canadian University National Championships (CIS). Mike also officiated at the 2009 Canada Summer Games in PEI. In recent years, Mike has contributed in various roles including six years as NLSA Director of Officials, and is the current chair of the NLSA Judicial Committee, a role he has held for three years. Mike is frequently asked for advice from other parts of Canada and is working on becoming a national level assessor through Canada Soccer’s National Assessors Program.
Nigel Facey (Athlete)
A multi-sport athlete, Nigel Facey is one of the few athletes to have represented the province at both a Canada Summer Games and a Canada Winter Games. Nigel’s soccer career was primarily based around the Fieldians Athletic Association, where he played both defender and striker, and was part of the Feildians effort that captured the City Championships in 1972 and 1977. Facey was a prolific goal scorer, winning the scoring championship two years in a row. While good with both feet, he was an exceptional header and a significant number of goals were scored with his head. Notably, in 1976, he had double the number of goals as the next player, despite missing five games. That same year he notched the first ever goal scored under the lights at Wishingwell Park in St. John’s in a 1-0 victory over Holy Cross. Facey is also a member of the SportNL Hall of Fame.
Kathy Hurley (Athlete)
For over twenty-five years, Kathy Hurley was a premier midfielder and defender with three different Jubilee Trophy teams. Although small in stature, she was a tower of strength in her club’s back line/midfield as she used her tenacity, game intelligence, quickness and sheer determination to play
opposing attackers into less dangerous positions. During her early days, Kathy was known for her offensive play as a left footed midfield maestro and led many of her teams in scoring. In her later years she adapted into the back line and was a solid defender with the ability to read and control the whole game from the back. Her relaxed style of play and leadership on and off the field has been a motivator for her teammates to excel. Her impressive longevity and tireless stamina and dedication led to several all-star awards. Her leadership over the years has been reflected in her being named team captain with most of the teams on which she played. The role of team captain also demonstrates the confidence and respect her teammates and coaches have for her abilities.
Jo Anne Mallay (Builder)
Jo Anne Mallay established herself a top Burin Peninsula player of the 1980s and early 1990s, playing at the local, Atlantic, university and Jubilee Trophy levels. This included participating in U18 and Jubilee Trophy national championships, as well as in the women’s 1985 national tournament as part of an all-star team representing Newfoundland and Labrador. Her passion for soccer speaks to service to the sport as a long-time volunteer, organizer, and coach. As an administrator for the Marystown Minor Soccer Association, she focused on every aspect of the game from field safety, to growing and attracting coaches and mentors, and worked closely with the Burin Peninsula Soccer Association to unify soccer across communities. She coached multiple BPSA teams at the metro and provincial league and NLSA level. Jo Anne put particular emphasis on reviving female soccer at the grassroots level providing young females with quality coaching combined with starting the “Play Like a Girl” Program. This led to a resurgence in female participation at the youth level and paved the way for BPSA’s female teams entering competitive play in the St. John’s metro league and provincial leagues. Her hard work has also contributed to producing a succession of female athletes that are now representing the province in multiple competitions and levels. Jo Anne is also a member of the Burin Peninsula Soccer Hall of Fame.
Ron “Knockers” Martin (Athlete)
A feared striker who gave 110% every time he played, Ron “Knockers” Martin was a key cog in the wheel that powered the golden Feildians teams of the 1960s. Ron started his soccer career in 1961, winning the City Championship with the Feildians Juniors. That same year, he was called up regularly by the Feildians seniors who also went on to win the City Championship, making a name for himself as a creative and tenacious goal-scorer and future leader. By 1962, he was chosen the team’s Most Valuable Player. Ron was a strong, determined player with the stamina required to cover both offense and defense under the old style of play, and adapted quickly to the new format of the late 60’s becoming a formidable striker for the double blues. He was part of the team’s first-ever All-Newfoundland Championship in 1964, contributing one of Feildians’ three goals in their 3-0 tiebreaker in Grand Bank. By 1969, he had further matured as a player and teammate, serving as captain to lead the 1969 Fieldians to both the City and All-Newfoundland Championships once again.
Anne Stapleton (Athlete)
Anne Stapleton is the first name that a coach writes down on the game sheet. Growing up in a golden generation of current (and future) hall of famers, Anne was always a 90-minute player. Teammates and coaches will tell you that she was one of the most important players on the field. She played club All-Star in Mount Pearl, representing the province twice at Nationals and spent four years with the provincial team program, representing NL at the Canada Games in 1997. As a five-year member of the Memorial University Seahawks, she reached the final twice, was twice named an Academic All-Canadian and was inducted into Memorial University’s Athletic Honor Society in 2000. She then went on to a successful senior career, winning three Jubilee Trophy titles. Anne was named team MVP of a star-studded championship Feildians team in 1999 and was also the Jubilee playoff MVP in 2006, putting up one of the best playoff performances of all time to help Paradise Physiotherapy capture the Jubilee Trophy. Anne was a skilled, physical presence in her role as defensive midfielder, effectively covering a huge amount of ground. She remains one of the best defensive midfielders to ever play the game in NL.
