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21/01/11











 

 


Where Are They Now? - Bernie Fagan.


We first met Bernie when we lived at Newbottle. He was a young teenager, football mad and good with it. Unfortunately he had lost his Dad to kidney failure, and so didn’t have a man in his life who understood the finer points of football. I liked the lad immediately. He was so keen to be a footballer and showed exceptional ability and promise. The inevitable happened and Bernie became a regular at our home learning ( I hope ) from my experience playing the wonderful game. Our girls also joined in the coaching sessions ( Jeanette used to do ‘throw-ins’ in the garden for Bernie to receive ) and in 1964 Bernie was signed up at Sunderland. I take no credit, as I always felt the lad was a natural. His balance was brilliant and he was always eager to learn. He was a great reader of the game and had an excellent temperament. We have kept in touch with him, his sister and lovely Mam, Mary.
He came through the Sunderland ranks with Kerr, Hughes, Tueart, Suggett, Shoulder and Foster to name but a few. He brought them all to the house and we enjoyed their company, just an ordinary set of lads, not like the prima donnas of today. Together with these teammates he won the F.A. Youth Cup in 1967, a proud moment for all of us. As sometimes happens in football, his face didn’t fit with the new manager so he left Sunderland in 1969 playing for Northampton, Charlton, Shrewsbury and Scarborough. The opportunity came for him to continue his career in the States and I told him to take it with both hands, not a decision to take lightly putting thousands of miles between himself and his family and friends. In America he played for Seattle, Los Angeles Aztecs, Detroit Lightning finishing his professional career with Portland Timbers in 1982. He was also an NASL All Stars team member playing with the great Pele.
After retiring from the game he went into coaching working with the students at both Warner Pacific College and Portland University. In 1983 he started the Bernie Fagan Soccer Camps then in 1997 opened his own academy - the Oregon Soccer Academy. Running alongside this he was the director for Oregon Special Olympics Soccer from 1986 – 1995 and the director for National Special Olympics Soccer from 1989 – 2008. He has strived throughout to give young people the opportunity to develop their skills in soccer, team building, community awareness and responsibility and pride in their own achievements. Bernie personally selects his coaching staff taking on those who he thinks have the qualities to be outstanding role models for the youth of today as well as a proven history as quality soccer coaches.
He is highly respected as a soccer coach with international recognition for his work in promoting, developing and improving the quality of soccer players at local, national and international levels. He is a wonderful ambassador for youth, college students and Special Olympics athletes around the globe. Long may he walk this road.
On a visit about 5 years ago, he brought me my own academy coaching jacket and with it a special gift of ‘Honorary Coach’ of the Oregon Soccer Academy. I wear it with pride and thanks for the honour he bestowed on me and the bond that is between us. The rest is history, a lad to be proud of, with special qualities both on and off the field. Didn’t he do well!!
Bill Coyle

    

Bernie Fagan                                               Bill Coyle

 

 
       

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This site was last updated 21/01/11