George Bow” Collier – Athlete/Veteran”

Inducted 2012

Fortune athlete George “Bow” Collier is a veteran of the sport of soccer in the Province of Newfoundland and Labrador dating back to 1960 when he starting playing for his home town in the Burin Peninsula Soccer League. For the next six years Bow played with Fortune in the Burin Peninsula Soccer League. In 1967 he moved to St. John’s for a year and led the Guards of the St. John’s Soccer League to first place in league play only to lose in the finals. He won two individual awards – Top Scorer and Player of the Game for his all-around play during league play. In 1968 he returned to Fortune and played with his home town team for the next six years in the Burin Peninsula Soccer League. In 1970 he was selected to the provincial all-star team to compete in the National Men’s Soccer Championship in Winnipeg. It was his ability to score goals which earned him a try-out with the Canada’s National Soccer Team in 1971. This try out was in preparation for the 1971 Pan American Games and the qualifying rounds of the 1972 Olympics. Bow saw international competition in 1973 when he was selected to the Burin Peninsula All-Star Team and the provincial all-star team to play against Ayre United of the Scottish First Division Soccer League. In 1974, after he returned from the England trip he decided to play for the Grand Bank Gee Bees that summer in the provincial Challenge Cup and the Burin Peninsula First Division Soccer Leagues and was named Top Scorer and Most Gentlemanly and Effective Player. In 1974 he also coached the Fortune second division team that went on to win the All-Newfoundland Second Division Soccer Championship. In 1975 he was again selected to the provincial all-star team to play against Ayre United Scottish team. From 1974 to 1976 he led Fortune to three provincial second division championships; from 1977 to 1983 he played with Fortune in Challenge Cup competition; from 1983 to 1985 he led Fortune to three straight provincial Master’s championships; in 1986 he was inducted into the Burin Peninsula Soccer Hall of Fame; in 1989 he was named Newfoundland and Labrador Soccer Association’s Player of the Decade for the 1960’s; and in 2000 he was inducted into the Newfoundland and Labrador Soccer Hall of Fame. Bow Collier’s athletic skill, high level of leadership, dominance as a player, sportsmanship and respect while on the field, his strength, and goal scoring ability have gained him recognition as one of this province’s finest soccer players.