Norman Kelly – Athlete

Inducted October 18, 2003

Norm Kelly began his soccer career in 1956 at the age of 17 after graduating from the games he played in the meadows of St. Lawrence. His soccer career was one to be rivalled by many as he dominated the game of soccer year after year. He was an invaluable member of the St. Lawrence Soccer Team who soon became known for his “bullet” shot and dominant play at midfield. Norm was a member of a team that won six Burin Peninsula Soccer Championships in 1956, 1959, 1965, 1966, 1967 and 1968; four All-Newfoundland Soccer Championships in 1965, 1966, 1967 and 1968; as well as two Atlantic provincial titles in 1967 and 1968. In 1965 he played in his first All-Newfoundland competition in Corner Brook. In 1967, when Challenge Cup was first introduced, Norm was a member of the St. Lawrence team which played against the Sydney Ramblers of Nova Scotia in St. Lawrence defeating them 9 to 1. During his career, Norm always showed strong determination and knowledge of the game of soccer which was evident in his winning the Laurentians’ MVP title four times; winning the Burin Peninsula MVP title in 1966 and 1968; and winning the All-Newfoundland MVP title in 1963 and 1968. His strong leadership was evident both on and off the field as he captained the Laurentians from 1963 to 1968. Norm was also a member of the Burin Peninsula All-Star Team from 1966 – 1968. He prided himself on the fact that other members of his team respected and looked to him for leadership. In 1967 he was a player on the first All-Newfoundland Soccer Team to travel outside the province to Ontario where they played Toronto Ballymena in a night game � the first time St. Lawrence ever played under the lights. Norm, as determined as ever and refusing to be intimidated by his new surroundings scored one of the Laurentians’ goals in that game which they lost 3 to 2. Norm is looked upon as one of the most outstanding Laurentians of the 1960’s, in fact, he is looked upon by many as one of the top Laurentians of all time. As well as a player, Norm coached and was one of the coaches/chaperons who took approximately 40 All-Newfoundland Pee Wee and Bantam players from Newfoundland to Pierrefonds, Quebec in 1967. As a coach he guided the Laurentians from 1969 to 1970 after sustaining a major leg injury in 1969 which ended his soccer career as a player.

In the early 1960’s Norm served as Director and Vice-President of the St. Lawrence Recreation Commission, in 1966/67 he served as Southern Vice-President of the Burin Peninsula Soccer Association and Burin Peninsula Representative to the Newfoundland Soccer Association. In 1989 he served as Director of the St. Lawrence Soccer Association.

Norm was very active in other sports, but none as outstanding as soccer. For Norm, no other sport could come close to the game of soccer.

In the early 1970’s he helped organize curling in St. Lawrence and was a very successful curler often representing St. Lawrence in the zone playdowns in St. John’s. Norm also played hockey with the inter-town teams.

Norm was inducted into the St. Lawrence Soccer Hall of Fame in 1982, the Burin Peninsula Soccer Hall of Fame in 1989 and the Newfoundland Soccer Hall of Fame in 1989.

To this day, Norm follows the St. Lawrence Laurentians as a loyal fan wherever they go. He says he is very proud to be a Laurentian and wear the Laurentian Blue. The small round crest Norm still has tells what the St. Lawrence Laurentians’ team was, what the team is still all about, and the reason they have been so successful, the 3 D’s as he refers to them stand for Desire, Dedication and Determination.

Although a dreaded rival on the field, off the field, Norm Kelly was a very friendly and well respected person as was evident by the many people who would continue to greet him after his days on the soccer field.