Wilson “Wils” Molloy – Athlete

Inducted November 4, 1989

Wilson Molloy was born in St. Lawrence in 1947. While participating in a number of sports he was regarded as one of the finest soccer players ever to play in the province.

He was a member of the St. Lawrence Laurentians Senior Soccer team from 1965 to 1984. Won the Burin Peninsula Championship in all 19 years his club played. As a member of the Provincial Championship team he led his team to provincial title in 1965, 1966 and from 1971 to 1977, a total of nine Provincial Senior Championships. In 1975 he scored five of six goals in leading the Laurentians to the Provincial Championship. From 1985 to 1989 he was a member of the St. Lawrence Masters Soccer team and won the Provincial Championship in all four years. Wils was named MVP for three of the four years.

In 1967 as a member of the St. Lawrence team he participated in the National Challenge Cup against Toronto. While Newfoundland lost 3-1, he scored the Newfoundland goal. In 1975 he scored the game winners as Newfoundland won the Eastern Challenge Cup finals. St. Lawrence hosted the National Challenge Cup in 1977 and while St. Lawrence lost to British Columbia in the final Wils was named outstanding player for Newfoundland. In total he participated on four Eastern Atlantic Championship teams. On the international scene he was a member of the Canadian Olympic Team in 1972 and played against Mexico in the qualifying round. He also participated in a number of exhibition series against Ayr United of Scotland and Queens Park of Scotland.

Wils Molloy’s name has become a household soccer name not only in Newfoundland, but all across Canada. His prolific scoring ability and leadership coupled with a high degree of sportsmanship have left its mark on the soccer fraternity of Newfoundland and Labrador.