georg
05-15-2007, 10:53 AM
Found in KW Record
Link (http://www.therecord.com/home_page_sports_story/home_page_sports_story_1041594.html)
Soccer star wows local kids
Students mob David Edgar for autographs
JOSH BROWN
KITCHENER (May 15, 2007)
Meeting a sports hero leaves a lasting impression.
Kitchener soccer star David Edgar fondly remembers two such occasions from his childhood.
"I remember meeting Walter Gretzky when I was playing ice hockey," said the 19-year-old Newcastle United defender who is back in town for a visit while he trains with Canada's Under-20 club. "What a nice guy he was."
And then there was his encounter with English soccer legend Kevin Keegan. Edgar was about five years old. He was standing near the Newcastle United team entrance when the former-forward-turned-manager walked by.
"I remember him shouting and screaming at players because they did something wrong," he said. "As he came down the stairs he just changed his tone and said hello and I got a picture and an autograph."
Edgar, who turns 20 on Saturday, still has the photograph at home. So when his godmother Elizabeth Cassidy asked if he could stop by St. John elementary school in Kitchener yesterday morning to spend some time with the students, it was a no-brainer.
"I love it," he said after scrimmaging with a bunch of youngsters on the playground. "It's nothing out of my day. I'm here on holiday and I don't mind doing stuff like this."
About 150 kids gathered in the school's gymnasium to ask questions and hear about life in the English Premier League. After that, they all headed outside to play soccer and learn some tricks on the pitch.
And then Edgar was mauled for autographs by the adoring fans. He obliged, but did so gingerly since his right hand -- which he uses to write -- was taped up. He hurt his thumb in a friendly against Argentina this past Friday while trying to brace his fall after a tackle. As of now it looks like torn ligaments but he fears it may be broken. He'll find out more this week after he gets an X-ray.
Edgar scored the lone marker in the 2-1 loss to the five-time FIFA Under-20 champions when he converted a penalty kick in the first half.
"No one likes losing," he said. "But we matched them toe-for-toe the whole game. We're ecstatic with the way we played."
The loss puts Canada at 1-2 in exhibition play with two more friendlies against the U.S. and one versus the Czech Republic remaining. The Canucks face Chile on Canada Day in the opener of the Under-20 World Cup.
"We didn't have this preparation for the last World Cup," said Edgar. "It's good chemistry on this team. Everyone likes each other. We're like big game players. We rise to the occasion and that's good."
Edgar certainly approves of the new BMO Field, which was built specifically for soccer. He took in Toronto FC's match against Chicago this past Saturday with some of his Canadian teammates and was impressed by the devoted fans, especially when they pelted the field with souvenir seat cushions.
"Oh my God, it's an unbelievable atmosphere," said the centre-back, who just bought a new house near Newcastle's training facility after inking a two-deal with the Magpies. "I had shivers at the game. I didn't actually think I was in Toronto. I just thought 'what's going on here? This isn't Canada?'
"They (fans) didn't stop (making noise) all game. American teams won't want to come and play in Toronto. I'm telling you this now. People were getting hit by seat cushions and the Americans didn't like it."
He hopes the intensity continues when he hits the field for the Under-20 World Cup in July
Link (http://www.therecord.com/home_page_sports_story/home_page_sports_story_1041594.html)
Soccer star wows local kids
Students mob David Edgar for autographs
JOSH BROWN
KITCHENER (May 15, 2007)
Meeting a sports hero leaves a lasting impression.
Kitchener soccer star David Edgar fondly remembers two such occasions from his childhood.
"I remember meeting Walter Gretzky when I was playing ice hockey," said the 19-year-old Newcastle United defender who is back in town for a visit while he trains with Canada's Under-20 club. "What a nice guy he was."
And then there was his encounter with English soccer legend Kevin Keegan. Edgar was about five years old. He was standing near the Newcastle United team entrance when the former-forward-turned-manager walked by.
"I remember him shouting and screaming at players because they did something wrong," he said. "As he came down the stairs he just changed his tone and said hello and I got a picture and an autograph."
Edgar, who turns 20 on Saturday, still has the photograph at home. So when his godmother Elizabeth Cassidy asked if he could stop by St. John elementary school in Kitchener yesterday morning to spend some time with the students, it was a no-brainer.
"I love it," he said after scrimmaging with a bunch of youngsters on the playground. "It's nothing out of my day. I'm here on holiday and I don't mind doing stuff like this."
About 150 kids gathered in the school's gymnasium to ask questions and hear about life in the English Premier League. After that, they all headed outside to play soccer and learn some tricks on the pitch.
And then Edgar was mauled for autographs by the adoring fans. He obliged, but did so gingerly since his right hand -- which he uses to write -- was taped up. He hurt his thumb in a friendly against Argentina this past Friday while trying to brace his fall after a tackle. As of now it looks like torn ligaments but he fears it may be broken. He'll find out more this week after he gets an X-ray.
Edgar scored the lone marker in the 2-1 loss to the five-time FIFA Under-20 champions when he converted a penalty kick in the first half.
"No one likes losing," he said. "But we matched them toe-for-toe the whole game. We're ecstatic with the way we played."
The loss puts Canada at 1-2 in exhibition play with two more friendlies against the U.S. and one versus the Czech Republic remaining. The Canucks face Chile on Canada Day in the opener of the Under-20 World Cup.
"We didn't have this preparation for the last World Cup," said Edgar. "It's good chemistry on this team. Everyone likes each other. We're like big game players. We rise to the occasion and that's good."
Edgar certainly approves of the new BMO Field, which was built specifically for soccer. He took in Toronto FC's match against Chicago this past Saturday with some of his Canadian teammates and was impressed by the devoted fans, especially when they pelted the field with souvenir seat cushions.
"Oh my God, it's an unbelievable atmosphere," said the centre-back, who just bought a new house near Newcastle's training facility after inking a two-deal with the Magpies. "I had shivers at the game. I didn't actually think I was in Toronto. I just thought 'what's going on here? This isn't Canada?'
"They (fans) didn't stop (making noise) all game. American teams won't want to come and play in Toronto. I'm telling you this now. People were getting hit by seat cushions and the Americans didn't like it."
He hopes the intensity continues when he hits the field for the Under-20 World Cup in July