The Ontario Soccer Association honoured the 2016 Meritorious Service Award winners Saturday night at the Sheraton Toronto Airport and Conference Centre. 

Also, known as the Centre Circle Awards, these awards are the OSA’s highest level of recognition and are presented annually to men, women and organizations nominated on the basis of their outstanding contributions to the development of soccer in Ontario and Canada. This year included 12 winners in the Individuals Category, two winners in the Club Category and one winner in the President's Award Category. Click here to see all the photos from the Annual General Awards

President's Award

Gerry Dobson

Gerry Dobson has been selected for the prestigious President’s Award.

Dobson, who recently announced his retirement after 18 years with Sportsnet, has established himself as one of the leading soccer broadcasters in the country as the host of Sportsnet’s top soccer properties. Dobson has hosted a variety of studio shows for Sportsnet including Barclays Premier League, UEFA Champions League and FIFA World Cup coverage. An integral part of Sportsnet’s live soccer broadcasts, Dobson has served as play-by-play voice for Major League Soccer, Canadian National Team games and CONCACAF. 

In 2012, Dobson was the recipient of the Brian Budd Award from the Canadian Soccer Hall of Fame, recognizing those who show outstanding dedication, achievements and leadership in developing soccer in Canada.

Gerry Dobson plays an active role in the soccer community assisting with many organizations often taking on the task of Master of Ceremonies as well as guest lecturing at local colleges. Gerry actively works with the Canadian Soccer Association, The Ontario Soccer Association, professional clubs and grass roots soccer organizations to help promote the game of soccer in Canada.

Dobson was selected for the President’s Award by Ron Smale, President of The Ontario Soccer Association.

Individual Awards

Cam Vassallo

Cam Vassallo has been selected for a Centre Circle Award in the Individual category. Cam has a long career in soccer administration in the London-area. He has sat on the Board for the London and District Youth Soccer League and was a founding member of the Greater London Soccer Club. Currently, Cam is the Vice President for the Elgin Middlesex Soccer Association and the Commissioner for the Western Ontario Soccer League. Cam has also recently co-founded the London Youth Soccer Club, and established a partnership with that Club and the Vancouver Whitecaps. 

Vassallo was nominated for the Meritorious Service Award by the Elgin Middlesex Soccer Association.

Dave Edgcumbe

Dave Edgcumbe has been selected for a Centre Circle Award in the Individual category. Dave’s career in soccer began in 1980 as a youth coach for Glanbrook House League Soccer. In 1986 Dave joined Hamilton Sparta, again starting out as a coach. Over the years, Dave became more involved with the Club and currently serves as the Club Director and Registrar. Dave is also very involved with the Hamilton MJ Soccer League and the Hamilton Old-Timers Soccer League, serving as Director and Webmaster for both. Dave has also been heavily involved in the implementation of IT systems in the soccer community, including beta testing for the OSA’s online registration system and bringing the first online scheduling system to the Hamilton District. 

Edgcumbe was nominated for the Meritorious Service Award by the Hamilton & District Soccer Association.

Francis Martin 

Francis Martin has been selected for a Centre Circle Award in the Individual category. Francis has made a name for himself in the soccer community as a referee. He became a member of the Ontario Soccer Referees Association – Halton and became a Director in 1997. In 2009, he would become the President of the same Association. In 2000, Francis became a Referee Instructor, a position he held until 2015. Today Francis is the Director of Referees for the Peel Halton Soccer Association, a position he’s held since 2007. Francis also assists with discipline cases for the Peel Halton Soccer Association. 

Martin was nominated for the Meritorious Service Award by the Peel Halton Soccer Association.

Jim Bainbridge

James (Jim) Bainbridge has been selected for a Centre Circle Award in the Individual category. Jim became involved in soccer in the early 1980’s starting as a referee. Over the years, he climbed the ranks and eventually reached the National List. Jim retired from refereeing in 2010. In addition to his time as a referee, Jim has held several administrative positions including Referee Assignor and Director for Cambridge Youth Soccer, Vice-President and President of the South-West Referees Soccer Association, OSA instructor and Assessor, and Discipline Chair. Jim is still active in many of these roles today. 

Bainbridge was nominated for the Meritorious Service Award by the South-West Regional Soccer Association.

Nick Constantinou

Nick Constantinou has been selected for a Centre Circle Award in the Individual category. Nick has been involved in soccer his entire life, starting out as a player in the 1950s. In 1978 Nick tried his hand at refereeing, and within two years, retired from playing to focus on being an official. Throughout the 80’s Nick climbed the referee ranks, reaching Grade 1 (equivalent to today’s Provincial level). 

Constantinou was nominated for the Meritorious Service Award by the Durham Region Soccer Association.

Susan Carnegie

Susan Carnegie has been selected for a Centre Circle Award in the Individual category. Susan has played an instrumental role in the development of the Sarnia Girls’ Soccer Club for over 25 years. Starting as a coach in the early 90s, Susan began coaching grassroots house league teams and would later move onto youth competitive teams. After her third year of coaching, Susan was asked to sit on the Club’s Board of Directors. Over the years, she has served as the Club’s Sponsorship Director, Concession Director, Fields Coordinator, Referee Director, and is currently the Sarnia Girls’ Soccer Club President. Susan is revered in the Sarnia soccer community for her leadership, work ethic, and for her dedication to make the Club a positive lasting experience for the 1300 female registrants. 

Carnegie was nominated for the Meritorious Service Award by the Lambton-Kent Soccer Association.

Tom Partalas 

Tom Partalas has been selected for a Centre Circle Award in the Individual category. Known to many in the London soccer community as “Mr. Soccer”, Tom has been involved in all facets of organized soccer in the London-area since he emigrated from Greece in 1967. As a player, Tom was an all-star for the Western University Mustangs and later played professionally for the London City Soccer Club. In the 70s Tom transitioned to coaching, which he did for many years. In 1994, Tom tried his hand at refereeing, something he still does to this day. As an administrator, Tom held several prominent positions, including President of the Elgin Middlesex Referee Association, Vice President of the Forest City Youth Soccer League, OSA Referee Instructor and Assessor, and a founding member of the Western Ontario Youth Soccer League, among many others. Tom is currently the President and CEO of the London Optimist Sports Centre, a non-profit that owns and operates the BMO Centre in London. 

Partalas was nominated for the Meritorious Service Award by the Elgin Middlesex Soccer Association.

Tony Celli 

Tony Celli has been selected for a Centre Circle Award in the Individual category. Tony has been involved in organized soccer since 1963, as a player, coach, referee, and administrator. He has played a key role in founding several organizations and institutions, including the Torino Marconi Soccer Club in 1964, the first Men’s Indoor Soccer League in the region in 1979, and the Sault International Soccer Tournament and Labatt’s International Soccer Tournament in the early 80’s. More recently, Tony introduced a Varsity Men’s Soccer Program to Algoma University in 2004, adding a Varsity Women’s Soccer Program in 2006. Today, Tony sits on the Board of Directors for the Sault Amateur Soccer Association and the Sault Youth Soccer League. 

Celli was nominated for the Meritorious Service Award by the Sault Amateur Soccer Association.

Val DiDomizio 

Val DiDomizio has been selected for a Centre Circle Award in the Individual category. Val has been involved in organized soccer for most of his life, starting as a youth player in Italy and later as a coach and referee after immigrating to Canada. As a volunteer, Val has sat on The Ontario Soccer Association’s Competitions Committee for 26 years, four of which were as Committee Chair. Val has logged over 1000 volunteer hours with the OSA, and was recognized in 2013 with the Extra Mile Award, an honour given to the OSA event volunteer with the most logged hours over the season. Val has also been heavily involved at the Club and District level, having sat on the Board of Directors for both the Woodbridge Soccer Club and the York Region Soccer Association. 

DiDomizio was nominated for the Meritorious Service Award by the Competitions Committee of The Ontario Soccer Association.

Vince Tersigni 

Vince Tersigni has been selected for a Centre Circle Award in the Individual category. Vince has been a dedicated soccer volunteer for decades. He began in the early 80s with the Vaughan Soccer Club, holding Board positions of Director, Vice President, and President from 1985 to 2001. He has also been the Treasurer for the Ontario Youth Soccer League from 1994 to 2001 and for the Central Soccer League from 2001 to 2010. Vince has also sat on the OSA’s Board of Directors, chaired the OSA’s Futsal Committee, and chaired multiple Local Organizing Committees for Provincial and National Competitions. Vince is currently the Vice President of the York Region Soccer Association and the Chair of the OSA’s Competitions Committee, having been a member on that Committee since 2000. 

Tersigni was nominated for the Meritorious Service Award by the York Region Soccer Association.

William Hay 

William Hay has been selected for a Centre Circle Award in the Individual category. William began in organized soccer as a coach for the Bolton Wanderers Soccer Club in 1993. In 2002, still with the Club, William began his time as a Match Official as well. In 2005, William was elected President of BWSC, and he held that position until 2013. In 2008, William got involved at the District level, elected as Technical Director for the Peel Halton Soccer Association. In 2012 he was elected Vice President of PHSA, and then President in 2013, a position he still holds to this day. William has also sat on several committees, including South Regional League Management Committee, OSA Technical Advisory Committee, OSA League Management Committee, and OSA Academy Working Group. 

Hay was nominated for the Meritorious Service Award by the Peel Halton Soccer Association.

Team Awards

East Hamilton Soccer Club 

The East Hamilton Soccer Club has been selected for a Centre Circle Award in the Club category. East Hamilton SC was established in 1976, starting as a small Club founded by two friends: Bill Johnston and Bill Bradley. Over the years, the Club has grown to over 100 members. The Club offers recreational and competitive programming for players of all ages. The Club has had success at the youth and senior levels. Youth teams have won the USA Cup in Minnesota, and senior teams have won several Hamilton District Soccer League titles. The Club has also won multiple Hamilton Spectator Cups. 

East Hamilton Soccer Club was nominated for the Meritorious Service Award by the Hamilton & District Soccer Association.

Stoney Creek Soccer Club

The Stoney Creek Soccer Club has been selected for a Centre Circle Award in the Club category. Stoney Creek SC was established in 1997, starting out with only a handful of teams. In the 80s the Club developed a house league program, with membership slowly growing. In 1992 the Club implemented some new and innovative ideas, which saw participation in its house league grow from 460 players to 1400 by 2015. Stoney Creek SC was a founding sponsor of the Hamilton Soccer Hall of Fame and was instrumental in creating the Hamilton United Football Club. In 2014, the Club was represented at the National Club Championships, where the Under 14 Girls went undefeated and did not concede a goal to take home the Gold. In 2015, the Stoney Creek Soccer Club merged with the Saltfleet Soccer Club to form the Saltfleet Stoney Creek Soccer Club. 

The Stoney Creek Soccer Club was nominated for the Meritorious Service Award by the Hamilton & District Soccer Association.