Mention the name ‘McPherson’ in the Scarborough soccer community and you will always get a response – and all will come with a story and all will be favourable. You see, Jim McPherson is one of a kind – he’s as tough and hardy as the Scotch Thistle that grows abundantly in the land of his birth. And yet there is a gentleness and a kindness that comes to the fore whenever there is a needy or troubled youth that comes his way. He is really a softy at heart.

Forty years ago the pastor of Clairlea Presbyterian Church on St. Clair Avenue east of Pharmacy asked for someone in the parish to suggest an activity that would serve the youth of the community. Jim knew the game of soccer and when he approached the pastor with the suggestion of starting a soccer club, little did either gentleman guess that the result would be an organization that has served thousands of young people over its forty year history and continues to be a precious gift to today’s youth.

Jim was single at the time, but it wasn’t long before he met and married his wife Marlene, and she became a strong supporter and willing worker for the newly named Clairlea-Westview Soccer Club. Besides acting as the General Manager of the Club for its first thirty-five years, Jim found time to coach, referee and sit on the Scarborough Soccer Association Executive where he served as treasurer. Ask anyone who served on those executives when Jim was treasurer and they will tell you how proud they were of balanced budgets year after year.

Five years ago Jim stepped aside as General Manager in favour of a younger person with long ties to the club and a wealth of soccer knowledge. At the same time the club’s assistant general manager also stepped aside and Jim’s son took over that portfolio. Both new individuals did tremendous work but day jobs got in the way and Jim’s son ended up being transferred to Calgary and the new General Manager retired after five years of stellar service. At present, Jim McPherson is back as temporary General Manager until a new person can be found. Jim keeps telling people that he is getting old and you need a younger person at the helm – yet he soldiers on as the founder of the club and the inspiration for its continuing existence and excellence.

Jim is truly humble and takes little credit for himself, but it should be noted that he has been received into the Ontario Soccer Association’s Circle of Excellence as an individual, his club – Clairlea-Westview Soccer Club, is the only predominately house league club to ever win Club of the Year honours from the OSA, and he is proudly present in the Scarborough Soccer Center’s wall of fame receiving an award from the Canadian Government. Jim has been honoured many times over the years for both his volunteer work in soccer as well as his volunteer work in the Presbyterian Church.

A number of years ago Jim inspired a team that worked with him in bringing about an Irish exchange. His dream was to bring both Protestant and Catholic youth from Northern Ireland over to Scarborough ostensibly on a soccer exchange but really on an educational endeavour. He wanted to show these youngsters that people of various faith denominations and ethnic backgrounds could get together through the game of soccer and learn to appreciate their unique talents and customs and become friends in the process. The Exchange was a resounding success and saw the families of the Irish guests turn around and invite their Canadian hosts back to Ireland. Both communities were able to fundraise so that the exchange was an affordable event for all participants. It was quite a coup to see Protestant families and Catholic families in Northern Ireland, who previously had little social contact with each other, suddenly working on committees together and becoming friends.

The many volunteers who have worked with Jim over these last many years all have the greatest respect for his work attitude, his selfless sacrifice,and his many contributions to tomorrow’s citizens. He will deny any of the credit and always defer to the many who work in this unique club, a club loosely affiliated with the Anglican, Presbyterian, United and Roman Catholic parishes in the community. It is all their doing he will tell you.

While many fifteen and twenty years his junior are retiring from such volunteer work, Jim is right back in the thick of things. We salute “Sunny” Jim McPherson for a lifetime of true altruism to the youth of our community and wish him continued good health and success as he directs CWSC into its next forty years.

Article written by Jim Barnes — a long-time friend and member of management at Clairlea-Westview Soccer Club.