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David Gee (soccer)

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David Gee
Personal information
Full name David Gee
Place of birth Liverpool, England
Managerial career
Years Team
1985–1986 Toronto Emeralds
1988–1990 Ryerson Rams
1995 Toronto Rockets
1995 Toronto Italia
1997 Toronto Lynx (assistant coach)
1998–2002 Toronto Olympians

David Gee is an English soccer head coach, businessman and league administrator of the Ontario Soccer League.[1] He also serves as operations manager for League1 Ontario.[2]

Administrative career

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Gee originally was trained at the Liverpool F.C. Academy, before emigrating to Canada in 1982.[3] Once in Canada he served as the general manager for Soccerworld II in Mississauga, Ontario, and eventually formed his own management company DG Sports Inc in 1993. He originally negotiated with the city of Mississauga in order to promote soccer matches at Hangar 66.[4] In 2001, he purchased the Toronto Olympians from Coffee Time founder Tom Michalopoulos, and retained his position as head coach and general manager.[5][6] Gee also attempted promoting indoor soccer in 1998 by applying for a National Professional Soccer League franchise in Mississauga.[7]

In 2004, Gee sold his club to John O'Neil, the Director of the Durham Region Soccer Association.[8] In 2014, he became operations manager for League1 Ontario as his management company began operating the league along with the Ontario Soccer League, and Ontario Academy Soccer League.[9] The Ontario Soccer Association awarded the President's award to DG Sports Inc.[9]

Managerial career

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Gee began his managerial career in 1985 in the Premier Division of the Toronto and District League with Toronto Emeralds, and secured the Ontario Cup.[10] In 1988, he served as the team manager for the North York Rockets in the Canadian Soccer League.[3] He later served as the head coach for the Ryerson Rams at the college level. In early February, 1995 he was named the head coach for the Toronto Rockets in the A-League, but the team folded before the commencement of the 1995 season.[11] For the remainder of the 1995 season he coached Toronto Italia in the Canadian National Soccer League.[3]

In 1997, he was given the position of general manager and assistant coach for the Toronto Lynx of the USL A-League. He was primarily responsible for assembling and organizing the club's first roster. Gee brought in international imports Martin Dugas, Lei Gong, and Darren Tilley, and the local Canadian National Soccer League players.[12] Later in the season Gee resigned from his position after differences with the team owners.[13] Gee was credited by team officials and players for organizing a capable team to perform in the A-League.[14][15]

In 1998, Gee was appointed the head coach of the Toronto Olympians in the Canadian Professional Soccer League. He assembled a creditable squad primarily due to sponsorship money from Coffee Time and team owner Tom Michalopoulos.[16] During his tenure with the organization he established Toronto as a powerhouse and a championship dynasty within the league. For his efforts the league awarded him the CPSL Coach of the Year award in 1998, and 1999.[17] On June 20, 2001 he purchased the club from Coffee Time Donuts meanwhile retaining his position as head coach and general manager.[5][6]

In 2002, Gee relocated his club to Mississauga and relinquished his role as head coach to Darren Tilley and Tony Laferrara in 2003.[18][19][20] In 2004, Gee sold his club to John O'Neil, the Director of the Durham Region Soccer Association.[8] In 2015, the Ontario Soccer League awarded Gee with the Ted Coombs award.[21]

Honors

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References

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  1. ^ Soccer/Template, E2E. "Ontario Soccer League: About". ontariosl.com. Retrieved April 26, 2015.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  2. ^ "Contact". League1 Ontario. Retrieved February 5, 2017.
  3. ^ a b c "About Us – D.G. Sports Inc". Retrieved March 19, 2019.
  4. ^ "Indoor soccer promoter mum about meeting on hanger". Newspapers.com. The Ottawa Citizen. April 29, 1989. p. 13. Retrieved June 23, 2020.
  5. ^ a b Laskaris, Sam (June 20, 2001). "Soccer team eyes move to Mississauga". Scarborough Mirror.
  6. ^ a b Desaulniers, Darren (October 8, 2001). "Wizards capture league". Newspapers.com. The Ottawa Citizen. p. 48. Retrieved June 23, 2020.
  7. ^ "Sports Brief". Newspapers.com. The Montreal Gazette. April 3, 1998. p. 10. Retrieved June 23, 2020.
  8. ^ a b Mcnair, Brian (January 25, 2004). "Pro soccer returns to Durham - John O'Neill buys Olympians, expects new name for CPSL club". Pickering News.
  9. ^ a b "DG Sports - President's Award". www.ontariosoccer.net. Retrieved June 23, 2020.
  10. ^ Proudfoot, Jim (January 15, 1986). "Players struggle to keep dying soccer team alive". Toronto Star. p. B1.
  11. ^ "Rockets get man". Vancouver Sun. February 16, 1995. p. 62.
  12. ^ Hendren, Paul (March 9, 1997). "Lynx Get Organized - After a slow start the Toronto Lynx are making steady progress". Canada Kicks.
  13. ^ Hendren, Paul (September 25, 1997). "Looking Forward - Lynx owner Iantorno looking towards 1998". Canada Kicks.
  14. ^ Hendren, Paul (June 7, 1997). "Lynx Red Hot - Sixth straight win for Toronto, third straight loss for Carolina". Canada Kicks.
  15. ^ Hendren, Paul (June 16, 1997). "Not Poetry But Victory - The Lynx stumbled a bit but won anyway". Canada Kicks.
  16. ^ Bailey, David (May 13, 1998). "CPSL Ready To Go - Major sponsors on board as well". Canada Kicks.
  17. ^ "Canadian Professional Soccer league 1998 to 2005" (PDF). canadiansoccerleague.ca. October 14, 1998.
  18. ^ "Change Rooms Gone, but Soccer Continues". Mississauga News. June 6, 2003.
  19. ^ "NEW-LOOK OLYMPIANS BACK ON TOP". January 23, 2003. Archived from the original on January 23, 2003. Retrieved June 23, 2020.
  20. ^ "MISSISSAUGA OLYMPIANS HAVE ROVING TENDANCIES". August 19, 2003. Archived from the original on August 19, 2003. Retrieved June 23, 2020.
  21. ^ "Ontario Soccer League: View News Article". osl.e2esoccer.com. Retrieved June 23, 2020.
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