VANESSA LAURIE\/Stuff<\/p>\n
Simon Eaddy attended Spotswood College from 1985-1989, and initially couldnt decide whether he wanted to pursue cricket or football.<\/p>\n
With three Olympics and two Fifa World Cup football competitions under his belt, and a third World Cup on the way, its fair to say that former Spotswood College student Simon Eaddy is a man who knows about goals.<\/p>\n
The goalkeeper coach of the Canadian Mens Soccer team visited his old high school on Monday to talk to students.<\/p>\n
One was a top player, but already ruling out a career in football.<\/p>\n
I just said, look at my experience, Eaddy said.<\/p>\n
Work hard to put yourself in a position where you've got a lot of opportunities, and then make a decision.<\/p>\n
READ MORE:* How Mori wisdom helped football coach John Herdman on the road to World Cup glory* From Southland to the World Cup, the man behind Canada's football rise * Coronavirus: All Whites' hosting dream dashed as Oceania Nations Cup football tournament cancelled<\/p>\n
Eaddy attended Spotswood from 1985-1989, and initially couldnt decide whether to pursue cricket or football.<\/p>\n
Football won when he landed a spot in the national under-19 team. <\/p>\n
He went on to play for New Zealands first professional football club, Kingz FC, in the Australian National Soccer League and was in the National League All-Stars Squad in 2000, 2001 and 2002.<\/p>\n
In 2002 he had his first taste of Canadian soccer after moving to play in their professional league for the Ottawa Wizards. <\/p>\n
A year later, the Wizards won the Canadian Professional Soccer League undefeated and Eaddy was Goalkeeper of the Year after conceding only 10 goals throughout the entire 2003 season.<\/p>\n
Three years later, Eaddy returned to NZ to play for Waitakere United in the NZ Football championship. <\/p>\n
Ive been with a Canadian for 21 years, and at that point we thought we would be back in New Zealand for good.<\/p>\n
But then top coach John Herdman entered the picture.<\/p>\n
At the time, he was the coach of the women's under-20 team, which is where I started coaching..<\/p>\n
He then got the job as head coach for the New Zealand women's team.<\/p>\n
VANESSA LAURIE\/Stuff<\/p>\n
The goalkeeper coach of the Canadian Mens Soccer team visited his old high school to talk to the students about his career in football.<\/p>\n
Eaddy soon found himself joining Herdman in Canada as they took over running the womens teams.<\/p>\n
Sport at that level is ruthless, like really ruthless, and you need to have people who first and foremost you trust.<\/p>\n
VANESSA LAURIE\/Stuff<\/p>\n
Simon Eaddys advice to upcoming footballers is to be a pioneer.<\/p>\n
He has helped Herdman achieve big results leading the NZ Mens team to the Olympics, and the Canadian women to two Olympics and two World Cups.<\/p>\n
And now theyve led the Canadian mens team to their first Fifa World Cup since 1986 back when Eaddy was a student at Spotswood College.<\/p>\n
His advice to upcoming footballers is to be a pioneer.<\/p>\n
Rather than looking at the pathways that exist for you now, explore what the reality could be.<\/p>\n
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Read more from the original source:<\/p>\n
Three Olympics and three world cups - the goalkeeper coach from Taranaki making it on the world stage - Stuff<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" VANESSA LAURIE\/Stuff Simon Eaddy attended Spotswood College from 1985-1989, and initially couldnt decide whether he wanted to pursue cricket or football. With three Olympics and two Fifa World Cup football competitions under his belt, and a third World Cup on the way, its fair to say that former Spotswood College student Simon Eaddy is a man who knows about goals. The goalkeeper coach of the Canadian Mens Soccer team visited his old high school on Monday to talk to students. Continue reading