Ajax resident and businessman Henry Nelson was the recipient of the Ontario Soccer Association's Meritorious Service Award at its recent banquet in Toronto. Nelson has been a fixture on the regional and town soccer scenes for the past 35 years.

AJAX -- At Nelson's Hobbies in the Ajax Plaza,
soccer definitely holds equal billing with the
various pastime items on sale there.

One entire shelf of the store is dedicated to soccer, with a number of awards and trophies from the Ajax United Soccer Club neatly displayed. Now, Henry Nelson, the indisputable dean of Ajax soccer, has one more award to put on the display shelf.

It's a plaque he recently received from the Ontario Soccer Association (OSA) at its banquet in Toronto. Nelson was one of six meritorious service award winners -- the OSA's highest level of recognition -- for those who have rendered special service to the game of soccer over a period of not less than 20 years.

Although he was aware he had been nominated for the award some time ago, it was a nonetheless a special moment for Nelson to receive it.

"Well, I was excited," says Nelson, who turned 69 two days before receiving the award. "I knew back in June I was being put up for it, but I didn't know whether or not I would be accepted. They get a lot of applications for these awards.

"I would have to rate this (award) as number-one, naturally, because it's from all over Ontario."

The awards ceremony, put on by the OSA, attracted more than 360 people to the Wyndham Bristol Hotel in Etobicoke. Soccer broadcaster Gerry Dobson of Sportsnet and Craig Forrest, who has served as the goalkeeper on Canada's national men's soccer team, emceed the event.

Soccer and Henry Nelson have been synonymous over the past 35 years in Durham Region. But, if there's a common denominator with his love and involvement in the game it has been the satisfaction of seeing kids benefit from it.

"It's all about the love of the game and to see what kids get out of it. It's like anyone involved in sports -- most of them are doing it for the kids," he says.

Coming to Canada from his native England in 1957, Nelson began his long association with Durham Region soccer in 1968 when he became involved as the promotions director with the Ajax and Pickering Soccer Association. He also coached several recreational and competitive soccer teams in 1969. By 1971, he became the secretary of the Warriors (now Ajax Soccer Club) and, soon after, he added match secretary of the Durham Girls' Soccer League to his responsibilities.

He served as the Warriors' president for most of his 20 years. He stepped down in 1991 and immediately launched a new minor soccer club -- the Ajax United Soccer Club -- and still serves as the president of the club that boasts a large contingent of girls' teams.

Over the years, Nelson has provided a strong voice and a guiding light for girls' soccer in Durham Region. He became the Durham Girls' Soccer League president in 1979 and continues to serve in that capacity. Since the formation of the Central Girls' Soccer League in 1995, he has served on its board of directors and is currently the league's chairman.

"Soccer was mainly for boys until a few of us got it going in 1972. Not too many people were involved in the girls' side of it. Having a daughter (Heather) of my own who wanted to play, I just stuck with it ever since," says Nelson. "I always felt there was room in the game for girls. It just needed someone to push it."

Now, Nelson is happy to say the number of girls' playing the game in Durham Region is growing at a faster rate than the boys' game.

He continues his 12-year association with the Ajax United Soccer Club as its president. He recalls when he started the club in 1991 it boasted a meagre registration of only 35 players. Now, the club has grown year over year to its current 1,000 players who take to the soccer pitch each summer.

"We started out with only two ladies' teams," he laughs, recalling the humble beginnings of his beloved club, which he proclaims he has "no inclination to amalgamate" with any other minor soccer association in town.

He's also justifiably proud of his long 30-year association with the prestigious Robbie International Soccer Tournament. He has served on the Robbie organizing committee over those years and, each year, he's been responsible for ensuring that at least one girls' division has played their preliminary games in Ajax.

"At first (the Robbie) was running boys' divisions out of here, but later switched to girls," says Nelson. "It's part and parcel of the promotion of girls' soccer in this area. It was a way to bring international soccer out to this area and people like to get out to see it, too."

A humble man by nature, Nelson says his ability to accomplish so much in the name of minor soccer in Durham Region has less to do about him and more to do about working with other like-minded people.

"Basically, it's about the way you treat people," he explains. "When you treat people with respect you tend to get respect back. The way you do things (in minor soccer) is no different than when you have a job. When you work well with people everything sails along. You have to get along with people and you have to have respect for players and parents."

Nelson says he has no want to retire from his many activities in soccer, planning to continue on with his schedule for as long as possible.

"Oh yes, I'm still having fun," he says. "At this point, I'm going to continue on."

Years of service nets Nelson many awards

AJAX -- Ajax resident Henry Nelson has ascended to a lofty perch in the annals of provincial minor soccer after being bestowed with the Meritorious Service Award from the Ontario Soccer Association.

The award, recognized as the highest level of recognition from the OSA, is extended each year to those who have dedicated themselves to the development and promotion of the game in the province.

While the award represents the pinnacle of his 35-year involvement in minor soccer in Durham Region, it's not the only award he has received over his long association with minor soccer in Durham Region.

Not by a long stretch.

In fact, Nelson has received several other awards, recognizing his long-standing dedication to soccer in Ajax and Durham Region.

Among his awards:

* Winner of the Town of Ajax Sports and Recreation Award in 1974;

* Ajax Warriors Soccer Club President's Award winner between 1981 and 1984;

* Durham Region Soccer Association's winner of the John Barnes Memorial Award in 1999, which recognizes the association's volunteer of the year.