In memory of Tony Waiters, Hall of Fame honoured member
Tony Waiters, Canada Soccer’s Men’s National Team Head Coach that won a Concacaf Championship and took Canada to the 1986 FIFA World Cup, has passed away at age 83. The former English goalkeeper turned coach was both a Canada Soccer Hall of Fame honoured member and a Canada Soccer Life Member.
Hired as Head Coach and Manager on 4 December 1982, Waiters
qualified Canada just 16 months later for the Los Angeles 1984 Men’s Olympic
Football Tournament with a home draw in Victoria, British Columbia. Another four
months later, Canada reached the Quarter-finals at the Olympic Games before
they were eliminated on kicks from the penalty mark by Brazil.
On 14 September 1985, Waiters qualified Canada for their
first FIFA World Cup in St. John’s, Newfoundland, also winning Canada their
first Concacaf Championship with a famous 2:1 victory over Honduras at King
George V Park. The following year, Canada was competitive at the FIFA World Cup
in Mexico, but were ultimately eliminated after three successive losses to
European sides, including a 1:0 loss to European champions France in the
opening match.
Wrote Jim Fleming in 1985, Canada Soccer’s President at the
time, Tony “was always well prepared for the task at hand and nothing appeared
to worry him. His outward calm spread to his support staff and they were all
organised in a very effective and efficient way.” As noted in the 1986 FIFA
World Cup Official Report a year later, “there was no other team at this FIFA
World Cup tournament with such a highly-developed feeling of solidarity.”
Waiters left his Canada position after the 1986 FIFA World
Cup, but returned for a second stint starting 5 October 1989. He served on the
Concacaf Technical & Development Commission, served on the Concacaf Panel
for Coaching Matters, and served as a FIFA Instructor for Coaching Courses.
“He took players with varying styles and molded them into a
unit that played the only type of game he knew would make Canada competitive on
the world stage,” said Kevan Pipe in 1986, who at the time served as Canada
Soccer’s General Secretary. “On 1 June, he and his team were 11 minutes, or one
goal, away from the first upset of the 1986 FIFA World Cup.”
Before joining Canada, Waiters won North American Soccer League Coach of the Year honours in 1978 and then led Vancouver Whitecaps to the NASL Championship in 1979. Before moving to Canada, he coached England’s youth team and later Plymouth Argyle, earning the English club promotion to the second division after the 1974-75 season.
As a player, Waiters was an England international goalkeeper, having made five appearances for his National Team in 1964. At the club level, he most notably played for Blackpool FC, making more than 250 appearances after his debut on 26 December 1959. He also played for Bishop Auckland, Macclesfield Town and, after his time with Blackpool, Burnley FC. He also played for Loughborough College where he earned his Teacher’s Certificate in Physical Education. He earned his Football Association Coaching Preliminary Award in 1960 and his English FA Coaching Full Award in 1964.
From his time in Canada, Waiters was awarded the Aubrey
Sanford Meritorious Service Award in 1996. He was honoured by the Canada Soccer
Hall of Fame in 2001, the BC Sports Hall of Fame in 2019, and the Soccer Hall
of Fame in British Columbia as part of their inaugural class in 2019. He was also
honoured as a Canada Soccer Life Member in May 2019.
Mr. Waiters leaves his wife Anne and children Scott and Victoria. Born 2 February 1937 in Southport, England, he passed away peacefully on 10 November 2020.
??????? ?? Tony Waiters played in goal for @England and, after becoming @CanadaSoccerEN coach in 1983, led them to the quarter-finals of the @Olympics – they only lost to Dunga and Brazil on penalties – and to their 1st & only #WorldCup in 1986 ?Tony passed away today, aged 83. RIP pic.twitter.com/9Uph8BGYme — FIFA.com (@FIFAcom) November 10, 2020
Coach. Mentor. Pioneer. The Village lost a hero today. RIP, Coach Waiters. You'll forever be in our hearts. #VWFC #ItTakesAVillage pic.twitter.com/maUdMICsB1 — Vancouver Whitecaps FC (@WhitecapsFC) November 10, 2020
We're sad to learn that Tony Waiters, who won five caps for the #ThreeLions in 1964, has died at the age of 83.Our thoughts and sympathies are with Tony's family, friends and former clubs. pic.twitter.com/Y4VBrXUtti — England (@England) November 10, 2020
The club is deeply saddened to hear of the passing of promotion-winning manager, and all-time Argyle great, Tony Waiters.#pafchttps://t.co/7Wxopio2pC pic.twitter.com/8gbnY2GKl7 — Plymouth Argyle FC (@Only1Argyle) November 10, 2020
TONY WAITERS | Burnley Football Club is saddened to hear of the death of former England and Clarets' goalkeeper Tony Waiters, at the age of 83. The thoughts of everyone at Turf Moor are with his family and friends. RIP. pic.twitter.com/vO2ee7GHmC — Burnley FC (@BurnleyOfficial) November 10, 2020
The Club is saddened to learn of the passing of former goalkeeper Tony Waiters. Tony made more than 250 league appearances for the Seasiders and received five @England caps.Our thoughts and condolences go out to his wife Anne and all the family. https://t.co/IDQPfD0Qf5 pic.twitter.com/heQn7kTDSD — Blackpool FC (@BlackpoolFC) November 10, 2020
Rest in Peace, Tony Waiters. https://t.co/VsT1scApc9 pic.twitter.com/ofMgXVJHRe — BC Soccer (@1BCSoccer) November 10, 2020