Soccer star Noel Connor off to Brussels
IN October 1953, Noel Connor, of Bothar Brugha, was awarded “Footballer of the Year,” by the committee responsible for the running of the Under 14 Drogheda Street League (Soccer), at Bredin Street Park. We referred then to him as a youthful star who gave some very outstanding performances and showed very distinct promise.
Recently, he was announced as “Youth Athlete of the Year “by a panel of judges attached to the Lourdes Boys’ Club who met to decide the winner of the Trip to Brussels—the award this year to the successful athlete.
Last January the Lourdes Club officials announced to the Senior (14-19 years) members of the Boys’ Club that they were prepared to offer the prize to the member who not alone proved to be the most successful corncompetitor from then until July, but also showed good conduct. example and good attendance at training.
From the very beginning Noel, who is 17, had set his heart on winning this coveted prize, and during the. cross-country season he assisted Lourdes AC, qualified for his place on the Louth team, which eventually won the Leinster Youths’ title at Naas.
Later Noel was scratch man in the Lourdes Youths’ Road Race, held in March, and finished second despite his handicap. He has assisted Cairnes in the inter-factory league and inside the past two weeks has won the 1 mile flat event twice, while he also leaped over 18 ft. in the Long Jump.
These have been just some of Noel’s achievements since January which helped to win him the trip to Brussels, while he has rarely missed his thrice weekly training sessions in the C.B.S. .Sportsground . ... and his conduct has left nothing to be desired.
Noel will fly to Belgium with the Irish party competing in the Catholic Students’ European Games at Louvain.
He will stay at the famous University on the grounds of which the Games will be decided from the 6th to the 12th of August.
His trip will also embrace a visit to the World Fair at Brussels, where the medals will be presented to the successful champions and runners-up by the West German Chancellor, Herr Adenaur.