August 7, 2004 story on Paul Munster London City CPSL (from Kitchener Record)
Posted - 08/09/2004 : 14:00:34 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- From last Saturday's Kitchener Record By Josh Brown Record Staff Coming to Kitchener was the best and worst thing that ever happened to Northern Ireland's Paul Munster. When he made his first trek to town three years ago he was a rising soccer star with Cliftonville, a club in Northern Ireland's Premier league. He was coming off his best season and the 19-year-old Belfast native was ready to challenge for a starting spot on the roster. But his soccer career collapsed in a split second when he tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee during a pick-up game at Budd Park. "It was just a simple throw-in," said Munster, who was in Kitchener as part of a sport-and-school exchange at the time. "I went to receive the ball and landed awkwardly. "I thought I broke my leg. The pain was unbelievable. I've never felt so much pain in my life." But he felt worse when doctors told him he needed surgery and that he would be sidelined for more than two years. Upon hearing the news his club in Cliftonville released him outright. "I was ready to go to the bar," said Munster. "It was enough to drive me to the drink. All my mates back home were playing in the Premier and I had to watch." Becoming a spectator wasn't easy for the Irish lad. Munster had grown up in a Catholic household steeped in soccer history. His grandad, dad and brother Darren had all played competitive ball. Soccer was all he had known since he was born. "I've been playing since I started walking," he said. "Since we were kids you just played it in the streets. Soccer in Ireland is like hockey here." Sensing the injury might bring him down, he decided to flee the saturated soccer scene back home and return to Canada to clear his head. He hooked up with former pro player Eddie Edgar at the Doon Soccer Park Group and took a job teaching local kids at year-round camps in Kitchener. He moved in with the host family he stayed with during his first visit to the area and slowly rediscovered a love for the game. Last spring he noticed his knee started feeling like its old self. And as soon as he started kicking the ball, thoughts of a comeback emerged. Edgar had a contact in the Canadian Professional Soccer League and helped Munster land a job with London City. "I had no idea my career would start back up in Canada," the 22-year-old said. "It's been going so well that people are thinking I should be moving on to better leagues." In London, Munster is a hit on and off the field. He's scored 11 goals in 10 games and constantly gets hounded by fans for autographs and pictures. "It feels good after the games to spend time with the fans and not think about my knee anymore." And word is getting out. Scouts from higher North American leagues are increasingly coming out to see him play. He even has a few leads with teams in the United Kingdom. But Munster understands he still has a long road ahead of him before he returns to the elite level. Until something concrete comes along, he'll keep doing what he does best -- teaching in Kitchener and scoring goals for London City. "There are a lot of guys here who have potential. They just need the experience of going somewhere else," he said. "I've already experienced it. And now that I've got a feeling for soccer again, I want to go back to the top."
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