August 7, 2004 story on Paul Munster London City CPSL (from Kitchener Record)

Posted - 08/09/2004 :  14:00:34       
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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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