If it seems like Craymer Forth has been part and parcel of the sporting scene in Greater Sudbury forever, it stands to good reason. Last May, Cambrian College bid adieu to the long-time coaching mainstay.
A native of the Bracebridge area, Forth first trekked north in the fall of 1978, then a freshman at Laurentian University.
With his sights set on becoming a physical education teacher at the secondary school level, Forth brought a wealth of background in sports.
“I started in organized soccer when I was 10,” he said. “I did pretty well in everything. Soccer, basketball, rugby, track and field, gymnastics — I was involved in pretty much everything that was going on.”
In his mind, however, there was a clear two-sport passion — soccer and basketball.
Truth be told, Forth did not foresee either sport being an option at the university level. Playing a soccer scrimmage as part of Outdoor School in his first week of classes at L.U., Forth was encouraged to attend a tryout with the Voyageurs, a pretty formidable squad back in the day.
Impressing coach Greg Zorbas from the moment he stepped on the field, Forth began an improbable journey. “I didn’t play much on opening weekend, but I won a starting position early in my rookie year and never looked back,” he said.
It’s time for somebody else to pick this up, and hopefully, they’re successful with it.
Craymer Forth,
former Cambrian College girls soccer coach
By 1980, Forth was named team captain, a role he would hold through the final three years of his OUA soccer career.
Success followed this team — three provincial championships, and a pair of bronze-medal performances at nationals.
As an assistant coach in 1983, pursuing his masters at the time, Forth was part of the last Laurentian men’s soccer team to capture the Canadian crown. Given his natural tendancy to help control play on the field, the transition from player to coach was relatively seamless.
“I kind of took on the role of being that general on the field. I was shouting all the time, encouraging all the time.”
After one year of teaching at Lakehead University in Thunder Bay, Forth returned to Sudbury, accepting the role of supervisor at the old Cambrian Fitness Centre on Lorne Street.
Approached by then athletic director Michel Barbeau, Forth headed up the men’s indoor soccer program at Cambrian, running an indoor league and guiding a varsity team through tournament competition and provincial championships from 1986 through to 1993.
The break in coaching, at the collegiate level, was needed as Forth enjoyed a little down time, of sorts. He continued to play in the senior men’s soccer league, coached within the Sudburnia Soccer system and continued to evolve as a basketball official.
But it was the turn of the millennium that would mark the next big stage of soccer involvement for the likeable coach.
Looking to ensure gender equality within the varsity athletic programs, Cambrian College launched the women’s soccer program.
For the next decade, Forth was the face of the program, an undertaking he said he thoroughly enjoyed. “The girls were very good to coach. They’re very willing to learn and, for the most part, very dedicated.”
But the trademark of the team, almost each and every year, was something in which Forth has always prided himself — the balance between athletics and academics.
“I liked to see, at the athletic banquet, how many of my girls not only played varsity sport, but also had success with OCAA academic awards,” he said. “That’s what made it worthwhile for me, to see the girls be successful, on and off the field.”
While his pleasant, outgoing nature might deceive, make no mistake that Forth carries with him a competitive edge, recognizing the sense of accomplishment that comes from winning and achieving established goals.
Despite the challenges of recruiting soccer talent to the area, Forth consistently eyed a playoff berth as being the standard to which his young, female athletes should strive.
Unfortunately, it was a goal that was not to be, coming closest in 2007, when Sir Sanford Fleming edged Cambrian 2-1 in a game where a tie would have vaulted the Golden Shield to the post-season.
Still, there comes a day when the need to be more selfish with one’s time is critical.
“It’s time for somebody else to pick this up, and hopefully, they’re successful with it.
Randy Pascal is the founder of SudburySports.com and a contributing sports editor for Northern Life.
