Three Olympics and three world cups – the goalkeeper coach from Taranaki making it on the world stage – Stuff

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Simon Eaddy attended Spotswood College from 1985-1989, and initially couldnt decide whether he wanted to pursue cricket or football.

With three Olympics and two Fifa World Cup football competitions under his belt, and a third World Cup on the way, its fair to say that former Spotswood College student Simon Eaddy is a man who knows about goals.

The goalkeeper coach of the Canadian Mens Soccer team visited his old high school on Monday to talk to students.

One was a top player, but already ruling out a career in football.

I just said, look at my experience, Eaddy said.

Work hard to put yourself in a position where you've got a lot of opportunities, and then make a decision.

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Eaddy attended Spotswood from 1985-1989, and initially couldnt decide whether to pursue cricket or football.

Football won when he landed a spot in the national under-19 team.

He went on to play for New Zealands first professional football club, Kingz FC, in the Australian National Soccer League and was in the National League All-Stars Squad in 2000, 2001 and 2002.

In 2002 he had his first taste of Canadian soccer after moving to play in their professional league for the Ottawa Wizards.

A year later, the Wizards won the Canadian Professional Soccer League undefeated and Eaddy was Goalkeeper of the Year after conceding only 10 goals throughout the entire 2003 season.

Three years later, Eaddy returned to NZ to play for Waitakere United in the NZ Football championship.

Ive been with a Canadian for 21 years, and at that point we thought we would be back in New Zealand for good.

But then top coach John Herdman entered the picture.

At the time, he was the coach of the women's under-20 team, which is where I started coaching..

He then got the job as head coach for the New Zealand women's team.

VANESSA LAURIE/Stuff

The goalkeeper coach of the Canadian Mens Soccer team visited his old high school to talk to the students about his career in football.

Eaddy soon found himself joining Herdman in Canada as they took over running the womens teams.

Sport at that level is ruthless, like really ruthless, and you need to have people who first and foremost you trust.

VANESSA LAURIE/Stuff

Simon Eaddys advice to upcoming footballers is to be a pioneer.

He has helped Herdman achieve big results leading the NZ Mens team to the Olympics, and the Canadian women to two Olympics and two World Cups.

And now theyve led the Canadian mens team to their first Fifa World Cup since 1986 back when Eaddy was a student at Spotswood College.

His advice to upcoming footballers is to be a pioneer.

Rather than looking at the pathways that exist for you now, explore what the reality could be.

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Three Olympics and three world cups - the goalkeeper coach from Taranaki making it on the world stage - Stuff