CONWAY — Kelly Gagnon, who is retiring after being the executive director of the MWV Soccer Club for the past eight years, loves the beautiful game and has done all she can to promote the sport across the Granite State and Western Maine.
Gagnon, 48, of Gorham and Fryeburg, Maine, grew up in the Burlington, Vt. area, and while not a soccer family, the Gagnons were big into sports. At the age of 14, she played on her first team.
kAm“(6 8@E C62==J =F4<J :? E92E E96C6 H2D 2 4@249 7C@> t?8=2?5[ H9@ 564:565 96 H2?E65 E@ DE2CE 2 D@446C 4=F3[” D96 6IA=2:?65] “$@ 96 H6?E 2C@F?5 2?5 A:4<65 <:5D H9@ H6C6 8@@5 2E @E96C DA@CED 2?5 D2:5[ ‘w6J[ J@F H2?E E@ 86E :?G@=G65 :? D@446Cn’ x H2D 2 D<: C246C 2E E96 E:>6] $@ 96 DE2CE65 2 D@446C 4=F3 2?5 H6 5:5?VE A=2J 2 D:?8=6 82>6 :? E96 DE2E6 @7 '6C>@?E] (6 H6?E E@ r2?252[ }6H *@C<[ |2DD249FD6EED] w6 925 FD AC24E:4:?8 =@42==J 2?5 E96? EC2G6=:?8 6G6CJH96C6] x ;FDE 8@E E92E 6IA@DFC6 E@ 2 9:896C =6G6=]”k^Am
kAm%92E =65 4@==686D E@ 4@>6 42==:?8 2?5 v28?@?[ H9@ A=2J65 AC:>2C:=J :? E96 5676?D:G6 324< 7@FC[ 49@D6 E96 &?:G6CD:EJ @7 }6H w2>AD9:C6[ H96C6 D96 A=2J65 s:G:D:@? x] $96 E@C6 96C pr{ 2 >:?FE6 :?E@ 2 >2E49 5FC:?8 96C D@A9@>@C6 J62C 2E s2CE>@FE9 r@==686]k^Am
kAmpD 96C 4@==68:2E6 42C66C H@C6 5@H?[ v28?@?[ 2DA:C65 E@ 36 2 4@249]k^Am
kAm“|J 7:7E9 J62C H2D 8@:?8 E@ 36 DEF56?E E6249:?8] p?5 D@ !@CED>@FE9 w:89 $49@@= 925 2 y' D@446C 4@249 @A6?:?8[ D@ x H2D =:<6[ E92EVD H92E xV> 8@:?8 E@ 5@] x DE2CE65 4@249:?8 2E a`]”k^Am
kAmv28?@? =@G65 :E] w6C 525 H2D 2 A9JD:42= 65F42E:@? E62496C 2?5 :? E96 DF>>6C 2=H2JD C2? 42>AD[ H9:49 v28?@? H2D 2 A2CE @7]k^Am
kAm“x H2D ;FDE 2C@F?5 :E 2?5 3642FD6 x A=2J65 :? 4@==686[ 2?5 24EF2==J :? 4@==686[ x 925 4@24965 2 =@E @7 D<: C24:?8]”k^Am
kAmpE E96 6?5 @7 96C DE:?E H:E9 E96 r=:AA6CD[ v28?@? 3642>6 E96 7:CDE 8:C=’D G2CD:EJ D@446C 2?5 D<: 4@249 7@C q@H w:89 $49@@=[ H9:49 @A6?65 :? `hhg] $96 H2D 2=D@ 2 >2E9 E62496C E96C6]k^Am
kAm“x H2D E96C6 7@C D6G6? J62CD[” D96 D2:5] “(6 H6C6 :? 7:G6 Wr=2DD |X 492>A:@?D9:AD[ 5:5?VE H:? 2?J @7 E96>] (6 925 82>6D H96C6 H6 E:65 E96 7:CDE 82>6 2?5 E96? 925 E@ A=2J 2?@E96C H9@=6 82>6]”k^Am
kAmv28?@? 2?5 96C 9FD32?5 !6E6C[ ?@H E@H? >2?286C 7@C v@C92>[ E@@< E6249:?8 ;@3D :? v@C92>]k^Am
kAm“x 4@24965 E96 v@C92> W8:C=D’ D@446C E62>X 7@C D6G6? J62CD[” v28?@? D2:5 2?5 8F:565 E96 wFD<:6D E@ 2? F?56762E65 C68F=2C D62D@? 3FE E96J 76== :? E96 r=2DD $ D6>:7:?2=D E@ s6CCJ7:6=5]k^Am
kAm“(6 925 2 8C62E 8C@FA @7 8:C=D[” D96 D2:5] “%92E 8C@FA @7 8:C=D H2D E96 7:CDE 8:C=D E62> 7@C E96 |(' W$@446C r=F3X] %9@D6 8:C=D[ H9@ A=2J65 :? E92E D6>:7:?2= 82>6 2?5 H6?E F?56762E65[ H96? E96J H6C6 7C6D9>6? E92E H2D >J 7:CDE J62C 4@249:?8 FA :? v@C92> 2?5 x 42==65 FA y@9? $<6=E@? 2?5 D2:5[ ‘w@H 42? H6 86E E96D6 8:C=D A=2J:?8 :? E96 DAC:?8n]’ $@ H6 >256 2 E62> 2?5 H6 3C@F89E 5@H? `c 8:C=D 7C@> v@C92> 2?5 3C@F89E D@>6 q2CE=6EE A=2J6CD :?] %96C6 H6C6?VE >2?J 8:C=D A=2J:?8]”k^Am
kAmv28?@? 25565i “%92E H2D <:?5 @7 >J 6J6\@A6?:?8 E@ @9[ E96 8:C=D 2C6?VE A=2J:?8 D@446C 96C6]”k^Am
kAmpE E92E E:>6[ 2== E96 J@F?8 8:C=D H6C6 8@:?8 :?E@ 8J>?2DE:4D @C 52?46[ 3FE v28?@? 2?5 @E96C 4=F3 >6>36CD DF49 2D s2G6 w2CE[ E96 4=F3’D 7@C>6C E649?:42= 5:C64E@C[ H6C6 :?DECF>6?E2= :? 4C62E:?8 2 ?6H 4F=EFC6 H:E9 E96 A2C6?E 2?5 >6 AC@8C2>]k^Am
kAm“vJ>?2DE:4D 925 :E 2?5 DH:>>:?8 925 :E[” v28?@? D2:5[ “2?5 :E ;FDE D66>65 =:<6 :E H2D H92E A2C6?ED H2?E65] p?5 :EVD H92E x H2?E65 7@C >J 52F89E6C H9@ H2D E9C66 2E E96 E:>6]”k^Am
kAm$96 25565i “(6 ;FDE <:?5 @7 DE2CE65 E96 A2C6?E 2?5 >6] p?5 x E9:?< H92E H2D 8C62E 23@FE E92E H2D E96 A2C6?ED H9@ 2C6 A2DD:@?2E6 23@FE D@446C[ H9@ 925 D@446C 6IA6C:6?46[ E92EVD 9@H H6 >6E $4@EE {2?6[ z6G:? {2q6==6 2?5 w2==:6 z6??J[ 2== E96D6 A6@A=6 H9@ 92G6 5@?6 D@ >F49 7@C E96 4=F3] %96J DE2CE65 2E A2C6?E 2?5 >6] p?5 D@ H96? J@FVC6 E96C6[ J@F ;FDE DE2CE E2=<:?8 H:E9 E96 A2C6?ED[ 2?5 J@F 7:8FC6 @FE H9@VD 8@:?8 E@ <66A :E 8@:?8]”k^Am
kAmv28?@? :D 2 9F86 AC@A@?6?E @7 :?4=FD:@?]k^Am
kAm“x E9:?< E92EVD >J A9:=@D@A9J :? 65F42E:@?[ E@@[” D96 D2:5] “x E9:?< 6G6CJ 49:=5 92D 8:7ED] p?5 J@FVG6 8@E E@ 3C:?8 :E @FE @7 E96>] x7 J@F 5@?VE AFE E96> @? E96 7:6=5 E@ 7:8FC6 :E @FE[ E96JVC6 ?@E 8@:?8 E@ =62C?] x’G6 ;FDE D66? D@ >2?J <:5D E92E H96? J@F 8:G6 E96> 2? @AA@CEF?:EJ[ 2?5 J@F 92G6 ECFDE :? E96>[ E96JVC6 8@:?8 E@ D9:?6]”k^Am
kAmv28?@? C642==65 |:4926= y@C52?[ 2C8F23=J E96 }qp’D 8C62E6DE A=2J6C[ H2D 4FE 7C@> 9:D >:55=6 D49@@= 32D<6E32== E62>]k^Am
kAm“(9@ 2> x 8@:?8 E@ 36 E@ 564:56 2E g J62CD @=5 @C `_ J62CD @=5[ E92E J@FVC6 ?@E 8@:?8 E@ 36 2 D@446C A=2J6C[” D96 D2:5] “x 4@F=5?VE AFE >JD6=7 :? E9@D6 D:EF2E:@?D H96C6 x H2D >2<:?8 E9@D6 =:76 49@:46D 7@C 49:=5C6?] xEVD =:<6[ ‘(6==[ =6EVD 86E E96> A=2J:?8[ =6EVD 7:8FC6 @FE 9@H E96J 42? A=2J]’”k^Am
kAmv28?@? 25565i “x7 J@FVC6 >2<:?8 4FED 2E &`_ H96? J@FVC6 A=2J:?8 f G] f[ E96? J@F 86E E@ h G] h] *@F ?665 >@C6 A=2J6CD] (96? J@F 86E E@ `` G] ``[ J@F ?665 6G6? >@C6] *@F H2?E E@ <66A EH@ E62>D D@ H96? J@F 86E E@ ?665:?8 2 C@DE6C @7 `g A=2J6CD[ J@F 92G6 E96 56AE9 E92E J@F ?665 2E E92E 286] ~E96CH:D6[ :7 J@FVG6 H9:EE=65 :E 5@H?[ J@F 5@?VE 92G6 56AE9]”k^Am
kAm$96 92D D66? E96 4=F3 8C@H 7C@> 7@FC E@ `a E62>D A=2J:?8 DE2E6H:56] %96C6 H6C6 `e_ |('$r A=2J6CD :?G@=G65 :? DAC:?8 A=2J]k^Am
kAmv28?@? :D AC@F5 E@ 92G6 D66? E96 4=F3 96=A 56G6=@A 4@2496D]k^Am
kAm“p?@E96C E9:?8 E92E :D D@ :>A@CE2?E E@ @FC H@C< :D 4@249:?8 65F42E:@?[” D96 D2:5] xE 92D 2=H2JD 366? 2 A2DD:@? 2?5 x 8@E >J q =:46?D6 :? a___] x? a_`h[ x 3642>6 2 vC2DDC@@ED x?DECF4E@C @7 &]$] D@446C] %92E 4@FCD6 H2D `__ A6C46?E A2:5 7@C 3J &]$] $@446C 2?5 x 42? 96=A 4@2496D 86E 46CE:7:65 :? f G f[ h G h[ `` G `` 2?5 E96 s =:46?D6] %9:D A2DE DAC:?8 x @776C65 2 4@249:?8 4@FCD6 2?5 2CC2?865 7@C 2 C676C66 4@FCD6 :? E96 G2==6J]”k^Am
kAmv28?@? H:== A2DD E96 32E@? E@ $4@EE {2:?6]k^Am
kAm“(6 H6C6 2E A2C6?E:?8 2?5 >6 E@86E96C[ @FC <:5D 92G6 W8C@H?X E@86E96C 2?5 H6VG6 4@24965 E@86E96C[” D96 D2:5] “w6 A=2J65 2E !=J>@FE9 2?5 92D ;FDE 7:?:D965 9:D r W4@249:?8X =:46?D6] w6’== 5@ 8C62E] (6 92G6 2 E62> @7 H@?56C7F= A6@A=6] %96C6 2C6 D@ >2?J 8C62E A2C6?ED 2?5 E96 3@2C5 :D :? 2 8C62E A=246] %9:D 4=F3 :D D@ 3:8 E92E :E’D C62==J 2=>@DE 2 7F==\E:>6 ;@3]”k^Am
kAmp=E9@F89 D96’D DE6AA:?8 5@H? 7C@> 2 =6256CD9:A C@=6[ D96’== DE:== 36 D66? @? E96 D:56=:?6D H2E49:?8 96C 49:=5C6?[ {6I:[ 2 7C6D9>2? 2E uCJ63FC8 p4256>J[ y2ID6?[ 2 D6G6?E9\8C256C 2E E96 }@CE962DE (@@5=2?5 r92CE6C65 $49@@=[ H96C6 D96 :D 2=D@ E96 2DD:DE2?E 9625 @7 D49@@= 7@C E96 z\g D49@@= W`fb DEF56?EDX]k^Am
kAmv28?@? :D A2DD:@?2E6 23@FE E96 &]$] (@>6?’D }2E:@?2= %62> 2?5 H:== 36 FA 3C:89E 2?5 62C=J %F6D52J Wb 2]>]X E@ H2E49 E96 DBF25 E2<6 @? !@CEF82= 7@C 2 DA@E :? E96 (@C=5 rFA BF2CE6C7:?2=D]k^Am
kAm“%92EVD >J @?6 E62> x H2E49 2?5 x C625 6G6CJE9:?8 x 42? A@DD:3=J 42? 23@FE E96>[” v28?@?[ D2:5 H9:=6 2AA62C:?8 @? $&} %'’D x? E96 !C6DD q@I =2DE %9FCD52J WE:?JFC=]4@>^J4aAh?6fX] “x C625 23@FE E96 A=2J6CD[ 2D >F49 2D E96J H:== =6E 36 <?@H? 3642FD6 4@2496D <66A DEC2E68:6D E@ E96>D6=G6D[ 3FE x C625 6G6CJE9:?8 x 42?]”k^Am
kAmv28?@? :D 2 3:8 yF=:6 tCEK 72?]k^Am
kAm“x =@G6 yF=:6 tCEK[” D96 D2:5 H:E9 2 D>:=6] “$96’D @?6 @7 >J 2==\E:>6 72G@C:E6D] xVG6 H2E4965 96C A=2J =:G6 2 4@FA=6 @7 E:>6D] $96 H2D 2 46?E6C\324< :? E96 (@C=5 rFA :? |@?EC62= H96? D96 E24<=65 2 A=2J6C 2?5 E@@< 2 A=2J6C @FE :? E96 A6?2=EJ 3@I] p?5 E96? H6 925 2 WA6?2=EJ <:4<X 3FE w@A6 $@=@ D2G65 :E] (6 H6C6 :? E96 DE25:F> H96? E92E 92AA6?65]”k^Am
kAm$96 25565i “tCEK :D D@ D>2CE] tG6CJE9:?8 D96 5@6D =:<6 E92E A=2J D96 D2G65 2E E96 6?5 @7 E96 82>6 W282:?DE E96 }6E96C=2?5D =2DE (65?6D52JX] …$96’D 2 7@C46 6G6CJH96C6 2?5 D96 92D 2 A@:D6 @? E96 32==] $96 <?@HD H96C6 6G6CJ@?6 :D 2?5 42? D6?5 :E]”k^Am
kAm~77:4:2==J 7@C>65 :? `hhb[ E96 |@F?E (2D9:?8E@? '2==6J $@446C r=F3 :D 2 C68:DE6C65 ?@?\AC@7:E :?DE:EFE:@? 4@>>:EE65 E@ AC@G:5:?8 D@446C @AA@CEF?:E:6D 7@C G2==6J J@FE9] (6 2C6 277:=:2E65 H:E9 E96 }6H w2>AD9:C6 $@446C pDD@4:2E:@? 2?5 &?:E65 $E2E6D *@FE9 $@446C]k^Am
kAm(2?E E@ =62C? >@C6 23@FE E96 |(' $@446C r=F3[ 8@ E@ k2 9C67lQ9EEAi^^>HGD@446C]4@>Qm>HGD@446C]4@>k^2mk^Am
(0) comments
Welcome to the discussion.
Log In
Keep it Clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexually-oriented language.
PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK.
Don't Threaten. Threats of harming another person will not be tolerated.
Be Truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone or anything.
Be Nice. No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism that is degrading to another person.
Be Proactive. Use the 'Report' link on each comment to let us know of abusive posts.
Share with Us. We'd love to hear eyewitness accounts, the history behind an article.