Dollard renames park after football coach

BY MARC LALONDE

marc.lalonde@transcontinental.ca

Dollard des Ormeaux city council voted unanimously to honour a giant in local football circles who passed away earlier this year at its monthly council meeting last week.

Former North Shore Lions, Mustangs and Broncos head coach Glenn McHugh’s name will officially adorn Dollard des Ormeaux Park’s artificial-turf football and soccer field when the Mustangs take to the field — their home field since 2005 — next season for their 2007 home opener.

“It’s pretty neat,� said McHugh’s son Justin, now the head coach of the midget AAA North Shore Mustangs, and who lobbied actively for its renaming.

McHugh died suddenly last March at 55 of a heart attack, but his legend lives on among North Shore coaches and players, and Justin McHugh was surprised and honoured by the reaction to the idea of renaming the field.

“From what I understand, Dollard council had gotten a number of letters independent of us and our campaign. We had brought in a presentation, with the petition, we were all prepared, and the mayor said ‘you’re not going to need those,’ because they were already convinced,� he said.

Last month, The Chronicle reported Janiszewski was in favour of the change and that he thought as highly of McHugh as most of the community does. The mayor was effusive in his praise of McHugh and his involvement with the football community.

“I’m very pleased about it. I’d known Glenn since 1980 or 1981 and worked closely with him on assorted things over the years, and in all that time, I found him to be a super human being, and it’s appropriate that we name the field where the Mustangs play after him because that was one of the teams he was associated with over the years,� he said.

That was music to the McHugh family’s ears, Justin said.

“I’m very proud, obviously. Knowing how respected my father was, you know, even by people who had never even met him and just heard about him. I knew he was somewhat respected, but I never expected this outpouring of support,� he said.

Former Mustangs head coach Nabil Naccache and North Shore Football League treasurer Geoff Zucker also lobbied on behalf of the renaming. The official opening ceremony will be held prior to kickoff next August and a sign will adorn the field. But where should it go? “There’s a nice spot just above the scoreboard that I’m keeping my eye on,� said Justin McHugh, laughing.