It is estimated that Jimmy Conway, former Portland Timbers NASL player, coach and highly successful footballer in the Republic of Ireland and England, trained more than 24,000 players and coaches during his 28-year career as a coach with the Oregon Youth Soccer Association.
After a stellar career as a player and coach, Jimmy was diagnosed with trauma-induced dementia in 2009. Since 2010, Jimmy’s wife Noeleen, along with the help of his former Timbers teammate, friend, and fellow Timbers Ring of Honor member Mick Hoban, has led a yearly Friends of Jimmy Conway team at the annual Walk to End Alzheimer’s to honor Jimmy’s achievements in soccer while raising much-needed funds for research and support programs provided by the Alzheimer’s Association. Watch the video above from a previous walk.
This year, unfortunately and unavoidably, the Walk to End Alzheimer’s falls on the same day as the Timbers home game against the San Jose Earthquakes on Sept. 7. Timber Jim Serrill, another Timbers Ring of Honor member, will work with the Portland Timbers and the Timbers Army/107 Independent Supporters Trust to recognize Conway during the game that day by leading a one-minute ovation for Jimmy, starting at the 8th minute--Conway's jersey number with the club--to honor Conway during the match. Timbers fans will also be encouraged via social media to donate to the Alzheimer’s Association in Jimmy’s name.
If you can’t make it to the Timbers game, please consider registering to walk as a member of the Friends of Jimmy Conway team at Portland International Raceway on Sunday, Sep. 7 at 12pm PT, and/or make a tax-deductible donation on this site: http://act.alz.org/goto/FriendsofJimmyConway.
We encourage all Timbers, Thorns and soccer fans in general to show their appreciation for one of Oregon’s soccer pioneers who is currently hospitalized with dementia.
