A tie or a win against Honduras in St. John's, Newfoundland, would give Canada its first-ever appearance in the World Cup Finals.  However, Canada was hurting because of injuries and suspensions.

English-born Carl Valentine, who had become a Canadian citizen while with the Vancouver Whitecaps of the Old NASL, was playing for West Bromwich Albion in England.  Carl had declined to play for the Canadian National team in the 1984 Olympics, because he still has ambitions of playing for England, which as a dual citizen he was eligible to do.

One year later, we persuaded Carl that he had a better chance of being selected for Canada in the World Cup Finals than for England.  With only one game to go for qualification, he could make a dream come true - for him and for us!

We changed our preparation plans especially to accommodate Carl.  Instead of assembling in St. John's early in the week, we met instead in Toronto, the Monday preceding the Saturday game.

On Tuesday night, we played a game against London Marconi, a very good semi-pro team, to get the team shape worked out and to fit Carl into the patterns of play.  Unfortunately, Carl had been sick the night before - too much travel, excitement and expectations - and we could only afford to play him for half a game, but that was more than helpful.

We set aside the next day, Wednesday, to go to a remote soccer park outside of Toronto to practice our Set Plays and in particular, our Attacking Corners.  Carl was to be our Corner Kick expert from the left (Carl, a right winger, with a great right foot.  Inswinging Corners.  Square Pegs!).

Foiled again! CBC Television came out to shoot a "special" for a pre-game program.  With cameras whirring for our 75-minute session, we weren't going to give anything away.  We did not practice our Set Plays!           

Arriving at St John's on Thursday, we did two critically important things.

The coaching staff immediately took a cab to inspect the King George V Stadium, where the game was being played on Saturday. A running track around the outside of the field cut across the very extremity of each corner of the field.  It would have forced the Corner Kicker to step up four- to five-inches to place the non-kicking foot in position to take the kick - making it difficult.  I had a word with the groundskeeper and we built four sand runaways at each of the four corners.

Then, through our CSA board member in Newfoundland, George Innes, we found a private school with a totally enclosed soccer field. Early Friday morning, we left the hotel by bus for the school.  We spent 75 minutes working on our Corners and Free Kicks, and then jumped back on the bus to go to Kick George V field for the "official" open practice - with media from Canada and Honduras in attendance.  A couple of reporters remarked after that they were somewhat surprised about such a light workout before such an important game.  Little did they know!

The next day, we beat Honduras 2-1 to take Canada to it's first and so far, only appearance in the Men's World Cup Finals.  Both Canada goals came from Corner Kicks taken by...Carl Valentine!

Footnote: I returned to St, John's Newfoundland, six years after the historic day for Canadian soccer.  I was the guest at the Canadian men's club finals - at King George V Stadium.  The sand runways at the corner of the soccer field on the no-longer used track were still there - and were now covered with sparse grass.