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Biography:
Arnold Cline was born in New Liskeard in 1932, started playing football in Kirkland Lake at age 16 and before he was finished, had served the sport as player, official, executive and fundraiser for 40 some years, over 35 of them here in North Bay. He was in at the start of the Northern Ontario Rugby Football Union (NFC) in the early 1950’s when he moved to North Bay and played with the Roughriders. In the mid 1950’s, he became involved in officiating the sport at the high school level and in the early 1960’s began doing NORFU matches as well. He attended a number of football clinics and continued to officiate until the early 1990’s when he retired due to back problems, after better than 35 years wearing the striped sweater. Cline served on the Northern Football Conference Executive for a number of years, was League Secretary/ Treasurer in 1973, President in 1974 and Referee-in-Chief from 1971 through 1973. When the local NFC franchise ran into problems, Cline stepped in and served as president, treasurer, manager, trainer and fundraiser at various times through 1980. His efforts were key to keeping the team alive and active. In 1974 Cline won the Ontario Amateur Football Association ‘Pigskin’ Award for services to the sport and the next year he became the third winner of the Mitchell/Avery Memorial Award for his work for football in this area.
Inductee No.
193
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| Last Revised:
11/13/2011 |
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