The History of the Camera Craft Soccer Club (SC), 1963
Camera Craft Soccer Club is the continuation of the Imperial Steel Soccer Club , an ethnic-oriented Croatian soccer club with a touch of Noah’s pairings. In it, were 2 Austrians, 2 Italians, 2 Hungarians, 2 Englishmen, 2 Germans, and the rest, (the majority) were Croatian.
In the spring of 1962, the sponsor, Imperial Steel Co. LTD, who provided jobs for many of the players, closed shop. The club was without sponsor, and had neither management nor a coach. Several players had to leave town to seek employment elsewhere. The rest struggled on and played many games shorthanded.
By mid-summer of that year, assistance came from Frank Wagner, who was a member several years earlier of the German Soccer Club Green-White , which had suffered the same fate. Frank Wagner was voted as coach/manager and completed the soccer season with Imperial Steel SC 1962.
Through the winter months of 1962-1963, Frank found a new sponsor: Camera Craft LTD. Several German players joined the club and the name was changed and registered with the local soccer association as Camera Craft Soccer Club in 1963.
One of the new club’s by-laws was not to be tied down with any ethnic group, and leave cultural matters and nationalities out of it. At one point, there were 16 different nationalities on the team.
Notable players of that era were: Milo Filipcic, Barry Primrac, Mike Kulvaliac, Frank Ziegler, Manny Helstern, Bert Dilger, Hans Fiedler, Heinz Feiss, Alex Lynn, Allan Martin, Wenzel Safri, Cor Von Rooy, and Joe Gass.
ACHIEVEMENTS
Some of the achievements of the C.C. Soccer Club were:
-First soccer club in Sault Ste. Marie to have a youth team in every age group.
-First soccer club to win the O’Keefe Play-Off Trophy 3 times.
-First soccer club whose Ladies' Team won all 3 trophies the same year.
-First soccer club to play a 16-year-old on the senior team, who turned out to become one of Sault Ste. Marie’s best soccer players – a young Dutchman named Alfie Coppens.
In 1972, at the Lakehead International Soccer Tournament, Camera Craft SC reached the final and lost 3-2 to Milwaukee of the USA. Alfie Coppens received the tournament’s Most Valuable Player award. Afterwards, Frank Wagner resigned as coach/manager.
PRESIDENCY
Norris Johnson was a club manager since 1967, and president of the club for 17 years; Dave Bracey served for ten years, Manny Helstern was elected and carried the club until he was voted out. Victor Cytra took over for 1 or 2 years. Following Victor, came Helmut Brandstetter for at least 25 years until Joe Gass’ reign. Joe is the longest standing and original member of C.C. Soccer Club, and he assumed Presidency until 2004. In 2005, Thomas Brandstetter was elected as President, one of the youngest to ever serve in this position until a career change brought about his resignation. Hans Brombacher , with his expertise and historical ties to the club took over until Thomas’ return and re-election in 2005-2008. Ms. Kim Rose, former Vice-President has taken Presidency in light of Mr. Brandstetter's resignation.
IN MEMORIAM:
In July 2000, the club lost their greatest friend, soccer mate, and longest serving president, Helmut Brandstetter.
Norris Johnson was a club manager since 1967, and was president of the club for 17 years introducing the club’s trophy, “The President’s Cup”. Norris Johnson passed away in August of 2000.
Dave Bracey was also a long-time club member, since 1978. David wrote himself speeches for our annual dinner/dance, but never read one on-stage. He passed away in the year 2001, and was the only president of our club that passed away while in office.
TODAY
Today, C. C. Soccer Club maintains the same traditional multi-cultural attitudes and members from Germans, Slovaks, Italians, Austrians, Cameroon, Chinese, Indian, Irish, British, Czechs, African, Hungarian and Scottish just to name a few.
Camera Craft Soccer Club consists of five teams: Senior Rec Team, Senior Mens, Premier Mens, and two Senior Ladies teams. Our current sponsors are The George Wellington Esquire Club, Coch's Corner and Ken Davies L.L.B.
With multicultural members of all ages, Camera Craft stands to be one of the oldest soccer clubs in Sault Ste. Marie.
"Where cultures meet, with their feet!"
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