The Calgary District Soccer Referees Association (CDSRA) is pleased to announce that David O'Neill, the Alberta Soccer Manager of Referees, has been honoured with its inaugural CDSRA Lifetime Achievement Award. The award is presented to an individual in recognition of sustained excellence, leadership and contributions to the refereeing community.

O'Neill, who is set to retire at the end of this month, has dedicated over a decade of service to the advancement and betterment of soccer refereeing in Alberta. His dedication and impactful efforts have made a lasting impression on the referee community throughout Calgary and the province.

The award was presented by Steve Papp, Vice President of the CDSRA, during a surprise ceremony at a RED program session on May 2, 2024 that O'Neill led in Calgary. This session, aimed at providing foundational knowledge for first-year and youth referees, saw participation from over 40 referees.

Mazen Hassanin, President of the CDSRA, expressed his gratitude for O'Neill's contributions: "Dave has been a cornerstone of referee development in Alberta. His passion, dedication, and leadership will continue to influence the future of refereeing in our community for many years to come. We are all grateful for his service and leadership.”

Steve Papp, who also collaborates with O'Neill on the Referee Development Team (RDT) for Alberta Soccer, shared his thoughts: "Working alongside Dave has been a great experience. His expertise and approach to developing referees is inspiring. Presenting him with the CDSRA's first Lifetime Achievement Award is a fitting tribute to his remarkable career and contributions."

As O'Neill prepares to retire, his legacy endures, influencing a generation of referees. The CDSRA board, along with the entire refereeing community, extends heartfelt congratulations to O'Neill on this well-deserved honour and wishes him all the best in his future endeavours, which will continue to see him involved in referee development as an instructor and assessor.