Youth & High School

Paul Irwin, MAPLE Commissioner, has died
September 11, 2006


The fall season of the Massachusetts Premier League kicked off on Sunday with sadness reverberating throughout the league following the death last Friday of one of its architects, Paul Irwin, who passed away while walking in the Serengeti National Park in Africa.

Paul Irwin (Photo courtesy of the Irwin family)

In an email, his wife, Kathy, with whom he had run MAPLE since its inception in 1993, said that Irwin had been walking in ‘a place which he loved' when he had to stop for a rest. He passed away within minutes.

Irwin, who was a lawyer by profession, was the Commissioner of MAPLE, as well as serving in many areas in the Massachusetts youth soccer scene, including being one of the driving forces behind the building of new soccer fields at the headquarters of the Massachusetts Youth Soccer Association.

As Chairman of Field Development and Fundraising Committee, Irwin's tireless work helped to ensure that a project that, at various times, looked to be in danger of collapse, will ultimately result in the establishment of more than a dozen soccer fields in Lancaster, MA.

More recently, Irwin led the implementation of a new MAPLE program for under-10s, which offers small-sided soccer to clubs developing their youngest players in preparation for the jump to the premier level one year later. The immediate success of the program is reflected by the participation in the first season of 28 teams.

In tribute to her late husband, Kathy Irwin noted that he was a man that ‘took great pride and joy in the league and in each of its clubs and teams', adding that this season will be slightly different, as ‘Paul will be watching from the touchline'.

Soccer New England would like to join the many, many others who have extended their deepest sympathy to Kathy and her family following this tragic loss.