Heather Brown, born on January 6, 1977, showed an avid interest in sports at a very young age. Starting with soccer at age six, she soon was also participating in t-ball (then softball), figure skating, and eventually hockey, all the while playing on teams with boys since there were no girls teams. But early on it became clear that soccer was her sport, as evidenced by being the only girl chosen for the Cobourg Soccer Club’s Select Team. Attending CDCI East, at one point she was on five different soccer teams (indoor, outdoor, high school, house league, and the provincial U16 team). In addition, while at the East she also participated in numerous other sports; basketball, volleyball, tennis, badminton, cross country, track & field and she excelled, competing in OFSSA in the javelin and in badminton and being the recipient of the school’s Junior Athlete of the Year twice and also a two-time winner of the school’s Athlete of the Year. Throughout her high school years Heather was also an integral part of first the U16 and then the U18 Women’s Provincial team, with whom she earned a silver medal at the 1994 Nationals and then a gold at the 1995 Nationals. After graduating from the East, Heather received a scholarship to the University of Nebraska where she played Division 1 varsity soccer from 1995 to 1999, while earning a degree in Mechanical Engineering. Regarded as one of the team’s most consistent and intelligent players, in her first three seasons as a Cornhusker, she started in 42 consecutive games, and was named Nebraska’s Co-Most Valuable Player in 1995, only to see her playing time limited due to a torn ACL in her right knee in 1998, an injury that was serious enough to eventually put an end to her elite soccer career. While at Nebraska, in the summer of 1996, and at the age of 19, Heather was chosen as part of the Canadian Women’s National team and was the youngest player on the squad that competed in the U.S. Cup. Also in 1996, Heather Brown once again represented her country, this time on the Canadian U20 National team, where she was named co-captain, an experience which she relished.
The Cobourg Galloping Ghosts are the most famous team in Cobourg sports history. Managed by Fred Dufton, the Ghosts won eight Ontario championships, five after World War II. They were Canadian Dominion champions in 1946, 1948 and 1950. They were the first team in Canada to wear aluminum cleats and the second to wear white uniforms.
