Terry Felix facts for kids
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | 9 September 1959 | ||
| Place of birth | Matsqui, British Columbia, Canada | ||
| Playing position | Forward | ||
| Youth career | |||
| Sasquatch Inn SC | |||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps† | (Gls)† |
| 1983 | Vancouver Whitecaps | 8 | (2) |
| National team | |||
| 1983 | Canadian Olympic Team | 2 | (2) |
| 1983 | Canada | 3 | (0) |
|
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Terry Felix was born on September 9, 1959. He is a Canadian retired soccer player. Terry Felix made history as the first Indigenous player to play professional soccer in North America. He was also the first Indigenous player to represent Canada on the national team.
He played club soccer for the Vancouver Whitecaps. This team was part of the North American Soccer League (NASL).
Terry Felix's Early Life
Terry Felix was born in Matsqui, British Columbia. He grew up on the Sts'ailes First Nation Indian Reservation. This is a special community with a rich history. Terry started playing soccer when he was just six years old.
Playing Professional Soccer
When Terry Felix was 16, he joined a team called Sasquatch Inn SC. This was an important step in his soccer journey.
On July 10, 1983, Terry made his big professional debut. He played for the Vancouver Whitecaps. This game was against the New York Cosmos. About 50,000 fans watched the match! By playing in this game, Terry became the first Indigenous soccer player to play professionally in North America.
During that season, he played in 8 games. He scored two goals and helped his team score once. Sadly, Terry had to retire from playing after he got a ligament injury.
Representing Canada
In 1983, Terry Felix also played for the Canadian national team. He played in five international games that year. Three of these were official "caps," which means he represented Canada in important matches.
He also played in the Olympic Qualifiers for Canada. By joining the national team, Terry became the first Indigenous player to represent Canada in international soccer.
Life After Soccer
After his soccer career, Terry Felix got married and had seven children. He worked full-time on the Sts'ailes First Nation reserve. He also worked as a prison counsellor, helping people.
In 2022, Terry Felix received a special honor. He won the Indspire Award in the sports category. This award celebrates the achievements of Indigenous people in Canada.
