Builders
Seton, David
(1924 – 2015)
SPORT | Soccer, Badminton
POSITION | Official, Administrator
YEAR OF INDUCTION | 2002
David Seton was born in Manchester, England in 1924, served in the Royal Air Force and came to Chatham in April of 1949. He was an excellent athlete in his own right and while playing soccer and badminton, he ran leagues, officiated, and promoted the two games that he loved. David was made a life member of the Essex Kent Scottish Regiment Badminton Club in 1968 and of the Chatham and District Soccer Association in 1971. As long as he was able, he continued to organize and play badminton.
David Seton was born in Manchester, England in 1924, served in the Royal Air Force and came to Chatham in April of 1949. He was an excellent athlete in his own right and while playing soccer and badminton, he ran leagues, officiated, and promoted the two games that he loved. David was made a life member of the Essex Kent Scottish Regiment Badminton Club in 1968 and of the Chatham and District Soccer Association in 1971. As long as he was able, he continued to organize and play badminton.
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS
Soccer
1949-1959 – played in the Chatham and District Soccer League and the London and District Soccer League while living there in 1955 – 1956
1951-1965 – represented the Chatham and District Soccer Association (CDSA) at the Ontario Soccer Association annual meetings
1951-1971 – was secretary and often secretary-treasurer of the CDSA
1951 – was co-convenor for first attempt to organize minor soccer in the district
1952, 1954, 1955, & 1963 – was co-convenor, secretary, and coach for minor soccer
1952 – authored a weekly newspaper column entitled “Corner Kicks”
1953-1970 – refereed games played by Chatham area elementary and secondary schools
1959-1971 – was convenor, referee, and assignor of officials for the adult Chatham and District Soccer League
1961 – wrote a series of articles for the newspaper promoting soccer and explaining its rules
Badminton
1949-1993 – was an active player in the Chatham Badminton Club and its subsequent amalgamation with the Essex Kent
Scottish Regiment Badminton Club
1950, 1953, & 1962 – was president of these badminton clubs and also was games captain for 5 different years
April 1952 – co-organized and ran the first Invitational Badminton Tournament in Chatham
1953-1954 – authored a weekly newspaper column entitled “Batting the Birdie”
1952-1954 – organized, promoted, and became president of the Kent County Badminton League which included clubs from Chatham (3), Blenheim, Ridgetown, and later Leamington
1955 – while living in London, coached an evening adult Badminton Club at Sir Adam Beck School
later, at request of Recreation Department, organized a League for adults playing at several different schools during evenings
1958-1969 – assisted convenors and supplied scorekeepers and line judges for Kent County secondary school badminton tournaments
1966 – helped develop first double knockout system for games played in a Kent hosted SWOSSA Badminton Tournament Badminton Club
1977 – coached badminton team at The Pines
1986-2006 – was an active player and for two years was convenor and coach of the Senior’s Afternoon Badminton Club at Kinsmen Auditorium
1988-2006 – was active player in Tuesday Night Mixed Doubles Adult Badminton Club
1992 – coached badminton team at St. Anne’s Separate School in Blenheim
1996-2006 – was convenor, coach, and active player in an adult Badminton Club at St. Paul’s Congregational Church in Chatham
Awards & Recognitions
November 1961 – was chosen Sportsman of the Week by Chatham Daily News
1968 – was presented a Life Membership in the E-K Scottish Regiment
1969 – was recognized by the Chatham Daily News as one of Chatham’s Ten Most Prominent Citizens
1970 – received the YMCA’s Proctor Dick Service to Youth Award
1971 – was nominated by Chatham Jaycees for the Kent County Outstanding Young Person Award
December 1971 – was presented Life Membership in the Chatham District Soccer Association
1990 – from Junior Achievement of Canada, received the H. E. Miskiman Leadership Award which is only presented to one person across Canada each year