Đjuro (George) Đjurković
Founder of Croatia SC (1961)
English
Born: April 4, 1921 in Konavle, Čavtat, Croatia
Deceased: November 21, 2007, Burnaby, BC
George Đurković was instrumental along with a group of like-minded individuals in founding Croatia Sports Club of Vancouver. The actual date of the Club’s founding meeting was October 24, 1961. There were many logistical issues discussed and sorted out during the formation of our Club, but the two principles that are closely followed to this day originate from the decisions made by Đurković and his peers at that formation meeting in 1961:
1. The club is not to be owned by nor belong to any organization, instead, the club is to belong to all Croatians of Vancouver without political, religious or other organizational affiliations.
2. All Croatians of the Vancouver area are entrusted to support and upkeep the club and its traditions.
Đurković was the first President of the Club and served on the executive for the first six years. He then stepped away from day-to-day running of the club, but he was never too far removed with financial and moral support as may have been required.
Đurković escaped the communist rule of his beloved homeland in 1945. He arrived in Canada in 1948. After a couple years in Lethbridge, he made the Vancouver area his home ever since 1950. His involvements in the Croatian community go well beyond the soccer club, all with the aim of maintaining Croatian heritage in our adopted country of Canada.
Croatian
Rođen: 4. travnja 1921 u Konavle, Čavtat, Hrvatska
Premino: 21. studenog 2007 u Burnaby, BC.
Đjuro Đurković je bijo instrumentalan sa ljudima istog mišljenja sa osnovanjem našeg kluba – Hrvatsko Športsko Društvo CROATIA u Vancouveru. Osnivačka sjednica je održana 24. listopada 1961. Na sjednici se je raspravljalo o svim detaljima koji su vezani uz osnivanje kluba, kao koje će mu se ime dati, tko će biti vlasnik, i tko može biti član. Na toj sjednici, dva važna principa su odlučena za klub kojima se mi podržavamo i dan danas:
1. Da klub bude vlasništvo svih Hrvata grada Vancouvera, bez razlike na političku, vjersku ili društvenu pripadnost, samo ako učlane i plate članarinu.
2. Svi Hrvati grada Vancouvera da ga pomažu i uzdržavaju jer je sport općenarodni i treba pripadati svima.
Đurković je izabran prvi Predsjednik našeg kluba i ostao je na Upravnom Odboru sljedeći šest godina. Poslje toga, ostavijo je vodstvo kluba drugima, ali nikada nije bijo daleko od njegove mile Croatie.
Đurković je pobjegao komunističku vladu njegove lijepe Hrvatske 1945 godine. Došao je u Kanadu 1948. Sproveo je par godina u Lethbridge-u, ali nakon toga, doselijo je u Vancouver 1950, gdje je sproveo ostali dijo života. Đurino učešće u našoj Hrvatskoj zajednici ide puno dalje od športskog kluba, sve sa smislom da se Hrvatsko nasljedstvo ne zaboravi na dalekim obalama Pacifika.
1985 Croatia A Team
National Champions
Back Row: Mike Milković (President), Joe Zlomislić, John Gašparac, Mark McQueen, Steve Zlomislić, Joe McQuade (Captain), Joe Pesht, Rudi Gašparac, Eric Jones, lvica Sakić (Manager), Peter Stipancik (Player/Coach) Front Row: Mike Hecimović (Trainer), Lui Miljanović, Darren Schultz, Garry Wilson, Gord Ackerman, Brian Kennedy, Skip Radbourne, Russell Kekec, Dennis Bralić Missing: Alex McKechnie (Physiotherapist)
English
The 1985 team perhaps best illustrates in short period of time the numerous achievements that Croatia SC is known for.
In March, they won the PCSL League and Cup by defeating teams such as New West QPR, Columbus and Wesburn. As the PCSL representative in the BC Cup, they beat Aldergrove 3:0, Firemen 2:1, Victoria Athletics 1:0 en-route to the Provincial Cup by defeating Norvan 3:0. As the BC champions, Croatia qualified for the Canadian championships in Edmonton over the Thanksgiving weekend. They defeated Moncton Rovers 6:0 and Edmonton Ital-Canadians 2:1 in group play, thus earning the right to play in the final. By defeating Montreal’s Elio Blues 3:0 in the final, this team became National champions.
Croatian
1985 ekipa možda najbolje pokaživa u kratkom roku dostignuća HŠD Croatie kao organizacija.
U ožujku, ova ekipa je pobjedila PCSL Ligu kao i Kup. Pobjedili su ekipe kao New West QPR, Columbus i Wesburn. Kao prvaci u PCSL, oni su se kvalificirali za razigravanje BC Kupa, gdje su pobjedili Aldergrove 3:0, Firemen 2:1, Victoria Athletics 1:0 i Norvan 3:0 u finalu. Kap prvaci British Columbia-je, Croatia se je kvalificirala za prvenstvo Kanade u Edmonton-u prijeko Thanksgiving vikenda. Tamo su pobjedili Moncton Rovers 6:0 i Edmonton Ital-Canadians 2:1 u grupnoj igri, stječući parvo da igraju u finalu. Sa pobjedom Montrealnog Elio Blues 3:0 u finalu, ova ekipa je postala prvak Kanade.