City council approves motion to have football field named after Mike O'Shea

North Bay City Council has passed a motion which will name the football field at the Omischl Sports Complex in recognition of Mike O’Shea.

After being a big part of football success at Widdifield he moved on to the CFL where he has won five Grey Cups as a player, assistant coach and last year as head coach of Winnipeg.

The author of the motion Coun. Marcus Tignanelli says O’Shea was quite humbled when he heard the news that this motion was going to be presented.

“He told me oh no not me. He’s very deserving to have a football field named after him,” he says.

Tignanelli says despite O’Shea’s success the five time Grey Cup champion has never forgotten North Bay.

“I remember being three and sitting inside the bowl of the Grey Cup that Mike brought home. Things like that you don’t forget. He’s so big but he always brings the cup home. He brought it home in 2004 and he’s going to do it again,” Tignanelli says.

A ceremony honoring O’Shea is expected in July when the Blue Bombers are on their bye week.

O’Shea has been inducted into the North Bay Sports Hall of Fame and the Canadian Football Hall of fame.

(photo by Frank Gunn Canadian Press)