[TESTIMONIAL] Four testimonial matches are being held for former Irish international Jimmy Conway, a long-time fixture on the Oregon soccer scene who was recently diagnosed with trauma-induced dementia that doctors believe may have been caused by concussions he suffered during his playing career.

Conway played in Ireland for Bohemians and in England with Fulham and Manchester City before he came to the United States in 1978 to play for the NASL's Portland Timbers, where he finished his pro career.

Conway, who accumulated 20 caps with the Irish national team, and the late Clive Charles, the Oregon Youth Soccer Association's first full-time coaches in 1981, were the pioneers in Oregon youth soccer.

Conway was an assistant with the NASL Timbers and coached at Pacific (Ore.) University and Oregon State, where he started the men's program. Most recently, he was an assistant with the Portland Timbers, now of the D-2 Pro League.

Conway remains active and continues to play golf, but his dementia continues to progress.

Conway will be honored at a special invitation-only event on Aug. 25, at the Nike World Campus in Beaverton, and a testimonial the next afternoon at PGE Park prior to the Portland Timbers' D-2 Pro League match with Austin.  The testimonial match will feature a team of Timbers' alumni against the "Oregon Select XI," comprised mainly of players previously coached by Conway.

Members of Conway's family are flying from as far away as Ireland and Germany for the events. Son Paul, who starred at Hartwick College and later played in England and is now a lawyer in South Carolina, will also attend.

The University of Portland will honor Jimmy Conway on Sept. 5, Oregon State will hold an event on Sept. 17, and the final ceremony will take place on Sept. 19 when Conway will be honored prior to Pacific's match against Whitman at Lincoln Park Stadium.

Click here for more information on the Jimmy Conway testimonials.