James (Jim) Richardson was born and raised in England and played football throughout his youth. Jim was invited to join the West Ham Youth boys teams in 1942 around the same time that he had volunteered to join the Royal Air Force. Jim served as Air Crew with the RAF until 1945. He was subsequently posted to Germany until 1947. Jim played with the RAF in a game against Russia in the Berlin Olympic Stadium during this time; the RAF won their game 3-2.
Jim immigrated to Canada in late 1947, married and eventually moved to Newmarket in the early 1950’s. Connecting through an advertisement in the Newmarket Era Sports section in 1954, Jim met up with Bill Brooks and this was the beginning of the Newmarket Soccer Club roots. Jim was pivotal in growing and developing the Newmarket and District Soccer League. Jim assembled and coached the Ontario team that competed in the first ever Canada Summer Games in Halifax, Nova Scotia where Ontario won the silver medal.
For 17 years, Jim filled various roles in the Ontario soccer community; first Vice President of the Ontario Soccer Association; appointed Director of Coaching and Referee Development for the Ontario Soccer Association; President of the Newmarket and District Soccer Association and President of the Newmarket Soccer Club.
In 1967 Jim was appointed Manager of the Canadian National Team for the 1970 World Cup. In 1972 Jim resigned from all positions in Ontario and moved to British Columbia where he was hired by the British Columbia Government to develop soccer in the province. Jim later accepted the position of “Manager, Games". Jim held this position until he retired in 1990. In this position, Jim’s responsibilities included the oversight of all sports from British Columbia in the Canada Summer and Winter Games; the Western Canada Summer and Winter Games and acted as Chef de Mission for British Columbia at all games.
After retirement, Jim enjoyed his time taking vacations in the sun or watching his grandchildren playing sports.
Jim is survived by his wife of 50 years Joan, son John (Lois), daughter Sandy (Gordie) and daughter Joni, 9 grandchildren and 4 great grandchildren.
A Celebration of Life will take place at a later date pending covid restrictions.
COMPARTA UN OBITUARIO
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