Bob Bolitho
Encyclopedia
Robert "Bob" Bolitho is a former Canadian national team
, North American Soccer League
and Canadian Soccer League player
.
side Victoria O'Keefe S.C. before joining the soccer team of the London Boxing Club in Victoria, for whom he won a Canadian Club Championship national title in 1975. Bob made Everton Football Club over in Liverpool,England but he came back because he was homesick. The following summer Bolitho joined the Vancouver Whitecaps
and remained with the club until 1980. He was a member of their Soccer Bowl
winning team in 1979, playing at right back in the Soccer Bowl win over the Tampa Bay Rowdies. He went on loan to the Los Angeles Aztecs
during the 1979-1980 NASL indoor season. In 1980, Bolitho began the season with the Whitecaps before being traded to the Tulsa Roughnecks
with whom he played the rest of the 1980 outdoor as well as the 1980-1981 NASL indoor season. In 1981, he moved to the Fort Lauderdale Strikers. In 1984, the Strikers moved to Minnesota where they became the Minnesota Strikers
. He began as a starter that season, but soon moved to the substitutes bench before being traded to the Tampa Bay Rowdies. Bolitho then played one season for Victoria Vistas
in the CSL in 1989.
, playing against the Soviet Union
in Montreal
and North Korea
in Toronto
. He played a defensive
midfield
role in the early days of his first class career before settling down at right back
. Bolitho scored an impressive equalizing goal
against the United States
in Vancouver
in 1976, one of a number of important goals he scored during his career.
Canada men's national soccer team
The Canada men's national soccer team represents Canada in international soccer competitions at the senior men's level. They are overseen by the Canadian Soccer Association and compete in the Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football .Their most significant...
, North American Soccer League
North American Soccer League
North American Soccer League was a professional soccer league with teams in the United States and Canada that operated from 1968 to 1984.-History:...
and Canadian Soccer League player
Player (game)
A player of a game is a participant therein. The term 'player' is used with this same meaning both in game theory and in ordinary recreational games....
.
Career
Bolitho played as a teenager of Pacific Coast Soccer LeaguePacific Coast Soccer League
The Pacific Coast Soccer League is a soccer league featuring teams from British Columbia, although the league has also featured teams from Washington in the past as well...
side Victoria O'Keefe S.C. before joining the soccer team of the London Boxing Club in Victoria, for whom he won a Canadian Club Championship national title in 1975. Bob made Everton Football Club over in Liverpool,England but he came back because he was homesick. The following summer Bolitho joined the Vancouver Whitecaps
Vancouver Whitecaps (NASL)
The original Vancouver Whitecaps were founded on December 11, 1973 and during the 1970s and 1980s played in the North American Soccer League . The Whitecaps achieved success, winning the 1979 Soccer Bowl. The Whitecaps of that era included international players such as Alan Ball, but also "home...
and remained with the club until 1980. He was a member of their Soccer Bowl
Soccer Bowl
The Soccer Bowl was the championship game of the North American Soccer League from 1975 to 1983. The event was created by NASL Commissioner Phil Woosnam who was trying to build a neutral-site championship event in the mold of the NFL's Super Bowl....
winning team in 1979, playing at right back in the Soccer Bowl win over the Tampa Bay Rowdies. He went on loan to the Los Angeles Aztecs
Los Angeles Aztecs
The Los Angeles Aztecs were a soccer team that competed in the North American Soccer League from 1974-81. The team was based in Los Angeles, California and part-owned by Elton John.-History:...
during the 1979-1980 NASL indoor season. In 1980, Bolitho began the season with the Whitecaps before being traded to the Tulsa Roughnecks
Tulsa Roughnecks
-NASL:The Tulsa Roughnecks were a North American Soccer League team from Tulsa, Oklahoma. They played at Skelly Stadium on the campus of the University of Tulsa. The Roughnecks were a regular in the NASL playoffs, and won the NASL Soccer Bowl in 1983, defeating the Toronto Blizzard at B.C. Place...
with whom he played the rest of the 1980 outdoor as well as the 1980-1981 NASL indoor season. In 1981, he moved to the Fort Lauderdale Strikers. In 1984, the Strikers moved to Minnesota where they became the Minnesota Strikers
Minnesota Strikers
The Minnesota Strikers was an American professional soccer team located in the Minneapolis/St. Paul metropolitan area. The team played one season in the North American Soccer League and 4 seasons in the Major Indoor Soccer League....
. He began as a starter that season, but soon moved to the substitutes bench before being traded to the Tampa Bay Rowdies. Bolitho then played one season for Victoria Vistas
Victoria Vistas
The Victoria Vistas were a Canadian soccer club in the original Canadian Soccer League. The Vistas joined the CSL for the 1989 season, and folded after the 1990 season.-1990 Season:...
in the CSL in 1989.
International career
Bolitho was a member of the Olympic team at the 1976 Summer Olympics1976 Summer Olympics
The 1976 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXI Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event celebrated in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, in 1976. Montreal was awarded the rights to the 1976 Games on May 12, 1970, at the 69th IOC Session in Amsterdam, over the bids of Moscow and...
, playing against the Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
in Montreal
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
and North Korea
North Korea
The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea , , is a country in East Asia, occupying the northern half of the Korean Peninsula. Its capital and largest city is Pyongyang. The Korean Demilitarized Zone serves as the buffer zone between North Korea and South Korea...
in Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
. He played a defensive
Defense (sport)
In many team sports, defense or defence is the action of preventing an opponent from scoring. The term may also refer to the tactics involved in defense, or a sub-team whose primary responsibility is defense...
midfield
Midfield
Midfield is the part of a sports pitch that lies approximately in the center. It is a term most commonly associated with football to refer to the area in and around the center circle, as well as the players who occupy that region, but it can be used in field hockey to describe the same area, or in...
role in the early days of his first class career before settling down at right back
Right Back
-Guest Artists:This album features many additional artists, including:* Barrington Levy, performing on "Righteous Dub" & "Saw Red"* H.R., performing on "New Sun"* Dangr, performing on "Kick Down"* Tippa Irie, performing on "Sensi"...
. Bolitho scored an impressive equalizing goal
Goal (sport)
Goal refers to a method of scoring in many sports. It can also refer to the physical structure or area of the playing surface where scoring occurs....
against the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
in Vancouver
Vancouver
Vancouver is a coastal seaport city on the mainland of British Columbia, Canada. It is the hub of Greater Vancouver, which, with over 2.3 million residents, is the third most populous metropolitan area in the country,...
in 1976, one of a number of important goals he scored during his career.