He played in more than 200 professional matches and won the 1979 Soccer Bowl with the Vancouver Whitecaps. Yet for Victoria's Bob Bolitho, who played youth soccer with Gorge and won a senior amateur national title with the London Boxing Club, playing for his country was among the biggest thrills of his career.

The versatile defender-midfielder joined the national team in 1974 and spurned offers to turn pro out of a desire to play in the 1976 Olympics. Bolitho played well in a pair of Canadian losses at the Summer Games, and earned offers from five North American Soccer League pro teams. He would call the Olympics the "greatest thrill of my life."

He starred from 1977 to 1980 with the Whitecaps and played for three other NASL teams before ending his pro career.

Showing uncanny anticipation and ball-handling skills, Bolitho earned 37 caps in seven years for Canada and helped prove this country belonged on the world soccer stage.

SPONSORED BY VANCOUVER ISLAND SOCCER LEAGUE