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Dick Howard (soccer)
Encyclopedia
Richard James "Dick" Howard (born 10 June 1943 in Bromborough
, Cheshire
, England
) is a former Canadian international goalkeeper, NASL
player, educator, long-time FIFA
coaching instructor and Canadian national teams coach, author, and print and broadcast journalist on soccer in Canada and abroad.
A goalkeeper
, Howard made an appearance for Chester
in the English Football League Fourth Division
during 1965–66
and also played for Hyde United. He received a diploma in physical education from the Chester College of Education
. He moved to Canada and played for the Hamilton Primos of the National Soccer League in 1967, making it to the championship finals before losing to Windsor Teutonia. Howard then played in the inaugural season of the North American Soccer League
for the Detroit Cougars in 1968. He was a member of the NASL champion Rochester Lancers
in 1970 and graduated from the nearby State University of New York at Brockport
with a degree in physical education. He was acquired from the Lancers by the Toronto Metros in 1971 and played in Toronto through the 1974 season. He was also a member of the Canadian national team during 1974 FIFA World Cup qualification
.
While playing with the Metros, Howard became a physical education teacher at Upper Canada College
in Toronto
. From 1972 to 1986 he was director of athletics at Crescent School, another private school in Toronto. He has coached Canadian national youth teams and in 1981 was an assistant coach of the senior Canadian national team for 1982 FIFA World Cup qualification
, as the Canadians came within one goal of qualifying. He was technical director of the Canadian Soccer Association
from 1986 to 1992. Since 1988, he has conducted more than 50 FIFA projects as the longest-serving FIFA coaching instructor in North America. Howard has been a member of the FIFA technical committee since 1998 and is chairman of CONCACAF
coaching committee. He was appointed technical consultant of the Toronto Lynx
soccer club in February 2005.
In the 1980s, Howard and Mike Povey were hired as analysts for broadcasts of English soccer games on CFMT-TV
in Toronto
, hosted by Dale Barnes. He followed Barnes to The Sports Network
after it was launched in 1984. He has also covered international soccer for Fox Sports World and was a soccer columnist with the Toronto Sun
during the 1990s. Howard provided commentary for the FIFA 2010 World Cup on CBC
and Toronto FC
games.
Howard was inducted into the Canadian Soccer Hall of Fame
in 2002 as a builder. He currently works at Crescent School as their Head of Soccer and Soccer Development
Bromborough
Bromborough is a large village within the Metropolitan Borough of Wirral, in Merseyside, England. It is situated on the Wirral Peninsula, to the south of Bebington and to the north of Eastham...
, Cheshire
Cheshire
Cheshire is a ceremonial county in North West England. Cheshire's county town is the city of Chester, although its largest town is Warrington. Other major towns include Widnes, Congleton, Crewe, Ellesmere Port, Runcorn, Macclesfield, Winsford, Northwich, and Wilmslow...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
) is a former Canadian international goalkeeper, NASL
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:...
player, educator, long-time FIFA
FIFA
The Fédération Internationale de Football Association , commonly known by the acronym FIFA , is the international governing body of :association football, futsal and beach football. Its headquarters are located in Zurich, Switzerland, and its president is Sepp Blatter, who is in his fourth...
coaching instructor and Canadian national teams coach, author, and print and broadcast journalist on soccer in Canada and abroad.
A goalkeeper
Goalkeeper (football)
In association football, the goalkeeper occupies a position that represents the last line of defence between the opponent's offence and his own team's goal. The primary role of the goalkeeper is to defend his team's goal and prevent the opposition from scoring a goal...
, Howard made an appearance for Chester
Chester City F.C.
Chester City Football Club was an English football team from Chester. The club was founded as Chester F.C., and joined the Football League in 1931, spending most of their time in the lower divisions. They changed their name to Chester City in 1983. Chester won their first league title in 2004, the...
in the English Football League Fourth Division
Football League Fourth Division
The Fourth Division of The Football League was the fourth-highest division in the English football league system from the 1958–59 season until the creation of the Premier League prior to the 1992–93 season...
during 1965–66
1965-66 in English football
The 1965–66 season was the 86th season of competitive football in England.-Diary of the season:7 October 1965: An experiment to broadcast a live game to another ground takes place...
and also played for Hyde United. He received a diploma in physical education from the Chester College of Education
University of Chester
The University of Chester is a public research university located in Chester, United Kingdom. The University, based on a main campus in Chester and a smaller campus in Warrington, offers a range of foundation, undergraduate and postgraduate courses, as well as undertaking academic research.Chester...
. He moved to Canada and played for the Hamilton Primos of the National Soccer League in 1967, making it to the championship finals before losing to Windsor Teutonia. Howard then played in the inaugural season of the 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:...
for the Detroit Cougars in 1968. He was a member of the NASL champion Rochester Lancers
Rochester Lancers
The Rochester Lancers were a soccer team based in Rochester, New York that played in the American Soccer League from 1967 until 1969 and the North American Soccer League from 1970 to 1980 at Aquinas Stadium...
in 1970 and graduated from the nearby State University of New York at Brockport
State University of New York at Brockport
The College at Brockport: State University of New York, also known as SUNY Brockport, Brockport State, College at Brockport, or the State University of New York at Brockport, is a four-year liberal arts college located in Brockport, Monroe County, New York, United States, near Rochester...
with a degree in physical education. He was acquired from the Lancers by the Toronto Metros in 1971 and played in Toronto through the 1974 season. He was also a member of the Canadian national team during 1974 FIFA World Cup qualification
1974 FIFA World Cup qualification
A total of 99 teams entered the 1974 FIFA World Cup qualification rounds, competing for a total of 16 spots in the final tournament. , as the hosts, and , as the defending champions, qualified automatically, leaving 14 spots open for competition....
.
While playing with the Metros, Howard became a physical education teacher at Upper Canada College
Upper Canada College
Upper Canada College , located in midtown Toronto, Ontario, Canada, is an independent elementary and secondary school for boys between Senior Kindergarten and Grade Twelve, operating under the International Baccalaureate program. The secondary school segment is divided into ten houses; eight are...
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...
. From 1972 to 1986 he was director of athletics at Crescent School, another private school in Toronto. He has coached Canadian national youth teams and in 1981 was an assistant coach of the senior Canadian national team for 1982 FIFA World Cup qualification
1982 FIFA World Cup qualification
A total of 109 teams entered the 1982 FIFA World Cup qualification rounds, competing for a total of 24 spots in the final tournament, an increase from 16 in the previous World Cups...
, as the Canadians came within one goal of qualifying. He was technical director of the Canadian Soccer Association
Canadian Soccer Association
The Canadian Soccer Association is the governing body of soccer in Canada. It is a national organization that oversees the Canadian men's and women's national teams for international play, as well as the respective junior sides...
from 1986 to 1992. Since 1988, he has conducted more than 50 FIFA projects as the longest-serving FIFA coaching instructor in North America. Howard has been a member of the FIFA technical committee since 1998 and is chairman of CONCACAF
CONCACAF
The Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football is the continental governing body for association football in North America, Central America and the Caribbean...
coaching committee. He was appointed technical consultant of the Toronto Lynx
Toronto Lynx
Toronto Lynx is a Canadian soccer team based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Founded in 1997, the team plays in the USL Premier Development League , the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, in the Great Lakes Division of the Central Conference....
soccer club in February 2005.
In the 1980s, Howard and Mike Povey were hired as analysts for broadcasts of English soccer games on CFMT-TV
CFMT-TV
CFMT-DT, channel 47, is a television station based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, with rebroadcasters in Ottawa and London. The station broadcasts multicultural programming targeting European and Latin American communities throughout Southern Ontario. Part of the Omni Television group of stations...
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...
, hosted by Dale Barnes. He followed Barnes to The Sports Network
The Sports Network
The Sports Network, commonly abbreviated as TSN, is a Canadian English language Category C specialty channel and is Canada's leading English language sports TV channel. TSN premiered in 1984, in the first group of Canadian specialty cable channels...
after it was launched in 1984. He has also covered international soccer for Fox Sports World and was a soccer columnist with the Toronto Sun
Toronto Sun
The Toronto Sun is an English-language daily tabloid newspaper published in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It is known for its daily Sunshine Girl feature and for what it sees as a populist conservative editorial stance.-History:...
during the 1990s. Howard provided commentary for the FIFA 2010 World Cup on CBC
CBC Television
CBC Television is a Canadian television network owned by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, the national public broadcaster.Although the CBC is supported by public funding, the television network supplements this funding with commercial advertising revenue, in contrast to CBC Radio which are...
and Toronto FC
Toronto FC
Toronto FC is a Canadian professional soccer club based in Toronto, Ontario which competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States and Canada....
games.
Howard was inducted into the Canadian Soccer Hall of Fame
Canadian Soccer Hall of Fame
The Canadian Soccer Hall of Fame in Vaughan, Ontario, was founded in 1997. It was incorporated by the Ontario Soccer Association. The Hall aims to celebrate and highlight the achievements of top Canadian Footballers and Builders who have played and developed the game in Canada...
in 2002 as a builder. He currently works at Crescent School as their Head of Soccer and Soccer Development