Soccer’s Dick Howard and Crescent School Go Way Back FURTHER BACK THAN YOU MAY THINK, WITH PLANS TO GO FURTHER AHEAD THAN YOU MAY HAVE IMAGINED! ICK’S professional soccer career began in North America in 1966. While playing in the second/third division in England, Dick heard of a soccer league starting in North America and upon finishing his diploma, immediately took a trip across the pond. With the hope of establishing himself in North America before entering the league and turning professional, Dick looked for a job to see him through this time of transition. He applied to Crescent School and was hired as a phys. ed. teacher at the Dentonia Park campus and quickly befriended Bill Burridge. Bill, and his wife Faith became surrogate parents to the “new kid in town”, who, in turn, became a big fan of Mrs. B’s apple pies. A year later, Dick signed a professional contract to play in the fledgling North American league he had sought out, and joined the Detroit Cougars sponsored by the Ford Motor Company. One of the perks was the choice of any Ford vehicle and in true playboy fashion, he picked a Mustang. “I wish I still had it
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he had been granted Canadian citizenship and had the honour of playing for Canada in the qualifying rounds of the World Cup. Though the Canadian team did not qualify until 1986, Dick was able to become involved in Canada’s national soccer scene. At the same time he was able to return to Crescent School as the league allowed players to have jobs while being professional. From 1972-1986 Dick once again taught at Crescent School.”It was tremendous because I had some excellent headmasters,” he says. “They valued sports as being very important in the education of youngsters. Chris Gordon and John Tansey were very supportive of the programme during the time I was director of athletics and head of the phys. ed. department.” One of Crescent School’s most beloved retired teachers, Terry Bidiak, was hired by Dick who had known him when they were both playing soccer in Detroit.
“My father said to me, ‘Don’t do anything until you get an education. Get your education first and then turn professional’,” says Dick Howard. “I followed his advice, went to college and got a diploma in physical education (phys. ed.) in the U.K. and then a bachelor of science in Canada.”
today,” says Dick. “I am sure it would be worth a lot of money.” After one season, the Cougars’ franchise wasn’t viable and he was traded to the Rochester Lancers. The team won the championships in 1970; Dick was traded to Toronto. The Toronto Metros soccer team was established in 1971 and Dick stayed with the team until the mid-70s. By that time,
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In 1986 Dick had received several offers to join the Canadian Soccer Association (CSA) and decided to accept the position of technical director of soccer for the CSA and relocated to Ottawa. He was there for six years and in 1992 made the decision to start his own company, end the commuting, and focus on a career that included media work and FIFA-related contracts including course presentations.