In memory of Colin Jose, Canada Soccer Hall of Fame honoured member

Colin Jose, a storyteller who shared the history of North American soccer and wrote biographies and statistics for countless Canadian soccer heroes and personalities, has passed away at age 88. An honoured member of the Canada Soccer Hall of Fame and a Canada Soccer Life Member, Jose (pronounced Joze) was Canada Soccer’s press officer from 1972 to 1982 and the nation’s unofficial soccer historian for another 30-plus years thereafter.

He was a founding member of The Soccer Hall of Fame and Museum (today known as the Canada Soccer Hall of Fame) and he served on the Executive Committee of the International Federation of Football History and Statistics.

He served as the official statistician for Canada Soccer’s National Teams, served as the official statistician and historian of the old Canadian Soccer League, and served as a liaison officer on the FIFA press and publications committee. He provided soccer research to CBC for the Montréal 1976 Olympic Games and served on the National Organising Committee (Media Relations) for the FIFA U-16 World Tournament Canada 1987.

Wrote the late George Gross in 1995, Jose “spent decades on the research of Canadian and American soccer history as well as facts about origins of leagues in the two countries. He (was) respected the world over.” Echoed the late Don Lovegrove, “Jose is unquestionably the most knowledgeable soccer journalist in the country.”

Jose was the author or co-author of several books covering Canadian soccer, the North American Soccer League, and the American Soccer League. He also preserved the history of leagues and competitions like the Eastern Canada Pro League and Canada Soccer’s annual National Championships. His research and statistics served as the foundation to Canada Soccer’s national database and records management program.

Said Jose once, “it’s my hobby and I get a great deal out of it. I get to see a lot of games; there are some financial rewards, but most years it’s a trade off; I spend as much as I make.”

Jose was honoured with the Canada Soccer President’s Award in 2007, the Ontario Soccer President’s Award in 1986 and 2015, and the Soccer Québec Centennial Medal in 2011. The US National Soccer Hall of Fame Colin Jose Media Award, meanwhile, was named in his honour. He was honoured by the Canada Soccer Hall of Fame in 2009, became a Canada Soccer Life Member in 2014, and was honoured by the Hamilton Soccer Hall of Fame in 2016.

Wrote the late John McMahon, Canada Soccer’s National Teams Manager when Jose was the press officer, “Jose is as dedicated a soccer man as I know; he’s a tremendous statistician and one man that I can’t do without.” 

Born on 11 July 1936 in Falmouth, England, Jose emigrated to Canada in 1957, living first in Hamilton and then in Moose Jaw. After returning to England, he moved back to Canada for good in 1964, married Karen in 1966, and the couple raised their family in Hamilton, Ontario. Colin spent last few years in London, Ontario where he passed away peacefully on 14 September 2024, incidentally 39 years to the day after Canada first qualified for the men’s FIFA World Cup in 1985.

“Words can’t describe how much he will be missed,” said daughter Carla Willson. “He lit up every room with the twinkle in his eyes, his mischievous smile and his witty sense of humour. He always knew how to make people laugh and won the hearts of so many throughout his life. The world knew him as an author, journalist, and one of the most respected historians of soccer in North America. I was so proud of all of his accomplishments but even prouder to be his daughter. He was loving and kind and the best Dad a girl could ask for.”