Brian Robinson (2008)

A city boy who honed his chops playing with the Vic High Tyees, Brian Robinson was destined for greater things in soccer. A Vic West club player who toiled in the summer Pacific Coast League for Victoria United, later the Victoria O'Keefes, Robinson got his first taste of international soccer at age 16 in 1969 when the O'Keefes hosted West Bromwich Albion from England's first division. He graduated through the ranks, from the Victoria Royals semi-pro side to the B.C. Selects and finally hooked up with the Canadian national team. The speedy midfielder earned his first cap in 1972 in an Olympic qualifying match against Mexico and would be capped 40 times. After helping Victoria's London Boxing Club win a Canadian title in 1974, he played a pro season with the Vancouver Whitecaps. But injuries cut his season short and he came home to coach the Victoria Athletics. He wasn't done playing, however, and in 1978 rejoined the national team as they competed in the World Cup qualifier. He was inducted into the Canadian Soccer Hall of Fame in 2006.