Bob Bolitho 1984

Robert "Bob" Bolitho was born on July 20th, 1952 in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada. He was a member of the Olympic team at the 1976 Summer Olympics, playing against the Soviet Union in Montreal and North Korea in Toronto. Bob played a defensive midfield role in the early days of his first class career before settling down at right back. He scored an impressive equalizing goal against the United States in Vancouver in 1976, one of a number of important goals he scored during his career.

Bob played as a teenager of Pacific Coast Soccer League side Victoria O'Keefe S.C. before joining the soccer team of the London Boxing Club in Victoria, for whom he won a Canadian Club Championship national title in 1975.

In 1977, he joined the Vancouver Whitecaps, making his debut on April 8th, at home to the Portland Timbers ina 0-1 loss. Was a rookie surprise, he started in 15 games, scoring 4 goals and 2 assists. He excelled on the road, where he scored three of his four goals. Was certainly the most under-rated North American and overall one of the most unnoticed defensive stars in the NASL.

1978, he would appear in 29 games, he tied a league record when he recorded 4 assists in the game against the Dallas Tornado in Vancouver.

As one of the Whitecaps' best crosser of the ball, and certainly one of the strongest runners, he moved up from his right fullback postition in 1979 to record eight assists, including a beauty that set up the overtime goal in Vancouver's tense 2-1 win over the Rochester Lancers. He appeared for the LA Aztecs during the 1979 indoor season. He helped the Whitecaps to Soccer Bowl '78, coming on as a substitute in the game against the Rowdies.

In 1980, he would see his time with the Whitecaps on rare occasions, was traded to the Tulsa Roughnecks, where he would make his debut at home, against the Minnesota Kicks on September 13th, in a 1-2 loss. He would go on to make 14 appearances and scoring 1 goal with 2 assists.

1981, would see him on the move again, this time it was the Ft. Lauderdale Strikers, where he would play in every game that season, a total of 38 games and 2 goals with 4 assists. He would continue in the same vein in 1982, missing only 10 games, starting in 28 games, scoring 5 goals and 5 assists.

1983, would see him start the opening game against his old team the Whitecaps on April 24th, in Vancouver, losing 0-3. He would be injured and would miss the next 5 games, but would return on June 1st, against the Chicago Sting and stay in the team until the end of the playoffs. Starting in 27 games and scoring 1 goal, and assisting with 11.

In 1984, the Strikers moved their franchise to Minnesota, Bob went along and started in the first 6 games, but then he played more as a substitute. His last appearance for the Strikers would be against the Rowdies at Tampa Stadium on July 18th. The Rowdies must have liked what they had seen as Bob made his debut on July 21st against the Roughnecks in a 0-2 loss. He would only make 6 appearances, but scored 1 goal. This would be his last year in the NASL.

He then played one season for
Visons of VIC West Past O30's in 1988 (as pictured above, front row, 5th for left) and then Victoria Vistas in the CSL in 1989.

Today, Bob lives in Victoria, Canada where he has worked with local charities.
I cannot find anyother information after this.