Growing up in a family of eight, John Jepson never had to look far to find someone who wanted to kick the football around, growing up in Whytenshawe, in the city of Manchester.
B次元官网网址淭ough times, but fun times,B次元官网网址� says the retired high school teacher and noted Campbell River area soccer coach. B次元官网网址淲onderful times. Football and family. In school, socializing, football was the forefront of everything.B次元官网网址�
At the time, just like it is now, the cityB次元官网网址檚 soccer rivalry was unparalleled. In JepsonB次元官网网址檚 family, some followed Manchester City, others Manchester United. In the late 1960s and early 1970s, City experienced its greatest successes historically, winning the FA Cup and Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) Cup WinnersB次元官网网址� Cup in 1970, in what in soccer is known as a double.
B次元官网网址淭hat was a grand time,B次元官网网址� Jepson says, adding, B次元官网网址淚t then led to some 40 years of misery afterB次元官网网址� with a laugh.
As time passed, Jepson developed as a player. His career reaching as high as captaining the team at Liverpool Higher Institute of Higher Education (now known as Liverpool Hope University) and a stint in the Northwest Counties Football League. Jepson earned a MasterB次元官网网址檚 Degree in Education in the mid 1980s.
He then came halfway around the world. Yearning for the opportunities he felt he could gain, he took the advice of a brother who moved to Alberta and settled in Canada in 1991, ending up in Campbell River.
B次元官网网址淚 quit my job. I wrote letters to various school districts. (Former mayor) Lynn Nash was an administrator (of SD72). He said he could offer me a chance to come here, but he couldnB次元官网网址檛 offer me a job.B次元官网网址�
Jepson said the first impression of British Columbia was indeed a culture shock.
B次元官网网址淚 remember going to a Barn Dance. It was strange, as I had never heard country music before. There was also no curry house in Campbell River.B次元官网网址�
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On his first days at Carihi Secondary, he said the opportunity to coach was offered to him, based clearly on where he came from.
B次元官网网址淚 walked into the staff room and opened my mouth. I had an accent. The head of PE asked me if I wanted to coach. I said B次元官网网址榮ureB次元官网网址橞次元官网网址�
Initally coaching the Senior Boys team, he coached both the girls and boys levels, reaching a combined eight AA Island Championships during his tenure, retiring from his job in 2019.
He still does coach with the Senior Girls at Carihi Secondary.
B次元官网网址淲hat you want to endear is a love and passion. You want to develop techincal expertise and tactical knowledge. But whatB次元官网网址檚 equally important is establishing values,B次元官网网址� Jepson says. B次元官网网址淪port is the microcosm of life. Using my knowledge of the game is a tool to teach.B次元官网网址�
He feels the impact of Canada qualifying for the World Cup will have a ripple effect for the sport for the athletes he mentors.
B次元官网网址淭hey are one of the underdogs in this tournament. They are a great counterattacking team. (Herdman) has built a great team,B次元官网网址� Jepson says of the menB次元官网网址檚 national team success.
B次元官网网址淭he impact, if you look at how the womenB次元官网网址檚 team has grown in the last decade. Christine Sinclair has made young girls want to be Christine Sinclair. The menB次元官网网址檚 team will have that kind of impact. Hopefully, it will have that lasting mark, and more children will want to reach the highest level.B次元官网网址�
Edward Hitchins
edward.hitchins@campbellrivermirror.com
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