Remembering Colin Jose (1936-2024), Historian Emeritus of The National Soccer Hall Of Fame

Colin Jose, the Historian Emeritus of the National Soccer Hall of Fame and the preeminent soccer historian of North America, has died in London, Ontario, at age 88.

Jose, the Hall of Fame’s historian from 1997 to 2007, is the namesake of the Colin Jose Media Award, which honors members of the print and electronic media — including reporters, columnists, authors, broadcasters, editors, public and media relations professionals and other communicators — who have made outstanding contributions to American soccer.

Past winners of the award include Amy Rosenfeld, Grant Wahl, Andres Cantor, JP Dellacamera and George Vecsey.

“Colin Jose’s contributions to the history of soccer in North America are immeasurable,” said Djorn Buchholz, executive director of the National Soccer Hall of Fame. “His meticulous research and passionate storytelling have preserved the legacy of the sport, and his work will continue to inspire future generations of soccer enthusiasts.”

Jose was born in Falmouth, England, on July 11, 1936, and first moved to Canada in 1957. After returning to England, he moved back to Canada permanently in 1964. He married his wife, Karen, in 1966, and they raised their family in Hamilton, Ontario.

Jose was Canada Soccer’s press officer from 1972 to 1982 and a founding member of the Canada Soccer Hall of Fame. He served as the official statistician for Canada’s national teams, as well as for the Canadian Soccer League. He also was a liaison officer on the FIFA press and publications committee.

He wrote or co-wrote nine books on Canadian Soccer, the North American Soccer League and the American Soccer League (1921-1931), including The Encyclopedia of American Soccer History with Roger Allaway and David Litterer.

He received 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. He also was honored by the Canada Soccer Hall of Fame in 2009 and the Hamilton Soccer Hall of Fame in 2016.

“Colin’s legacy isn’t just in the books he wrote or the stats he collected — it’s in every conversation we have about the game,” Buchholz said. “His passion for the history of soccer will always be there, guiding the rest of us who care about keeping the story alive.”