A perennial all-star throughout his illustrious career, Brian Philley is regarded as one of the most skilled BC soccer players of his era.
Coming up through the Vancouver juvenile soccer ranks, Philley made his first of many appearances as a BC all-star in 1949, when he played against Newcastle United of the English Football Association at Vancouver’s Callister Park. Fans of the sport will always remember the goal he scored when the 1953 BC All-Stars defeated Northern Ireland, and his stand-out first goal in the 2-0 victory over Tottenham Hotspurs in 1957.
For Philley, though, 1956 was the year to remember. In a career highlight series, playing in three exhibition games against the touring Moscow Locomotiv team, Philley was responsible for four of the goals that swept past the opposition. Later that same year, his team, the Vancouver Halecos, led by Philley’s three goals and two assists, captured the Canadian championship by defeating Winnipeg by a score of 5-1.
In 1957, Brian was chosen as a member of Canada’s first national team attempting to qualify to play in the FIFA World Cup. In the North American zone final qualifying round, the Canadian team unfortunately lost to Mexico in two hard-fought matches, but defeated the United States in both of their games. Philley’s goal in one US game led the Canadians to a 5-1 victory.
Following his retirement as a player in the early 1960s, Philley served as a member of the BC Soccer Association’s board of directors, and as an administrator for their discipline board. He was also a well-respected referee, who was presented with the 1995 Special Recognition Award by the BC Soccer Association for his many contributions to the sport.