John Richardson arrived in Vancouver in 1919 and began his soccer career with the Riverview Juniors of the Junior Alliance Football League. He maintained a lifelong interest in developing soccer at a junior level and devoted many years to working with the province’s young players. During the latter part of his life, he encouraged his good friend, Dave Fryatt, a fellow BC Sports Hall of Fame inductee in 1983, to assist him in this cause. After Richardson’s death in 1952, Fryatt became his successor at the BC Soccer Commission.

Richardson served as an executive member of the BC Junior and Juvenile Football Association, responsible for the development of soccer at the youth level. Later he was named honourary president and life member of the organization.

In 1930, he served as secretary of the BC Football Association. He was elected secretary of the BC Soccer Commission in 1933 and held that position until his death in 1952. While serving on the commission, he was also a member of the Referees Examining Board.

Richardson organized the first coaching schools in the province, which worked at developing coaches through clinics and testing.

From 1940-52, he was a BC Council Member with the Canadian Soccer Football Association. Richardson also played a prominent role in the organization of European team tours of Canada.