WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 28, 2015
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COURT
AWARD
Top soccer coach lands in court
Keith “Dick” Easterbrook, right, shuffles out of his special limousine after being chauffeurdriven with family members to the Richmond branch of the Royal Canadian Legion, where he received a very rare accolade. Photo by Gord Goble/ Special to the News.
Richmond FC technical director Roberto Sciascia facing on-field allegations Alan Campbell
Staff Reporter acampbell@richmond-news.com
Sticking a pin on life
Former seaman, janitor first in B.C. to receive 70-year honour from legion Alan Campbell
Staff Reporter acampbell@richmond-news.com
He spent the entire Second World War listening so intently for the ominous ping of a German sub coming back at him on sonar that he’s now mostly deaf. Post-war, he was held in such high regard by students as the school janitor at the old Bridgeport elementary that, when he got a promotion to London secondary, the kids all went on strike on his last day, begging him to stay. And in retirement, he only gave up 25 years of helping deliver Meals on Wheels to Richmond’s needy seniors when, at the age of 86, he broke his hip for the first time.
Few could begrudge Keith “Dick” Easterbrook, now 91, a wee bit of recognition for a life spent helping others. On Sunday, the born-and-bred Richmondite received just that and then some, when he became the first in B.C. to be awarded the Royal Canadian Legion’s 70-year service pin. To mark the auspicious occasion, the legion’s Richmond branch sent a limo to pick up Easterbrook and his family from his Maple Residences home in Steveston, before surprising him at its Bridgeport Road hall with the rarely-presented medal. “I was flabbergasted, absolutely speechless,” said Easterbrook the next day at his home. “There was a standing ovation; I thought
the whole room was going to come down. I really wanted to say something, but I couldn’t, I was so stunned. “The actual award was a surprise, I knew something was happening as I got a limo and an invitation; but this was unreal. “It was very, very personal; I truly never expected to be treated like this.” Easterbrook, who said he was still so excited Sunday night that he couldn’t sleep, was awarded his 65-year pin the same day, along with several other long-serving legion members, with service ranging from 10 years and up. The Richmond legion’s past president and chairman of honours and awards, Bill Spencer, said the branch was “really see Vet › page 3
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A senior Richmond FC soccer coach, who once played in a top European professional final, has appeared in court in connection with on-field complaints. Roberto Sciascia, the club’s staff technical director, made an appearance at a show-cause hearing at Richmond Provincial Court on Jan. 16. Although Sciascia, 54, was released with conditions, he has not been charged with any offence and none of the allegations have been tested in court. Many of the details are subject to a publication ban. BC Soccer, the game’s ruling body in the province, is aware of the complaints and is monitoring the situation closely. Its executive director, Paul Mullen, said coach’s behaviour is expected to be consistently of a high standard, before pointing out that the accusations against Sciascia have not been proven. It’s understood that Richmond FC is carrying out an investigation, but BC Soccer could become involved if an appeal was filed at any stage. It’s not clear from Richmond FC whether Sciascia still holds a paid coaching role at the club, which posted Jan. 20 on its website a vacancy for a technical director. Sciascia has been coaching metro-select youth soccer at Richmond FC (formerly Richmond Youth Soccer) since 2007. He played for top European teams and in 1982 played in European final against Barcelona.
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