By TIMOTHY RENSHAW The 19-year-old North Vancouver resident, on loan to the PRSL Colts from Dundee United of the Scot- tish Premier Division, played his first game for the local squad May 26 after flying in to Vancouver the night before. Easton sees the back-to- back flight and game as small inconvenience, merely the price of budding fame and established talent. Instead of a moan, he welcomes the op- portunity to play in front of hometown fans with subtle whoop, and though he earns his livelihood and charts the course of his career in Scotland, ‘‘North Vancouver is home. My family and friends are here.”’ The best soccer talent to thus far be produced by the North Shore soccer system, Easton was drafted by the Tampa Bay Rowdies in 1981 at the age of 16, and played in the heat and brilliance of Brazilian soccer when he was 17. From the fields of Sao Paulo, where he was hailed by discerning South American soccer critics as a mid-fielder capable of play- ing with the world’s best, Easton was picked up by Dundee United on a two-year deal. Without leaving his teens, he has reached the stratosphere of soccer competition. Easton downplays the achievement, saying he is playing for Dundee United’s First Division side, Forfar, and has yet to play for the Premier Division team. Soccer talent flows in the Easton family blood. Easton's ‘father, Jim Sr., played for Dundee Hibernia in his day and brought his family and soccer experience to Vancouver as the first coach of the Vancouver Whitecaps in 1974 and '75, He was chosen to coach the PRSL All-stars in the current B.C. Place International tournament. His son, he says, has always been soccer Soccer star back with local team JIM EASTON shrugs off all allusions to his con- siderable soccer talents with characteristic humility. has tremendous ball skills, he’s disciplined and coachable, a great role model NORTH SHORE COLTS’ latest acquisition, mid-fielder Jim Easton goes through his practice paces at Kinsmen Stadium. mad. “It’s just something I’ve always wanted to do,’’ says Easton, ‘‘something that’s always been in the family.’ Colts’ coach, Frank Pike, says Easton is a credit to the North Shore soccer system: “f just wish and hope that every kid in this area will have the opportunity to develop the way Jim has. He for all the kids in this area.”’ Easton says the loss of pro- fessional soccer in North America has made it harder for young players, ‘because it has ieft littl to aspire towards. The opportunities to fully develop are limited.’ The PRSL, he says, is on the right track, ‘tthe local game needs local players and development to survive, This Go where you please in a Volkswagen Westfalia Camper Weekly rates June 15 to September 30 "679. (unlimited miteage) °489. (plus miivage charge! Off-season special "59. {uniimited mileage: “* Plus 7% tax and $8 00 per day insurance charge Save the high cost of hotels and restaurants while going anywhere the road goes. Camper sleeps 6 arid is equipped with refrigerator, stove, power steering and AM/FM radio. BCAA Travel Trust us to make things better vancouver (Broadway) 732-3977 (xerrisdale) 263-7799 Coquitlam 464-3311 Delta/Surrey 594-2222 West Vancouver 922-5461 Richmond 278-3577 New Westminster 525-1656 Langley 5335-4455 league fills a big gap, and I’m the looking forward season here.*’ 8 Wah! NEWS photo Fos Join the family of champions antaerseessiaenteneas al at q l! Allison Grieg & Wendy McDonald Allison Grieg and Wendy McDonald are friends who share a route in our Horseshoe Bay zone. Between them they have been delivering 98 of our Sunday News for just over a year now and have proved to be excellent carriers. Allison attends grade six at Gleneagles School and really enjoys math and science. Her after school activities include: skating, dancing, (tap and jazz) and she loves sailing. She is saving her earnings and babysitting money to buy her own sailboat. Wendy is a grade seven student at West Van Secon- dary and her favourite subjects are Social Studies and English. She plays soccer for the West Van Firebirds and is also a very keen clarinet player with the West Van band. Wendy's earnings are used to buy clothes she likes. We enjoyed meeting these fine young girls and for be- ing our double stars this week, they received complimen- tary movie passes and North Shore News baseball caps. Joan Cripps Circulation Dept. 1139 Lonsdale Ave., N. V., 986-1337 & Ringette Registration June 18th, 1985 7:30 pm - 9:30 pm All divisions — Novice through Sr. Mens e One of the finest programs in Canada 23 Provincial 1 National 1 international 2 Canada Games 101 Tournament Wins We are the Champions Phone today for membership information “The New” North Shore Winter Club hort Voreoner at Mountain Hwy. & Keith Rd. 985-4135 23 - Sunday, June 9, 1985 - North Shore News