Aldrick "Jim" Lowe, former South and Trinidad & Tobago football star died in Vancouver, Canada on May 7th. "Jim", as he was known to football fans and teammates, was a superb defender at the centre-back position in T&T in the 1950's and 1960's.
He rarely had an off day during his playing days with BP Palo Seco (formerly TPD) South Trinidad and the Trinidad & Tobago National Team.
Jim wore T&T colours for the first time in 1959 in a quadrangular series with Jamaica, Barbados and Guyana. He was selected as one of the country's top five footballers in 1960, being one of two defence players to achieve that honour. Jim had the distinction of being picked for the first ever national team to compete against Surinam in 1962.
After immigrating to Vancouver in 1969, he immediately became involved with soccer on an over 30 team that included West Indians, Africans, Canadians and others. He became Player-Manager of the team in 1974 and was still the Manager 30-plus years later until his death.
Jim was employed as a Corrections Officer in Vancouver for many years. He travelled around the world on different occasions representing the Province of British Columbia at the World's Police and Fire Games. He won an assortment of Medals in Track and Field. He also worked tirelessly in the community.
Apart from managing the Caribbean All-Stars Soccer Team, he organized an annual family soccer tournament every Victoria Day (Canadian Holiday) for parents and children. He was one of the founders of the annual West Indian Soccer Tournament between Edmonton and Vancouver that started in 1977. That tournament is no longer in existence now, but during its time, it was instrumental in bringing West Indians from the two cities together and resulted in the formation of lasting friendships.
Jim's legacy, as a sportsman and a community organizer, was rewarded in his homeland city of Vancouver in 2003 when the North Vancouver soccer league named a challenge trophy after him (The Lowe Trophy). In January of this year, the Trinidad & Tobago soccer fans of Vancouver honoured Jim with a banquet, and presented him with a plaque to recognize his outstanding achievements in this sport. Jim will be sorely missed in Vancouver. He was one of a kind.