Although born in Scotland, Bain's father was a scout for the English club Bristol City.
In 1978, Bristol transferred two players, defender Brian McNeill and John Bain to the Portland Timbers of the North American Soccer League.
Before moving to the United States and joining the Timbers, Bain played on Scotland's U-18 and U-21 teams.
The Timbers folded at the end of the 1982 outdoor season and the Seattle Sounders picked up Bain in the dispersal draft.
When the NASL collapsed in 1984, the Strikers moved to the Major Indoor Soccer League (MISL).
At the end of the season, the Timbers owner, Art Dixon, folded the team after losing $500,000 over two years.
In 1991 and 1992, Bain led the Mountain View High School men's soccer team to back-to-back Washington State Championship Titles.
His son Brendon played for Las Vegas Strikers of the National Premier Soccer League.