Vancouver Whitecaps (1986–2010)
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| Full name | Vancouver Whitecaps FC | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Nickname(s) | 'Caps | ||
| Founded | 1986 as Vancouver 86ers[1] | ||
| Ground | Swangard Stadium Burnaby, British Columbia | ||
| Capacity | 5,288 | ||
| Owner |  Greg Kerfoot | ||
| Head Coach |  Teitur Thordarson | ||
| League | USSF D2 Pro League | ||
| 2009 (USL1) | Regular Season: 7th Playoffs: Final | ||
| Website | Club website | ||
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Vancouver Whitecaps FC is a Canadian professional soccer club based in Vancouver, British Columbia. Founded in 1986, the team plays in the NASL Conference of the USSF D2 Pro League, the second tier of the American and Canadian soccer pyramids. On March 19, 2009, an ownership group led by Vancouver Whitecaps FC principal Greg Kerfoot was granted a Major League Soccer expansion franchise set to begin play in Vancouver's BC Place Stadium in 2011.
The team plays its home games at Swangard Stadium in nearby Burnaby, British Columbia, where they have played since 2003. The team's colours are blue and white. Their current head coach is Teitur Thordarson.
In addition to its men's side the Whitecaps also field a women's team in the USL W-League, two developmental teams (Vancouver Whitecaps Residency, in the USL Premier Development League, and the Whitecaps FC Prospects, in the Pacific Coast Soccer League), and four youth teams in the USL Super Y-League (Coastal WFC, Mountain WFC, Surrey WFC and Okanagan WFC) ranging in age from U13 to U17 for both boys and girls.[2]
The team was previously known as the Vancouver 86ers of both the Canadian Soccer League and later the A-League.
History
Vancouver 86ers
In 1986, a professional soccer team was again launched in Vancouver, the Vancouver 86ers—so named because of both the year of the team's founding and to commemorate the year Vancouver was founded (1886). The 86ers played in the Canadian Soccer League (CSL) winning 4 straight CSL Championships (1988–1991) and 5 consecutive CSL regular-season first-place finishes (1988–92). In 1990 the Vancouver 86ers captured the North American Club Championship after defeating the Maryland Bays 3–2 in the final played in Burnaby. The game was played between the champions of the Canadian Soccer League and the champions of the American Professional Soccer League (APSL). Vancouver played in the CSL from its inception in 1987 until the league folded in 1992, and then moved over to the APSL in 1993 which was later absorbed into the USL hierarchy of leagues in 1997 becoming the A-League, later renamed the USL.
In 1988–1989, the team, coached by Bob Lenarduzzi, set a North American professional sports record by playing 46 consecutive games without a loss.[2]
Vancouver Whitecaps (USL)
In 2001, the team began to use the old Vancouver Whitecaps moniker (signifying both the 'white caps' of the nearby mountains, and the waves of the Pacific Ocean). The Whitecaps currently practise on the new turf field at Simon Fraser University.
In 2003 the name was again changed, albeit only slightly, to Whitecaps FC, which encompasses the men's, women's, and youth development teams within the organization. At this time, the Whitecaps logo changed slightly in colour (the light teal-green was replaced with a brighter blue) and the word "Vancouver" was dropped from the image.
In 2006, the Whitecaps organization won an unprecedented double-championship, claiming both the United Soccer Leagues First Division championship trophy, defeating the host Rochester Rhinos 3–0 at PAETEC Park, and winning the W-League women's trophy. The men's team also won the Nation's Cup, a new tournament established by their club as a way to feature the Whitecaps playing against international competition. The 2006 Nation's Cup tournament featured the Chinese and Indian U-20 National teams and Championship Welsh club Cardiff City F.C. (the "Bluebirds"). The gradually added the "Vancouver" back into their name, changing it officially to "Vancouver Whitecaps FC".
The following season, the Whitecaps signed a deal to play an exhibition match against the Los Angeles Galaxy, which featured international David Beckham, and promoted Director of Soccer Operations Bob Lenarduzzi to team president.
October 12, 2008 they claimed their second United Soccer Leagues First Division championship with a 2–1 victory over the Puerto Rico Islanders. Charles Gbeke scored twice with his head in the second half to help secure the title. In 2009, they placed 7th in the league and were eliminated in the final by the Montreal Impact on a 6–3 aggregate.[3]
In November 2009 the Whitecaps, along with several other teams, announced their intent to leave the USL First Division to become the co-founders of a new North American Soccer League, which was to begin play in 2010.[4][5] On 7 January the U.S.S.F. announced that neither the USL nor the NASL would be permitted to have a second division league,[6] and the USSF would administer a league where the NASL and USL are conferences within the league.[7]
On 24 November 2009 it was announced that Paul Barber, the former Executive Director of Tottenham Hotspur, will become the Chief Executive Operations director of the Caps.[8]
Whitecaps will play a 30-match regular season, with 15 home games and a 15 games away in the new founded United States Soccer Federation Division 2 Professional League.[9]
The Whitecaps and Major League Soccer
On July 24, 2008, the MLS announced they were seeking to add two expansion franchises for the 2011 season.[10] One day later, the Whitecaps officially announced that they were pursuing one of the two expansion slots. The Whitecaps also announced that local sports icon Steve Nash will join the Whitecaps ownership team.[11]
"There is no doubt the market for professional soccer exists in Vancouver, as we saw last November when nearly 50,000 fans attended the exhibition match between the Los Angeles Galaxy and the Whitecaps, " MLS commissioner Don Garber said.[12]
Vancouver's bid was officially submitted on October 15, 2008, along with bids from 6 other cities.[13] Whitecaps representatives Greg Kerfoot and Jeff Mallett met with MLS officials on November 21, 2008 to go over their bid. Don Garber, who was previously involved in National Football League expansion, described the bid presentation as, "one of the best I've ever seen."[14] Garber and MLS president Mark Abbott were in Vancouver on December 7, 2008 to tour BC Place Stadium and learn about the proposed renovations, which are scheduled to be completed in time for the 2011 MLS season.[15]
Vancouver was officially named an MLS expansion city on March 18, 2009. They are set to join the league in 2011. They will play at Empire Field, a temporary stadium built at the former site of Empire Stadium, and then BC Place Stadium[16][17][18][19] once renovations to the stadium are complete.
Players
Current roster
as of June 16, 2010[20]
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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Notable former players
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- See also: All-time Vancouver Whitecaps roster
Staff
Managment
- Greg Kerfoot Owner
- Bob Lenarduzzi President
- Paul Barber Chief Executive Officer
- Rachel Lewis Chief Operating Officer
- Dave Irvine Manager of Technical Programs
- Tom Soehn Director of Soccer Operations
- Chris Murphy Director of Professional Development
- Dan Lenarduzzi Director of Youth Development
Sports
- Teitur Thordarson Head Coach
- Colin Miller Assistant Coach
- Mike Salmon Goalkeeping Coach
Medical
- Graeme Poole Physiotherapist
- Chris Franks Physiotherapist
- Al Ezaki Athletic Therapist
- Dr. Bob McCormack Team Physician
- Dr. Jim Bovard Team Physician
- Steve Ramsbottom Strength & Conditioning Specialist
- Darren Woloshen Equipment Manager
Year-by-Year
| Year | Division | League | Regular Season | Playoffs | Voyageurs Cup |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1987 | CSL | 2nd, Western | Semifinals | N/A | |
| 1988 | CSL | 1st, Western | Champion | N/A | |
| 1989 | CSL | 1st, Western | Champion | N/A | |
| 1990 | CSL | 1st, Western | Champion | N/A | |
| 1991 | CSL | 1st | Champion | N/A | |
| 1992 | CSL | 1st | Final | N/A | |
| 1993 | APSL | 1st | Semifinals | N/A | |
| 1994 | APSL | 6th | Did not qualify | N/A | |
| 1995 | 2 | A-League | 3rd | Semifinals | N/A |
| 1996 | 2 | A-League | 5th | Did not qualify | N/A |
| 1997 | 2 | USISL A-League | 3rd, Pacific | Conference Finals | N/A |
| 1998 | 2 | USISL A-League | 4th, Pacific | Conference Quarterfinals | N/A |
| 1999 | 2 | USL A-League | 2nd, Pacific | Conference Quarterfinals | N/A |
| 2000 | 2 | USL A-League | 3rd, Pacific | Conference Semifinals | N/A |
| 2001 | 2 | USL A-League | 1st, Western | Semifinals | N/A |
| 2002 | 2 | USL A-League | 3rd, Pacific | Conference Finals | 3rd |
| 2003 | 2 | USL A-League | 2nd, Pacific | Division Finals | 3rd |
| 2004 | 2 | USL A-League | 2nd, Western | Semifinals | 4th |
| 2005 | 2 | USL First Division | 3rd | Quarterfinals | 2nd |
| 2006 | 2 | USL First Division | 4th | Champion | 3rd |
| 2007 | 2 | USL First Division | 7th | Quarterfinals | 2nd |
| 2008 | 2 | USL First Division | 2nd | Champion | 3rd |
| 2009 | 2 | USL First Division | 7th | Final | 2nd |
| 2010 | 2 | USSF Division 2 | in progress |
Honours
Domestic
- Canadian Soccer League Championship
- Canadian Soccer League Regular Season Champion
- Canadian Championship
- USL First Division Championship
- Commissioner's Cup
- Winners (1): 1993
- Runners-up (1): 2008
- Voyageurs Cup
- Runners-up (2): 2005, 2007
- Cascadia Cup
- Winners (3): 2004, 2005, 2008
- Runners-up (3): 2006, 2007, 2009
International
- North American Club Championship
- Winners (1): 1990
- Nations Cup
- Winners (1): 2006
Head coaches
Bob Lenarduzzi (1988–1989)
Bob Lilley (2007)
Teitur Thordarson (2008–present)
Stadia
- Swangard Stadium; Burnaby, British Columbia (2003–present)
Proposed new stadium
The City of Vancouver is currently considering a proposal for Whitecaps Waterfront Stadium, a new stadium to be built over the railway tracks east of Waterfront Station on Burrard Inlet. This 16,000 seat stadium would replace Swangard Stadium as the home field for the USL's Vancouver Whitecaps. There is a fair degree of controversy with regards to this location; a Vancouver council session to debate the issue was extended to four nights to allow public input. Detractors view the proposed stadium as an incongruous addition to nearby historic Gastown that would block waterfront access and promote piecemeal development of the area. Proponents of the development feel that the stadium will attract new business to the downtown and Gastown areas, particularly since the soccer team tends to attract a family-oriented audience.
On July 11, 2006, Vancouver City Council voted unanimously to proceed with the stadium project, so long as the Whitecaps could meet certain conditions regarding land use. On January 22, 2007, the Whitecaps filed a new proposal shifting the proposed site for the stadium project to the current location of the SeaBus terminal, a short distance northwest of the previous site.
Club culture
Mascot
The Whitecaps' mascot is named Winger. He is a bird who wears a Whitecaps jersey and carries a large drum to encourage the crowd. He often uses signs to get fans in the grandstands to cheer.
Fans
The Whitecaps have an independent supporters group known as the Southsiders.[21][22] Founded in 1999, the group is named for their preferred seating area in the south end of Swangard Stadium. The Southsiders describe themselves as Canada's oldest supporters association for professional domestic association football.[citation needed]
The group originally called themselves "The Carlsberg Crew," named for the beer company that sponsored Swangard's beer garden. The name was changed to "The Canterbury Chorus" for the subsequent season, as the beer sponsorship had changed between seasons. To avoid changing names every time the sponsor changed, the group chose the name "The Southsiders".[23]
Rival clubs
The Vancouver Whitecaps have two historic rivals, the Pacific Northwest Portland Timbers and Seattle Sounders. These three teams competed in the yearly Cascadia Cup through 2008. In 2009, the Cup involved only the Whitecaps and Timbers because the Sounders were replaced by an MLS team of the same name.
The Whitecaps also compete on a yearly basis with the Montreal Impact and Toronto FC for the Nutrilite Canadian Championship. The winner of this series advances to the CONCACAF Champions League.
References
- ^ [1]
- ^ http://www.whitecapsfc.com/youth/teams/super_y_affiliates/
- ^ "Montreal wins USL-1 title". www.uslsoccer.com. 2009-10-17. Retrieved 2010-01-09.
- ^ USL outcasts set to launch new league in 2010
- ^ CBC Sports: Whitecaps, Impact to form breakaway league.
- ^ "US Soccer Federation To Oversee Combined NASL/USL League". Goal.com. 2010-01-07. Retrieved 2010-01-08.
- ^ "Impact, Whitecaps join new league". Toronto Sun. 2010-01-07. Retrieved 2010-01-08.
- ^ Whitecaps appoint CEO from EPL club
- ^ 2010 regular season announced
- ^ Major League Soccer: News: Article
- ^ 'Caps pursue franchise in MLS
- ^ http://web.mlsnet.com/news/mls_news.jsp?16&content_id=158409&vkey=pr_mls&fext=.jsp
- ^ "MLS News and Notes". The Star-Ledger. 2008-11-21.
- ^ "MLS expansion fee won't scare away Whitecaps". Vancouver Sun. 2008-11-25.
- ^ "MLS bosses tour BC Place". Vancouver Sun. 2008-12-11.
- ^ "MLS expected to announce Vancouver expansion team". CBC News. 2009-03-17.
- ^ "Whitecaps to announce they will join MLS in 2011". The Vancouver Sun. 2009-03-17.
- ^ "Whitecaps to announce MLS franchise secured". Canwest News Service. 2009-03-17.
- ^ MLS awards Vancouver team for 2011
- ^ http://www.whitecapsfc.com/men/roster/default.aspx
- ^ The Official Supporters Group of The Vancouver Whitecaps (USSF D2)
- ^ Vancouver Southsiders
- ^ The Southsiders Official Homepage. Retrieved on July 22, 2010.
External links
- Vancouver Whitecaps Official Site
- Vancouver Southsiders Official Site
- Mountain WFC
- Surrey WFC
- Coastal WFC
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