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Nautsaʼmawt FC
Full nameNautsaʼmawt Football Club
Founded2021
StadiumThunderbird Stadium, Rashpal Dhillon Track & Field Oval
OwnerHope and Health For Life Society
Head CoachMike Mosher (men)
Jesse Symons (women)
LeagueLeague1 British Columbia
2023L1BC, 5th; Playoffs, DNQ (men)
L1BC, 2nd; Playoffs, SF (women)
Websitehttps://nautsamawtfc.com/

Nautsaʼmawt Football Club (formerly known as Varsity FC) was a Canadian semi-professional soccer club based in Vancouver, British Columbia that played in League1 British Columbia.

History

[edit]

Varsity FC

[edit]
Varsity FC logo

Varsity FC was officially unveiled on December 3, 2021, as an inaugural licence holder for the first season of the new semi-professional League1 British Columbia in 2022.[1] The team was formed in partnership with the University of British Columbia and their Thunderbirds sports teams with the head coaches of both the UBC men's and women's soccer teams serving as the club's inaugural head coaches.[2] In addition, Varsity's home stadium will be UBC's Thunderbird Stadium[3] with select games being played on the field at the Rashpal Dhillon Track & Field Oval, also located on the UBC campus.

Their inaugural matches, for the male and female teams, occurred on May 26 against Unity FC, with both sides winning their matches 2-0.[4][5] Their home debut occurred on June 4, with the men defeating the Victoria Highlanders 3-0,[6] while the women defeated the Highlanders 3-2.[7] They won the 2022 Juan de Fuca Plate as the League1 BC club with the greatest number of combined points between the men's and women's divisions during the regular season.[8] Varsity finished atop the regular season standings for both the men's and women's divisions in the debut season, advancing to the championship finals.[9] In the women's final, Varsity was defeated by Vancouver Whitecaps Girls Elite,[10] while the men were defeated by TSS Rovers FC in a penalty shootout.[9] Despite losing in the finals, the women's team represented L1BC at the League1 Canada Interprovincial Championship, as the Whitecaps were unable to attend,[11] where they finished in 4th place, following defeats to PLSQ side AS Blainville in the semi-finals[12][13] and losing in a penalty shootout to League1 Ontario side Alliance United FC in the third-place match.[14]

Nautsaʼmawt FC

[edit]

In January 2023, the club went under a change of ownership with UBC Athletics transferring ownership to Hope and Health For Life Society, a non-profit which aims to increase access to sport for development and social impact opportunities with a focus on Indigenous children and youth.[15] As part of the ownership transfer, the club would also rebrand the club name.[16] In February 2023, the club officially re-branded as Nautsaʼmawt FC.[17][18] The name was inspired by the Hul'qumi'num term, Nautsaʼmawt, which means "One Heart, One Mind".[19][20] In April 2023, the club signed a sponsorship agreement with EA Sports FC (formally known as the EA Sports FIFA video game series).[21] In 2023, they formed an affiliation with Canadian Premier League club Pacific FC, which enables Pacific to send players to Nautsaʼmawt on short-term loans throughout the season.[22][23]

After the 2023 season, the club opted to not renew its license for the 2024 League1 BC season, with the club's men's team not providing playing time to Indigenous men's players (although this goal was achieved on the women's side) and with the club struggling to attract much fan support to the matches, although it still intends to run the club in order to offer support, mentorship, and experiences to local athletes facing systemic barriers and will continue to partner with the UBC Thunderbirds Women’s soccer team, along with other amateur and professional teams.[24][25]

Seasons

[edit]

Men

[edit]

as Varsity FC

Season League Teams Record Rank Playoffs Juan de Fuca Plate Ref
2022 League1 British Columbia 7 9–1–2 1st Runner-up Winner[a] [26]

as Nautsaʼmawt FC

Season League Teams Record Rank Playoffs Juan de Fuca Plate Ref
2023 League1 British Columbia 8 4–5–5 5th did not qualify 3rd[a] [26]
  1. ^ a b The Juan de Fuca Plate is a combined men's and women's competition that combines both squads results

Women

[edit]

as Varsity FC

Season League Teams Record Rank Playoffs Inter-provincial Championship Juan de Fuca Plate Ref
2022 League1 British Columbia 7 11–0–1 1st Runner-up 4th Winner[a] [27]

as Nautsaʼmawt FC

Season League Teams Record Rank Playoffs Inter-provincial Championship Juan de Fuca Plate Ref
2023 League1 British Columbia 8 9–2–3 2nd Semi-finals did not qualify 3rd[a] [27]
  1. ^ a b The Juan de Fuca Plate is a combined men's and women's competition that combines both squads results

Notable players

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The following players have either played at the professional or international level, either before or after playing for the League1 BC team:

Men

[edit]

Women

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "League1BC welcomes Varsity FC as founding License Holder". BC Soccer Association. December 3, 2021.
  2. ^ Jacques, John (December 4, 2021). "League1 BC Reveals Varsity FC As Final Launch Club". Northern Tribune.
  3. ^ McColl, Michael (May 5, 2022). "The Grounds of League1 BC: Thunderbird Stadium, UBC, Vancouver – Home of Varsity FC". Away from the Numbers.
  4. ^ McColl, Michael (June 2, 2022). "League1 BC Women: Unbeaten Whitecaps looking strong while Varsity start their season with a victory and TSS get road win". Away from the Numbers.
  5. ^ McColl, Michael (June 4, 2022). "Varsity FC proud to be part of League1 BC and what they hope will be a "massive revolution" for soccer in the province". Away from the Numbers.
  6. ^ McColl, Michael (June 10, 2022). "League1 BC Men: Unbeaten Varsity continue strong start to the season with six point haul". Away from the Numbers.
  7. ^ McColl, Michael (June 9, 2022). "League1 BC Women: Three horse race developing as top two set to clash this weekend". Away from the Numbers.
  8. ^ @JuanDeFucaPlate (July 10, 2022). "Taking all 12 points from a tough back-to-back on the road, they can no longer be caught and are the 2022 Juan de Fuca Plate champions!" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  9. ^ a b "League1 BC season concludes with two dramatic finals". BC Soccer. August 2, 2022.
  10. ^ McColl, Michael (August 2, 2022). "Whitecaps stun Varsity with late comeback to win first League1 BC women's championship". Away from the Numbers.
  11. ^ Gangué-Ruzic, Alexandre (August 11, 2022). "Team Previews: 4 teams compete in League1 Canada Women's Inter-Provincial Championship". Canadian Premier League.
  12. ^ "Une victoire convaincante de l'AS Blainville contre Varsity" [A convincing victory for AS Blainville against Varsity]. PLSQ (in French). August 13, 2022.
  13. ^ "Confident AS Blainville score two past Varsity". League1 Canada. August 13, 2022.
  14. ^ "Alliance United finish third after beating Varsity on penalties". League1 Canada. August 15, 2022.
  15. ^ Jacques, John (January 18, 2023). "Hope And Health Acquires Varsity FC". Northern Tribune.
  16. ^ Jacques, John (January 23, 2023). "Varsity FC Set For Club Rebrand". Northern Tribune.
  17. ^ Jacques, John (February 7, 2023). "Varsity FC Rebrands As Nautsa'mawt FC". Northern Tribune.
  18. ^ Adams, J.J. (February 11, 2023). "Nautsa'mawt FC: Re-badged League1 team aims for hope, opportunities and history". The Province.
  19. ^ "In 'One Heart, One Mind', League1 BC Introduces Nautsa'mawt FC". League1 British Columbia. February 7, 2023.
  20. ^ Junos, Kier (February 28, 2023). "New Indigenous soccer team gets ready for first season". CityNews.
  21. ^ Jacques, John (April 11, 2023). "EA Sports FC Sponsors Nautsa'mawt FC". Northern Tribune.
  22. ^ "Canadian Premier League announces downward player movement pilot project". Canadian Premier League. April 21, 2023.
  23. ^ Mahmoudi, Nelson (April 21, 2023). "CPL Introduces Affiliation Pilot Project With Lower Divisions". Northern Tribune.
  24. ^ Steiner, Ben (November 6, 2023). "Report: Nautsa'mawt FC to become 1st League 1 BC club to fold after 2 seasons". 49 Sport.
  25. ^ Jacques, John (November 6, 2023). "Nautsa'mawt FC Departs League1 BC". Northern Tribune.
  26. ^ a b "League1 British Columbia Standings". Canadian Soccer History Archive.
  27. ^ a b "League1 British Columbia Women Standings". Canadian Soccer History Archive.
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