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Okanagan Challenge

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This is an old revision of this page, as edited by Walter Görlitz (talk | contribs) at 13:41, 4 May 2016 (the nickname is just a shortened form of the full name so not a nickname). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

Okanagan Challenge
Full nameOkanagan Challenge
Founded1995
StadiumApple Bowl
Capacity2,314
ChairmanEric Tasker
ManagerKelly Wolverton
LeaguePacific Coast Soccer League
20091st

Okanagan Challenge is a Canadian soccer team based in Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada. Founded in 1995, the team plays in Pacific Coast Soccer League (PCSL), a national amateur league at the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, which features teams from western Canada and the Pacific Northwest region of the United States of America.

The team plays its home matches in the Apple Bowl at the Parkinson Recreation Area, where they have played since 1995. The team's colours are red, black and white.

History

The club was founded in 1989 as a registered not-for-profit society with the aim of providing a level of senior soccer not previously available in Kelowna.

The team competes in the Pacific Coast Soccer League which is, arguably, the top echelon of amateur soccer in Western Canada. In the club’s first twenty years we are proud of several achievements – finalists in the 1995 play-offs, league champions and play-off winners in 1997 and 1998, finalists 2004 play-offs and semi-finalists in 2005. In its twentieth year the Challenge won the regular 2009 PCSL season title, the post-season title and the John F. Kennedy Cup. The Kennedy Cup is a tournament between the best British Columbia, Oregon and Washington State men's teams. In 1998 the Challenge was chosen as Kelowna’s Athletic Team of the Year, and runner-up in 2010 at the Kelowna Civic Awards.

The club has been involved in summer soccer camps for many hundreds of youth players almost every year since 1992.

Well-known players and coaches of the team have included Ian Bridge, Shaun Lowther, Pat Onstad and Rob Friend, who have all been Canadian National Soccer Team members.

The team usually comprises ten to fifteen local, talented players augmented by four to seven players from out of town.

Year-by-year

Year Division League Reg. Season Playoffs Open Canada Cup
1995 4 PCSL 2nd Did not qualify
1996 4 PCSL 4th Did not qualify
1997 4 PCSL 1st Did not qualify
1998 4 PCSL 1st Did not qualify
1999 4 PCSL 4th Did not qualify
2000 4 PCSL 5th Did not qualify
2001 4 PCSL on hiatus
2002 4 PCSL 7th Did not qualify
2003 4 PCSL 9th Did not qualify
2004 4 PCSL 4th Did not qualify
2005 4 PCSL 3rd, South Did not qualify Did not qualify
2006 4 PCSL 9th Did not qualify
2007 4 PCSL 6th Did not qualify
2008 4 PCSL 10th Did not qualify
2009 4 PCSL 1st 1st Champions!
2010 4 PCSL 3rd 2nd
2011 4 PCSL 4th 1st

Honors

  • Sheila Anderson Memorial (Challenge) Cup Winners 2011
  • John F. Kennedy Trophy (Kennedy Cup) Winners 2009
  • Sheila Anderson Memorial (Challenge) Cup Winners 2009
  • PCSL Champions 2009
  • PCSL Champions 1998
  • PCSL Champions 1997
  • Sheila Anderson Memorial (Challenge) Cup Winners 1998
  • Sheila Anderson Memorial (Challenge) Cup Winners 1997

Head coach

  • United States Kelly Wolverton

Stadiums

Average attendance

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