Vancouver Whitecaps FC - last updated on 1 April 2009
(Courtesy of Johnny Beaufays)
Club name: Vancouver Whitecaps Football Club
Foundation: May 5th 1986
City: Vancouver, BC
Colours: White and blue
Website: www.whitecapsfc.com
Honours:
USL First Division - 2 (2006, 2008)
Canadian Soccer League - 4 (1988, 1989, 1990, 1991)
Canadian Soccer League Regular Season - 5 (1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992)
USL First Division - 2 (2006, 2008)
Commissioner's Cup - 1 (1993)
Cascadia Cup - 3 (2004, 2005, 2008)
North American Club Championship - 1 (1990)
Nations Cup - 1 (2006)
A bit of history:
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 it 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.
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 USL Division 1 men's trophy 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 following season, the Whitecaps signed a deal to play an exhibition match against the Los Angeles Galaxy, now featuring international superstar David Beckham, and promoted Director of Soccer Operations Bob Lenarduzzi to team president.
Over the past several seasons, the club have gradually reverted back to the name "Vancouver Whitecaps FC", adding the "Vancouver" back into their name.
In 2008, Vancouver Whitecaps FC claimed their second United Soccer Leagues First Division championship in three seasons after a thrilling 2-1 victory over Puerto Rico Islanders on Sunday afternoon on October 12, 2008. In front of a sold-out and enthusiastic Swangard Stadium crowd, Charles Gbeke became the Whitecaps hero, as he scored twice with his head in the second half to secure Vancouver's first league title since the USL-1 Championship Final success of 2006 when The Blue & White defeated hosts Rochester Rhinos 3-0 at PAETEC Park.
On July 24, 2008, the MLS announced they were seeking to add two expansion franchises for the 2011 season. 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.
"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.
Vancouver's bid was officially submitted on October 15, 2008, along with bids from 6 other cities. 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." 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. The two winning bids for expansion franchises will be announced early 2009.
As of March 18, 2009, Vancouver has officially been named as a future MLS expansion city, joining the league in 2011. They will play at BC Place Stadium.
Club crests: (roll on the crest to get more informations)
Vancouver 86ers
Vancouver Whitecaps FC
