|
In 1968
the United Soccer Association and the National Professional Soccer
League merged to form the North American Soccer League. Vancouver
embarks on its second season after changing their nickname from
"Royal Canadians" to just "Royals" and absorbing the
San Francisco Gales franchise. After the 1968 season the Vancouver
Royals withdrew from the North American Soccer League in October after
only two seasons after finishing last in the Pacific Division with a
record of 12 wins, 5 draws and 15 losses and an average attendance of
6,197.
However, not to be
denied football on the coast - the Vancouver Whitecaps officially enter
the North American Soccer League on December 11th, 1973. In
the 1974 NASL Season, the Whitecaps debut in front of 17,343 people at
Empire Stadium against the San Jose Earthquakes. Whitecaps tie the match
1-1 after 90 minutes but are credited with a loss after the
"shootout" tiebreaker. Whitecaps first ever goal scored (for
trivia buffs) by Neil Ellett. following several years of stability
and success, in 1979 the Vancouver Whitecaps captured the NASL
championship - and go on to win the "Soccer Bowl" after
defeating the Tampa Bay Rowdies 2-1 in the NASL Championship game at
Giants Stadium in New Jersey. Approximately 100,000 fans
line the streets around Robson Square in downtown Vancouver to welcome
the team home.
After achieving the
NASL and North American pinnacle, the Caps enjoyed several winning
seasons, and, in 1983, Moved into BC Place Stadium. (which could
accommodate seating capacity of 60,000 and had an artificial turf
surface, leaving ole' Empire Stadium behind). The move was short
lived however, for in 1984 the North American Soccer League and
Vancouver Whitecaps folded due to league instability.
Current chapter of
the Vancouver Whitecaps:
The now current chapter
of the Vancouver Whitecaps will become the longest "continuously
running" club playing in a professional league in Canada or US in
outdoor soccer history, with this being their 15th Season (the New York
Cosmos had played 15 seasons as well - however their final was not in a
sanctioned league after the NASL folded). The team was founded as
the Vancouver 86ers on July 26th, 1986, and played its first official
game on June 7th, 1987 (a 4-2 victory over the Edmonton Brickmen).
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 hierchy of leagues in 1997 - becoming the
A-League.
Some of the more recent
accomplishments of this storied club included:
- Four consecutive CSL
championships (from 1988-91)
- Finished first place
six consecutive seasons (1988-92 CSL, 1993 APSL)
- Set a World (not
just N.American) professional sports record 46-match undefeated
streak in 1989 (previous record held by Blackburn Rovers at 42
matches)
- Won the 1990 North
American Club Championship (N.America's version of the F.A. Cup)
After a rebuilding
phase of several years, Vancouver has enjoyed a winning season and made
the playoffs for the past four years consecutively. In 1998,
Vancouver was named the A-League Organization of the year. In
1999, the club finished fourth place overall in the A-League - and
recorded the highest Goals For total in A-League history.
On August 24th, 2000
the club was sold by owner David Braley to Starlight Sports &
Entertainment (now known as Sportsworks Entertainment), headed by local
owner David Stadnyk. On August 26th, 2000 the club reverted back to the
name Whitecaps - reviving the popular era of professional football of
the NASL franchise of 1974-84.
|
