Vancouver History: Vancouver Whitecaps/86ers

If you know me, you know that I love football (fine...soccer). In Vancouver our options have usually been few and far between, but one semi-consistant source of footy-fun over the years has been the Vancouver Whitecaps.

Originally founded December 11 1973, the first iteration of the Whitecaps played in the now-defunct North American Soccer League that included such football greats as Franz Beckenbauer, George Best, and Pele among other aging superstars. Playing at the now-closed Empire Stadium at the PNE, the Whitecaps created a great buzz in the city of Vancouver by winning the 1979 Soccer Bowl against the Tampa Bay Rowdies.

During Vancouver's "Soccer Frenzy", the team recorded numerous sellouts at the 32000 seat Empire Stadium, and in 1983 the team decided to take the plunge and move to BC Place. While the team sold out the first few games, the novelty wore off quickly. The NASL closed down operations in 1984 and took the Whitecaps down with them.

Regardless of the problems of the NASL, Vancouver just couldn't keep soccer out for long. In 1986 the Whitecaps were back with a new name - the 86ers - and a new league - the Canadian Soccer League (CSL). This league also folded in 1990, but the team joined the American Professional Soccer League (A League) - later renamed USL - and is currently playing in this league today. Amid great controversy, in 2001 the 86ers reverted back to their old Whitecaps moniker coming full circle from their days in the NASL

Today, the Whitecaps tend to make more news regarding their planned downtown stadium rather than the W's in their win column. As well, there is much talk of moving up to MLS and possibly playing in BC Place once it's Olympic renovations are complete. Time will only tell how soccer fares in Vancouver, but if Toronto F.C is any indication the future looks bright.

(Photo by sp_clarke in the BR Flickr Pool)