Pacific Football Club is a Canadian professional soccer club based in Greater Victoria, British Columbia. The club competes in the Canadian Premier League, playing home matches at Starlight Stadium located in Langford.
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| Nickname(s) | The Tridents | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Short name | PFC | ||
| Founded | June 1, 2018 | ||
| Stadium | Starlight Stadium Langford, British Columbia | ||
| Capacity | 6,000 | ||
| Owner | SixFive Sports & Entertainment, Dean Shillington, Rob Friend | ||
| President | Josh Simpson | ||
| Managing director | Paul Beirne | ||
| Coach | James Merriman | ||
| League | Canadian Premier League | ||
| 2024 | Canadian Premier League: 5th Playoffs: play-in | ||
| Website | http://pacificfc.canpl.ca/ | ||
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History
editOn May 5, 2018, "Port City FC" was one of four groups accepted by the Canadian Soccer Association for professional club membership, along with groups that would become Cavalry FC, HFX Wanderers, and York9. Port City was the only one of the four that was not identified with a specific city, and represented an as-of-yet undetermined location in British Columbia.[1] The group was expected to launch a team in either Greater Victoria or Surrey, British Columbia.[2] Former professional player Rob Friend, who grew up in British Columbia, was pictured as a representative of the region.[3] On June 1, the Canadian Premier League granted the Port City ownership group a club on Vancouver Island.[4]
Pacific FC was officially unveiled on July 20 as the seventh team to join the Canadian Premier League.[5] As well as confirming its place in the league for the 2019 launch season, the club also revealed its crest, colours and branding.[6] Former Denmark international Michael Silberbauer was announced as the first head coach on August 20.[7]
They played their first competitive game on April 28, 2019, defeating visitors HFX Wanderers 1–0 with Hendrik Starostzik scoring the only goal and Mark Village keeping a clean sheet.[8] The club parted ways with Silberbauer on October 18, 2019, and announced then-assistant coach James Merriman as interim head coach.[9]
On August 26, 2021, they were matched against Major League Soccer opposition for the first time, being drawn against provincial opponents Vancouver Whitecaps FC in the quarterfinals of the Canadian Championship. Although underdogs, they defeated the Whitecaps 4–3, becoming the second CPL club to eliminate an MLS club in the competition.[10][11]
On December 5, Pacific FC won its first Canadian Premier League title after defeating defending champions Forge FC 1–0 in the 2021 CPL Final at Tim Hortons Field.[12] In doing so they became the second team to have been crowned Canadian Premier League champions.[13]
Stadium
edit
The club plays its home games at Starlight Stadium. The city of Langford planned to increase the capacity from 1,718 to 8,000, but a utility pole located on the north side of the stadium has prevented any upgrades on that side.[14] By extending the existing south stand and adding seating behind both goals as well as new standing room on the north side, the capacity was increased to 6,200 for the 2019 season.[15][16]
Crest and colours
edit
The club's branding is designed to represent Vancouver Island. The team's crest is the shape of a Douglas fir, a tree native to Vancouver Island, split into two segments, with the right side forming the shape of the island. The tree is bordered by the ocean and includes a single chevron to represent a wave of the ocean and a 'V' that can stand for Victoria, victory and Vancouver Island.[17]
The secondary logo is a roundel with a trident, meant to represent the strength and courage of the island, as well as the weather attributed to the Pacific Ocean. The logo also includes the motto of the coat of arms of the city of Victoria, which is the Latin phrase Semper Liber (lit. 'Forever Free').[18]
The official club colours are purple, teal, and white (branded by the club as "starfish purple", "lagoon blue", and "lighthouse white"). These colours symbolize the native Pisaster ochraceus sea star, the Pacific Ocean, and the region's lighthouses.[17]
Club culture
editSupporters
editThe first supporters group to show support for a Vancouver Island team to join the Canadian Premier League was the Lake Side Buoys, an existing group who followed the Victoria Highlanders of USL League Two. A second supporters group, called Torcida Oranizada Pacific (TOP) has also emerged.[19]
Rivalries
editVancouver FC
editPacific first battled Vancouver FC during the opening match day of the 2023 season at Starlight Stadium with Pacific winning the contest 1-0 with a late winner by Manny Aparicio during the second meeting the teams met at Willoughby Community Park Stadium which lead to a thrilling 6–3 victory with the winner scored by Easton Ongaro.
Cavalry FC
editPacific FC met Cavalry FC for the first time in the Canadian Premier League in the final fixture of the 2019 Spring season, winning 3–1 at Westhills Stadium in an intense match which saw three players sent-off.[20] Pacific FC and Cavalry FC's rivalry intensified during the 2021 season where they met eight times across three Canadian competitions (Canadian Premier League, CPL Playoffs, and the Canadian Championship).[21][22] This rivalry is also fueled by a pre-existing cultural rivalry between each team's respective province: Alberta and British Columbia.[23]
Honours
edit- Canadian Premier League
- Champions: 2021
| Competition | Result | Season |
|---|---|---|
| Canadian Championship | Semi-finals | 2021, 2023 |
| CONCACAF League | Round of 16 | 2022 |
Players and staff
editRoster
edit- As of July 22, 2024[24]
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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|
Staff
edit- As of March 11, 2022
| Executive | |
|---|---|
| President |  Josh Simpson[25]
|
| Chief executive officer | Rob Friend[25]
|
| Chairman | Dean Shillington[25]
|
| Coaching staff | |
| Head coach | James Merriman[26]
|
| Assistant coach |  Armando Sá[27]
|
| Assistant coach / youth coach | Chris Merriman[28]
|
| Goalkeeper coach | Trevor Stiles[28]
|
Head coaches
edit- As of January 19, 2024
| Coach | Nation | Tenure | Record | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| G | W | D | L | Win % | |||
| Michael Silberbauer |  Denmark
|
August 20, 2018[29] – October 18, 2019[30] | 29 | 7 | 7 | 15 | 24.14 |
| James Merriman (interim) | Canada
|
October 18, 2019[30] – January 14, 2020[31] | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 100.00 |
| Pa-Modou Kah |  Norway
|
January 14, 2020[31] – January 21, 2022[26] | 41 | 19 | 8 | 14 | 46.34 |
| James Merriman | Canada
|
January 21, 2022[26] – present | 70 | 31 | 16 | 23 | 44.29 |
Club captains
edit| Years | Name | Nation |
|---|---|---|
| 2019–2020 | Marcel de Jong | Canada
|
| 2021–2022 | Jamar Dixon | Canada
|
| 2023–present | Josh Heard | Canada
|
Team records
editYear-by-year
edit| Season | League | Playoffs | CC | Continental | Average attendance |
Top goalscorer(s) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Div | League | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | PPG | Pos. | Name | Goals | ||||||
| 2019 | 1 | CPL | 28 | 8 | 7 | 13 | 35 | 46 | –11 | 31 | 1.11 | 5th | DNQ | R1 | Ineligible | 3,102 | Terran Campbell |
11 | |
| 2020 | CPL | 10 | 4 | 2 | 4 | 16 | 13 | +3 | 14 | 1.40 | – | 4th | DNQ | DNQ | N/A | Marco Bustos |
5 | ||
| 2021 | CPL | 28 | 13 | 6 | 9 | 47 | 34 | +13 | 45 | 1.61 | 3rd | W | SF | 3,812 | Terran Campbell |
11 | |||
| 2022 | CPL | 28 | 13 | 7 | 8 | 36 | 33 | +3 | 46 | 1.64 | 4th | SF | QF | CONCACAF League | R16 | 3,176 |  Alejandro Díaz |
16 | |
| 2023 | CPL | 28 | 11 | 7 | 10 | 42 | 35 | +7 | 40 | 1.43 | 4th | SF | SF | DNQ | 3,241 |  Ayman Sellouf |
7 | ||
1. Average attendance include statistics from league matches only.
2. Top goalscorer(s) includes all goals scored in league season, league playoffs, Canadian Championship, CONCACAF League, and other competitive continental matches.
International competition
edit- Scores and results list Pacific FC's goal tally first.
| Year | Competition | Round | Club | Home | Away | Aggregate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | CONCACAF League | Preliminary round |  Waterhouse F.C.
|
6–0[32] | 0–0[33] | 6–0 |
| Round of 16 |  Herediano
|
0–1[34] | 1–0[35] | 1–1 (5–6 p) |
Player records
editMost career goals
edit- As of January 19, 2024[citation needed]
| # | Pos. | Name | Nation | Career at club | Goals scored | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CPL | CC | Int'l | Total | |||||
| 1 | Forward | Alejandro Diaz | Mexico
|
2020–2022 | 26 | 2 | 3 | 31 |
| 2 | Forward | Terran Campbell | Canada
|
2019–2021 | 23 | 2 | 0 | 25 |
| 3 | Forward | Josh Heard | Canada
|
2020– | 15 | 2 | 2 | 19 |
| 4 | Forward | Marco Bustos | Canada
|
2020–2022 | 14 | 0 | 1 | 15 |
| 5 | Midfielder | Manny Aparicio | Canada
|
2021–2023 | 9 | 1 | 0 | 10 |
Note: Bold indicates active player
Most career assists
edit- As of January 28, 2024[citation needed]
| # | Pos. | Name | Nation | Career at club | Goals Assisted | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CPL | CC | Int'l | Total | |||||
| 1 | Midfielder | Manny Aparicio | Canada
|
2021–2023 | 14 | 1 | 1 | 16 |
| 2 | Forward | Marco Bustos | Canada
|
2022–2022 | 15 | 0 | 0 | 15 |
| 3 | Forward | Terran Campbell | Canada
|
2019–2021 | 8 | 2 | 0 | 10 |
| 4 | Forward | Josh Heard | Canada
|
2020– | 6 | 1 | 2 | 9 |
| Forward | Alejandro Diaz | Mexico
|
2020–2022 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 9 | |
Note: Bold indicates active player
Most career appearances
edit- As of January 19, 2024[citation needed]
| # | Pos. | Name | Nation | Career at club | Games played | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CPL | CC | Int'l | Total | |||||
| 1 | Midfielder | Sean Young | Canada
|
2020– | 89 | 5 | 4 | 98 |
| 2 | Forward | Josh Heard | Canada
|
2020– | 85 | 7 | 4 | 96 |
| 3 | Defender | Thomas Meilleur-Giguère | Canada
|
2020– | 78 | 5 | 4 | 87 |
| 4 | Defender | Kunle Dada-Luke | Canada
|
2021– | 75 | 6 | 4 | 85 |
| 5 | Midfielder | Manny Aparicio | Canada
|
2021–2023 | 68 | 6 | 4 | 78 |
Note: Bold indicates active player
References
edit- ^ "4 clubs get membership from Soccer Canada; expected to join CPL". Sportsnet. May 5, 2018. Retrieved June 10, 2018.
- ^ Bahl, Andrew (April 19, 2018). "We're Getting a Better Idea of What the Canadian Premier League Will Look Like". Eighty Six Forever. Archived from the original on July 30, 2018. Retrieved March 15, 2019.
- ^ "Four CPL cities accepted by Canada Soccer". The CanPL Hub. May 5, 2018. Archived from the original on May 11, 2019. Retrieved July 26, 2018.
- ^ "Canadian Premier League grants Vancouver Island conditional entry". The Globe and Mail. June 1, 2018. Retrieved July 26, 2018.
- ^ McIsaac, Greg (July 20, 2018). "Pacific Football Club Unveiled as Vancouver Island's New Canadian Premier League Club". Canadian Premier League. Retrieved July 26, 2018.
- ^ "Pacific Football Club latest team to join new Canadian Premier League". Times Colonist. July 20, 2018. Archived from the original on July 26, 2018. Retrieved July 26, 2018.
- ^ Bedakian, Armen (August 20, 2018). "Michael Silberbauer announced as head coach of Pacific FC". Archived from the original on November 28, 2018. Retrieved August 20, 2018.
- ^ "HIGHLIGHTS: Pacific FC earns historic 1st win in CPL". April 28, 2019. Retrieved April 29, 2019.
- ^ Laurence, Mira. "Pacific FC and Head Coach Michael Silberbauer Part Ways". pacificfc.canpl.ca. Pacific FC. Archived from the original on October 18, 2019. Retrieved October 18, 2019.
- ^ "Match Analysis: Pacific FC 4-3 Vancouver Whitecaps FC". Canadian Premier League. August 27, 2021. Retrieved November 4, 2021.
- ^ "Pacific FC Upset Whitecaps to advance to Canadian Championship Quarterfinals". sportsnet.ca. Sportsnet. Retrieved August 29, 2021.
- ^ "Match report". canpl.ca. Retrieved March 17, 2022.
- ^ O'Connor–Clark, Charlie (December 5, 2021). "HIGHLIGHTS: Pacific FC crowned Canadian Premier League champions with 1-0 win vs. Forge". canpl.ca. Retrieved March 17, 2022.
- ^ Horsting, Lindsey (March 1, 2018). "$4 million cost to move hydro pole holding up Langford stadium expansion". Goldstream News Gazette. Retrieved December 4, 2018.
- ^ "Pacific FC to incorporate Vancouver Island beauty into Westhills Stadium renovations". November 30, 2018. Archived from the original on April 7, 2019. Retrieved December 4, 2018.
- ^ "All set for Westhills Stadium grand opening on Saturday". August 21, 2019. Retrieved August 21, 2019.
- ^ a b "Emblem Inspiration". pacificfc.canpl.ca. Pacific FC. July 20, 2018. Retrieved July 26, 2018.
- ^ Rendle, Josh (December 4, 2018). "Pacific FC Officially Launches Secondary Logo". pacificfc.canpl.ca. Archived from the original on December 5, 2018. Retrieved December 4, 2018.
- ^ "About Us". lakesidebuoys.org. Lake Side Buoys. Retrieved July 26, 2018.
- ^ "HIGHLIGHTS: Pacific stuns Cavalry in wild back-and-forth Spring finale". canpl.ca. July 2019.
- ^ "Cavalry FC (Calgary) vs Pacific FC". canadasoccer.com. January 22, 2020.
- ^ "Pacific FC downs Cavalry FC in extra time to reach Canadian Premier League final". cbc.ca.
- ^ Bach, Danna. "We love to hate Albertans, don't we?". kamloopsnews.ca.
- ^ "Roster". Pacific FC. Retrieved April 28, 2019.
- ^ a b c "Owners' Profile". pacificfc.canpl.ca. Pacific FC. July 20, 2018. Archived from the original on July 21, 2018. Retrieved July 20, 2018.
- ^ a b c "Pacific FC Welcomes Merriman As New Head Coach – Kah departs". Pacific FC. January 21, 2022. Retrieved January 21, 2022.
- ^ Benedict Rhodes (March 10, 2022). "2022 Coaching Staff – Mark Village and Armando Sá". Pacific FC. Retrieved March 12, 2022.
- ^ a b "Pacific FC Hires Goalkeeper Coach Trevor Stiles". Pacific FC. February 14, 2024. Retrieved February 14, 2024.
- ^ Bedakian, Armen (August 20, 2018). "Michael Silberbauer named head coach of Pacific FC". canpl.ca. Canadian Premier League. Retrieved July 26, 2022.
- ^ a b "Pacific FC relieves Silberbauer of duties, Merriman takes over as interim coach". canpl.ca. Canadian Premier League. October 18, 2019. Retrieved July 26, 2022.
- ^ a b "Pacific FC announces new head coach Pa-Modou Kah". Pacific FC. January 14, 2020. Archived from the original on January 14, 2020. Retrieved January 14, 2020.
- ^ O'Connor-Clarke, Charlie (August 3, 2022). "RECAP: Pacific explode for 6-0 win to eliminate Waterhouse in Concacaf League". canpl.ca. Canadian Premier League. Retrieved August 3, 2022.
- ^ O'Connor-Clarke, Charlie (July 26, 2022). "RECAP: Pacific open Concacaf journey with 0-0 draw in Jamaica vs. Waterhouse". canpl.ca. Canadian Premier League. Retrieved July 26, 2022.
- ^ Tierney, Mitchell (August 17, 2022). "RECAP: Late goal costs Pacific FC at home against Herediano in Leg One of Concacaf League round of 16". canpl.ca. Canadian Premier League. Retrieved August 22, 2022.
- ^ O'Connor-Clarke, Charlie (August 23, 2022). "RECAP: 10-man Pacific fall to Herediano on penalties in gutsy Concacaf League performance". canpl.ca. Canadian Premier League. Retrieved August 23, 2022.
External links
edit 