VANCOUVER WHITECAPS FC & MLS NEWS
Whitecaps FC announce 2017 preseason plans leading up to Champions League quarterfinals – Whitecaps FC
Vancouver Whitecaps FC confirmed on Thursday their 2017 preseason plans, which will include their first-ever trip to Wales at the start of camp in January and their fourth consecutive visit to Oregon for the annual Portland Timbers preseason tournament in February.
Greatest MLS playoff series ever? Impact-TFC a fantastic advertisement for Canadian soccer – Vancouver Sun
The flu-ridden Whitecaps’ president was transfixed by the Toronto FC-Montreal Impact spectacle like many Canadian soccer fans, despite the obvious pain that comes from watching one’s rivals duke it out while your own team has long been eliminated.
Second leg of Eastern Conference Championship smashes MLS’ Canadian TV mark – MLS
They say records are made to be broken. This one got smashed — after only a week. Wednesday night’s Eastern Conference Championship match between Toronto FC and the Montreal Impact was the most-watched MLS game in Canadian TV history, according to overnight data from Numeria as reported by BellMedia.
Toronto FC are leading the way into a new era of Canadian soccer – Waking the Red
Where do you start with a game like that? To label it a game does not begin to tell the full story; Wednesday night was an event, a landmark moment both for Toronto FC and the wider Canadian soccer landscape.
Why TFC’s thrilling win isn’t a score for Canadian soccer yet – Yahoo Sports
The men’s game in this country needs a galvanizing moment to turn heads, get people excited about soccer in Canada and dream that futures can be made playing the game right here. While the men’s national team heads into the unknown once again looking for direction, maybe – just maybe – this instant classic game involving two Canadian club teams made up largely of foreign players will be that moment.
MLS Preseason: Tournaments set at three sites – Soccer America
The 2016 MLS season doesn’t wrap up for another week, but teams are already finalizing plans for the 2017 preseason. Tournaments will again be hosted by the Portland Timbers, FC Tucson and Charleston Battery (after a year’s hiatus).
Keeper Stefan Frei: Sounders are the underdogs vs. TFC in MLS Cup Final – MLS
Seattle have been MLS’ hottest team after the midpoint of the season, charging back from the bottom of the table to their first berth in an MLS Cup Final. Still, goalkeeper Stefan Frei says the Sounders are the underdogs in the Dec. 10 title game at BMO Field — and he’s fine with Toronto FC having to shoulder the pressure of being the favorites and playing host to this matchup of first-time finalists.
Sources: USMNT goalkeeper Brad Guzan exploring return to MLS – Four Four Two
U.S. men’s national team goalkeeper Brad Guzan is exploring a potential return to Major League Soccer in the January transfer window, according to league sources.
Minnesota United unveil Venegas, Davis as MLS signings – SBI
Minnesota United began constructing its MLS roster by signing two club stalwarts on Thursday. Defenders Kevin Venegas and Justin Davis were unveiled as Minnesota’s first MLS signings. Both players have spent their entire professional careers with the Loons.
Crew SC begin partial rebuild as Higuain returns, but Parkhurst “not close” – MLS
It appears that the offseason of Columbus Crew SC will fall somewhere between a rebuilding project and last year’s strategy of consistency and stability.
Train With Champions TWU Spartan Female Soccer Academy
BC SOCCER NEWS
Residency Report: ‘Caps U-18s open Winter Showcase with 2-1 win over DC United – Whitecaps FC
Vancouver Whitecaps FC U-18 Residency opened the 2016 Development Academy Winter Showcase with a 2-1 win over DC United U-18 on Thursday.
Five From Men’s Soccer Named To NSCAA West Region Team – SFU
The Clan saw four of its players garner First Team All-Region accolades – junior midfielder Adam Jones (Coquitlam), senior midfielder Ryan Dhillon (North Delta), junior defender Magnus Kristensen (Stavanger, Norway) and sophomore midfielder Mamadi Camara (Montreal, Quebec).
VMSL Week 12 Round-up: Coquitlam Metro Ford drop first points of the season as top two get set to clash – AFTN
The top of the VMSL Premier Division got a lot more interesting after last weekend’s Week 12 action, although maybe that’s more just wishful thinking for a real title race than a realistic take on proceedings.
VISL Division 1 Listings & Standings – Dec.2 – 4 – VISL
Weekend approaching and here is what’s on for Division 1 League Play.
NEXT KYSA PRO-D DAY CAMP SET FOR MONDAY! – KYSA
The Kamloops Youth Soccer Association is holding its last Pro-D Day Soccer Camp of 2016 this MONDAY, DECEMBER 5th!!
PHOTOS: CANADA WEST WOMENS FINAL, UBC 3, TWU 0, NOVEMBER 6, 2016 – BC Soccer Web
Exclusive photos for BC Soccer Web by Bill Currie.
VMSL PHOTOS: Richmond FC Hibs 1, ICSF Columbus FC 0, November 5, 2016 – BC Soccer Web
Exclusive photos for BC Soccer Web by Bill Currie.
Tickets now on sale for Canada Soccer Women’s National Team celebration match 4 February in Vancouver – CSA
Individual tickets to the Canada v Mexico Women’s National Team Bronze Medal celebration match on 4 February 2017 in Vancouver are now on sale to the public. Complete ticket information can be found at CanadaSoccer.com/Tickets.
MWSL PHOTOS: Van United Primas 0, Fraser Valley Action 2, October 30, 2016 – BC Soccer Web
Exclusive Photos for BC Soccer Web by Bill Currie.
PHOTOS: GNAC Women’s Soccer: SFU 1 Concordia U. (Ore.) 0, October 20, 2016 – BC Soccer Web
Exclusive Photos for BC Soccer Web by Bill Currie.
BC Soccer Assoc. Releases their 2015-2016 Year in Review – BCSA
After another successful year of soccer in British Columbia, BC Soccer Assoc. is pleased to release their 2015-2016 Year in Review. The creation of the BC Soccer Club Charter Program, delivery of a FIFA Live Your Goals Festival, along with the numerous Grassroots Festivals across the province and Coach Education highlight some of the major successes this past year.
BC Soccer Assoc. Delivery of Coach Mandate – BCSA
IMPORTANT: If you are coaching in the ages U6-U12 you are required to complete the age appropriate course(s) even if you have a higher level of certification (ie. Soccer for Life, B pretest, C License, B License or A License). In order to enable our membership to deliver on the coaching mandate, BC Soccer Assoc. will be scheduling Learning Facilitator training sessions to assist organizations to have qualified individuals to deliver in-club coach certification courses to their coaches.
2016 BC Soccer Provincial Cup Photo Galleries – BC Soccer Web
Westhills Stadium & Goudy Park in Langford hosted the 2016 BC Soccer Adult Provincial Cup Finals. It was a thrilling weekend of soccer on Vancouver Island that saw seven champions crowned. Richmond FC & Surrey Pegasus qualified for the National Championships this Fall in St. John’s, Newfoundland. Both Coquitlam Metro-Ford Masters & Classics sides qualified for the Western Canadian Masters Championships in Winnipeg, Manitoba. In all, it was a clean sweep for teams from the VMSL & MWSL. Monique Lamoureux & Bill Currie from BC Soccer Web were on location that weekend, capturing the all the action.
Free Physiotherapy Clinical Trial for Achilles Pain at UBC – UBC Centre for Hip Health & Mobility
Do you have Achilles pain? Interested in free Physiotherapy? If yes, join our clinical trial to look at the effectiveness of intramuscular stimulation (IMS), a form of acupuncture therapy, in treating Achilles tendon pain.
The BC Soccer Web Guide to Empire Field – BC Soccer Web
Empire Fields and Plateau Sports Park is the lofty and formal name given to Vancouver’s newest addition to the soccer scene. Yet, anyone who’s ever kicked or carried both kinds of footballs around these parts knows the place by heart.
Introducing BC Soccer Web Syndication – BC Soccer Web
You can now add BC Soccer Web news to your website simply by adding our new RSS Feed! Find out more.
Send your Soccer News to BC Soccer Web! – BC Soccer Web
BC Soccer Web is the hub for soccer in British Columbia. We want to share your soccer news with the entire province, and you can help by letting us know! We want your match reports, club news, league standings, and info on upcoming tournaments and clinics. Whether you submit links to existing news on the web, or your own original writing, we want to share it with the soccer community in B.C.
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CANADA SOCCER NEWS
Canadian women’s soccer team vote to create players’ association – CBC
Members of the Canadian national women’s soccer team voted unanimously Thursday to form a players’ association — a first for the sport in Canada.
Grassroots Soccer Hoping For TFC Effect – Blackburn News
Toronto FC’s trip to the MLS Cup final on December 10, the first ever for a Canadian club, could prove a boost for soccer locally.
A golden year for the Bradford Soccer Club – Bradford Times
The Bradford Soccer Club now has a record 1,200 players. It introduced technical coaching starting at the Timbits level; increased the number of certified “C” licence coaches to 5, from 0; and saw its 1998 Girls team go on to win the Canadian National Championship in 2015. Local sponsorships have risen from $8,000 per year to over $20,000, which means that every House League team has a sponsor; the club was even able to provide some support to its competitive teams.
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WFC2, USL & NASL NEWS
Carlos Slim Spokesman Denies Billionaire has Interest in Cosmos – Empire of Soccer
EoS reported yesterday on the rumored interest of Mexican billionaire Carlos Slim in taking some type of ownership stake of the New York Cosmos. However, a denial of the possible link surfaced today from a source with close connection to Slim.
OFFSIDE REMARKS: My gut feeling: I fear the Cosmos will sit out at least a year if not more unless a miracle happens – Big Apple Soccer
Well, we’re going to have to wait at least another day, if not more, before discovering the fate of the Cosmos and the North American Soccer League for 2017 and beyond. At the moment, both organizations are still standing. For how long is another question.
Edmonton, Last Survivor and First Rebirth? – Maple Leaf Forever
As for the other early expansion team, FC Edmonton, nobody thought they had a prayer. I didn’t. And yet as the league founders the Eddies have been its most determined defender. Who could have guessed that Ottawa and Tampa would defect, New York would throw down its arms, Minnesota would long have fled for higher ground, and Tom Fath would hold the last ditch? That FC Edmonton, playing in its unsuitable community stadium with an owner who is openly not a soccer guy and a dodgy on-field record, would outlive its league? They’re hiring sales people, right now! A new fan shop seems set to open! If the NASL goes down it won’t be because Edmonton lost faith: the Eddies die hard.
Former Red Bull Zach Carroll Signs with Orlando City B – Empire of Soccer
Former New York Red Bulls and New York Red Bull II defender Zach Carroll will remain in the USL as he has signed with Orlando City B.
FC Arizona Has Big Ambitions For Pro Soccer In The Phoenix Area – Midfield Press
FC Arizona will be a fully professional operation in the National Premier Soccer League. Taylor envisions the NPSL as a long term partner for FC Arizona, though he plans on elevating the first team to the North American Soccer League within a few seasons, keeping the club’s reserves in the NPSL. He has investors lined up for the step up in leagues, but the first order of business is a successful launch in NPSL.
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WOMEN’S SOCCER NEWS
Lloyd, Ellis named finalists for FIFA year end awards – The Equalizer
Carli Lloyd and Jill Ellis remain in contention to repeat as The Best FIFA Women’s Player and Coach respectively after the sport’s global governing body announced the three finalists for each on Friday. Lloyd is joined by Germany’s Melanie Behringer and Brazil’s Marta. Ellis is up against Germany’s Silvia Neid and Sweden’s Pia Sundhage.
DPR Korea have second U-20 title in sight – AFC
DPR Korea have their sights well and truly set on a second FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup title as they prepare to meet France in the 2016 final on Saturday.
W-League Recap: Melbourne City Top The Table After First Month – Orlando City
Things are starting to heat-up in the Land Down Under. After four weeks, Melbourne City FC (home to Orlando Pride players Steph Catley and Laura Alleway) are sitting undefeated at the top of the table. But the season is far from over. With many Pride players on-loan for the NWSL offseason, here are the results of their teams in the past few weeks.
Westfield W-League – Round 5 preview – W-League
All the squad news for Round 5 of the Westfield W-League headlined by the first meeting between Brisbane Roar and Melbourne City’s since last season’s epic semi-final.
2016 women’s AfCON: Enow Ngachu, Cameroonian manager, very optimistic about the final against the Nigerians – Business in Cameroon
Our target was to win five matches. We have won four so far. There is only one remaining”. These are the words used by Carl Enow Ngachu, manager of the national Cameroonian women’s football team, when he talked to the CAF website after the qualification of his charges for the final of the 10th edition of the women’s AfCON, which has been playing out since 19 November in Yaoundé and Limbé.
No. 1 WVU women’s soccer team to make College Cup debut – The Inter-Mountain
The No. 1-ranked and top-seeded West Virginia University women’s soccer team makes its NCAA College Cup debut against No. 6-ranked and second-seeded North Carolina in the first of two semifinal matches at 5 p.m. today at Avaya Stadium.
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WORLD SOCCER NEWS
Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Antoine Griezmann vie for FIFA award – ESPN FC
Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo will resume their annual battle for glory after both were named on the three-man shortlist, alongside Antoine Griezmann, for FIFA’s Best Men’s Player award.
Clásico preview: line-ups, form guide, expert analysis – UEFA
Zinédine Zidane says Liga leaders Real Madrid are “without fear”, while Luis Enrique thinks Barcelona are the best team around – something will have to give in Saturday’s Clásico.
Premier League: 10 things to look out for this weekend – The Guardian
Alan Pardew is under pressure at Palace, José Mourinho must back his midweek stars and the omens are there for Manchester City to end Chelsea’s winning run.
Bundesliga match day 13 preview – Prost Amerika
RB Leipzig has taken on the Bundesliga by storm. A mere three draws separate Ralph Hasenhuttl’s side from absolute perfection while Carlo Ancelotti’s Bayern Munich has the same three draws and a loss giving the debutantes a three point lead in the Bundesliga title race.
Marseille hope for improvement on return home – Ligue 1
Bafétimbi Gomis and Olympique de Marseille face AS Nancy Lorraine on Sunday hoping a return to the Orange Vélodrome can help them start scoring goals and winning games.
Tigres and Club America in position for another final – Prost Amerika
The first leg matches of the Liga MX semifinals were played on Wednesday and Thursday night. Tigres UNAL and Club America both hold small advantages over Club Leon and Club Necaxa respectively.
Chapecoense will rebuild with the world’s support, says vice-president – SN
Chapecoense vice-president Gelson Dalla Costa says the club will rebuild thanks to support from the ‘whole world’.
Saddened world to fall silent for Chapecoense – FIFA
In response to Monday’s air tragedy that struck Brazilian team Associação Chapecoense de Futebol, the Bureau of the FIFA Council has called for a minute’s silence before every football match this weekend.
Grief turns to anger amid reports of lack of fuel in crash – Calgary Sun
The tributes took place Wednesday night as crash investigators aided by dramatic cockpit recordings were studying why the British-built jet apparently ran out of fuel before slamming into a muddy mountainside just a few miles from Medellin’s international airport.
Drogba seeks damages from Daily Mail following fraud claims – SN
Former Chelsea striker Didier Drogba has confirmed that he is seeking damages from the Daily Mail following the newspaper’s “entirely false” allegations of fraud against his charity foundation.
Authorities investigate possible widespread pedophilia by British soccer coaches – Toronto Star
Former coach and convicted sexual abuser Barry Bennell was arrested this week for the fourth time in three decades and dozens of former players have come forward with new allegations.
Chelsea paid me £50,000 to prevent child abuse revelations – Johnson – Four Four Two
Former Chelsea forward Gary Johnson claims he was paid £50,000 by the club to prevent him disclosing allegations of child abuse.
Many football clubs have insurance covering them for child sex abuse claims – The Guardian
Many football clubs in the UK have liability insurance that covers them for claims from victims of child sex abuse, which has resulted in payouts. As the scandal continues to engulf the sport, insurers have pledged to improve the compensation process.
Brackley back from the brink and aiming for another FA Cup shock – The Guardian
Last season Brackley escaped relegation from the Conference North on the final day of the season – now, if they can beat Blackpool, they will be in the FA Cup third round