MERRY CHRISTMAS & HAPPY HOLIDAYS!
BC Soccer Web is taking some time off over the holidays so we can enjoy family and friends. We wish you all the best this holiday season and look forward to keeping you connected to the BC soccer scene in the year ahead. We’ll be back with our next update on December 29.
VANCOUVER WHITECAPS FC & MLS NEWS
Sounders acquire Harry Shipp from Impact – SBI
The Seattle Sounders bolstered their depth in midfield with a big trade on Thursday afternoon. The Sounders announced that they acquired midfielder Harry Shipp from the Montreal Impact in exchange for allocation money.
Jozy Altidore wins U.S. Player of the Year award – Sportsnet
Forward Jozy Altidore has won the U.S. Player of the Year Award for the second time. Altidore, who plays for Toronto in Major League Soccer, received 52 first-place votes and 223 points in voting by 136 media conducted by Futbol de Primera that was announced Thursday.
Toronto FC loses Will Johnson, Josh Williams to Orlando, Columbus – Times Colonist
Toronto FC lost two players Thursday, with free agent midfielder Will Johnson headed to Orlando and defender Josh Williams taken by Columbus in Stage 2 of the MLS re-entry draft.
2016 MLS Re-Entry Draft Stage 2 – MLS
Four players were selected during Thursday’s Stage 2 of the 2016 MLS Re-Entry Draft.
Report: Costa Rican CB Francisco Calvo to Minnesota United – Fifty Five One
A report out of Costa Rica today has center back Francisco Calvo signing with Minnesota United. Calvo would be the second Costa Rican international on United’s roster, joining attacker Johan Venegas.
The WTR Top 20: Assessing Toronto FC’s players in 2016 – Waking the Red
Over the course of the 2016-17 offseason, we’ll be taking a look at every player who played an MLS minute for the Reds on their run to the MLS Cup final.
Train With Champions TWU Spartan Female Soccer Academy
BC SOCCER NEWS
Soccer leagues take holiday hiatus – Sooke News Mirror
Heading into the Vancouver Island Soccer League’s holiday break, the Fred Milne Park Rangers hold down last spot in the Division 2 standings at 1-7-2 and tied with Powell River Villa with five points. With the league seeing a number of game cancellations in late fall, the Rangers’ next game is tentatively set for Jan. 1 against Cowichan United. If that match is a no-go, the Rangers would have a break until Feb. 3, when they are set to face Westcastle United.
How the beautiful game brought friends together in Jamaica – Whitecaps FC
This past July, Vancouver Whitecaps FC sent their youngest Residency players to Mexico City for the 2016 CONCACAF U-13 Champions League. The tournament was an amazing opportunity for the group – who had been assembled for the first time – to see what it’s like to play their peers from different countries, including clubs from Mexico, Nicaragua, Jamaica, Trinidad, Guatemala, Costa Rica, Panama, and El Salvador. It was also an opportunity to make new friends. And that’s exactly what North Vancouver’s Jake Oseen did.
BC Soccer Assoc. is Now Accepting 2016-2017 Awards Nominations – BCSA
We are pleased to inform everyone that BC soccer Assoc. is currently accepting Awards nominations until the submission deadline date of March 31, 2017. Selection of the award recipients is based on many factors including the individual’s commitment, community involvement and willingness to give back to the game. This year any BC Soccer Assoc. member and their affiliate clubs may submit a nomination.
2017 BC Soccer Assoc. is accepting candidates for its Board of Directors – BCSA
BC Soccer Assoc. is accepting candidates for its Board of Directors for terms commencing June, 2017 (following the BC Soccer Annual General Meeting).
Victoria Highlanders 2017 Season Passes now on sale – Highlanders FC
Support local soccer on Vancouver Island. Join the excitement of Highlanders FC PDL Soccer!
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. 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 finish 2016 ranked fourth in FIFA world soccer rankings – Sportsnet
Canada will finish the year unchanged at No. 4 in the FIFA world women’s soccer rankings.
No surprise: Canada favours expanded World Cup, but wants it done right – Metro
The world governing body of soccer will reportedly review five options to revamp the current 32-nation format when the FIFA Council meets Jan. 10 in Zurich. According to the Associated Press, FIFA’s analysis suggests the preferred option is a 48-team tournament consisting of 16 three-team groups.
NCAA 2016 Wrap: League1 Women Among Best In NCAA – League1 Ontario
Current and alumni League1 players continued to make their presence felt in 2016 post-secondary play south of the border.
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WFC2, USL, NASL & NPSL NEWS
FC Edmonton coach Miller says club is already deep into search for a new goalkeeper – the11.ca
FC Edmonton coach Colin Miller found out last week that goalkeeper Matt VanOekel would be making the move to MLS, as the NASL’s Golden Glove winner was going to sign with Real Salt Lake.
Mike Petke named Real Monarchs head coach – RSL Soapbox
Real Salt Lake fans, or at least a vocal subset of them, finally got their wish — kind of. Mike Petke, former New York Red Bulls coach, is joining the organization as Real Monarchs head coach.
Pillars in Place for Newly Branded Rising FC – USL
Three seasons are in the book for Phoenix Rising FC, and just this past year the organization took some significant measures across the board.
Oklahoma City Energy FC sign Juan Pablo Guzman –Big D Soccer
The Oklahoma City Energy FC has announced the signing of Colombian midfielder Juan Pablo Guzman for the 2017 season – pending USL and U.S. Soccer Federation approval.
Saint Louis Lands 2013 League MVP Angulo – USL
Saint Louis FC announced Thursday it has signed forward and former USL Most Valuable Player Jose Angulo, pending league and federation approval.
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WOMEN’S SOCCER NEWS
United States finish year as top-ranked women’s football team – Inside the Games
The United States have ended the year as the top-ranked women’s football team after FIFA published the last updated list of 2016.
Hope Solo wants USWNT return, still fighting for equal pay – SBI
Hope Solo is hoping to return to the U.S. Women’s National Team, but admitted that she’s still fighting for equal pay between the men’s and women’s teams.
Ghana women’s footballers protest unpaid bonuses – Sportskeeda
Players of Ghana’s senior national female football team have hit the streets here to demand payment of outstanding bonuses.
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WORLD SOCCER NEWS
Christmas Premier League Fixtures: Score Predictions for EPL Matchday – Bleacher Report
Premier League leaders Chelsea are in action the day after Christmas, hosting Bournemouth at Stamford Bridge. Arsenal, Manchester City and Liverpool will all hope the Blues are unable to win a 12th match in a row in England’s top flight.
FIFA’s 5 options for a 2026 World Cup of 48, 40 or 32 teams – Metro
FIFA has detailed how it could expand the World Cup in a 64-page analysis of five options for the future of its signature tournament. The document, seen by the Associated Press, was sent this week to FIFA Council members who on Jan. 10 should decide the shape of the 2026 World Cup.
Sam Allardyce at Crystal Palace training ground for talks with chairman – BBC Sport
Former England manager Sam Allardyce is the frontrunner to replace Alan Pardew as Crystal Palace manager.
Guardiola hints at Manchester City January signings – SN
Pep Guardiola has hinted that Manchester City could dip into the transfer market when it reopens in January, although he is not holding out too much hope.
Blasting Bob Bradley for the way he talks betrays Premier League insularity – ESPN FC
Maybe the punchy, New Jersey delivery made it stand out even more. Certainly, if one were to really analyse Bob Bradley’s immediate self-editing during his interview after Swansea’s 3-0 defeat at Middlesbrough on Saturday, the little nod of acknowledgement he gave when quickly switching his footballing language from American English betrayed a slight weariness about having to check himself.
America draws Tigres UANL in Liga MX final first leg; Gignac injured – Fox Sports
Andre Pierre Gignac scored but suffered a leg injury, as Tigres and Club America played to a 1-1 draw in the first leg of the Liga MX Apertura final Thursday night at Estadio Azteca.
Serie A so far: Juventus peerless but Roma, Napoli, Milan, Torino a delight – ESPN FC
As Serie A heads into its winter break, which ends on Jan. 7, James Horncastle assesses the seasons so far for Italy’s 20 top-flight clubs, starting with the leaders.
Florence anoints Federico Bernardeschi as heir to Roberto Baggio – The Guardian
There has been a good deal of bellyaching about delayed flights in Italy over the past few days, after Milan’s charter for the Supercoppa in Qatar was grounded by a mechanical fault. From a competitive standpoint, their complaints are merited. They will have had one day fewer than Juventus to get over their jet lag and acclimatise to the desert heat.
Real Madrid to face Sevilla in round of 16 of Copa del Rey – Sportsnet
Real Madrid will play Sevilla in the Round of 16 of the Copa del Rey in a rematch of the European Super Cup final, while defending champion Barcelona will face Athletic Bilbao in a rematch of the Copa final two seasons ago.
Joey Barton: Burnley midfielder charged ‘for placing 1,260 bets’ – BBC Sport
Burnley midfielder Joey Barton has been charged with misconduct, with the Football Association claiming he placed 1,260 bets in the past 10 years.
Steaua Bucharest could lose their name and place in league – Reuters
One of European football’s iconic names could disappear from the professional game after Romania’s defence ministry won a court case against Steaua Bucharest on Thursday. The 1986 European Cup winners — their country’s most successful club with 26 league titles — have been illegally using the name which rightfully belongs to an army side, the court ruled.
Ronaldo donates to Aleppo, tells Syrians to not lose hope – Sportsnet
Cristiano Ronaldo expressed his anguish over the plight of children in war-shattered Syria and made a donation to help fund emergency supplies in Aleppo.
The 100 best footballers in the world 2016 – interactive – The Guardian
Our panel of 124 experts from 45 nations compiled a list of the greatest male players on the planet. Today, the Top 10 Players are revealed.
Welcome to the World’s Smallest Soccer League. Both Teams Are Here. – NY Times
It is the same every week: the same field, the same changing rooms, the same teammates and the same opponents. The only difference, this morning, is the hangovers. The rest is just another typical day in the smallest soccer league in the world.