VANCOUVER WHITECAPS FC & MLS NEWS
Whitecaps FC part ways with midfielder and captain Pedro Morales – Whitecaps FC
Vancouver Whitecaps FC confirmed on Wednesday that the club will not exercise the 2017 contract option on midfielder Pedro Morales.
Pedro Morales Officially Bids Farewell to Vancouver – Eighty-Six Forever
When the Vancouver Whitecaps declined the option of Pedro Morales in November, it all but ended his tenure with the club. Now, he’s made it official, posting an open farewell letter to WhitecapsFC.com.
Everything you need to know about next week’s MLS Expansion Draft – Whitecaps FC
Exactly one week from today, the MLS offseason will officially get going with the 2016 MLS Expansion Draft, to be held on Tuesday, December 13 at 11 a.m. PT.
David Villa beats Kljestan, BWP for MLS MVP award – Empire of Soccer
Sacha Kljestan led the league in assists and Bradley Wright-Phillips topped the goal scoring charts. But David Villa was the focal point of New York City FC’s resurgent 2016 campaign — and that was enough to get him the nod as MLS MVP.
Confessions of a TFC beat reporter: There were times I wanted to quit – Sportsnet
Ever since TFC defeated the Montreal Impact to punch its ticket to the MLS Cup, one question has been repeatedly posed to me by friends, family and co-workers: What’s it been like covering this team for the past decade?
Stopping Seattle’s Lodeiro in MLS Cup a tough challenge for TFC – Sportsnet
Now Toronto must face another talented South American playmaker in Saturday’s MLS Cup final at BMO Field: Nicloas Lodeiro of the Seattle Sounders.
MLS Moves: Hedges signs new deal with FC Dallas – Soccer America
Keeping a successful team together can be a challenge in MLS, and rather let the contract status of a vital player drag into next season, FC Dallas has locked up one of its key players for the foreseeable future.
Insider Notes: After comeback, Landon Donovan unlikely to play in 2017 – SI.com
Landon Donovan will almost certainly not return to playing in 2017, multiple sources say.
Rowdies announce MLS expansion bid, stadium renovation and expansion – SBI
Though heavily predicted after the team’s move to the USL, the Tampa Bay Rowdies made official their plans to expand and renovate their stadium and earn an MLS expansion slot.
Carolina RailHawks Change Name, Announce Plans For MLS Bid – IndyWeek
The Carolina Railhawks have changed their name to North Carolina FC and are pushing to become an NWSL franchise within the next six months and an MLS franchise within the next year and a half.
Lawyer says Timbers’ Ridgewell shouldn’t have taken sobriety test – SBI
Portland Timbers defender Liam Ridgewell was arrested for a DUI in October, but he reportedly shouldn’t have been in trouble.
Train With Champions TWU Spartan Female Soccer Academy
BC SOCCER NEWS
Cope to step down as KYSA president – Kamloops This Week
The Kamloops Youth Soccer Association will have a new president at the helm following its Dec. 19 annual general meeting. Graham Cope, who has served on the KYSA executive for 11 years — 10 successively, as president — will not be seeking re-election.
North Vancouver’s Jake Ruby a gem for Canada Soccer – North Shore News
North Vancouver’s Jake Ruby was named Man of the Match as Canada topped Jamaica 3-0 in a men’s U-17 friendly soccer match Nov. 27 in Kingston, Jamaica.
Cermaq loses 4-1 to Victoria’s Gorge – Campbell River Mirror
Campbell River Cermaq were back on the road this weekend, this time in Victoria to face-off against a well established Gorge FC team.
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
Canada Soccer’s Men’s National Team to face Bermuda in January – CSA
Canada will face CONCACAF opponent Bermuda in an away Men’s International Friendly match on 22 January 2017 in Hamilton, Bermuda. The Sunday afternoon match at the Bermuda National Sports Centre will kick off at 15.00 local and be broadcast live on canadasoccer.com.
Canada Soccer visits FC Edmonton REX Girls program – CSA
Currently in the first year of operation under Canada Soccer’s Women’s Regional EXCEL program, FC Edmonton’s REX Girls soccer program was paid with a visit this past week by Regional EXCEL Talent Manager Joey Lombardi.
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WFC2, USL & NASL NEWS
USSF Postpones Vote on NASL, USL Sanctioning – Empire of Soccer
The decision that many American soccer fans were waiting to come out of Tuesday’s meeting of the U.S. Soccer Federation’s Board of Directors has been delayed at least another week.
Fury FC Signs Canadian Goalkeeper Irving – USL
Ottawa Fury FC announced the signing of goalkeeper Callum Irving on Tuesday, as the Canadian goalkeeper remains north of the border following a standout first professional season with Rio Grande Valley FC in 2016. The signing is pending league and federation approval.
LAFC announce multi-year partnership with USL club Orange County Blues – MLS
LAFC announced on Wednesday a multi-year partnership with USL club Orange County Blues that will allow the 2018 expansion club to loan players to Orange County as early as next year.
Cosmos Fans Launch GoFundMe Campaign for Team’s Unpaid Staff – Empire of Soccer
The sudden shuttering of the New York Cosmos has left numerous front office staff members scrambling for new work or jobs in the midst of the holiday season.
NASL Can Survive, Rebuild, & Thrive With D3 Sanctioning – Midfield Press
After 5 fairly successful seasons in North American soccer, the NASL has hit hard times this year. With one club leaving for MLS (Minnesota United FC) and two more joining the USL the NASL is left with 10 clubs. In addition, Rayo OKC may sit out next season and the Ft Lauderdale Strikers are in financial trouble and seeking new investors and/or owners. The New York Cosmos are also having financial issues and are up for sale by their owners apparently. There are rumors that more clubs may still be lured to USL before things settle.
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WOMEN’S SOCCER NEWS
Mexico’s Liga MX to launch a pro-Women’s league next year – Inside World Football
Mexico’s Liga MX is to start an 18-team women’s league in 2017. President Enrique Bonilla (pictured) said the league will begin with a cup competition in the spring before the formal season begins in September.
Amy Lawrence named journalist of the year at Women In Football awards – The Guardian
The Guardian and Observer football writer Amy Lawrence was named journalist of the year at the Women In Football awards in London on Tuesday night.
Iranian-American female soccer coach featured in 60 MINUTES SPORTS – Excelle
Katayoun Khosrowyar is a dual Iranian-American citizen who grew up in Tulsa, Okla. before moving to Iran to coach Iran’s professional women’s soccer team. On Tuesday night, she spoke with Lesley Stahl on 60 Minutes Sports on Showtime about her role and the increasing number of women and young girls playing the sport across Iran.
UEFA Champions League Preview: Real Madrid takes on Borussia Dortmund, Porto welcome Leicester, and more – SBI
After the conclusion of the first four groups in the UEFA Champions League on Tuesday, the final four finish up their group stages on Wednesday.
PSG gifts Arsenal Champions League group; Besiktas crashes out spectacularly – SI.com
A controversial penalty and red card for Andreas Beck effectively ended Besiktas’s hopes of reaching the last 16 of the Champions League. Needing at least a draw to have a chance of finishing in the top two in Group B, Besiktas was 4-0 down to Dynamo Kiev by halftime and ended up losing 6-0 and with only nine men on the pitch.
FIFA chief Infantino backs 48-team World Cup with 16 groups of three – ESPN FC
FIFA president Gianni Infantino has suggested having 16 three-team groups if the World Cup expands to 48 countries.
Former Celtic kitman arrested in Belfast over sex abuse claims – The Guardian
A former football coach has been arrested in Northern Ireland over sex abuse claims.
FFA urged to strike while iron is hot with further A-League expansion – The Guardian
Miron Bleiberg has urged Football Federation Australia to take full advantage of a surfeit of A-League expansion bidders and start planning for an 18-team competition now.
Spanish judge attempts to gag Euro media over CR7 and Mou’s tax dodges – Inside World Football
A Spanish judge is seeking to impose a gagging order on 12 European media outlets known as the European Investigative Collaborations (EIC) from reporting leaked documents alleging the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo and Jose Mourinho could have been involved in a multimillion-euro tax evasion system.