Vancouver Whitecaps

Full name	Vancouver Whitecaps
Nickname	The 'Caps
Founded	December 11, 1973[1]
Dissolved	1984; 41 years ago (1984)
Stadium	Empire Stadium (1974–1983) BC Place (1983–1984) Indoor: Pacific Coliseum (1980–81, 1983–84) PNE Agrodome (1981–1982)
Capacity	30,000 (Empire) 60,000 (BC Place) 15,613 (Coliseum) 3,200 (Agrodome)
League	NASL
1984	2nd, West Division Playoffs: Semifinals
Home colours Away colours

The originalVancouver Whitecaps are a professionalsoccer team founded on December 11, 1973. During the 1970s and 1980s they played in theNorth American Soccer League (NASL).

The Whitecaps of that era included international players such asAlan Ball,Ruud Krol andBruce Grobbelaar, but also British Columbian stars likeBobby andSam Lenarduzzi,Buzz Parsons, andBruce Wilson.

In 1979, the team from the "Village of Vancouver" (a reference to ABC TV sportscasterJim McKay's observation that "Vancouver must be like the deserted village right now", with so many people watching the game on TV) beat the powerhouseNew York Cosmos in one of the most thrilling playoff series in NASL history to advance to the1979 Soccer Bowl. Saturday, September 8, 1979, they triumphed against theTampa Bay Rowdies at theGiants Stadium before a crowd of 50,699(66,843 tickets had been sold for the game).^[2]

It was during this short period that soccer interest peaked in Vancouver. The Whitecaps attendance atEmpire Stadium grew to an average of 28,000 per game with playoff matches reaching the 32,000 capacity.^[3] The team also recorded two tracks, with "White Is the Colour" (a takeoff onChelsea's "Blue Is the Colour") becoming a hit on local radio during the run-up to their championship win.

The Whitecaps kit starting in 1978 featured a new two-tone blue design created by Vancouver-based graphic designer Dick Martin, who also re-designed the logo and jersey for theCFL teamBC Lions.

After playing at Vancouver's 32,000-seat Empire Stadium for most of their existence, the team moved into the new 60,000-seatBC Place Stadium in 1983.

The team playedindoor soccer on and off during their existence. ThePacific Coliseum served as the home field for their1980–81 and1983–84 NASL indoor seasons. However, for the1981–82 indoor season the Whitecaps used the much smallerPNE Agrodome, as thePacific Coliseum became unavailable.^[4]

Vancouver was announced as anexpansion franchise in the North American Soccer League on December 11, 1973, set to enter the league in 1974 alongsideSeattle,Los Angeles, andSan Jose. The seven-person ownership group was led byHerb Capozzi and included several businesspeople from the Lower Mainland.^[5] The city had previously hosted theVancouver Royal Canadians, aUnited Soccer Association team that played for the 1967 season with players fromSunderland A.F.C and in 1968 as the Royals before folding.^[6] The team announced their name, the Whitecaps, in February 1974 and signed their first player, formerWest Bromwich Albion striker and Vancouver nativeGlen Johnson.^[7]

This is a complete list of seasons for the NASL club. For a season-by-season history including the currentMLS franchise, seeHistory of Vancouver Whitecaps FC. For solely MLS results, seeList of Vancouver Whitecaps FC seasons.

Season	League											Position			Playoffs	Continental		Average attendance	Top goalscorer(s)
	Div	League	Pld	W	L	D	GF	GA	GD	Pts	PPG	Div.	Conf.	Overall					Name	Goals
1974	1	NASL	20	5	11	4	29	31	–2	70	3.50	4th	—	12th	DNQ	Ineligible		10,098	Brian Gant[8]	6
1975		NASL	22	11	11	0	38	28	+10	99	4.50	4th		11th				7,579	Glen Johnson[9]	8
1976		NASL	24	14	10	0	38	30	+8	120	5.00	3rd	5th	9th	R1			8,655	3 players[10]	5
1977		NASL	26	14	12	0	43	36	+7	124	4.77	2nd	4th	7th	R1			11,897	Derek Possee[11]	11
1978		NASL	30	24	6	0	68	29	+39	199	6.63	1st	2nd	2nd	QF			15,736	Kevin Hector[12]	21
1979		NASL	30	20	10	0	54	34	+20	172	5.73	1st	3rd	4th	W			22,962	Kevin Hector[13]	15
1980		NASL	32	16	16	0	52	47	+5	139	4.34	3rd	7th	14th	R1			26,834	Trevor Whymark[14]	15
1981		NASL	32	21	11	0	74	43	+31	186	5.81	1st	—	3rd	R1			23,236	Carl Valentine[15]	10
1982		NASL	32	20	12	0	58	48	+10	160	5.00	3rd		5th	QF			18,254	Ray Hankin[16]	11
1983		NASL	30	24	6	0	63	34	+29	187	6.23	1st		2nd	QF			29,166	David Cross[17]	19
1984		NASL	24	13	11	0	51	48	+3	117	4.88	2nd		4th	SF			15,190	Peter Ward[18]	16
Total	–	–	302	182	116	4	568	408	+160	1573	5.21	–	–	–	–		–	Unknown	167

^ 1.Avg. attendance include statistics from league matches only.
^ 2.Top goalscorer(s) includes all goals scored in League, League Playoffs,Canadian Championship,CONCACAF Champions League,FIFA Club World Cup, and other competitive continental matches.

The record home attendance for a Whitecaps game was on June 20, 1983. 60,342 came to watch the caps take on theSeattle Sounders in the first game atBC Place Stadium. It was also the largest crowd to ever see a club soccer match in Canada until theMontreal Impact surpassed the mark with 60,860 on May 12, 2012.

• 1974 10,098
• 1975 7,579
• 1976 8,656
• 1977 11,897
• 1978 15,724
• 1979 22,962
• 1980 26,834
• 1981 23,236
• 1982 18,251
• 1983 29,164
• 1984 15,208

• Vancouver Royals
• History of Vancouver Whitecaps FC

Wikimedia Commons has media related toVancouver Whitecaps (1974–1984).

• Vancouver Whitecaps (1974–1984)
• Defunct soccer clubs in Canada
• North American Soccer League (1968–1984) teams
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• Association football clubs disestablished in 1984
• Canadian indoor soccer teams
• North American Soccer League (1968–1984) teams based in Canada
• 1973 establishments in British Columbia
• 1984 disestablishments in British Columbia
• Herb Capozzi

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