Pacific FC is a professional soccer club based in Langford, British Columbia, Canada. The club was founded in 2018 and began play in the Canadian Premier League in 2019 as one of the league’s founding members. Pacific FC play their home matches at Starlight Stadium and are owned by Pacific Football Club LP, chaired by Dean Shillington and Rob Friend.
History of Pacific FC
The Canadian Premier League was officially announced in May 2017 with the intent to start play in 2018 or 2019. At the time of the league’s launch, it was announced that Victoria, British Columbia would be home to one of the founding CPL clubs. In March 2018, the ownership group Pacific Football Club LP was officially unveiled with initial plans to play at Westhills Stadium in Langford.
In July 2018, the club announced that star Canadian national team player Marcel de Jong would be the team’s first signing. De Jong was coming off a successful season with Vancouver Whitecaps FC in Major League Soccer. More player signings were announced in the following months leading up to Pacific FC’s inaugural season.
On November 27, 2018, Pacific FC announced their first head coach would be Michael Silberbauer, the former head coach of Swiss side Young Boys U21 squad. The rest of the coaching staff and first-ever Pacific FC roster was filled out heading into preseason.
The club played its first ever match on May 1, 2019, losing 1-0 to Halifax Wanderers FC at Westhills Stadium. Issey Nakajima-Farran scored the first goal in Pacific FC history on May 15 in a 2-2 draw with Cavalry FC. Pacific finished their inaugural CPL season in 7th place in the spring season and 8th place in the fall season.
Home Stadium
Pacific FC played their first season in 2019 at Westhills Stadium, a 6,000 capacity venue located next to the club’s training facility and offices in Langford. Prior to the 2020 season, it was announced the team would be moving to the newly renovated Starlight Stadium in Victoria.
Starlight Stadium opened in 1967 and previously hosted teams like the Victoria Vistas and Victoria Highlanders. The stadium underwent a major renovation project starting in 2018 to upgrade facilities and expand seating capacity. The renovated venue can hold up to 7,000 spectators.
Ownership and Management
Pacific FC is owned by Pacific Football Club LP, chaired by Rob Friend and Dean Shillington. The ownership group includes local Vancouver Island business leaders and former soccer players dedicated to building a successful club for the region.
Here are some of the key figures in Pacific FC’s ownership and management:
Name | Role |
---|---|
Rob Friend | Co-owner and CEO |
Dean Shillington | Co-owner and Chairman |
Josh Simpson | VP of Soccer Operations |
James Merriman | Director of Soccer Development |
In addition to the owners, Pacific FC’s front office includes executives with experience in Canadian soccer and sports business management.
Club Culture and Values
Pacific FC has built an identity around representing and engaging with Vancouver Island communities. As a community-led club, Pacific FC aims to be active in the region through partnerships, grassroots initiatives, and matchday experiences for supporters.
Some of the club’s core values include:
- Supporting grassroots soccer development for youth in the region
- Building the game through strong community partnerships
- Delivering an authentic and vibrant experience for supporters
- Promoting inclusion, diversity and social responsibility
- Performing with passion, courage and integrity
The club’s motto “Wave After Wave” represents the landscape of Vancouver Island and the non-stop support of Pacific FC fans.
Supporters and Rivalries
Pacific FC has quickly built a loyal and passionate supporters culture in its short history. The club’s main supporters group is called the Lake Side Buoys, named after the lake side of Westhills Stadium where they massed during Pacific FC’s inaugural season.
The Lake Side Buoys lead supporter chants and tifo displays at Pacific FC home matches. Other supporter groups include the Youth Side Buoys for younger fans and the WaveMakers who form a singing supporters section.
Pacific FC’s main rivals are fellow CPL sides Cavalry FC and Vancouver Island’s former pro team Vancouver Whitecaps FC in MLS. The defending champion Forge FC and Halifax Wanderers FC have also emerged as top opponents for Pacific FC in the Canadian Premier League.
Club Honors
Pacific FC are still searching for their first domestic title in the young history of the Canadian Premier League. Here are some of the club’s achievements to date:
- 2019 CPL Spring season: 7th place
- 2019 CPL Fall season: 8th place
- 2020 Island Games: 4th place
- 2021 CPL Season: 6th place
While not recording any Finals appearances yet, Pacific FC have shown improvement each year and gained plaudits for their style of play and development of young Canadian players.
Players and Coaches
Pacific FC’s current first team roster combines young Canadian talent developed locally with experienced imports mostly from Europe and South America. Here are some of the current key players:
Player | Nationality | Position |
---|---|---|
Kadin Chung | Canada | Defender |
Alejandro Diaz | Spain | Forward |
Josh Heard | Canada | Midfielder |
Marco Bustos | Canada | Forward |
Pacific FC first team and academy prospects train at the club’s Centre of Excellence facility. The head coach leading Pacific FC is current Canadian international James Merriman.
2022 Roster and Current Season
For the 2022 CPL season, Pacific FC made additions like Argentine defender Juan Gutierrez and Canadian forward Nicholas Apostol to bolster the squad. Here is how Pacific FC’s current first team roster looks for 2022:
Number | Player | Nationality | Position |
---|---|---|---|
1 | Callum Irving | Canada | Goalkeeper |
2 | Kadin Chung | Canada | Defender |
3 | Emile Legault | Canada | Defender |
4 | Josh Heard | Canada | Midfielder |
7 | Alejandro Diaz | Spain | Forward |
Pacific FC started the 2022 season strongly, losing just one of their first eight league matches. Striker Diaz led the league in goals through the Spring season, firing Pacific up the table. The club will look to build on this momentum in the Fall portion of the schedule to make a run at their first postseason berth.
Club Outlook
In just a few short years, Pacific FC has quickly established themselves as a well-run club committed to developing Canadian talent and growing the game on Vancouver Island.
Some keys for the club’s future success include:
- Continuing to invest in youth development infrastructure and homegrown players
- Building the Pacific FC brand identity and expanding their supporter culture
- Competing for CPL Championships and qualifying for the CONCACAF Champions League
- Establishing stable ownership and executive leadership for long-term growth
With the support of passionate fans and a commitment to cultivating regional talent, Pacific FC is poised for an exciting future in Canadian soccer and the CPL.
Conclusion
In just a few years of existence, Pacific FC has quickly embedded itself into the soccer landscape in British Columbia. With a focus on youth development, community engagement, and an authentic matchday experience, the club has built a strong foundation and identity.
As Pacific FC continues to mature, and the quality on the field improves, the long-term vision is to become a top club in the Canadian Premier League and a platform for developing talent in Western Canada. The future is bright for professional soccer on Vancouver Island under the banner of Pacific FC.