Victoria Vistas

The Victoria Vistas were a professional soccer team based in Victoria, British Columbia that competed in the original Canadian Soccer League. The Vistas joined the CSL for the 1989 season and folded after the 1990 season. Victoria All-star teams had been competitive with league champion Vancouver 86ers teams in pre-season contests during previous years.

Victoria Vistas
Nickname(s)Vistas
Founded1989
Dissolved1990
StadiumRoyal Athletic Park
CoachBruce Wilson
LeagueCanadian Soccer League

History

The Vistas joined the Canadian Soccer League as an expansion team for the 1989 season,[1][2] forming a natural rivalry with the Vancouver 86ers.[3] The Vistas were coached by Brian Hughes (until August 1) and former Canada national team captain Bruce Wilson, with Buzz Parsons serving as general manager.[4]

The Vistas struggled in their inaugural season, winning only 4 of their 26 matches, finishing last in their division.[4] Despite their poor results, during a match preview versus Winnipeg Fury, July 20, 1989, the Vistas were noted as averaging about 2,000 spectators per game. Victoria Vistas played an exhibition game against the Seattle Storm August 3, 1989, at Memorial Stadium as part of the Western Soccer League's exhibition schedule, losing by a score of 3–0.

On May 5, 1990, the Vistas played an away exhibition friendly against the Seattle Storm, losing by a score of 3–0.[5][6] On Wednesday August 1, 1990, the Victoria Vistas defeated the Storm 1-0 via a 35th minute Allan Evans penalty kick, with the win giving them the inaugural non-league Stena Lines Cup title.[7] Stena Lines had been the team's kit sponsor for the 1989 and 1990 seasons.[4]

Their second season in the CSL was more successful, finishing second in their division during the 1990 season and qualifying for the playoffs. They defeated the Winnipeg Fury in penalty kicks in the quarter-final, before falling to eventual champions Vancouver 86ers in the semi-finals.[4] The team folded following the 1990 season.[8]

The team's folding in 1990 was the end of professional soccer in the city, until 2019 when Pacific FC joined the Canadian Premier League.[9][10][11] Pacific FC honoured the Vistas at a match during their inaugural season, with several of the Vistas players on hand for the ceremony.[12]

Seasons
Season Tier League Record Rank Playoffs Ref
1989 1 Canadian Soccer League 4–6–16 5th, West Did not qualify [13]
1990 12–7–7 2nd, West Semi-Finals

Notable players

References
  1. "Canadian Soccer League (1987-1992)". Fun While it Lasted.
  2. Litterer, Dave. "Canadian Soccer League I". Soccer History USA.
  3. Shaw, Drew (July 27, 2018). "Reflections of a Victoria Soccer Supporter". Lake Side Buoys.
  4. "Victoria Vistas (1989-90)". CSL Memories.
  5. "Storm To Finish Home Stand Tonight Against Victoria Vistas". The Seattle Times. May 5, 1990. Retrieved April 10, 2013.
  6. "Minus Coach, Storm Dumps Victoria 3-0". The Seattle Times. May 6, 1990. Retrieved April 10, 2013.
  7. "Victoria Extends Storm Losing Streak To Seven". The Seattle Times. August 2, 1990. Retrieved April 10, 2013.
  8. "North Island Athlete Killed in Car Accident". North Island Gazette. January 29, 1992.
  9. Steiner, Benjamin (April 30, 2019). "The Canadian Premier League is Inspiring a Nation". Chesterfield Sports.
  10. McColl, Michael (July 21, 2018). "Josh Simpson hoping Pacific FC can be "part of the solution" to take Canadian soccer to the next level and provide development pathway he never had". Away from the Numbers.
  11. Dheensaw, Cleve (September 18, 2019). "VISL's top level again loaded with premier talent". Times Colonist.
  12. Dheensaw, Cleve (July 12, 2019). "Draws with MLS sides put bounce in CPL's step as Pacific FC gears for Forge". Times Colonist.
  13. "Canadian Soccer League Standings Archive". Canada Soccer History Archives.
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