Nautsa’mawt FC
Full name | Nautsa’mawt Football Club |
---|---|
Founded | 2021 |
Stadium | Thunderbird Stadium, Rashpal Dhillon Track & Field Oval |
Owner | Hope and Health For Life Society |
Head Coach | Mike Mosher (men) Jesse Symons (women) |
League | League1 British Columbia |
2023 | L1BC, 5th; Playoffs, DNQ (men) L1BC, 2nd; Playoffs, SF (women) |
Website | Club website |
Nautsa’mawt Football Club (formerly known as Varsity FC) was a Canadian semi-professional soccer club based in Vancouver, British Columbia that played in League1 British Columbia.
History
Varsity FC
Varsity FC was officially unveiled on December 3, 2021, as an inaugural licence holder for the first season of the new semi-professional League1 British Columbia in 2022.[1] The team was formed in partnership with the University of British Columbia and their Thunderbirds sports teams with the head coaches of both the UBC men's and women's soccer teams serving as the club's inaugural head coaches.[2] In addition, Varsity's home stadium will be UBC's Thunderbird Stadium[3] with select games being played on the field at the Rashpal Dhillon Track & Field Oval, also located on the UBC campus.
Their inaugural matches, for the male and female teams, occurred on May 26 against
Nautsa’mawt FC
In January 2023, the club went under a change of ownership with UBC Athletics transferring ownership to Hope and Health For Life Society, a non-profit which aims to increase access to sport for development and social impact opportunities with a focus on Indigenous children and youth.
After the 2023 season, the club opted to not renew its license for the 2024 League1 BC season, with the club's men's team not providing playing time to Indigenous men's players (although this goal was achieved on the women's side) and with the club struggling to attract much fan support to the matches, although it still intends to run the club in order to offer support, mentorship, and experiences to local athletes facing systemic barriers and will continue to partner with the UBC Thunderbirds Women’s soccer team, along with other amateur and professional teams.[24][25]
Seasons
Men
as Varsity FC
Season | League | Teams | Record | Rank | Playoffs | Juan de Fuca Plate | Ref |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2022 | League1 British Columbia | 7 | 9–1–2 | 1st | Runner-up | Winner[a] | [26] |
as Nautsa’mawt FC
Season | League | Teams | Record | Rank | Playoffs | Juan de Fuca Plate | Ref |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2023 | League1 British Columbia | 8 | 4–5–5 | 5th | did not qualify | 3rd[a] | [26] |
Women
as Varsity FC
Season | League | Teams | Record | Rank | Playoffs | Inter-provincial Championship | Juan de Fuca Plate | Ref |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2022 | League1 British Columbia | 7 | 11–0–1 | 1st | Runner-up | 4th | Winner[a] | [27] |
as Nautsa’mawt FC
Season | League | Teams | Record | Rank | Playoffs | Inter-provincial Championship | Juan de Fuca Plate | Ref |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2023 | League1 British Columbia | 8 | 9–2–3 | 2nd | Semi-finals | did not qualify | 3rd[a] | [27] |
Notable players
The following players have either played at the professional or international level, either before or after playing for the League1 BC team:
Men
Women
References
- BC Soccer Association. December 3, 2021.
- ^ Jacques, John (December 4, 2021). "League1 BC Reveals Varsity FC As Final Launch Club". Northern Tribune.
- ^ McColl, Michael (May 5, 2022). "The Grounds of League1 BC: Thunderbird Stadium, UBC, Vancouver – Home of Varsity FC". Away from the Numbers.
- ^ McColl, Michael (June 2, 2022). "League1 BC Women: Unbeaten Whitecaps looking strong while Varsity start their season with a victory and TSS get road win". Away from the Numbers.
- ^ McColl, Michael (June 4, 2022). "Varsity FC proud to be part of League1 BC and what they hope will be a "massive revolution" for soccer in the province". Away from the Numbers.
- ^ McColl, Michael (June 10, 2022). "League1 BC Men: Unbeaten Varsity continue strong start to the season with six point haul". Away from the Numbers.
- ^ McColl, Michael (June 9, 2022). "League1 BC Women: Three horse race developing as top two set to clash this weekend". Away from the Numbers.
- ^ @JuanDeFucaPlate (July 10, 2022). "Taking all 12 points from a tough back-to-back on the road, they can no longer be caught and are the 2022 Juan de Fuca Plate champions!" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
- ^ BC Soccer. August 2, 2022.
- ^ McColl, Michael (August 2, 2022). "Whitecaps stun Varsity with late comeback to win first League1 BC women's championship". Away from the Numbers.
- ^ Gangué-Ruzic, Alexandre (August 11, 2022). "Team Previews: 4 teams compete in League1 Canada Women's Inter-Provincial Championship". Canadian Premier League.
- PLSQ(in French). August 13, 2022.
- ^ "Confident AS Blainville score two past Varsity". League1 Canada. August 13, 2022.
- ^ "Alliance United finish third after beating Varsity on penalties". League1 Canada. August 15, 2022.
- ^ Jacques, John (January 18, 2023). "Hope And Health Acquires Varsity FC". Northern Tribune.
- ^ Jacques, John (January 23, 2023). "Varsity FC Set For Club Rebrand". Northern Tribune.
- ^ Jacques, John (February 7, 2023). "Varsity FC Rebrands As Nautsa'mawt FC". Northern Tribune.
- ^ Adams, J.J. (February 11, 2023). "Nautsa'mawt FC: Re-badged League1 team aims for hope, opportunities and history". The Province.
- ^ "In 'One Heart, One Mind', League1 BC Introduces Nautsa'mawt FC". League1 British Columbia. February 7, 2023.
- ^ Junos, Kier (February 28, 2023). "New Indigenous soccer team gets ready for first season". CityNews.
- ^ Jacques, John (April 11, 2023). "EA Sports FC Sponsors Nautsa'mawt FC". Northern Tribune.
- ^ "Canadian Premier League announces downward player movement pilot project". Canadian Premier League. April 21, 2023.
- ^ Mahmoudi, Nelson (April 21, 2023). "CPL Introduces Affiliation Pilot Project With Lower Divisions". Northern Tribune.
- ^ Steiner, Ben (November 6, 2023). "Report: Nautsa'mawt FC to become 1st League 1 BC club to fold after 2 seasons". 49 Sport.
- ^ Jacques, John (November 6, 2023). "Nautsa'mawt FC Departs League1 BC". Northern Tribune.
- ^ a b "League1 British Columbia Standings". Canadian Soccer History Archive.
- ^ a b "League1 British Columbia Women Standings". Canadian Soccer History Archive.