Victoria Highlanders
Encyclopedia
Victoria Highlanders is a Canadian soccer team based in Victoria, British Columbia
, Canada
. Founded in 2007, the team plays in the USL Premier Development League
(PDL), the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid
, in the Northwest Division of the Western Conference.
The team plays its home games in Royal Athletic Park
in Victoria, British Columbia
, after relocating during the 2011 season
from Bear Mountain Stadium in nearby Langford, British Columbia
, where they had played since 2009. The team's colours are white, black and gold.
in 2009, and played their first ever game on May 1, 2009, away at Spokane Spiders
in Spokane, Washington
. Former Premier League coach and Canadian World Cup
veteran Colin Miller was the team's inaugural head coach. The Highlanders won the game 1-0, with the first goal in franchise history being scored by Patrick Gawrys.
The rest of Victoria's season was solid, if unspectacular, with a neatly balanced 6 wins and 6 losses across the season, although the season split nearly in two, with the second half of the season much more positive than the first. A run of three ties and two losses to Abbotsford Mariners and Portland Timbers U23's
was broken by a spectacular 6-3 demolition of Tacoma Tide at home in early June, a game which saw five different goalscorers finding the net for the Highlanders. A run of three more narrow defeats ended Victoria's playoff chances before July, but once the pressure was off, the football flowed. They walloped Yakima Reds
6-1 after being 1-0 down at half time, with Jordan Hughes
scoring four in the second half, demolished Tacoma Tide 5-0 on the road in July, and outplayed local rivals Vancouver Whitecaps Residency
4-0 on the final day of the season, ending the year on a high. The mid-table fifth place finish was acceptable; Jordan Hughes
and Patrick Gawrys both impressed in the goal scoring race, with 8 and 7 goals respectively, while Gawrys and Rory Hunter made invaluable contributions with 4 assists each.
Jamie Cunningham
Diaz Kambere
Victoria, British Columbia
Victoria is the capital city of British Columbia, Canada and is located on the southern tip of Vancouver Island off Canada's Pacific coast. The city has a population of about 78,000 within the metropolitan area of Greater Victoria, which has a population of 360,063, the 15th most populous Canadian...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. Founded in 2007, the team plays in the USL Premier Development League
USL Premier Development League
The USL Premier Development League is the amateur league of the United Soccer Leagues in the United States, Canada, and Bermuda, forming part of the American Soccer Pyramid...
(PDL), the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid
American Soccer Pyramid
The United States soccer pyramid is a term used in soccer to describe the structure of the league system in the United States. The country's governing body for the sport, the United States Soccer Federation , oversees the system but does not operate any of its component leagues—with one temporary...
, in the Northwest Division of the Western Conference.
The team plays its home games in Royal Athletic Park
Royal Athletic Park
Royal Athletic Park is a multi-purpose, fully lit stadium in Victoria, British Columbia. It is primarily used for baseball, soccer, softball and football, but also hosts special events, such as the annual Great Canadian Beer Festival.-History:...
in Victoria, British Columbia
Victoria, British Columbia
Victoria is the capital city of British Columbia, Canada and is located on the southern tip of Vancouver Island off Canada's Pacific coast. The city has a population of about 78,000 within the metropolitan area of Greater Victoria, which has a population of 360,063, the 15th most populous Canadian...
, after relocating during the 2011 season
2011 PDL season
The 2011 USL Premier Development League season was the 17th season of the PDL. The regular season began on April 29, 2011, when the Los Angeles Blues 23 played Fresno Fuego, and ended on July 24. The playoffs began on Tuesday, July 26 and concluded with the PDL Championship Game on August 6...
from Bear Mountain Stadium in nearby Langford, British Columbia
Langford, British Columbia
Langford is a city of 22,459 residents on southern Vancouver Island, within the province of British Columbia, Canada. It is considered one of Greater Victoria's Western Communities...
, where they had played since 2009. The team's colours are white, black and gold.
History
The Highlanders joined the PDLUSL Premier Development League
The USL Premier Development League is the amateur league of the United Soccer Leagues in the United States, Canada, and Bermuda, forming part of the American Soccer Pyramid...
in 2009, and played their first ever game on May 1, 2009, away at Spokane Spiders
Spokane Spiders
Spokane Spiders was an American soccer team based in Spokane, Washington, United States. Founded in 2006, the team played in the USL Premier Development League , the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, in the Northwest Division of the Western Conference...
in Spokane, Washington
Spokane, Washington
Spokane is a city located in the Northwestern United States in the state of Washington. It is the largest city of Spokane County of which it is also the county seat, and the metropolitan center of the Inland Northwest region...
. Former Premier League coach and Canadian World Cup
FIFA World Cup
The FIFA World Cup, often simply the World Cup, is an international association football competition contested by the senior men's national teams of the members of Fédération Internationale de Football Association , the sport's global governing body...
veteran Colin Miller was the team's inaugural head coach. The Highlanders won the game 1-0, with the first goal in franchise history being scored by Patrick Gawrys.
The rest of Victoria's season was solid, if unspectacular, with a neatly balanced 6 wins and 6 losses across the season, although the season split nearly in two, with the second half of the season much more positive than the first. A run of three ties and two losses to Abbotsford Mariners and Portland Timbers U23's
Portland Timbers U23's
Portland Timbers U23's is an American soccer team based in Portland, Oregon, United States. Although founded in 2008 as part of the development system for the Portland Timbers USSF D2 organization, beginning in 2011 they are part of the development system for the Major League Soccer franchise of...
was broken by a spectacular 6-3 demolition of Tacoma Tide at home in early June, a game which saw five different goalscorers finding the net for the Highlanders. A run of three more narrow defeats ended Victoria's playoff chances before July, but once the pressure was off, the football flowed. They walloped Yakima Reds
Yakima Reds
Yakima Reds was an American soccer team based in Yakima, Washington, United States. Founded in 1995, the team played in the USL Premier Development League , the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, in the Northwest Division of the Western Conference...
6-1 after being 1-0 down at half time, with Jordan Hughes
Jordan Hughes
Jordan Hughes is a Canadian soccer player who currently plays for Victoria Highlanders in the USL Premier Development League.-College:...
scoring four in the second half, demolished Tacoma Tide 5-0 on the road in July, and outplayed local rivals Vancouver Whitecaps Residency
Vancouver Whitecaps Residency
Vancouver Whitecaps Residency, formerly known as Whitecaps FC Reserves, is a Canadian soccer team based in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Although founded in 2005 as part of the development system for the Vancouver Whitecaps USL First Division franchise, beginning in 2011 they are part of the...
4-0 on the final day of the season, ending the year on a high. The mid-table fifth place finish was acceptable; Jordan Hughes
Jordan Hughes
Jordan Hughes is a Canadian soccer player who currently plays for Victoria Highlanders in the USL Premier Development League.-College:...
and Patrick Gawrys both impressed in the goal scoring race, with 8 and 7 goals respectively, while Gawrys and Rory Hunter made invaluable contributions with 4 assists each.
Current roster
As of July 10, 2011.Notable former players
This list of notable former players comprises players who went on to play professional soccer after playing for the team in the Premier Development League, or those who previously played professionally before joining the team.Jamie Cunningham
Jamie Cunningham
Jamie Cunningham is an American soccer player who currently plays for the Puerto Rico Islanders in the North American Soccer League.-College and amateur:...
Diaz Kambere
Diaz Kambere
Diaz Kambere is a Ugandan-born Canadian footballer. He currently plays for Victoria Highlanders in the USL Premier Development League.-College and Amateur:...
Year-by-year
| Year | Division | League | Regular Season | Playoffs | Open Canada Cup |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | 4 | USL PDL | 5th, Northwest | Did not qualify | N/A |
| 2010 | 4 | USL PDL | 4th, Northwest | Did not qualify | N/A |
| 2011 | 4 | USL PDL | 2nd, Northwest | Conference Semifinals | N/A |
Stadia
- Bear Mountain Stadium; Langford, British ColumbiaLangford, British ColumbiaLangford is a city of 22,459 residents on southern Vancouver Island, within the province of British Columbia, Canada. It is considered one of Greater Victoria's Western Communities...
(2009–2011) - Royal Athletic ParkRoyal Athletic ParkRoyal Athletic Park is a multi-purpose, fully lit stadium in Victoria, British Columbia. It is primarily used for baseball, soccer, softball and football, but also hosts special events, such as the annual Great Canadian Beer Festival.-History:...
; Victoria, British ColumbiaVictoria, British ColumbiaVictoria is the capital city of British Columbia, Canada and is located on the southern tip of Vancouver Island off Canada's Pacific coast. The city has a population of about 78,000 within the metropolitan area of Greater Victoria, which has a population of 360,063, the 15th most populous Canadian...
(2011) 4 games
Average attendance
Attendance stats are calculated by averaging each team's self-reported home attendances from the historical match archive at http://www.uslsoccer.com/history/index_E.html.- 2009: 1,734 (4th in PDL)
- 2010: 1,497 (5th in PDL)
- 2011: 992