Victoria Vistas
| Nickname(s) | Vistas |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1989 |
| Dissolved | 1990 |
| Ground | Royal Athletic Park |
| Coach | Bruce Wilson |
| League | Canadian Soccer League |
The Victoria Vistas were a Canadian soccer club 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.
The CSL in 1989 had a two player import rule and the more financially successful clubs attempted to sign primarily local players, so that the club didn't incur accommodation, transportation, and other ancillary costs for out-of-town players. Robert Bolitho acted as the club's general manager. The 1989 season started promisingly with a 2-2-2 record and second place in the CSL's Western Division; however, roadtrips to Eastern Canada interspersed with two home matches removed any momentum the club was generating. Scorelines were close, typically one goal affairs, excepting an away match to league leaders Vancouver 86ers and a July 10–12 Hamilton/Ottawa road trip. Victoria just wasn't getting results and August 1 coach Brian Hughes moved to Director of Player Development while Brian Wilson was announced as the primary coach. Although results didn't really improve, during a match preview versus Winnipeg Fury, July 20, 1989, the Vistas were noted as averaging about 2,000 spectators per game. The Vistas finished the season strongly boding well for the 1990 season.
Last updated: April 18, 2014.
Source: Wpg Free Press Newspaper
Ground: A = Away; H = Home. Result: T = Tie; L = Loss; W = Win; P = Postponed.
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. Seattle won 3-0 with a two goals from Chance Fry and one from Grant Gibbs.
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
Coach Brian Hughes and Bruce Wilson (after August 1)
The Victoria Vistas played their home games in the 1990 season at Royal Athletic Park.
After a difficult inaugural season in 1989, for the 1990 season the Vistas brought in a few new players, including Scotsman Gerry McCabe and Englishmen Richard Hill and Allan Evans (who was also an assistant coach), to augment a roster made up primarily of players from Vancouver Island. The Vistas qualified for the playoffs and went on the eliminate the Winnipeg Fury in four games after a replay in Winnipeg.
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