Canadian Premier League announces details for Vancouver Island team

Professional soccer is coming to Vancouver Island and we now know the name of the team.

The Pacific Football Club or Pacific FC is the newest addition to the Canadian Premier League. The team name was announced Friday inEsquimalt, B.C.

"Soccer is such an important sport in this country these days," saidCanadian Premier League (CPL) Commissioner,David Clanachan.

"It's thefastest growing sport it's equally played by as many men and women as it is by boys and girls."

The CPLgranted Vancouver Island entry into the domestic men's soccer league at the beginning of June and the CPL itself expects to launch next spring with eight to 10 teams.

Clanachan said Canada's three Major League Soccer teams have done a "phenomenal" job playing the sport, but they aren't considered truly Canadianteams because they play in an American league.

The CPL is a league built "for Canadians, by Canadians," said Clanachan,and with the opening of the Pacific FC, it now spans the nation coast to coast.

He said the CPL has specific rules that dictate 50 per cent of a team's players must be Canadian.

Why Vancouver Island?

Clanachan said the local support on Vancouver Island for a professional soccer club has beenoverwhelming. The team will play out ofWesthills Stadium in Langford, within British Columbia's Capital Regional District.

LangfordMayorStewart Youngwaspassionate about soccer during the negotiations surrounding a team being headquartered there, said Clanachan.

"It was nice to see that happen because normally there are a lot of roadblocks," he said.

"It's great to work hand in hand with municipalities and that's something we've tried to do across the country."

Large crowds turned out at the team name announcement in Esquimalton Friday. Clanachansaid it was heartening to see the support.

"At the end of the day, it's the community that owns the club. Not necessarily the owners or the league, we're just stewards of it, really."

With files from All Points West

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