November 3, 2022 – Canadian Premier League (CPL) – Vancouver FC News Release
The Canadian Premier League revealed on Wednesday that Vancouver FC will officially be the league’s newest club, to begin play next season in 2023.
The club’s name, logo and colours were launched at an in-person event at the Langley Events Centre in Langley, B.C on Wednesday night. Owner and former Canadian men’s national team forward Rob Friend also announced that industry veteran Afshin Ghotbi, 58, will lead the club as the first head coach in club history.
Vancouver FC, or VFC, will finally kick off next season after the CPL initially announced plans to expand to the Vancouver area in November 2021. The league revealed earlier in 2022 that the team will be based out of Willoughby Community Park in Langley, but Wednesday’s announcement marks the official launch of the club.
“We are delighted to officially announce Vancouver FC as part of the Canadian Premier League family,” said CPL commissioner Mark Noonan. “Expanding into new markets across Canada is critical to the growth of the CPL, but we do not take the responsibility of launching a new team lightly. A successful expansion requires a dedicated ownership group, the backing of the local communities and corporate sponsors, and top-class infrastructure. I am confident the foundation Rob Friend, Dean Shillington and their team at Vancouver FC is laying will lead to lasting success on and off the pitch.”
The new club’s logo features a V-shape design, a silhouette traditional to many sports organizations on British Columbia’s South Coast. The design evokes a bald eagle, as the South Coast is home to the largest gathering spot for the animal in the world. The wings of the design emulate the cables that unite the Lower Mainland, as well as the precision of agricultural fields in the Fraser Valley, a symbol of the potential for growth here at home. A neutral palette of shades of grey and silver are complemented by pops of warm red throughout the club branding.
“Honouring our sporting past, celebrating our region and uniting the South Coast are among our key objectives as we introduce soccer fans on the Lower Mainland to Vancouver FC,” said Friend. “We look forward to sharing the region’s existing passion for the game with the rest of the Canadian Premier League through its support for our club and, together with our fans, building an even stronger soccer culture on and off the field that serves as a point of connection for all…
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