Long established clubs join forces to provide optimum player pathway for its players.
There has long been an effective relationship between Vancouver Athletic Football Club (VAFC) and TSS Football Club (TSS FC). For a number of years, VAFC has been running programs at the Total Soccer Centre in Richmond, an indoor soccer facility operated by the TSS FC ownership group. In addition, many VAFC players have advanced to TSS FC programming over the years. Now with the advent of TSS FC securing a National Youth Club License (NYCL), the time was right to expand that relationship.
Starting in the spring of 2022, TSS FC will no longer be running its own U11 and U12 teams. Instead, TSS will be overseeing and coaching the top U11 and U12 teams at Vancouver Athletic FC. This program will be known as the Vancouver Athletic Rovers Program. Jerseys will be co-branded with the Rovers fern insignia and the VAFC crest. All eligible VAFC registered teams will also play in the BC Coastal Soccer League.
“This is an alliance that provides tremendous benefit to our Vancouver Athletic players,” says VAFC President Darren Sherbot. “By incorporating TSS into our youth programming, our organization immediately levers on the track record of TSS FC’s development expertise. Our players get direct access to the BC Soccer Premier league all the way to their top adult teams.”
In addition to running the top U11 and U12 VAFC teams, TSS FC will run the, soon to be launched, Canada Soccer Skills Centre at VAFC. Some VAFC Metro teams will also get coaching assistance from TSS instructors.
“We’re very much looking forward to nurturing this alliance with Vancouver Athletic FC,” says TSS FC Co-Owner Colin Elmes. “We want to enhance the player development model at Vancouver Athletic FC and give them access to our BC Soccer Premier League teams from U13-U18 and beyond. This coordination allows TSS to continue focussing exclusively on development for BCSPL while Vancouver Athletic continues to grow its successful house and divisional programming for one of the largest clubs in Vancouver. “
The VAFC Program at U11/U12 will begin this fall with teams that have already been formed at TSS FC. Starting in April 2022, the first U11 Rovers teams will be formed primarily with VAFC players.
If any VAFC members have any questions, please contact Steve Weston at headcoach@vafc.ca. TSS members can contact Colin Elmes at colin@tss.ca
