Vernon City FC

Vernon City Club is a professional association football club based in Vernon, British Columbia and presently playing in the BC Football League's Division Three.

Rivalries
Although Vernon has only one professional or semi-professional (association) football club, it does have several deep regional rivalries, most notably with Sicamous Town and Falkland AFC; this latter is due both to geographic proximity as well as spillover from the intense rivalry between the Vernon Shamrocks and Falkland RFC rugby clubs. Competition with clubs from Kelowna - the largest city of the Okanagan to the south of Vernon - is likewise fierce, especially with Chichester FC prior to their promotion into the Football League. With Vernon City's entrance into the league, this rivalry has resumed, and since Vernon's 2018 return to the league rivalries with Kelowna Central and Penticton Shamrocks have blossomed as well.

History
Vernon City FC was established in 1918, playing mostly in the lower levels of the Mainland Football League until 1929, when the BC Football League was created.

In 2005 a new ownership group took over the club and turned it fully professional, looking to transform the Greens into a full-time League side; as part of this, a new 11,506-seat stadium was built in Memorial Park in 2007, replacing the original structure - in the same location - with its terraces for 2,000 standees and 500 seats.

League competition
Vernon City did not qualify for the new League and were assigned to Regional Southeast Division Two for the 1929 season. They soon moved up to the Regional Southeast Division One, and in the latter half of the 1930s were a major power in that competition, qualifying for the Division Three Qualification Competition on three occasions.

They spent most of the first few post-war decades playing in the three tiers of the Regional Southeast, but on a few occasions they dropped down for brief forays in the Okanagan Football League, but they did make several unsuccessful appearances in the D3 Qualification Competition after winning the Regional Southeast title in 1947, 1948, and 1949, and after finishing second in 1950. Then, in the late 1970s the Greens returned to the upper echelons of the Regional Southeast, earning spots in the D3 Qualification Competition on multiple occasions, failing to win promotion until finally finishing in the top four in 1979 to earn a spot in the Football League for the first time.

The 1980 season saw League football played in Vernon for the first time ever, and though the Greens didn't play poorly (their 23 points would have been enough to avoid relegation from Division Three B two seasons previous), they came up short, finishing fifteenth and were directly relegated. The club's fortunes declined over the next decade, becoming a lower-half side in Southeast Division One, until finally reaching the Qualification Competition again in 1994 and finishing in the top four to earn direct promotion to the League for the second time; once again, they were immediately relegated, this time with the second-worst performance of all time, finishing with only two points. This process was repeated over the next two years, earning direct promotion from the Qualification Competition in 1996, then being immediately relegated from Division Three in 1997 with a performance only slightly better than the previous, as the Greens earned one win and eleven points on their way to another last-place finish.

Vernon City then returned to mid-table obscurity in Southeast Division One for a number of years. In 2005 the club was taken over by a new ownership group fully intent on transforming the Greens into a League standard, and they finally won the division title in 2006 and earning a spot in the D3 Qualification Competition; they failed to finish in the top four, then lost 1:2 away in the first round of the D3 Relegation Play-off to Dease Lake Air Force. Undaunted, they won the Southwest Division One title again the following year, but once again were eliminated in the first round of the relegation play-off, this time to Comox Rovers. After failing to reach the Qualification Competition in 2008, they won the Southeast title yet again in 2009; yet again they failed to finish in the top four and thus entered the relegation play-offs, but this time they successfully made their way through the three rounds to clinch a League spot for the following season. The investments made by the new owners seemed to be paying dividends. The Division Three performance in 2010 was the best yet, finishing just one point out of safety but seven points clear of direct relegation and thus entering the relegation play-offs; unfortunately, they lost in the quarter-finals in a penalty shootout with Comox, and were once again relegated. The Greens failed to qualify for the Qualification Competition in 2011, but they did one better by miraculously winning the FA Cup that year; they won a Southeast title again in 2012, but once again failed to earn promotion. Despite the setbacks, the cup win the previous season buoyed the attitude of everyone, instilling confidence that the club would soon become a League mainstay. In 2013 the Greens successfully defended their Southeast title, and in the Qualification Competition this time they earned direct promotion to Division Three. Unfortunately, they finished last in Division Three in 2014 and were once again directly relegated; at the end of this season manager Joe Cuzzetto, who had taken the Glorious Greens to FA Cup glory, was replaced. There were, however, high points: new club records were set for most draws, fewest losses, and fewest goals conceded in a Division Three season. The Greens next entered the Qualification Competition in 2016, this time by luck: they had finished only fifth in Southeast Division One, but as Endako Village - who had finished fourth in the Northwest - declined their spot, Vernon City were drawn as their replacement. Once again the attempt failed, once again eliminated by Dease Lake in the quarter-finals.

A third-place finish in the Southeast sent the Greens into the Qualification Competition in 2017, and this time they clinched direct promotion to enter the League once again for the 2018 season. And this time, matching their club records for most wins and fewest losses in a Division Three season, and setting new records for fewest goals conceded and most total points, Vernon City achieved their most pressing goal: finishing twelfth and avoiding relegation from the League, thirteen years after the club turned fully professional. The following season was even better, setting all manner of new records whilst finishing eighth, and then in 2020 there were further improvements as the Greens won a new record 13 matches and scoring a new record high 35 goals whilst finishing seventh. Three successive seasons in the Football League, each better than the previous, have given the Glorious Greens and their supporters much cause for optimism for the future.

Season-by-season
This is a complete listing of the club's performances in British Columbia Football League competition.

FA Cup
Vernon City qualified for the FA Cup First Round on three occasions prior to the restructure of competition in 1929, but after that the first time was in 1933, when they were dispatched by Skaha Rovers of Penticton; the first match was played in Penticton and ended 0:0, which meant a replay in Vernon was needed; the Greens were unable to exploit the home field advantage and lost 2:3. This also proved to be the team's last appearance in the First Round proper for many decades.

The Greens next reached the First Round in 1972, and once again forced a replay after holding Division Three's Smithers & Telkwa United to a 2:2 draw away; once again, they failed at home in the replay, this time losing 0:3. Their 1974 appearance was even less successful, losing 0:3 at home to Prince George City of Division Three. However, the Greens' fortunes finally changed the following year, when they won their first FA Cup match, defeating Liverpool VLW 3:1 away in the first round. They didn't stop there, defeating third-division Parksville 3:2 at home in the second, but Division Two's Victoria Athletic were a step too far for Vernon, who lost to the A's 1:3 in the first-ever FA Cup match to be played at the then-new Centennial Stadium. After missing out in 1976 the Greens were back in 1977, losing in the first round to Vanderhoof United, then in the following year getting past Silver King 4:3 on penalties in the first round only to exit in the second round at the hands of Victoria West in a humiliating 2:5 defeat. A heartbreaking first round exit in 1979 brought a disappointing end to a relatively successful 1970s for the Greens; the score level at 3:3 after 120 minutes of play against Dawson Creek at home, Vernon's players were overwhelmed by the pressure, missing three spot kicks in a row, whilst the northerners converted all three of theirs.

Having ascended to the Football League, in 1980, as a member of Division Three, Vernon City qualified for the First Round of the FA Cup directly. They dispatched Skwxwú7mesh FC of Squamish in the first round with a 1:0 win at home, but in the second round they suffered another home-field collapse, losing 0:4 to 100 Mile House. Relegated again after only one season in the League, from 1981 through 1994 the Greens had to reach the First Round the hard way again, but they performed well, reaching the First Round proper in every year from 1981 through 1987, then again in 1989, 1990, and 1992; however, on only three occasions did they advance to the Second Round, to be eliminated then in each of 1983, 1987, and 1990. In 1995, as Division Three members again, they qualified directly, but once again were immediately eliminated after a 0:2 away loss to Jade City. This pattern continued for the next fourteen years, Vernon qualifying for the First Round more often than not, and more often than not being eliminated in the first round. In 2010 the fruits of professionalisation began to show, as not only were the Greens back in the League, but they advanced beyond the second round for the first time since 1975, defeating Tsawwassen Town 1:0 in the first round and getting past Division Two Kimberley Town with a 2:0 home win before ultimately succumbing to Secwépemc United with a 1:2 loss.

2011 saw Vernon City having to work through the qualification rounds, reaching the First Round to meet Pemberton Town to dispatch the D3 side with a comfortable 2:0 win, advancing to the second round to find themselves facing Secwépemc United again. The Greens jumped to a quick lead with a goal in the fourth minute, but Secwépemc responded with two goals in eight minutes, levelling the score on 15' and taking a 2:1 lead on 23'. Three minutes before half time Vernon earned a free kick from 22 yards, which resulted in a goal to send the two teams into the break with the score level at 3:3. Vernon's defence tightened up in the second half, successfully resisting sustained pressure for the first twenty minutes after the restart, though Secwépemc's defence was equally able to prevent the Greens from scoring on the counter. Finally, however, in the 88th minute Vernon drew another foul outside the Secwépemc area, and once again it was converted, giving Vernon the 3:2 victory to advance to the Third Round for the second year in a row, where they met and defeated Division Three's Salmo FC with a relatively easy 2:0 win away.
 * 2011: The Glorious Greens

For the first time ever, the Greens found themselves in the Fourth Round, and facing Division One opposition in the form of Fort George AFC. Also for the first time ever, the 11,506-seat stadium in Vernon's Memorial Park was full (only 600 tickets were allotted to Fort George supporters, but it is somewhat remarkable that 600 people did travel from Prince George to Vernon - a 395 mile trip by coach, or a (rather pricey) 75 minute flight - to see a non-league side). The Georgies took the expected 1:0 lead on 17' and then controlled play entirely through the remainder of the half, with the Greens looking nervous throughout the first 45 minutes. After the restart they were a changed team, looking much more like the side that played against Secwépemc United, and they successfully equalised in the 54th minute. To everyone's shock and the delight of most, the Greens scored again on 78' to take a 2:1 lead, holding on to that for the last ten minutes and securing the greatest win in club history. The Glorious Greens, as the media had begun referring to them after that remarkable victory, were into uncharted territory now as they advanced to the fifth round, in itself an unusual feat for a non-league side. After the previous performance, it was almost expected that Vernon would defeat their next opponents, Division Three's Gitlaxt’aamiks, and they didn't disappoint, comfortably defeating the team from the Nisga’a Lisims capital 2:0 with the same disciplined style they'd employed against Fort George.

A second sellout crowd was on hand at Memorial Park to see the Glorious Greens face Liverpool VLW of Division One in the quarter-finals, a team that had undergone a similar professionalisation and transformation from non-league side to top-flight regular that Vernon were attempting to do. As against Secwépemc, the Greens were able to take a very quick lead, going up 1:0 in the third minute, then settled in to their tried-and-true deep defense plus fast counter style. It was on one of these long-ball counters that Vernon's 20-year-old striker Niall Cousens was sprung free. As he bore down towards the Liverpool goal, Ugandan-born BC international defender Diaz Kambere, in a moment of panic, tackled Cousens from behind; as Kambere was the last man back, he was immediately sent off. This left the Locomotives down to ten men from the 11th minute on, but they managed to keep the score at 1:0 until half time. After the restart, Vernon came out with a more attacking mindset, looking to capitalise on the reduced opposition, and like in the first half, three minutes from the opening whistle the ball was in the onion sack and the Glorious Greens were up by two. The atmosphere in Memorial Park was jubilant as the squad returned to their more defensive orientation, playing with confidence and discipline, riding the supporters' energy well to keep Liverpool contained. In the 86th minute, however, VLW managed to spring a counter of their own, clawing one goal back, but they were unable to find the equaliser, leaving Vernon to win another stunning upset victory to advance to the semi-finals.

Only two non-league sides had ever advanced to the FA Cup semi-finals, the legendary Mission City side of 1933, and Aberystwyth in their remarkable run of 2006, so even were their adventure to come to an end here, the Glorious Greens were certain to live on in history. Luck was on Vernon's side in the draw, being paired with Division Two's Cranbrook North Side rather than D1 side Vancouver United, though North Side were certainly not an opponent to take lightly. This was proven in the first leg, played in Cranbrook, as the home team won 2:1, Vernon managing only a late goal; more than simply consolation, it was a vital away goal. The buzz around the return leg in Vernon was enormous; BC FA Cup matches from the quarter-finals on were regularly broadcast in Canada and the northwestern United States, but the attention on the Glorious Greens was such that this match was even shown live in Mexico - the first British Columbian domestic match to be broadcast in that country. The air in the city of Vernon was electric, and the attitude of both supporters and the players was the same: confidence. In a pre-match interview, long-time Vernon City staffer Joe Cuzzetto - who had joined the club as a 36-year-old player in 1996, becoming player-coach in 2000, a full-time coach in 2002, and manager in 2009 - said, "no, we're not Cinderellas, we're not underdogs, we're a professional football team and we are here to win." And win they did, once again bringing out their disciplined play to fight out a 1:0 victory for a 2:2 aggregate score, which, thanks to the away goal scored in the first leg, was enough to send Vernon City where no non-league side had gone before: the FA Cup Final.

Waiting for the Glorious Greens in the Final were Victoria Athletic, a Division Two side on a fantastic run of their own, defeating four Division One teams on their way to their first Final appearance in 39 years. The media circus around the match at BC Place in Vancouver was enormous, as the attention to the remarkable Vernon side had gone global: not only was the final to be shown live in Mexico, but it was also broadcast in the United Kingdom - another first. The Athletics took control of play early on the day, taking a 1:0 lead in the 9th minute of play. However, having dispatched several stronger opponents, the Greems remained undaunted and continued to press on defence and exploit the speed of their attackers on the counter - which led to an equaliser on 66'. Neither side was able to break the deadlock, however, so the stage was set for a Final Replay, which proved to be one of the most memorable Cup finals of all time. Once again Victoria took an early lead, scoring from 25 yards in the 17th minute; the 1:0 lead held until the first minute of time added on, as Vernon equalised just before the half-time whistle. Reinvigorated, the Greens came out flying to start the second half, going up 2:1 on 50'. This lead lasted until 75', when the A's scored off a free kick just outside the Vernon box, but Vernon came back almost instantly, restoring their lead two minutes later. But once again, there were injury time heroics as Athletic managed to equalise on 90+2' to force extra time. As brilliant as regular time was, nobody foresaw what the extra period would bring. Six minutes in, Vernon went ahead again, only for the A's to level the score at 4:4 on 102'. Yet again Vernon came up with a quick response, restoring their lead in the 105th minute. But the A's were in no mood to give up, and dominated play in the second half of extra time. They finally equalised yet again on 115' but proved unable to find a winning goal, and after 120 minutes of play the score was level at 5:5: this Final would be decided on penalty kicks. After both kickers scored on their first attempts, nerves got the better of the next two Athletics as they both missed, whilst Vernon's attempts were both converted, giving the Greens a 3:1 lead. A's midfielder and one-time BC international Robert Sing needed to score to keep Athletic's hopes alive, and though he sent Vernon's 20-year-old keeper Mark Village - one of the stars of the Greens' Cup run - the wrong way, the shot bounced off the post and away: Vernon City had won the FA Cup.

Since then, the Greens have not been able to come close to that success, failing to qualify for the First Round in 2012 and 2013 and exiting in the first round each year from 2014 through 2016. After missing out again in 2017 they returned in 2018 and 2019, each time being eliminated in the Second Round. 2020 was their best performance since the Cup win, reaching the Third Round, where they were drawn against Victoria Athletic away; despite Vernon taking a 1:0 lead in the twelfth minute, the A's were able to avenge the Final defeat with a 2:1 win, eliminating the Greens.

Season-by-season
This is a listing of the club's performances in FA Cup competition since 1929.

Honours and records

 * FA Cup
 * Winners: 2011


 * Regional Southeast Division One
 * Winners: 1947, 1948, 1949, 1979, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012, 2013
 * Runners-up: 1937, 1938, 1950, 1978, 1996
 * Third placed: 1936, 1974, 1994, 2017


 * Highest league position: 7th
 * D3 (2020)


 * Lowest league position: 10th
 * D3QC (1936)


 * Most points in a season: 50
 * D3, 2020


 * Fewest points in a season: 2
 * D3, 1995


 * Most goals scored in a season: 35
 * D3, 2020


 * Fewest goals scored in a season: 4
 * D3, 1995


 * Most goals conceded in a season: 68
 * D3, 1995


 * Fewest goals conceded in a season: 21
 * D3, 2019


 * Most wins in a season: 13
 * D3, 2020


 * Fewest wins in a season: 0
 * D3, 1995


 * Most draws in a season: 11
 * D3, 2014
 * D3, 2019
 * D3, 2020


 * Fewest draws in a season: 2
 * D3, 1995


 * Most losses in a season: 28
 * D3, 1995


 * Fewest losses in a season: 6
 * D3, 2020


 * Most games won in a row: 5
 * 2011 FA Cup


 * Most games lost in a row (to 2001): 26
 * D3, 1995


 * Most games without losing: 10
 * 2011 FA Cup


 * Most games without winning (to 2001): 31
 * D3, 1995


 * Biggest win: 4 goals
 * 4:0 v Oak Bay Wanderers, D3 Relegation Play-off 1st Round, 1974


 * Biggest league win (to 2001): 4 goals
 * 4:0 v Oak Bay Wanderers, D3 Relegation Play-off 1st Round, 1974


 * Biggest defeat: 5 goals
 * 0:5 v Fernie Town, 1987 FA Cup 2nd Round


 * Highest scoring game: 10 goals
 * 5:5 v Victoria Athletic, 2011 FA Cup Final


 * Highest scoring league game (to 2001): 5 goals
 * 2:3 v Langford Highlanders, D3 Relegation Play-off Quarter-finals, 1974


 * Deepest cup run: Final - 2011 (winners)