Vancouver City FC

Vancouver City Football Club is a professional association football club based in Vancouver, British Columbia and presently playing in the British Columbia Football League's Division One. It is one of only three (as of 2020) to have won the FA Cup more than ten times.

Rivalries
Out of all of Vancouver City's rivalries, the oldest, deepest, and most important is the Waterfront Derby with Vancouver Rowing Club; a close second is the City Derby with Vancouver United. Also of note are those with the other major clubs in the City of Vancouver, Kitsilano, Shaughnessy Shamrocks and Grandview AFC, and with Greater Vancouver Regional District clubs Royal City of New Westminster, Burnaby Albion, and Richmond United.

There is also a notable rivalry with Port Alberni Athletic dating back to the quarter-finals of the 1929 FA Cup - the only time in history a second replay was needed to decide a round, and with Dinas Blaenau; although in sporting terms City have dominated Blaenau, this rivalry is one originating in issues between supporters.

* PL = penalty shootout loss; shootout wins are counted in wins column

History
Vancouver City Football Club was established in 1892 as the second football club (after Rowing Club) and the first dedicated specifically to football in the City of Vancouver north of False Creek. Beginning play at a stadium on the northwest corner of Hastings Park (approximately where Pacific Coliseum is located now) with a stated capacity of 23,235, Van City were one of the founding members of the Western Football League in 1895; they played in the WFL until its merger into the Mainland Football League in 1918, and were assigned to Division One of the BC Football League at its formation in 1929.

In 1954 they moved into their current home, Empire Stadium, which has been renovated and modernised on several occasions since then.

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

FA Cup
Van City were one of the more successful clubs in the early days of the FA Cup, with four wins in eight Final appearances between 1896 and 1927.

The first FA Cup tournament after the reform of football competition in BC was held in 1929, and became notable for a variety of other reasons as well. Being a Division One member, City entered the competition in the fourth round, defeating division rivals Victoria Athletic to move on to the fifth round to face Royal City at Queen's Park, in an exciting match that ended with the score tied 3:3 forcing a replay at Hastings Park; the replay was equally exciting and wide-open, with City eventually winning 3:2 to advance to the quarter-finals. The quarter-final match against Port Alberni ended in a 1:1 draw, requiring a another replay at Hastings Park. Remarkably, this ended in a 0:0 draw, forcing a second replay - and the rule changes introduced in 1974 meant that it would be the only time this would ever happen. The second replay was played in Port Alberni, which City won with a 2:0 score. City hosted Merritt City in the first leg of their semi-final matchup, losing 1:2; they won the second leg in Merritt 3:2, and the 4:4 aggregate score meant that Van City advanced thanks to the away goals rule. Rather fittingly, the Final of the first "new" FA Cup competition was a Waterfront Derby; unfortunately, City were defeated 0:2 by Rowing Club in what would prove to be their last Final appearance for a quarter century. Van City had played nine matches in a single FA Cup tournament, a record unmatched by anyone until 2011, when Vernon City played through every round of the competition to become the first non-league side to reach the Final, then broke the record by forcing a Final Replay for a tenth Cup match (not counting the Qualifying Round matches played by non-league clubs to qualify for the First Round proper); Vernon ended up becoming the first and thus far only non-league side to win the FA Cup. As City were relegated to non-league status over the next several years they entered the FA Cup competition earlier and earlier, and by 1934 had to play through the Qualifying Rounds just to reach the First Round proper and after 1931 never advanced beyond the second round before the suspension of competition in 1942 due to the outbreak of the Pacific War.

The return of football in 1946 saw City have an excellent year, not only winning the Regional Southwest and earning promotion back to the League, but playing well in the Cup as well; they defeated Victoria West 3:0 away in the first round, Grandview 3:1 away in the second, but losing 2:3 at home to Chichester, after having led 2:0 at the half. The following year was even better. As a Division Three club they no longer had to play through the qualifying stage, comfortably advancing to the third round to face Grand Forks, against whom a replay was needed after a 1:1 draw at home; City emerged the winner with a convincing 3:0 away win to advance to the fourth round. Good fortune drew city with non-league Hope Town, giving them a comfortable 1:0 win to reach the fifth round for the first time since 1929, but Division One Port Alberni were ultimately a step too far and City lost 0:1 at home. Still, after the desolation of the 1930s and early 1940s, the future was finally looking bright for the Reds.

After a few false starts at the beginning of the 1950s, City went on another good run in 1951, meeting Rowing Club in the fifth round and coming out 1:0 winners to move on to the quarter-finals for a home tie against Dinas Blaenau, which they also won by a 2:1 score. In the semi-finals, however, top-level Fort George won both legs by a score of 2:1, eliminating Van City, but there was still cause for optimism. They followed this up in 1952 with another trip to the quarter-finals after defeating Port Alberni 2:1 in the fifth round replay, to be eliminated by Kitimat City in a 0:2 home loss in the quarters. Back in Division One for 1953, City's FA Cup campaign misfired, losing in the fourth round to Kamloops City, but the following year they advanced to the quarters and avenged their 1951 semi-final defeat with a 2:0 home win over Fort George. They then eliminated Parksville in the semi-finals with a 3:0 aggregate win to reach the Final for the first time since 1929, but unfortunately narrowly lost 0:1 to Regatta Club of Prince Rupert in the last FA Cup Final to be played at Windsor Park in Victoria.

The Reds had to wait a few years to return to the Final again, having been eliminated early in the next two years, but in the quarter-final of 1957 they had a rematch of the 1955 final, this time defeating Regatta Club in an equally close match - 3:2 in favour of City; in the semis they won the first leg against Quesnel United 2:0 at home, then lost 0:1 away in the return leg but advanced with a 2:1 aggregate score, setting the stage for a Cup-final City Derby against Van United played at the two clubs' shared home, Empire Stadium. United never seriously threatened, and City came out 2:0 winners to lift the FA Cup for the fifth time, their first in thirty years - and also the first time they succeeded in clinching the League & Cup Double, having won the Division One title as well. The Reds met United again the following year in the quarter-finals, emerging winners of a 2:1 match to reach the semis for a second consecutive year. The first leg was played in Fort Nelson at the northernmost stadium in the country, home of Fort Nelson RBCAF, and the air force club won 2:1, whilst the return leg at Empire Stadium was an unrulier affair, the Reds winning 3:2; this left the aggregate score at 4:4, which meant Fort Nelson advanced on the away goals rule. City ended the 1950s with a third straight trip to the FA Cup semi-finals, in 1959 losing 0:2 on aggregate to Kelowna Central.

After suffering several early exits in the early 1960s, the 1965 fifth round saw City paired with Kelowna Central again - to whom they'd lost in 1961 and 1964 - in a closely fought match that needed 120 minutes to decide, but the Reds prevailed, winning 3:2 after extra time. After defeating Kitimat & Kemano United 3:0 in the quarter-final and Secwépemc United 5:2 on aggregate in the semi-finals, Van City were in the FA Cup Final for the twelfth time. Extra time was needed in the Final too, but ultimately City came out on top, defeating Dinas Blaenau 4:2 after extra time to win their sixth FA Cup title and their second League & Cup Double. In 1966 they mounted their first successful Cup defence, advancing past Port Alberni in the quarter-finals and Llangefni in the semis to face Kelowna Central in the Final; after open play finished 2:2 after 120 minutes, penalties were needed to decide the winner, the Reds scoring three but Kelowna managing only two.

Having been eliminated in the fourth round by Cranbrook City in 1968, Van City faced them again in the fourth round in 1969, this time emerging victorious with the same 2:0 scoreline, before defeating Nanaimo Thistle 1:0 in the fifth round. The quarter-final was a rematch of the 1967 quarter-final in which Fort George had defeated the Reds by a score of 3:1; this time, City came out on top of a 2:1 decision. In the semi-finals they faced Quesnel United, winning the first leg at home 1:0 in a deceptively close match; the difference between the two sides - one battling against relegation, the other chasing first place - became evident in the return leg, when City crushed Quesnel 4:0 away. Now in the Final for the fourteenth time, City battled Regatta Club to a 0:0 draw after 120 minutes to force an uncommonly exciting penalty shootout, which the Reds won 7:6 to clinch the FA Cup title for the eighth time.

After another fourth-round exit in 1970, City breezed through the first three rounds, outscoring Cranbrook North Side, Quesnel United, and Victoria United with a combined 9:2 score to advance to the semi-finals to face Dinas Blaenau. The Dragons won the first leg at Empire Stadium 1:0, a somewhat surprising result considering Blaenau's league performance had been decidedly middling, whereas City were running away with the title. The Reds' performance in the return leg was similarly underwhelming, managing only a 2:1 win away and advancing to the final only thanks to the away goals rule. The Final was another City Derby matchup with Van United, and with United battling against relegation, on paper it should have been a comfortable win for City, but the ninety minutes ended with the score level at 1:1; luckily, City managed to score a goal in extra time to win the match, and the FA Cup for the ninth time. It wasn't until 1977 that Van City next reached the semi-finals, facing Royal City in another matchup expected to be quite the battle. The first leg reinforced that expectation as the Hyacks fought hard for a 2:1 away win at Empire Stadium, but the return leg caught everyone by surprise, as City dominated play to win the game 4:1 and the series 5:3 on aggregate to return to the Final once again; this time, it was another Waterfront Derby, with the Reds emerging as 3:1 winners over the Rowers to secure their tenth FA Cup title, matching the record set by Royal City three years prior. The Reds beat Dinas Blaenau 2:0 in the quarter-finals in the following year, to once again meet Royal City in the semis. In the first leg City tied their all-time record for highest-scoring match, defeating the Hyacks 5:4 at Empire Stadium; the Westminsterites won the return leg 1:0, leaving the aggregate score level at 5:5. Royal City thus advanced to the Final thanks to their four away goals, and went on to win the Cup for a record eleventh time. The two then met in the quarter-finals in 1979, with City emerging the winner in a wide-open 3:2 win, advancing to the finals after a 3:0 aggregate win over Port Alberni in the semis. Facing Van United again in the Final, the match ended 1:1, forcing a Final Replay under the new rules introduced in 1974; as close as the first match had been, City were dominant in the replay, running away with a 3:0 win and an eleventh FA Cup title, to once again match Royal City's all-time record. The two would jointly hold that record until Royal City won their twelfth in 1996; City have not won another FA Cup since then.

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

Season-by-season
This is a listing of the club's performances in British Columbia Super Cup competition since 1991.

Honours and records

 * Super Cup
 * Winners: 2006
 * Runners-up: 2007


 * FA Cup
 * Winners: 1898, 1907, 1910, 1927, 1957, 1965, 1966, 1969, 1971, 1977, 1979
 * Runners-up: 1896, 1903, 1924, 1926, 1929, 1954, 1985


 * Division One
 * Winners: 1957, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1965, 1970, 1971, 1973, 1974, 1976
 * Runners-up: 1954, 1958, 1960, 1968, 1969, 1972, 1977, 1979, 1983
 * Third placed: 1956, 1975


 * Division Two
 * Winners: 1994, 1996
 * Runners-up: 1952


 * Division Three
 * Runners-up: 1947


 * Highest league position: 1st
 * D1 (1957, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1965, 1970, 1971, 1973, 1974, 1976)


 * Lowest league position: 6th
 * D3QC (1935)


 * Most points in a season: 78
 * D1, 1976


 * Fewest points in a season: 26
 * D1, 1993


 * Most goals scored in a season: 82
 * D1, 1975


 * Fewest goals scored in a season: 27
 * D1, 1993


 * Most goals conceded in a season: 63
 * D1, 1993
 * D1, 1998


 * Fewest goals conceded in a season: 15
 * D1, 2001


 * Most wins in a season: 24
 * D1, 1976
 * D2, 1994


 * Fewest wins in a season: 6
 * D1, 1993
 * D1, 1995


 * Most draws in a season: 14
 * D1, 1999


 * Fewest draws in a season: 4
 * D1, 1975
 * D2, 1994
 * D1, 1998


 * Most losses in a season: 21
 * D1, 1998


 * Fewest losses in a season: 4
 * D1, 1976
 * D2, 1996


 * Most games won in a row (to 2001): 7
 * D1, 1978


 * Most games lost in a row (to 2001): 8
 * D1, 1993


 * Most games without losing (to 2001): 14
 * D1, 2001


 * Most games without winning (to 2001): 15
 * D1, 1993


 * Biggest win: 6 goals
 * 6:0 v Regatta Club, D1, 1975


 * Biggest league win (to 2001): 6 goals
 * 6:0 v Regatta Club, D1, 1975


 * Biggest defeat: 5 goals
 * 0:5 v Rowing Club, D1, 1929
 * 2:7 v Victoria Utd, D2, 1931
 * 1:6 v Bella Coola Utd, D3, 1933
 * 0:5 v Vancouver Utd, D1, 1963
 * 0:5 v Kitimat & Kemano Utd, D1, 1998


 * Highest scoring game: 9 goals
 * 5:4 v Nanaimo Thistle, D1, 1929
 * 2:7 v Victoria Utd, D2, 1931
 * 3:6 v Port Moody, D3, 1932
 * 4:5 v Dinas Blaenau, D1, 1978
 * 5:4 v Royal City, 1978 FA Cup semi-final 1st leg
 * 6:3 v Vanderhoof Utd, D1, 1986
 * 6:3 v Fort George, D1, 1998


 * Highest scoring league game (to 2001): 9 goals
 * 5:4 v Nanaimo Thistle, D1, 1929
 * 2:7 v Victoria Utd, D2, 1931
 * 3:6 v Port Moody, D3, 1932
 * 4:5 v Dinas Blaenau, D1, 1978
 * 6:3 v Vanderhoof Utd, D1, 1986
 * 6:3 v Fort George, D1, 1998


 * Deepest cup run: Final - 1896, 1898 (winner), 1903, 1907 (winner), 1910 (winner), 1926, 1927 (winner), 1929, 1954, 1957 (winner), 1965 (winner), 1966 (winner), 1969 (winner), 1971 (winner), 1977 (winner), 1979 (winner), 1985