Vavenby Town FC

From Dominion of British Columbia
Vavenby Town FC
Full name Vavenby Town Football Club
Short name Vavenby Town
Nickname(s)
Founded 1911
Ground Vavenby Community Park
89 Harmon Rd
Vavenby VV1 2AC
Capacity 2,850
Division BCFA Regional Northeast
Kit

Vavenby Town Football Club is a semi-professional association football club based in Vavenby, British Columbia and presently playing in the BCFA Regional Championship Northeast.

Rivalries

Vavenby Town's primary rivalry is with Barriere Railway FC.

History

Vavenby Town FC was established in 1911, initially playing in the Kootenay Football League and from 1918 in the Mainland Football League after the KFL was merged with the other two football leagues in mainland BC.

League competition

Vavenby Town was one of the founding members of the BC Football League, starting out in Division Two. After being relegated in 1930, they spent much of the 1930s on the middle of the Division Three table, with a single season in Division Two in 1936. In 1939 they were promoted again as Division Three runners-up, remaining in the second tier until professional sport in BC was suspended in 1942 due to the outbreak of the Pacific War. Play resumed in 1946, Vavenby finishing tenth, but a last-place finish in 1947 saw them demoted to Division Three once again. The collapse wasn't finished yet, as in 1948 they finished dead last - fifteen points behind 15th-placed Port Hardy - and were relegated from the Football League.

A third-place finish in Regional Northeast Division One qualified Vavenby for the D3 Qualification Competition, but they failed to make it out of the group; the same happened in 1954 after finishing fourth in the Northeast campaign. A fourth-place finish in 1961, a Regional Northeast championship in 1962, and a runner-up finish in 1963 saw Vavenby back in the Qualification Competition, but once again failing to win promotion. After missing out on the 1964 competition, they finished the Northeast season as runners-up again in 1965 and this time successfully earned a return to Division Three. The 1966 season proved a success, Vavenby finishing twelfth in Division Three and retaining their League status, but despite performing not especially poorly in the 1967 season they finished fifteenth and were relegated, twenty years after they first dropped out of the League.

It wasn't until 1974 that Vavenby Town once again made it to the D3 Qualification Competition with a Regional Northeast third-place finish and earned direct promotion to Division Three, but an abysmal performance in 1975 resulted in a last-place finish and another relegation from the League. Finishing as runners-up in the Regional Northeast in 1985 they once again qualified for the Qualification Competition; finishing outside the top four meant that they entered the D3 Relegation Play-offs, where they convincingly defeated Meziadin City 5:2 in the first round only to be eliminated in the quarter-final by Aberystwyth 4:5 on penalties. The same story unfolded the following year, winning the Regional Southeast title, then after a 3:1 win over northeastern competitors Chase Town losing to Division Three side Sooyoos United 1:4 at home in the quarter-finals. A Qualification Competition quarter-final exit ended Vavenby's 1988 season as well, losing 2:4 to Kimberley Town. Finally, in 1989 they won the Regional Northeast title yet again and earned direct promotion to Division Three via the Qualification Competition. Their tenure in the League was once again brief, posting their worst-ever League record winning only one game and registering a total of eight points on the season.

Vavenby Town then failed to make an appearance in the Qualification Competition until 2011 after a fourth-place finish in the Regional Northeast, but were eliminated in the first round after a 0:2 away loss to Port Edward. They have not reached the Qualification Competition since that time.

Season-by-season

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

Season Division Rank GP W D L GF GA Pts Notes
1929 Division Two 8th 30 11 8 11 40 45 41
1930 Division Two 14th 30 9 4 17 33 58 31 Relegated
1931 Division Three 10th 30 11 4 15 41 54 37
1932 Division Three 9th 30 11 8 11 49 49 41
1933 Division Three 12th 30 8 10 12 38 50 34
1934 Division Three 10th 30 10 7 13 31 36 37
1935 Division Three 3rd 30 16 4 10 52 44 52 Promoted to Division Two
1936 Division Two 14th 30 7 11 12 49 51 32 Relegated
1937 Division Three 7th 30 13 4 13 45 51 43
1938 Division Three 6th 30 15 2 13 51 51 47
1939 Division Three 2nd 30 14 11 5 68 45 53 Promoted to Division Two
1940 Division Two 6th 30 13 8 9 52 46 47
1941 Division Two 7th 30 8 10 12 47 51 34
No competition held 1942–1945
1946 Division Two 10th 30 9 11 10 42 44 38
1947 Division Two 16th 30 3 5 22 22 63 14 Relegated
1948 Division Three 16th 30 2 4 24 32 71 10 Relegated
1951 D3 Qualification Competition xth Failed to achieve promotion
1954 D3 Qualification Competition xth Failed to achieve promotion
1961 D3 Qualification Competition xth Failed to achieve promotion
1962 D3 Qualification Competition xth Failed to achieve promotion
1963 D3 Qualification Competition xth Failed to achieve promotion
1965 D3 Qualification Competition xth Promoted to Division Three
1966 Division Two 7th 30 8 10 12 47 51 34
1967 Division Two 15th 30 7 7 16 41 55 28 Relegated
1974 D3 Qualification Competition xth Promoted to Division Three
1975 Division Three 16th 30 2 5 23 40 79 11 Relegated
1985 D3 Qualification Competition xth Failed to achieve promotion, entered D3 Relegation Play-offs
D3 Relegation Play-offs 1st round: Vavenby TownMeziadin City 5:2
Quarter-finals: Aberystwyth–Vavenby Town 1:1 (5:4 p)
Failed to achieve promotion
1986 D3 Qualification Competition xth Failed to achieve promotion, entered D3 Relegation Play-offs
D3 Relegation Play-offs 1st round: Vavenby TownChase Town 3:1
Quarter-finals: Vavenby Town–Sooyoos Utd (D3) 1:4
Failed to achieve promotion
1988 D3 Qualification Competition xth Failed to achieve promotion, entered D3 Relegation Play-offs
D3 Relegation Play-offs 1st round: Gitanmaax UtdVavenby Town 1:2 (a.e.t.)
Quarter-finals: Vavenby Town–Kimberley Town 2:4
Failed to achieve promotion
1989 D3 Qualification Competition xth Promoted to Division Three
1990 Division Three 16th 30 1 5 24 23 65 8 Relegated
2011 D3 Qualification Competition xth Failed to achieve promotion, entered D3 Relegation Play-offs
D3 Relegation Play-offs 1st round: Port Edward FC–Vavenby Town 0:2 Failed to achieve promotion

FA Cup

Vavenby Town have taken part in the FA Cup since the club's founding in 1911, but never advancing beyond the third round before the reform of the competition in 1929. As a member of Division Two in the inaugural season of the BCFL, the team entered the competition in the third round, advancing through two rounds before being eliminated in the fifth round after a 1:3 home loss to Vancouver Rowing Club. The next noteworthy performance wasn't until 1938, when as a Division Three member they reached the fourth round, in which a 0:0 draw against Division Two side Courtenay Athletic at home forced a replay, which Vavenby lost 1:2 in Courtenay.

After the end of the Second World War, competition resumed in 1946, and Vavenby matched their best-ever cup run that year by reaching the fifth round, defeating Dinas Blaenau 2:1 in the second round, non-league side Abbotsford 3:0 away in the third, and Oak Bay Wanderers 1:0 in the fourth before losing to Victoria United 0:1 at home in the fifth. Despite being relegated from the League after the 1948 season, Vavenby Town continued to successfully reach the first round proper of the FA Cup every year from 1949 through 1956, but without noteworthy success. After failing to qualify for the First Round in 1957, they were back in 1958 and were immediately eliminated, but in 1959 they reached the third round, where they were knocked out by Rapid Vienna. Although they were eliminated year after year in the first, sometimes second, round, nevertheless it is a noteworthy feat that until they returned to the League in 1966, they missed out on the First Round of the FA Cup only once.

The return to the League brought little change in Cup performances, indeed it wasn't until 1968, when Vavenby had once again dropped out of the League, that they reached the fourth round, stunning Division Two Kamloops City 1:0 in the third round before losing in the fourth to Fort Nelson RBCAF by a humiliating 0:4 scoreline at home. As well as they had played against Kamloops, they capitulated to the Pilots, playing as if they had already lost from the opening whistle. They then missed out on the 1970 competition, returning again in 1971. As a Division Three side once more, they reached the third round in 1975, losing 2:4 at home to Lake City FC of Williams Lake.

The next twenty years was more of the same, with early exits in the first two rounds, and three years in which Vavenby failed to qualify for the first round. In 1998, still outside of the League, they reached the first round and defeated Mackenzie 4:3 on penalties after a 1:1 draw away. They were back up north for round two, playing Atlin away to a 0:0 draw after 120 minutes - then winning 4:3 on penalties again. In the third round they were at home, and put in a fine performance to defeat Fort Nelson RBCAF to reach the fourth round for the first time since 1968; it was Fort Nelson who eliminated them in the fourth round that year. Unfortunately, Division One Nanaimo Thistle were a step too far for Vavenby, losing 0:2 at home. They reached the third round the following year, which included a memorable second-round tie against Port Moody of Division Two. Down 0:2 after 19' minutes, Vavenby got one back on 20' and then equalised seven minutes later; the ninety minutes ended with the score level at two each. Spurred by the comeback, Vavenby played excellent football as extra time got underway, netting the go-ahead goal on 96', but Port Moody managed to level the score in the 108th minute. As exciting as those two hours had been, the shootout was even more so, with Vavenby coming out on top, winning 8:7 on penalties. Sadly, they were unable to replicate the performance against Richmond United, losing 1:3 at home in the third round. They again reached the third round in 2003, losing to Secwépemc United 1:2. In their most recent appearance in 2020, they lost in the first round to Cumberland Collieries 1:4 on penalties after a 0:0 draw.

Season-by-season

This is a listing of the club's performances in FA Cup competition.

Season Round Home side Score Away side Venue (Attendance) Notes
1929 3rd Vavenby Town (D2) 2:0 Mission City (D2) Vavenby Community Park, Vavenby
4th Connaught Hill 0:1 Vavenby Town (D2) Connaught Park, Prince George
5th Vavenby Town (D2) 1:3 Vancouver Rowing Club (D1) Vavenby Community Park, Vavenby
1930 3rd Inv & Ath Utd 4:1 Vavenby Town (D2) Mount Nelson Stadium, Invermere
1931 1st Abbotsford (D3) 0:2 Vavenby Town (D3) Bateman Park, Abbotsford
2nd Vavenby Town (D2) 5:2 Kincolith Vavenby Community Park, Vavenby
3rd Vavenby Town (D3) 0:1 Wellington (D2) Vavenby Community Park, Vavenby
1932 1st Secwépemc Utd (D3) 2:1 Vavenby Town (D3) Shuswap Road, Kamloops
1933 1st Vavenby Town (D3) 1:2 Chichester Vavenby Community Park, Vavenby
1934 1st Vavenby Town (D3) 4:0 Northfield Vavenby Community Park, Vavenby
2nd Vavenby Town (D3) 2:4 Grand Forks (D2) Vavenby Community Park, Vavenby
1935 1st Vavenby Town (D3) 3:0 Dundarave Britannic Vavenby Community Park, Vavenby
2nd Vavenby Town (D3) 2:2 Fort St John Vavenby Community Park, Vavenby
2nd Re Fort St John 1:0 Vavenby Town (D3) Kin Park, Fort St John
1936 3rd Coquitlam Town 4:1 Vavenby Town (D2) Rugby Ground, Coquitlam
1937 1st Vavenby Town (D3) 1:1 Connaught Heights Vavenby Community Park, Vavenby
1st Re Connaught Heights 0:3 Vavenby Town (D3) Grimston Park, New Westminster
2nd Vavenby Town (D3) 0:2 Victoria Utd (D2) Vavenby Community Park, Vavenby
1938 1st Grand Forks (D3) 2:4 Vavenby Town (D3) Verigin Stadium, Grand Forks
2nd Vavenby Town (D3) 3:2 Northfield Vavenby Community Park, Vavenby
3rd Vavenby Town (D3) 5:1 Tisquit Wanderers Vavenby Community Park, Vavenby
4th Vavenby Town (D3) 0:0 Courtenay Athletic (D2) Vavenby Community Park, Vavenby
4th Re Courtenay Athletic (D2) 2:1 Vavenby Town (D3) Harmston Park, Courtenay
1939 1st Vavenby Town (D3) 4:1 Fairmont Hot Springs Vavenby Community Park, Vavenby
2nd Vavenby Town (D3) 2:3 Lake City Vavenby Community Park, Vavenby
1940 3rd Vavenby Town (D2) 3:0 Kelowna Central (D2)
4th Port Moody (D2) 3:1 Vavenby Town (D2)
1941 2nd Endako Village 1:4 Vavenby Town (D2)
3rd Vavenby Town (D2) 2:3
(a.e.t.)
Kelowna Central (D2)
No competition held 1942–1945
1946 2nd Vavenby Town (D2) 2:1 Dinas Blaenau (D2)
3rd Abbotsford 0:3 Vavenby Town (D2)
4th Vavenby Town (D2) 1:0 Oak Bay Wanderers (D2)
5th Vavenby Town (D2) 0:1 Victoria Utd (D2)
1947 3rd South Hazelton (D2) 4:2 Vavenby Town (D2)
1948 1st Vavenby Town (D3) 2:1 Atlin
2nd Vavenby Town (D3) 2:5 Tisquit Wanderers
1949 1st Vavenby Town 4:3
(a.e.t.)
Meziadin City
2nd Parksville (D3) 2:0 Vavenby Town
1950 1st Bella Coola Utd 2:1 Vavenby Town
1951 1st Victoria West 2:2 Vavenby Town
1st Re Vavenby Town 2:0 Victoria West
2nd Oak Bay Wanderers (D3) 3:2 Vavenby Town
1952 1st 100 Mile House (D3) 5:3
(a.e.t.)
Vavenby Town
1953 1st Vavenby Town 1:0 Kincolith
2nd Vavenby Town 1:2 Kelowna Central (D2)
1954 1st Vavenby Town 0:2 Sardis Balmoral
1955 1st Chichester 3:3 Vavenby Town
1st Re Vavenby Town 1:4 Chichester
1956 1st Kamloops City (D3) 4:1 Vavenby Town
1957
Did not qualify
1958 1st Mackenzie 3:2
(a.e.t.)
Vavenby Town
1959 1st Port Moody (D3) 3:3 Vavenby Town
1st Re Vavenby Town 2:1 Port Moody (D3)
2nd Meziadin City 2:3 Vavenby Town
3rd Vavenby Town 1:3 Rapid Vienna (D2)
1960 1st Vavenby Town 1:2 Cache Creek
1961 1st Vavenby Town 0:3 Queen Charlottes Utd
1962 1st Quatsino Navy 1:1 Vavenby Town
1st Re Vavenby Town 0:0
(0:1 p)
Quatsino Navy
1963 1st Vavenby Town 1:0 Bella Coola Utd
2nd Creston Utd 1:0 Vavenby Town
1964 1st Vavenby Town 0:4 100 Mile House
1965 1st Inv & Ath Utd 3:2
(a.e.t.)
Vavenby Town
1966 1st Vavenby Town (D3) 3:1 Alberni Town
2nd Vavenby Town (D3) 0:2 Royal Oak Hotspur
1967 1st Vavenby Town (D3) 1:2 Victoria West
1968 1st Vavenby Town 3:1 Skaha Rovers
2nd Parksville (D3) 0:1 Vavenby Town
3rd Vavenby Town 1:0 Kamloops City (D2)
4th Vavenby Town 0:4 Fort Nelson RBCAF (D2)
1969 1st Vavenby Town 1:0 Queen Charlottes Utd
2nd Vavenby Town 0:3 Port Alberni Athletic (D2)
1970
Did not qualify
1971 1st Kamloops City (D3) 2:0 Vavenby Town
1972 1st Connaught Hill (D3) 0:1 Vavenby Town
2nd Endako Village 2:0 Vavenby Town
1973 1st Chetwynd Railway (D3) 4:0 Vavenby Town
1974 1st Vavenby Town 3:4 Mackenzie (D3)
1975 1st Vavenby Town (D3) 3:2 Skaha Rovers
2nd Vavenby Town (D3) 3:2 Meziadin City (D3)
3rd Vavenby Town (D3) 2:4 Lake City (D2)
1976 1st Silver King (D3) 2:1 Vavenby Town
1977
Did not qualify
1978 1st Canyon Utd (D3) 3:2 Vavenby Town
1979 1st Vavenby Town 0:3 Rapid Vienna
1980
Did not qualify
1981 1st Vavenby Town 2:2
(a.e.t.)
Bella Coola Utd (D3)
2nd Wellington (D2) 1:0 Vavenby Town
1982 1st Vavenby Town 3:1 Belcarra Supermarine (D3)
2nd Vavenby Town 0:2 Atlin (D2)
1983 1st Kettle Valley Utd 2:1 Vavenby Town
1984 1st Fort St James (D3) 2:1 Vavenby Town
1985 1st Kamloops City (D3) 3:1 Vavenby Town
1986 1st Líl’wat Utd 3:2 Vavenby Town
1987 1st Coquitlam Town (D3) 2:1 Vavenby Town
1988 1st Vavenby Town 3:0 Merritt City (D3)
2nd Smithers & Telkwa Utd (D2) 3:1 Vavenby Town
1989
Did not qualify
1990 1st Vernon City 1:0 Vavenby Town (D3)
1991 1st Ulh’katcho (D3) 2:0 Vavenby Town
1992–1993
Did not qualify
1994 1st Vavenby Town 1:0 Atlin (D3)
2nd Fort St John (D2) 2:1 Vavenby Town
1995 1st Vavenby Town 0:0
(4:3 p)
Hope Town
2nd Vavenby Town 1:2
(a.e.t.)
Kamloops City (D2)
1996 1st Vavenby Town 0:1 Ulh’katcho (D3)
1997 1st Inv & Ath Utd (D3) 1:0 Vavenby Town
1996 1st Mackenzie (D3) 1:1
(3:4 p)
Vavenby Town
2nd Atlin (D3) 0:0
(3:4 p)
Vavenby Town
3rd Vavenby Town 2:1 Fort Nelson RBCAF (D2)
4th Vavenby Town 0:2 Nanaimo Thistle (D1)
1999 1st Jade City 0:0
(2:4 p)
Vavenby Town
2nd Vavenby Town 3:3
(8:7 p)
Port Moody (D2)
3rd Vavenby Town 1:3 Richmond Utd (D2)
2000
Did not qualify
2001 1st Vavenby Town 1:1
(4:3 p)
Kitimat & Kemano Utd (D3)
2nd Vavenby Town 2:0
(a.e.t.)
Mackenzie (D3)
3rd Vavenby Town 1:2 Secwépemc Utd (D2)
2002 1st Sicamous Town (D3) 1:0 Vavenby Town
2003 1st Vavenby Town 2:0 Gingolx
2nd Clinton Town (D3) 3:0 Vavenby Town
2004 1st Vavenby Town 0:3 Gitlaxt’aamiks (D3) Vavenby Community Park (1,100)
2005
Did not qualify
2006 1st Sicamous Town (D3) 3:1 Vavenby Town Finlayson Centennial Park (1,121)
2007 1st Líl’wat Utd (D3) 1:1
(2:4 p)
Vavenby Town Retasket Drive (1,470)
2nd Vavenby Town 0:4 Cassiar City (D3) Vavenby Community Park (2,727)
2008 1st Vavenby Town 0:2 Atlin (D3) Vavenby Community Park (2,813)
2009 1st Vavenby Town 0:3 Vanderhoof Utd (D3) Vavenby Community Park (2,810)
2010 1st Gibsons Athletic (D3) 0:0
(5:4 p)
Vavenby Town Sumac Place (1,846)
2011–2013
Did not qualify
2014 1st Vavenby Town 1:0 Vernon City (D3) Vavenby Community Park (2,822)
2nd Royal Oak Hotspur (D2) 1:0 Vavenby Town Layritz Park (5,571)
2015
Did not qualify
2016 1st Vavenby Town 1:1
(2:4 p)
Golden Vavenby Community Park (2,741)
2017 1st Vavenby Town 0:2 Vancouver Utd (D3) Vavenby Community Park (2,819)
2018 1st Bella Coola Utd 1:0 Vavenby Town Mamayu Stadium (1,474)
2019
Did not qualify
2020 1st Cumberland Collieries (D3) 0:0
(4:1 p)
Vavenby Town Royston Road (3,052)

Honours and records

  • Division Three
Runners-up: 1939
Third placed: 1935
  • Regional Northeast Division One:
Winners: 1962, 1986, 1989
Runners-up: 1963, 1965, 1985
Third placed: 1951, 1974
  • Highest league position: 6th
D2 (1940)
  • Lowest league position: 16th
D3 (1948, 1975, 1990)
  • Most points in a season: 53
D3, 1939
  • Fewest points in a season: 8
D3, 1990
  • Most goals scored in a season: 69
D3, 1939
  • Fewest goals scored in a season: 22
D2, 1947
  • Most goals conceded in a season: 79
D3, 1975
  • Fewest goals conceded in a season: 36
D3, 1934
  • Most wins in a season: 16
D3, 1935
  • Fewest wins in a season: 1
D3, 1990
  • Most draws in a season: 11
D2, 1936
D3, 1939
  • Fewest draws in a season: 2
D3, 1938
  • Most losses in a season: 24
D3, 1948
D3, 1990
  • Fewest losses in a season: 5
D3, 1939
  • Most games won in a row (1974–2001): 2
D3, 1975
  • Most games lost in a row (1974–2001): 11
D3, 1990
  • Most games without losing (1974–2001): 3
1998 FA Cup
  • Most games without winning (to 2001): 26
D3, 1990
  • Biggest win: 4 goals
4:0 v Northfield, 1934 FA Cup 1st Round
5:1 v Tisquit Wanderers, 1938 FA Cup 3rd Round
5:1 v Endako Village, D3, 1939
4:0 v Nanaimo City, D2, 1946
  • Biggest league win (to 2001): 4 goals
5:1 v Endako Village, D3, 1939
4:0 v Nanaimo City, D2, 1946
  • Biggest defeat: 5 goals
0:5 v Prince George City, D3, 1931
0:5 v Dawson Creek, D3, 1933
0:5 v Silver King, D3, 1966
0:5 v Mackenzie, D3, 1975
  • Highest scoring game: 9 goals
4:5 v Wellington, D2, 1936
4:5 v Port Hardy, D3, 1948
  • Highest scoring league game (to 2001): 9 goals
4:5 v Wellington, D2, 1936
4:5 v Port Hardy, D3, 1948
  • Deepest cup run: 5th Round - 1929, 1946