The BC Soccer Association, proponents and governors of a new semi-pro-fessional soccer league titled “League1 BC,” has announced that Rivers FC, a newly formed soccer club in Kamloops, will be one of seven clubs to play in the league, which is set to kick-off in May of 2022.
The provincial governing body of soccer is launching the new league to fill a void that presently exists in the soccer development pathway in British Columbia.
“The board of directors and staff of Rivers FC, and the entire soccer community in Kamloops, is thrilled to have been chosen to participate in the inaugural season of League1 BC” says Rivers FC president, Nick Rinaldi. “The introduction of a semi-professional level of play in BC is another giant step in the player, coach and referee development ladder that bodes well for the future of the game in our province.”
BC Soccer has already announced the names of two of the seven clubs that have been awarded a franchise in the league: Vancouver Whitecaps and TSS Rovers. The remaining participants are being introduced on a weekly basis.
The quest for a franchise in League1 BC has been spearheaded by a group of local businesses, soccer enthusiasts, and Thompson-Rivers University.
Rivers FC will be working hand-in-glove with TRU in the development of current and future WolfPack players, as well as helping young recruits make the transition from youth to adult competition.
“We are proud to partner with Rivers FC,” said TRU director of athletics and recreation and Rivers FC board member Curtis Atkinson. “This initiative will bring another level of high performance soccer to our community, and I look forward to the impact it will have on the future generations of Kamloops’ soccer players.”
League 1 BC will have two divisions––a men’s and a women’s division. The league schedule will run over the months of May, June and July. Each team will play six home, and six away games. There’ll be a one-game final between the first and second place teams in the standings at the conclusion of the regular season, to determine league champions. The first-place team will play host to the final.
While there is much to do in setting up a new soccer club in a new league, one task that has already been completed is the appointment of three key staff members.
Current TRU head coaches John Antulov (men) and Mark Pennington (women) have been hired to fill the same roles with Rivers FC’s two teams (see P. 7). Their appointments will not interfere with their roles with TRU and will, in fact, complement each other.
Former Kamloops Youth Soccer Association Executive Director Keith Liddiard has been recruited out of retirement to serve as the General Manager of the club.
Players of any age or gender––amateur or professional––are candidates to join Rivers FC. They can be recruited from any part of the province, though it is very likely the majority will be drawn from the Kamloops area.
Rivers FC has been registered as a not-for-profit society with a board of directors consisting of nine individuals. Funding and support for the club’s operations will come from numerous sources, including local businesses, sponsorships, grants, individuals, gate receipts and TRU.
Rivers FC is presently working with the City of Kamloops on two potential sites for its home games: Hillside Stadium & McArthur Island #2 (with enhancements).
While coaches Antulov and Pennington have a very good handle on the soccer talent in the Thompson-Okanagan Region through their roles with their TRU teams, the club will be holding open tryouts in the New Year. Dates, location and times will be broadly advertised.