A Whitecaps fan will be back at Empire Field more than 30 years after his home side first met Manchester City at a time when soccer was experiencing an enormous popular surge in Vancouver.
In the spring of 1980, Geoff D'Auria wasn't quite 10 years old. But soccer was already his chosen sport, both as a spectator and an athlete.
The Citizens, as the Manchester team is casually known, were in town for two transatlantic friendly matches in two years. With the influence and excitement of the North American Soccer League and the Whitecaps-who won the championship one year before in 1979-D'Auria and thousands of young players around the Lower Mainland were lacing up their cleats.
"There was a whole generation of us who came of age watching the Whitecaps in the late-'70s and early '80s," he said.
D'Auria, the web manager at the online news magazine The Tyee, was part of an insurgence of young players who swept into the sport as a wave that continues to crest into adulthood.
"It was a really dominant blitz that you can see today in the senior leagues and over-35 leagues."
In 1980 the Whitecaps convincingly shutout their European visitors.
The details of the 5-0 win didn't stick with D'Auria. "It's in my memory as just another Whitecaps game."
Rather, he said, "I remember I picked up the roster of the team as I was leaving. It was hand-written."
Now it's Man City in Van city once again. The 'Caps host the Citizens 7 p.m. Monday, July 18 on the Bell Pitch at Empire Field. This time, D'Auria brings an athlete's experience (he was a varsity defender at Simon Fraser University) and a more intelligent understanding of the game.
He'll be watching to see if the Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»side, rounding out their first season of Major League Soccer in last place with only two wins, 10 losses and eight draws, can hold its own against a Premiership team and the 2011 FA Cup champions.
"I'm really curious to see how the MLS in general and the 'Caps in particular stack up to real international competition."
Man City meets Club America on Saturday before travelling to Vancouver. Eleven other teams, including European champion Barcelona FC, the L.A. Galaxy and Manchester United, also tour the continents for exhibitions matches in the second World Football Challenge.
"I expect that the Whitecaps will be respectable. I don't expect them to win," said D'Auria. "I feel they're building a solid team with a very stingy defence, which means they're going to be in every game despite the competition. They don't allow the competition a lot of good chances."
Alan Jackson will be watching closely, too. He latched onto the English team in the mid-'90s when their fortunes were less favourable than today. "I didn't want to be a glory hunter. I cheered for under-dogs all my life," he said.
Also a supporter of the 'Caps, Jackson doesn't want to see an imbalanced score. In 1980 and again in '81, Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»twice blanked their guests for a total 7-0 goal differential. The pedigree of the visitors should ensure they get on the board this time.
"It says a lot about the ambitions of the Whitecaps. Man City are one of the most famous teams in the world." he observed. "Let's hope for a 3-3 draw."
At the English-style pub, the Three Lions Café at 1 East Broadway where the beautiful game is televised daily, co-owner Emmet Groves won't be doing anything out of the ordinary: "We'll be showing the match," he said. Yet he knows the series of friendlies is important for the sustained growth of soccer in North America and the success of the nascent and ambitious MLS franchise in Vancouver.
"Having Man City here is just a fantastic moment for the team but also for the city and for fans to have world-class football on our home pitch," said Groves, likening the visitors to "football royalty" and giving his props to the dedicated and wellorganized Whitecaps supporters he says are embracing a fan loyalty seen in Europe and Latin America.
"Nobody seems to be bogged down that [the Whitecaps] are sitting dead last in the MLS right now. It's staggering to see them go in with their heads held high and with confidence."
Twitter: @MHStewart
