The 1968 Vancouver Royal Canadians season was the second season in the history of the Vancouver Royal Canadians soccer club. The club played in the North American Soccer League (NASL) at Empire Stadium in Vancouver, British Columbia.
Following the 1967 season, the USA and the FIFA-blacklisted National Professional Soccer League merged to form the North American Soccer League. The merger meant that teams from the predecessor leagues competing against each other in the same markets needed to be moved, combined, or folded. As part of this process, George Fleharty bought the Vancouver Royal Canadians from E.G. Eakins and folded his NPSL team, the San Francisco Golden Gate Gales. The new owner shortened the name to Vancouver Royals and chose player-coach Ferenc Puskás over future England coach Bobby Robson, the previous owner's new manager for the Vancouver Royals; he resigned when offered the demotion to assistant coach. The 1968 Vancouver Royals' roster was put together without the preparation or advantage of importing an entire team. A significant amount of the team was recruited by Bobby Robson including two brothers from Hong Kong playing in England. Ferenc Puskás also brought in several Europeans, a few players with connections to the Golden Gate Gaels, as well as at least two local players from local leagues. A few foreign players settled in Vancouver after their playing careers including Peter Dinsdale. The Vancouver Royals had the third highest average attendance in the league at 6,197. The club folded after the 1968 season as the NASL contracted from seventeen clubs to five for the 1969 NASL season. The five remaining teams were located roughly in the U.S. Midwest with one team on the east coast.
Coaches
Bobby Robson Ferenc Puskás
Players
NumNamePosHeightWeightAppsGA 1 Chris Varnavas G183 77 26 0 02Bobby Cram D 18078 32203 Gerrit Lagendijk D17373 5 104 Antonio Collar M18076 2000 5 Tomas Krivitz D1757725006Peter Dinsdale D1808030007 Lajos Vicek F1706715208 Janos Hanek F1737412309John Green F175 68 254010Cheung Chi Doy F17371112011Kirk Apostolidis F1787770011Leif Claesson F18379163012Cheung Chi Wai F17069322013 Mirko Casic 20013Atilla Sandor F1706310014 Brian "Pat" O'Connell F17372276015Henry Hill D1757530016 Gyorgy Liptak D17883120017 Jose Arranz F1757640017 Ike MacKay F18379152018 Joaquin Rey M17872224019 Jean-Pierre Chaillat F1657020020 Gary DeLong G1787190021Henry Klein F1807926204 Ken Pears G 000 Reg Stratton F 400 Num = Number, Pos = Position, Height in cm, Weight in kg, Apps = Appearances, G = Goals, A = Assists
Results
Standings
Pacific DivisionWLTGFGAPtsSan Diego Toros18866538186Oakland Clippers18867138185Los Angeles Wolves111385552139Vancouver Royals121555160136
Results by round
Match results
See also
Vancouver Royals Vancouver Whitecaps
External links Ken Pears 1986 BC Sports Hall of Fame
References