Although only two years old, Vancouver FC has never been a club that shies away from embracing the potential of young talent and, more importantly, genuinely providing opportunity for these athletes to develop in a professional environment. In 2023, the Eagles registered 5,203 domestic Under-21 minutes, shattering the Canadian Premier League (CPL) mandate of 2,000 minutes played. It is unlikely that VFC – or any other team for that matter – will be able to reach that threshold this year, but the club has now surpassed the 2,000 mark on September 6, 2024.
This year, Vancouver’s roster consists of 10 U-21 players with eight of them holding Canadian citizenship and making them eligible to contribute to the mandated domestic minutes. VFC’s lone Development contract athlete Joey Buchanan is the only eligible player who has yet to make an appearance. However, every other domestic U-21 player – defenders Elage Bah, Matteo Campagna, Anthony White, James Cameron, and Tyler Crawford, midfielder Grady McDonnell, and forward TJ Tahid – have all registered match minutes and impacted VFC’s season.
As a collective, Vancouver’s young guns have made the biggest impact as, what baseball fans would call, relievers. The seven players have made a total of 37 substitute appearances in a season where much of the club’s excitement has boiled down to the final 20 minutes of a match. However, the club’s trust and commitment to providing first team, professional experience isn’t limited to situations off the bench as all seven players have also registered at least one start this season with Cameron earning the most starts with seven.
Vancouver has demonstrated that they aren’t putting all their eggs in one basket or highlighting a token youth star. Rather, the organization has proven time and time again that they are committed to the development and progress of all their youth players, to prepare them for whatever their football careers has in store for them. Vancouver has even created a U-19 team that will compete in the Fraser Valley Soccer League (FVSL) beginning in the fall of this year which will provide a direct pathway and development for local talents.
To commemorate VFC becoming the third CPL club to reach the 2,000 minute threshold, let’s look at the goal contributions from the U-21 players so far this season. Goals are the name of the game and Bah has not one, but two to his name in 2024. His first goal ever with VFC was a momentous marker as the game-winner against B.C.-rivals Pacific FC on their home turf on June 27. Bah’s second goal was an equalizer against Forge FC on August 18th before a go-ahead goal was scored in the 89th minute by the opposing team.
Campagna and McDonnell have both registered their first professional assists with the set ups coming at clutch times in their respective matches. McDonnell earned his first assists in Vancouver’s match against York United FC on July 20 after only entering the game in the 87th minute to deliver Wero Díaz the equalizing opportunity that secured a point in a match that looked to go to the rivals.
Campagna’s assist was also an off-the-bench product in VFC’s absolutely thrilling away victory against Valour FC on August 25th. The native of Surrey, B.C., only saw 15-minutes of the match but produced a perfect delivery for Ayman Sellouf’s game-winning goal in the absolute last moment of the match (90+7th minute).
Vancouver is proud of the commitment, hard work, and progress of the club’s young professionals and, as the Eagles continue to trust in them, will only help to produce exciting athletes for everyone to watch. Fans can see VFC’s young stars in their upcoming home match on Saturday, Sept. 21 for the club’s Back to School match. Kick off for the match is set for 3 p.m. and fans can purchase their tickets online here or at the stadium gates of Willoughby Park on game day.
