Vancouver FC will travel to Vancouver Island on Saturday to play in the final BC Derby this season in what is expected to be an intense match. While polarized fans are preparing to cheer their teams on, it is impossible for Vancouver’s Callum Irving and Pacific’s Josh Heard, captains of VFC and PFC, to see each other as rivals. Before coming to Vancouver FC, Irving played three seasons for the Island team where he forged a strong friendship with Heard that lasts to this day.

The moment that one is left in a room with Irving and Heard, it becomes clear how close these former teammates are with their quick jokes and witty comebacks. “Myself and Callum hit it off right away because we had similar pasts, similar stories,” says Heard. “We both went down to the U.S. for school, we are similar ages and have a similar, terrible sense of humour.”

When asked what moment they cherish the most together, Heard immediately admits that it would be easy to say, “winning the Canadian Premier League in 2021,” but in reality, “…all the moments in between are the big ones.” The small memories such as spending hours at an arcade playing just one game together, sending memes to each other or chatting about golf are the foundations which help this friendship survive 90 minutes of being mortal enemies.

During their time as teammates, this dynamic duo pushed each other on the field to become two of the best players in the league, with Irving quickly catching the eye of Vancouver FC. He became the club’s very first signing and, soon after, the first captain in the club’s history. While Heard was happy to see his friend’s talent recognized, some Pacific FC fans considered Irving’s move to the mainland an act of treason.

The Island fans had the opportunity to show their contempt at the 2023/2024 season opener which saw the two teams compete for the very first time at Starlight Stadium. “I think once that first game kicked off, from that moment, the rivalry was kind of made,” remembers Irving about the match. “You saw the intensity, you saw the celebrations. Everything around that game. It set the tone, moving forward.”

Heard also sensed something different in the air that day, “Definitely at the beginning, you felt that energy, you felt the tenseness and it is a good feeling.” Heard continued, “It means you are playing in important games and you are doing something right.”

During the second match of this budding rivalry that was played in Willoughby Community Park, the formalities and introductions were gone and both teams gave their all since the first minute. The first derby ever played on the Mainland became the highest-ever scoreline in CPL history. “It sets us up for a good rematch at our home and hopefully, we can kind of have that same energy and that same excitement within the match,” shares Irving.

It was in the third and last meeting that VFC tasted the glory of beating the fiercest rival for the first time. The victory was even sweeter as Vancouver pulled a come-from-behind win after being down 1-2 in the 73rd minute thanks to a brace from Gabriel Bitar. It was pure elation when the final whistle blew for all VFC fans as Pacific had to head to the ferry with their heads hung low. However, there is one final contest that will retain the bragging rights until 2024 and VFC is aiming to tie the series with their first win at Starlight Stadium.

Even though these games have been pretty intense and created dislike between the fans, Irving and Heard are now sharing the experience of becoming the local heroes they didn’t have growing up. “Maybe in a few years we will both be pretty proud of the fact that we were able to share in those moments and be a part of the growth of Canadian soccer,” reflects Irving.

There is no doubt that this Saturday will be another landmark for Canadian Football, and hopefully, Vancouver FC will be on the winning side of history. The team is giving it their all to finish on a high note as a thank you to all the fans who have supported them thus far. Cheer on the Eagles for their final home match on October 6th by clicking here !