1979 Vancouver Whitecaps season

Vancouver Whitecaps
1979 season
Chairman	Herb Capozzi
Head coach	Tony Waiters
North American; Soccer League	Division: 1st; Conference: 3rd; Overall: 4th
NASL Playoffs	Champions
Challenge Trophy	Ineligible
Top goalscorer	League: Kevin Hector (15); All: Kevin Hector (17)
Highest home attendance	32,875 vs NYC ; NASL Playoffs (8/29)
Lowest home attendance	16,965 vs SD ; NASL (5/02)
Biggest win	VAN 4–1 NYC ; NASL (6/16); VAN 3–0 TOR ; NASL (7/21); ;
Biggest defeat	LA 2–0 VAN ; NASL (8/04)
Home colours	Away colours

The 1979 Vancouver Whitecaps season was the club's sixth season in the North American Soccer League.

Roster

The 1979 squad coached by Tony Waiters:^[1]

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.


No.	Pos.	Nation	Player
1	GK	ENG	Phil Parkes
2	MF	ENG	Ray Lewington
3	DF	ENG	Bob McNab
4	DF	ENG	John Craven
5	DF	CAN	Robert Lenarduzzi
6	DF	ENG	Roger Kenyon
7	MF	CAN	Buzz Parsons
8	MF	ENG	Jon Sammels
9	FW	ENG	Trevor Whymark
10	MF	CAN	Bob Bolitho
11	FW	ENG	Kevin Hector
12	DF	CAN	Paul Nelson
17	DF	ENG	Peter Daniel
18	DF	CAN	Dan Lenarduzzi


No.	Pos.	Nation	Player
20	FW	SCO	Willie Johnston
21	FW	CAN	Carl Valentine
22	GK	ZIM	Bruce Grobbelaar
23	FW	ENG	Alan Ball
23	MF	CAN	Drew Ferguson
24	FW	ENG	Derek Possee
25	MF	CAN	David McCaig
26	MF	CAN	David McGill
27	MF	SCO	Gerry Gray
28	FW	CAN	Steve Nesin
29	DF	CAN	Carl Shearer
30	DF	CAN	Alan Soundraal
31	FW	CAN	Ralston Dunlop
32	FW	CAN	Brent Barling

North American Soccer League

Competition	First match	Last match	Starting round	Final position	Record
Competition	First match	Last match	Starting round	Final position	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Win %
Regular season	30 March	11 August	Matchday 1	1st NC West, 4th Overall	30	20		10	54	34	+20	066.67
Playoffs	15 August	8 September	Conference Quarterfinals	Winner	9	7		2	13	8	+5	077.78
Total					39	27	0	12	67	42	+25	069.23

Last updated: 4 August 2023
Source: Competitions

Regular season

Standings

-Playoffs via division standings. -Playoffs via wildcard.

NC West Division standings
Pos	Team	Pld	W	L	GF	GA	GD	BP	Pts
1	Vancouver Whitecaps	30	20	10	54	34	+20	52	172
2	Los Angeles Aztecs	30	18	12	62	47	+15	54	162
3	Seattle Sounders	30	13	17	58	52	+6	47	125
4	Portland Timbers	30	11	19	50	75	−25	56	122

Updated to match(es) played on September 2, 1979. Source: Overall standings

National Conference standings
Pos	Div	Team	Pld	W	L	GF	GA	GD	BP	Pts	Qualification
1	E	New York Cosmos	30	24	6	84	52	+32	72	216	Playoffs (division winner)
2	C	Minnesota Kicks	30	21	9	67	48	+19	58	184
3	W	Vancouver Whitecaps (N)	30	20	10	54	34	+20	52	172
4	E	Washington Diplomats	30	19	11	68	50	+18	58	172	Playoffs (division runner-up)
5	W	Los Angeles Aztecs	30	18	12	62	47	+15	54	162	Playoffs (division runner-up)

Updated to match(es) played on September 2, 1979. Source: Overall standings
Rules for classification: 1) Division position; 2) Points; 3) Wins; 4) Goal differential
(N) Conference title

Overall standings
Pos	Div	Team	Pld	W	L	GF	GA	GD	BP	Pts
2	AC	Houston Hurricane	30	22	8	61	46	+15	55	187
3	NC	Minnesota Kicks	30	21	9	67	48	+19	58	184
4	NW	Vancouver Whitecaps (C)	30	20	10	54	34	+20	52	172
5	NE	Washington Diplomats	30	19	11	68	50	+18	58	172
6	AE	Tampa Bay Rowdies	30	19	11	67	46	+21	55	169

Updated to match(es) played on September 2, 1979. Source: soccerstats.us
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Wins; 3) Goal differential
(C) NASL Champions

Results

Match record by division
Conference	West	Central	East	Total
National Conference	4–2 (0–0)	4–2 (0–1)	4–2 (0–0)	12–6 (0–1)
American Conference	6–2 (0–1)	1–1 (1–0)	1–1 (0–1)	8–4 (1–2)
Total	10–4 (0–1)	5–3 (1–1)	5–3 (0–1)	20–10 (1–3)

Matches

30 March 1	Vancouver Whitecaps	1–2 (SO)	Dallas Tornado	Vancouver, British Columbia
	Hector	Report	Gomez	Stadium: Empire Stadium Attendance: 24,850

6 April 2 Inter-conference	Vancouver Whitecaps	2–0	Edmonton Drillers	Vancouver, British Columbia
	Hector Craven	Report		Stadium: Empire Stadium Attendance: 18,097

14 April 3 Inter-conference	Chicago Sting	2–3 (SO)	Vancouver Whitecaps	Chicago, Illinois
	Granitza Hanegem	Report	Sammels Hector	Stadium: Soldier Field Attendance: 10,130

21 April 4	Vancouver Whitecaps	2–1	Portland Timbers	Vancouver, British Columbia
	Whymark	Report	Bain	Stadium: Empire Stadium Attendance: 23,137

27 April 5 Inter-conference	San Diego Sockers	1–0	Vancouver Whitecaps	San Diego, California
	Nover	Report		Stadium: Jack Murphy Stadium Attendance: 10,514

2 May 6 Inter-conference	Vancouver Whitecaps	3–1	San Diego Sockers	Vancouver, British Columbia
	Hector Whymark	Report	Nover	Stadium: Empire Stadium Attendance: 16,965

5 May 7 Inter-conference	San Jose Earthquakes	1–2	Vancouver Whitecaps	San Jose, California
	Gersdorff	Report	Hector Daniel	Stadium: Spartan Stadium Attendance: 14,107

11 May 8	Vancouver Whitecaps	1–0	Rochester Lancers	Vancouver, British Columbia
	Valentine	Report		Stadium: Empire Stadium Attendance: 22,078

18 May 9 Inter-conference	Vancouver Whitecaps	2–0	Philadelphia Fury	Vancouver, British Columbia
	Hector Whymark	Report		Stadium: Empire Stadium Attendance: 18,293

30 May 10 Inter-conference	Edmonton Drillers	1–3	Vancouver Whitecaps	Edmonton, Alberta
	Kraay	Report	Hector	Stadium: Commonwealth Stadium Attendance: 10,529

2 June 11 Inter-conference	Vancouver Whitecaps	0–1	Houston Hurricane	Vancouver, British Columbia
		Report	Marasco	Stadium: Empire Stadium Attendance: 26,013

7 June 12	Tulsa Roughnecks	1–2	Vancouver Whitecaps	Tulsa, Oklahoma
	Abrahams	Report	Valentine Lewington	Stadium: Skelly Stadium Attendance: 10,102

9 June 13	Minnesota Kicks	1–0	Vancouver Whitecaps	Bloomington, Minnesota
	Futcher	Report		Stadium: Metropolitan Stadium Attendance: 24,061

13 June 14 Inter-conference	California Surf	3–2 (SO)	Vancouver Whitecaps	Anaheim, California
	Ingram	Report	Hector Possee	Stadium: Anaheim Stadium Attendance: 7,182

16 June 15	Vancouver Whitecaps	4–1	New York Cosmos	Vancouver, British Columbia
	Sammels Valentine Hector Derek Possee	Report	Chinaglia	Stadium: Empire Stadium Attendance: 32,372

24 June 16 Inter-conference	Vancouver Whitecaps	2–1	California Surf	Vancouver, British Columbia
	Johnston Ball	Report	Steve David	Stadium: Empire Stadium Attendance: 20,814

27 June 17	Atlanta Chiefs	1–3	Vancouver Whitecaps	Atlanta, Georgia
	Neill Roberts	Report	Hector Ball	Stadium: Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium Attendance: 5,152

30 June 18 Inter-conference	Fort Lauderdale Strikers	3–2 (SO)	Vancouver Whitecaps	Fort Lauderdale, Florida
	Cubillas Walker	Report	Possee Whymark	Stadium: Lockhart Stadium Attendance: 15,290

4 July 19	Toronto Blizzard	2–1	Vancouver Whitecaps	Toronto, Ontario
	Lorimer Lukacevic	Report	Valentine	Stadium: Varsity Stadium Attendance: 13,754

7 July 20	Vancouver Whitecaps	3–1	Seattle Sounders	Vancouver, British Columbia
	Ball Whymark	Report	Ryan	Stadium: Empire Stadium Attendance: 20,041

11 July 21	Vancouver Whitecaps	0–1	Los Angeles Aztecs	Vancouver, British Columbia
		Report	Cruyff 26'	Stadium: Empire Stadium Attendance: 28,764

15 July 22	New York Cosmos	2–4	Vancouver Whitecaps	East Rutherford, New Jersey
	Neeskens 60' Chinaglia 71', 72' Eskandarian 72'	Report (Soccerstats) [Report (Sun) ^[2]]	Alberto 6' (o.g.) Hector 49' Lewington 63' Johnston 72' Craven 72' Lenarduzzi 83'	Stadium: Giants Stadium Attendance: 48,753

18 July 23	Washington Diplomats	2–1	Vancouver Whitecaps	Washington, D.C.
	Askew Droege	Report	Ball	Stadium: Robert F. Kennedy Stadium Attendance: 12,321

21 July 24	Vancouver Whitecaps	3–0	Toronto Blizzard	Vancouver, British Columbia
	Whymark Sammels Ball	Report		Stadium: Empire Stadium Attendance: 21,409

25 July 25	Vancouver Whitecaps	1–0	Tulsa Roughnecks	Vancouver, British Columbia
	Whymark	Report		Stadium: Empire Stadium Attendance: 21,196

28 July 26	Portland Timbers	2–3	Vancouver Whitecaps	Portland, Oregon
	Dale Mitchell	Report	Ball Lenarduzzi Whymark	Stadium: Civic Stadium Attendance: 12,727

1 August 27	Vancouver Whitecaps	1–0	Minnesota Kicks	Vancouver, British Columbia
	Lenarduzzi	Report		Stadium: Empire Stadium Attendance: 24,656

4 August 28	Los Angeles Aztecs	2–0	Vancouver Whitecaps	Los Angeles, California
	Dangerfield Cruyff	Report		Stadium: Rose Bowl Attendance: 11,157

8 August 29 Inter-conference	Vancouver Whitecaps	1–0	San Jose Earthquakes	Vancouver, British Columbia
	Whymark	Report		Stadium: Empire Stadium Attendance: 25,731

11 August 30	Seattle Sounders	1–2	Vancouver Whitecaps	Seattle, Washington
	Neighbour	Report	Ball Parsons	Stadium: Kingdome Attendance: 24,196

Playoffs

Conference Quarterfinals – vs Dallas (N6)

15 August Game 1	Dallas Tornado	2–3	Vancouver Whitecaps	Dallas, Texas
	Kewley Zequinha	Report	Parsons Hector Lewington	Stadium: Ownby Stadium Attendance: 8,829

18 August Game 2	Vancouver Whitecaps	2–1	Dallas Tornado	Vancouver, British Columbia
	Craven	Report	Pecher	Stadium: Empire Stadium Attendance: 30,328

Vancouver won series 2–0.

Conference Semifinals – vs Los Angeles (N5)

22 August Game 1	Los Angeles Aztecs	3–2 (SO)	Vancouver Whitecaps	Pasadena, California
	Sibbald Smeets	Report	Valentine	Stadium: Rose Bowl Attendance: 21,213

25 August Game 2	Vancouver Whitecaps	1–0	Los Angeles Aztecs	Vancouver, British Columbia
	Smeets 59' (o.g.)	Report		Stadium: Empire Stadium Attendance: 32,375

25 August Mini-game	Vancouver Whitecaps	1–0	Los Angeles Aztecs	Vancouver, British Columbia
	Hector 4'	[^[3]]		Stadium: Empire Stadium Attendance: 32,375

Series tied 1–1, Vancouver won tiebreaking mini-game.

Conference Championships – vs New York (N1)

29 August Game 1	Vancouver Whitecaps	2–0	New York Cosmos	Vancouver, British Columbia
	Johnston Whymark	Report		Stadium: Empire Stadium Attendance: 32,875

1 September Game 2	New York Cosmos	3–2 (SO)	Vancouver Whitecaps	East Rutherford, New Jersey
	Chinaglia 11', 39'	Report	Craven 28' Johnston 85'	Stadium: Giants Stadium Attendance: 44,109
	Penalties
	Marinho Beckenbauer Seninho Garbett		Johnston Lenarduzzi Ball Valentine

1 September Mini-game	New York Cosmos	0–1 (SO)	Vancouver Whitecaps	East Rutherford, New Jersey
		Report		Stadium: Giants Stadium Attendance: 44,109
	Penalties
	Neeskens Beckenbauer Garbett Davis Morais		Lenarduzzi Bolitho Valentine Possee Ball

Series tied 1–1, Vancouver won tiebreaking mini-game.

Soccer Bowl – vs Tampa Bay (A2)

8 September NASL Final	Vancouver Whitecaps	2–1	Tampa Bay Rowdies	East Rutherford, New Jersey
2:00 p.m. EDT	Whymark 13', 60'		Van der Veen 23', 79' Marsh 34' Connell 67' Gorman 86' Fabbiani 87'	Stadium: Giants Stadium Attendance: 50,699 Referee: Gino D'Ippolito (United States)

References

↑ A national championship tournament for professional clubs was not organized by Canada Soccer in 1979, or any year until 2008.

↑ "Vancouver Whitecaps 1979". nasljerseys.com. Retrieved September 7, 2023.
↑ "Cosmos and 'Caps stage a pitch(ed) battle". Vancouver Sun. July 16, 1979. p. C1.
↑ Stinson, Dan (27 August 1979). "Whitecaps' journey finds them sitting pretty". Vancouver Sun. p. C1 (23).

External links

1979 NASL season

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[1] A national championship tournament for professional clubs was not organized by Canada Soccer in 1979, or any year until 2008.

[2] "Vancouver Whitecaps 1979". nasljerseys.com. Retrieved September 7, 2023.

[3] "Cosmos and 'Caps stage a pitch(ed) battle". Vancouver Sun. July 16, 1979. p. C1.

[4] Stinson, Dan (27 August 1979). "Whitecaps' journey finds them sitting pretty". Vancouver Sun. p. C1 (23).

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