1979 Vancouver Whitecaps season

Vancouver Whitecaps

1979 season
Owner	Herb Capozzi
General manager	John Best
Head coach	Tony Waiters
North American Soccer League	Division: 1st Conference: 3rd Overall: 4th
NASL Playoffs	Champions
Challenge Trophy	Ineligible [a]
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
←  1978 1980  →

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; some limited exceptions apply. 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
					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 v t e	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 v t e	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

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 champion

Overall standings

Pos	Div	Team v t e	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

Vancouver Whitecaps v Dallas Tornado

30 March1	Vancouver Whitecaps	1–2 (SO)	Dallas Tornado	Vancouver, British Columbia
	Hector	Report	Gomez	Stadium: Empire Stadium Attendance: 24,850

Vancouver Whitecaps v Edmonton Drillers

6 April2 Inter-conference	Vancouver Whitecaps	2–0	Edmonton Drillers	Vancouver, British Columbia
	Hector Craven	Report		Stadium: Empire Stadium Attendance: 18,097

Chicago Sting v Vancouver Whitecaps

14 April3 Inter-conference	Chicago Sting	2–3 (SO)	Vancouver Whitecaps	Chicago, Illinois
	Granitza Hanegem	Report	Sammels Hector	Stadium: Soldier Field Attendance: 10,130

Vancouver Whitecaps v Portland Timbers

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

San Diego Sockers v Vancouver Whitecaps

27 April5 Inter-conference	San Diego Sockers	1–0	Vancouver Whitecaps	San Diego, California
	Nover	Report		Stadium: Jack Murphy Stadium Attendance: 10,514

Vancouver Whitecaps v San Diego Sockers

2 May6 Inter-conference	Vancouver Whitecaps	3–1	San Diego Sockers	Vancouver, British Columbia
	Hector Whymark	Report	Nover	Stadium: Empire Stadium Attendance: 16,965

San Jose Earthquakes v Vancouver Whitecaps

5 May7 Inter-conference	San Jose Earthquakes	1–2	Vancouver Whitecaps	San Jose, California
	Gersdorff	Report	Hector Daniel	Stadium: Spartan Stadium Attendance: 14,107

Vancouver Whitecaps v Rochester Lancers

11 May8	Vancouver Whitecaps	1–0	Rochester Lancers	Vancouver, British Columbia
	Valentine	Report		Stadium: Empire Stadium Attendance: 22,078

Vancouver Whitecaps v Philadelphia Fury

18 May9 Inter-conference	Vancouver Whitecaps	2–0	Philadelphia Fury	Vancouver, British Columbia
	Hector Whymark	Report		Stadium: Empire Stadium Attendance: 18,293

Edmonton Drillers v Vancouver Whitecaps

30 May10 Inter-conference	Edmonton Drillers	1–3	Vancouver Whitecaps	Edmonton, Alberta
	Kraay	Report	Hector	Stadium: Commonwealth Stadium Attendance: 10,529

Vancouver Whitecaps v Houston Hurricane

2 June11 Inter-conference	Vancouver Whitecaps	0–1	Houston Hurricane	Vancouver, British Columbia
		Report	Marasco	Stadium: Empire Stadium Attendance: 26,013

Tulsa Roughnecks v Vancouver Whitecaps

7 June12	Tulsa Roughnecks	1–2	Vancouver Whitecaps	Tulsa, Oklahoma
	Abrahams	Report	Valentine Lewington	Stadium: Skelly Stadium Attendance: 10,102

Minnesota Kicks v Vancouver Whitecaps

9 June13	Minnesota Kicks	1–0	Vancouver Whitecaps	Bloomington, Minnesota
	Futcher	Report		Stadium: Metropolitan Stadium Attendance: 24,061

California Surf v Vancouver Whitecaps

13 June14 Inter-conference	California Surf	3–2 (SO)	Vancouver Whitecaps	Anaheim, California
	Ingram	Report	Hector Possee	Stadium: Anaheim Stadium Attendance: 7,182

Vancouver Whitecaps v New York Cosmos

16 June15	Vancouver Whitecaps	4–1	New York Cosmos	Vancouver, British Columbia
	Sammels Valentine Hector Derek Possee	Report	Chinaglia	Stadium: Empire Stadium Attendance: 32,372

Vancouver Whitecaps v California Surf

24 June16 Inter-conference	Vancouver Whitecaps	2–1	California Surf	Vancouver, British Columbia
	Johnston Ball	Report	Steve David	Stadium: Empire Stadium Attendance: 20,814

Atlanta Chiefs v Vancouver Whitecaps

27 June17	Atlanta Chiefs	1–3	Vancouver Whitecaps	Atlanta, Georgia
	Neill Roberts	Report	Hector Ball	Stadium: Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium Attendance: 5,152

Fort Lauderdale Strikers v Vancouver Whitecaps

30 June18 Inter-conference	Fort Lauderdale Strikers	3–2 (SO)	Vancouver Whitecaps	Fort Lauderdale, Florida
	Cubillas Walker	Report	Possee Whymark	Stadium: Lockhart Stadium Attendance: 15,290

Toronto Blizzard v Vancouver Whitecaps

4 July19	Toronto Blizzard	2–1	Vancouver Whitecaps	Toronto, Ontario
	Lorimer Lukacevic	Report	Valentine	Stadium: Varsity Stadium Attendance: 13,754

Vancouver Whitecaps v Seattle Sounders

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

Vancouver Whitecaps v Los Angeles Aztecs

11 July21	Vancouver Whitecaps	0–1	Los Angeles Aztecs	Vancouver, British Columbia
		Report	Cruyff 26'	Stadium: Empire Stadium Attendance: 28,764

New York Cosmos v Vancouver Whitecaps

15 July22	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

Washington Diplomats v Vancouver Whitecaps

18 July23	Washington Diplomats	2–1	Vancouver Whitecaps	Washington, D.C.
	Askew Droege	Report	Ball	Stadium: Robert F. Kennedy Stadium Attendance: 12,321

Vancouver Whitecaps v Toronto Blizzard

21 July24	Vancouver Whitecaps	3–0	Toronto Blizzard	Vancouver, British Columbia
	Whymark Sammels Ball	Report		Stadium: Empire Stadium Attendance: 21,409

Vancouver Whitecaps v Tulsa Roughnecks

25 July25	Vancouver Whitecaps	1–0	Tulsa Roughnecks	Vancouver, British Columbia
	Whymark	Report		Stadium: Empire Stadium Attendance: 21,196

Portland Timbers v Vancouver Whitecaps

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

Vancouver Whitecaps v Minnesota Kicks

1 August27	Vancouver Whitecaps	1–0	Minnesota Kicks	Vancouver, British Columbia
	Lenarduzzi	Report		Stadium: Empire Stadium Attendance: 24,656

Los Angeles Aztecs v Vancouver Whitecaps

4 August28	Los Angeles Aztecs	2–0	Vancouver Whitecaps	Los Angeles, California
	Dangerfield Cruyff	Report		Stadium: Rose Bowl Attendance: 11,157

Vancouver Whitecaps v San Jose Earthquakes

8 August29 Inter-conference	Vancouver Whitecaps	1–0	San Jose Earthquakes	Vancouver, British Columbia
	Whymark	Report		Stadium: Empire Stadium Attendance: 25,731

Seattle Sounders v Vancouver Whitecaps

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)

Dallas Tornado v Vancouver Whitecaps

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

Vancouver Whitecaps v Dallas Tornado

18 AugustGame 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)

Los Angeles Aztecs v Vancouver Whitecaps

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

Vancouver Whitecaps v Los Angeles Aztecs

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

Vancouver Whitecaps v Los Angeles Aztecs

25 AugustMini-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)

Vancouver Whitecaps v New York Cosmos

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

New York Cosmos v Vancouver Whitecaps

1 SeptemberGame 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

New York Cosmos v Vancouver Whitecaps

1 SeptemberMini-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)

Main article: Soccer Bowl '79

Vancouver Whitecaps v Tampa Bay Rowdies

8 SeptemberNASL 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

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

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

External links

• 1979 NASL season