History
On May 5, 2018, "Port City FC" was one of four groups accepted by the Canadian Soccer Association for professional club membership, along with groups that would become Cavalry FC, HFX Wanderers, and York9. Port City was the only one of the four that was not identified with a specific city, and represented an as-of-yet undetermined location in British Columbia. [1] The group was expected to launch a team in either Greater Victoria or Surrey, British Columbia. [2] Former professional player Rob Friend, who grew up in British Columbia, was pictured as a representative of the region. [3] On June 1, the Canadian Premier League granted the Port City ownership group a club on Vancouver Island. [4]
Pacific FC was officially unveiled on July 20 as the seventh team to join the Canadian Premier League. [5] As well as confirming its place in the league for the 2019 launch season, the club also revealed its crest, colours and branding. [6] Former Denmark international Michael Silberbauer was announced as the first head coach on August 20. [7]
They played their first competitive game on April 28, 2019, defeating visitors HFX Wanderers 1–0 with Hendrik Starostzik scoring the only goal and Mark Village keeping a clean sheet. [8] The club parted ways with Silberbauer on October 18, 2019, and announced then-assistant coach James Merriman as interim head coach. [9] Former Norway international Pa-Modou Kah was named permanent head coach before the 2020 season.
On August 26, 2021, they were matched against Major League Soccer opposition for the first time, being drawn against provincial opponents Vancouver Whitecaps FC in the quarterfinals of the Canadian Championship. Although underdogs, they defeated the Whitecaps 4–3, becoming the second CPL club to eliminate an MLS club in the competition. [10] [11]
On December 5, Pacific FC won its first Canadian Premier League title after defeating defending champions Forge FC 1–0 in the 2021 CPL Final at Tim Hortons Field. [12] In doing so they became the second team to have been crowned Canadian Premier League champions. [13] Head coach Pa-Modou Kah resigned during the offseason and was replaced by assistant coach James Merriman.
In 2022, Pacific participated in CONCACAF League for the first time. They won their preliminary round matchup but were eliminated in the round of 16 by Herediano of Costa Rica. In the CPL, Pacific recorded their highest point total to date (46 points) but were eliminated in the semifinals of the league playoffs.
In September 2025, SixFive Sports & Entertainment – owners of Pacific FC – announced that they were exploring a sale of the team. [14] On May 26, 2026, Pacific parted ways with James Merriman following a 17-match winless streak. Merriman had served as head coach since 2022 and the been with the club since the inaugural 2019 season. [15] The winless streak continued into the summer, reaching 27 matches and more than 365 days by August 15, 2026. [16]
Crest and colours
The club's branding is designed to represent Vancouver Island. The team's crest is the shape of a Douglas fir, a tree native to Vancouver Island, split into two segments, with the right side forming the shape of the island. The tree is bordered by the ocean and includes a single chevron to represent a wave of the ocean and a 'V' that can stand for Victoria, victory and Vancouver Island. [20]
The secondary logo is a roundel with a trident, meant to represent the strength and courage of the island, as well as the weather attributed to the Pacific Ocean. The logo also includes the motto of the coat of arms of the city of Victoria, which is the Latin phrase Semper Liber (lit. 'Forever Free'). [21]
The official club colours are purple, teal, and white (branded by the club as "starfish purple", "lagoon blue", and "lighthouse white"). These colours symbolize the native Pisaster ochraceus sea star, the Pacific Ocean, and the region's lighthouses. [20]
Kit history
Home and away kits.
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