We're blue, we're white, we're Whitecaps Dynamite..
With the Canucks out of the hockey, it's time for us to turn our attention to a proper sport. Football, or soccer as it's called over here and more importantly the Vancouver Whitecaps. They play in the USL (United Soccer League) which consists of Canadian teams and American sides not good enough for the MSL.
Anyway, Chris managed to pick up some free tickets from work and we went with Simon and Liz to watch the game on Saturday night against the Toronto Lynx. The game itself was pretty dull and the players didn't seem to have much passion but the experience itself was enjoyable and very different from a game in England.
For a start there was no swearing in the crowd. Not a single swear word heard throughout the entire game. Secondly the PA system kept playing music and adverts throughout the game which was quite annoying, especially when they kept repeating themselves.
The best thing though was the song sheet. Led by Brigadier Brad and the Blue and White Brigade you could follow along with the chants to help create "some European soccer style atmosphere and enthusiasm". But you show me a European football match where the crowd chant:
Show the yellow card referee,
Referee, referee
Show the yellow referee,
He's been naughty.
Even Winger, the Whitecaps mascot couldn't get the crowd totally involved but he tried his hardest and deep down, that's all that matters.
The Whitecaps won the game 2-0 with a goal in either half. Both goals could be put down to the Toronto goalkeeper who caught "David James" syndrome and became allergic to catching the ball.
All in all a good time was had and at the end of the day, a bad game of football is still a lot better than a good game of hockey.
The main stand at the Swangard Stadium. And by main I mean only. There was a crowd of over 4,500 though
The Toronto Lynx warming up. Booooooo.
A closer look at the stand. The atmosphere in there was incredible
It's me again. I should have been playing though, I can't have been any worse than the players on the pitch
Me, Simon and Chris. Simon wore his Sunderland shirt hoping to see Newcastle's third choice keeper Tony Caig. He's now on loan at the Whitecaps but wasn't in the squad. Funnily enough the Whitecaps beat Sunderland 3-1 in a pre season friendly. That must make Sunderland the worst Premiership team in history. Wait a minute...
Behind the stand. Here you could pick up food and merchanidse. Don't forget your song sheet
A view from my seat. The ground is filling up nicely
All together now, "O Canada, our home and native land". I probably know more words to the Canadian national anthem than I do my own
The action, or lack of it gets underway
0-0 after 35minutes. I couldn't even remember there being a shot at this point
At half time they had a penalty shootout between 4 nations. One of them was England yet they were represented by the Union Jack flag. Disgraceful
2-0 and the game's over. Winger would then go onto slide down the banner. He's a great mascot
The giant umbro ball in the stadium
Anyway, Chris managed to pick up some free tickets from work and we went with Simon and Liz to watch the game on Saturday night against the Toronto Lynx. The game itself was pretty dull and the players didn't seem to have much passion but the experience itself was enjoyable and very different from a game in England.
For a start there was no swearing in the crowd. Not a single swear word heard throughout the entire game. Secondly the PA system kept playing music and adverts throughout the game which was quite annoying, especially when they kept repeating themselves.
The best thing though was the song sheet. Led by Brigadier Brad and the Blue and White Brigade you could follow along with the chants to help create "some European soccer style atmosphere and enthusiasm". But you show me a European football match where the crowd chant:
Show the yellow card referee,
Referee, referee
Show the yellow referee,
He's been naughty.
Even Winger, the Whitecaps mascot couldn't get the crowd totally involved but he tried his hardest and deep down, that's all that matters.
The Whitecaps won the game 2-0 with a goal in either half. Both goals could be put down to the Toronto goalkeeper who caught "David James" syndrome and became allergic to catching the ball.
All in all a good time was had and at the end of the day, a bad game of football is still a lot better than a good game of hockey.
The main stand at the Swangard Stadium. And by main I mean only. There was a crowd of over 4,500 though
The Toronto Lynx warming up. Booooooo.
A closer look at the stand. The atmosphere in there was incredible
It's me again. I should have been playing though, I can't have been any worse than the players on the pitch
Me, Simon and Chris. Simon wore his Sunderland shirt hoping to see Newcastle's third choice keeper Tony Caig. He's now on loan at the Whitecaps but wasn't in the squad. Funnily enough the Whitecaps beat Sunderland 3-1 in a pre season friendly. That must make Sunderland the worst Premiership team in history. Wait a minute...
Behind the stand. Here you could pick up food and merchanidse. Don't forget your song sheet
A view from my seat. The ground is filling up nicely
All together now, "O Canada, our home and native land". I probably know more words to the Canadian national anthem than I do my own
The action, or lack of it gets underway
0-0 after 35minutes. I couldn't even remember there being a shot at this point
At half time they had a penalty shootout between 4 nations. One of them was England yet they were represented by the Union Jack flag. Disgraceful 
2-0 and the game's over. Winger would then go onto slide down the banner. He's a great mascot
The giant umbro ball in the stadium
posted by Paul Banks at 9:26 AM
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