The Vancouver Whitecaps FC, in conjunction with the British Columbia Soccer Association (BCSA), announced today that Surrey WFC has been added as a new Whitecaps Super Y-League affiliate to play in the USL Super Y-League Northwest Division next summer. Surrey WFC will operate U-13 to U-14 Boys and Girls teams in 2008, and will join sophomore Whitecaps WFC affiliates Coastal WFC and Mountain WFC for next season. “With both Mountain and Coastal sending six teams to Florida and achieving top-10 rankings in North America in their inaugural year, we felt the foundation was set to add a third affiliate in Surrey WFC,” said Whitecaps youth development director Dan Lenarduzzi. “By limiting Surrey WFC to just the younger age groups in 2008, it allows us to expand at the younger player base, and bring additional clubs, players and coaches from the greater Surrey area into the Whitecaps and BCSA regional partnerships.” “We are pleased to work with our partners, Vancouver Whitecaps FC, in adding the new Surrey WFC Super Y-League affiliate and their various BCSA membership groups,” said BCSA executive director Bjorn Osieck. “We will continue to build on a successful inaugural year in providing the appropriate governance of activities under the Super Y-League banner. We wish Surrey WFC, along with Mountain and Coastal, a great 2008 season.”Surrey WFC is a regional affiliate that primarily spans five member clubs. They include Guildford Athletic Club (GAC), Surrey United Soccer Club (SUSC), Surrey Breakers Athletic Association (SBAA), Surrey Youth Soccer Association (SYSA), and Whalley Soccer Club (WSC). “Surrey soccer clubs have been helping to provide leadership in grassroots player/team development, event hosting, and soccer advocacy,” said Surrey WFC affiliate general manager Chris Murphy. “The opportunity to collaborate on this new initiative has catalyzed the community to share ideas towards a common goal and has aligned the region with the development pyramid that has been established by the British Columbia Soccer Association and the Vancouver Whitecaps.”The Super Y-League expansion is part of the BCSA/Whitecaps partnership. As part of the partnership, the BCSA will provide governance of the league and teams. The Whitecaps will not directly run the Super Y-League teams, but will oversee the operations of the Super Y-League in British Columbia, as well as assist with the management of the new Whitecaps Super Y-League affiliates - Coastal WFC, Mountain WFC and Surrey WFC.Coastal WFC is a regional affiliate spanning several districts and clubs. They include Delta, Surrey, Richmond and Vancouver, while Mountain WFC covers districts and clubs in Burnaby, Coquitlam, Vancouver, North Vancouver and West Vancouver. Affiliates are able to use their regions’ best players and coaches, and in addition, provide enhanced development opportunities for players across the Lower Mainland. Joining Coastal, Mountain and Surrey in Super Y-League Northwest Division play next summer will be Abbotsford, Okanagan, and Victoria, along with American opposition from Seattle, Spokane, and Yakima. All teams will compete for the opportunity to represent the Northwest Division at the Super Y-League North American Finals in Florida. More information on the Whitecaps Super Y-League affiliates and the 2008 Super Y-League season will be announced in early January.
