PROFILE
A centre back that has represented Canada at the senior level, Jackson Farmer became one of the first three players on the inaugural Whitecaps FC 2 roster on February 17, 2015. Farmer originally joined Whitecaps FC Residency in September 2011 following a successful youth career in his hometown of Edmonton, Alberta.
UNITED SOCCER LEAGUE
2016: Farmer started each of his 10 regular season appearances, recording one assist, his first as a professional, versus Arizona United SC on August 3. 2015: Farmer finished his first season with Whitecaps FC 2 tied for team-high with 22 starts, making 24 total appearances and playing 2,001 minutes, tops among WFC2 defenders. 2014: Spent the early part of the 2014 USL PRO season on loan to Whitecaps FC affiliate Charleston Battery, starting three of his four appearances before being recalled by Vancouver on May 3.
FIRST TEAM
2016: Farmer participated in the training camp with the first team, making two preseason appearances as a substitute.
USL PREMIER DEVELOPMENT LEAGUE
2014: Farmer started all seven of his appearances for Whitecaps FC U-23, including the team's 7-2 playoff win over rivals Victoria Highlanders FC.
UNITED STATES SOCCER DEVELOPMENT ACADEMY
2013-14: Farmer started all 19 of his appearances for Whitecaps FC U-18 Residency, scoring one goal. 2012-13: Farmer started 33 of 35 regular season games for Whitecaps FC U-18 Residency, scoring one goal on the season against Santa Cruz Breakers Academy on November 18, 2012 in a 6-0 win. 2011-12: Farmer started all 27 of the games he played for Whitecaps FC U-16 Residency, scoring one goal on the season against Cal Odyssey in a 3-0 win on February 4, 2012.
MAJOR LEAGUE SOCCER RESERVE LEAGUE
2013: Farmer started twice for the ‘Caps in reserve league play, playing the full 90 minutes on both occasions. 2012: As a 17-year-old, Farmer made his MLS Reserve League debut as a second-half substitute in Whitecaps FC Reserves’ 2-1 home defeat to San Jose Earthquakes Reserves on September 10, 2012.
INTERNATIONAL
Senior: Farmer was called up by head coach Benito Floro to a 10-day training camp from September 1 to 10; the Red and White played two friendlies versus Mauritania during that span. The centre back earned his first cap at the senior level in the first of the two matches, when he came on as a late second half substitute replacing Doneil Henry. U-23: Farmer was called up to the Canadian U-23 national team at the 2015 Pan Am Games, making two starts. He rejoined the side for the CONCACAF Olympic Qualifying, making two starts in three total appearances. U-20: He represented Canada at the 2015 CONCACAF U-20 Championship tournament, starting Canada's final two matches and and scoring a goal against Cuba. He also represented the Canadian U-20 national team at the 2014 Milk Cup. U-18: In November 2011, Farmer took part in a 10-day training camp in San Jose, Costa Rica, with Canada’s U-18 development squad. In October 2013, he was also called up to the Canadian U-18 team for an October 8 to 14 camp in Guatemala. U-15: As a member of Canada's U-15 national team, Farmer took part in a 10-day camp at The Home Depot Center complex in Carson, California in October 2010. The camp included friendly matches versus the United States U-15 squad, with the defender serving the squad as captain.
YOUTH/AMATEUR
Farmer started his soccer career with hometown club Edmonton Xtreme FC, where he played at youth level from 2004 to 2009. The defender then spent time with Edmonton Juventus Soccer Club in 2009 and 2010 before returning to Xtreme FC to play senior men’s soccer in 2010 and 2011. Farmer then joined the Whitecaps FC Residency program, playing for the U-16 side for the 2011-12 season. The centre back also represented his home province of Alberta from U-13 to U-16 levels, having served in the role of captain during his time in the program. He was also a member of the Canadian Soccer Association's National Training Centre (Prairies region) program.
PERSONAL
From Edmonton, Alberta, the centre back’s parents are Lora and Glen Farmer, while he has a sister named Taylor. As a student in Edmonton, Alberta, Farmer attended St. Leo Elementary School before spending a year at Archbishop O’Leary High School. Farmer then switched high schools when coming to play for the 'Caps' Residency program, graduating from Burnaby Central Secondary School in 2013.
INTERESTING FACTS
The 6-foot-2 defender is a fan of English Premier League giants Chelsea FC, while his favourite player is Swedish sensation Zlatan Ibrahimovic. The centre back hopes to play at Chelsea’s Stamford Bridge one day in the future. Off the soccer pitch, Farmer enjoys playing all other sports, and his favourite food is chicken.