Vancouver Whitecaps FC and the British Columbia Soccer Association (BCSA) will join forces to present Premiership Football on TEAM 1040.
Featured fixtures from the 34-week regular season schedule of the Barclays Premier League will be made available to BC soccer fans live on TEAM 1040 AM Sports Radio in the Lower Mainland and live on team1040.ca throughout the province.
This Saturday, August 23, features Liverpool taking on Middlesbrough at 6:50 a.m. PT.
As part of its commitment to develop the game by inspiring all British Columbians to lifelong active, inclusive and team play, the BCSA and Whitecaps are presenting Premiership Football on TEAM 1040 in association with The Province, The Vancouver Sun and SportMedBC.
"We see this as a strong promotional platform for the game in British Columbia and we're pleased to be teaming up with Vancouver Whitecaps FC to make the English Premier League accessible to our own member clubs, districts and leagues throughout the province," said Bjorn Osieck, chief executive of the BC Soccer Association. "We're very appreciative of the opportunity to expand the broadcast and media footprint for soccer in BC and to do so in partnership with the Whitecaps, TEAM 1040, The Province, The Vancouver Sun and SportMedBC."
It marks the first formal joint media venture undertaken by BC Soccer, the provincial governing body for soccer, and Vancouver Whitecaps FC, Western Canada’s professional soccer club.
"Growing the game in British Columbia and in Western Canada is a big part of our Vision 2011 strategic plan, as is working to do so in partnership with the BCSA and its membership throughout the province," said Vancouver Whitecaps FC president Bob Lenarduzzi. "We believe it's appropriate for us to present Premiership Football on TEAM 1040 as part of our commitment to continue to expand media coverage and public interest in our global game. We're pleased to do so hand-in-hand with the BCSA as one of a number of joint initiatives moving forward."
Lenarduzzi underlined that community investment in amateur soccer in general and in the club-based infrastructure of the BC Soccer Association in particular are key elements in Vancouver Whitecaps FC's bid to bring a Major League Soccer expansion franchise to Vancouver for 2011.
"What better way for us to reflect our support for soccer at all levels than in presenting our fans with access to what is generally-regarded as the top international league in the world?" added Lenarduzzi. "With more and better international players choosing to compete here in North America, we see Premiership Football as a great primer for soccer in North America."
Most weekends will feature a marquee Premiership match-up from 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. PT. Hardcore fans will get an additional fixture with selected Saturdays offering a 4:45 a.m. PT kickoff as part of a Premiership Football doubleheader on TEAM 1040, the largest all-sports radio station in Western Canada.
As part of the agreement, BC Soccer and the Whitecaps will also present two special segments on The Sport Market on TEAM 1040, which features the Bulls and Bears of sport business Saturdays from 9 a.m. to noon PT: A "Premiership Football Scoreboard" report presented in association with theprovince.com and a "SportMed Soccer" advisory presented in conjunction with SportMedBC and The Vancouver Sun. The latter will feature soccer training tips for parents and players, including sport nutrition and sport safety.
"What is most appealing to us about the opportunity to partner with the Whitecaps on this kind of promotional venture is how it enables us to harness the resources and the reach of TEAM 1040, The Province, The Vancouver Sun and SportMedBC to offer added value to our member clubs, districts and leagues," said Steve Reed, president of the BCSA and chair of its Board of Directors. "The special soccer training tips directed to parents of young players reflects that, as do the online links at team1040.ca which will offer news and information of interest to our membership and fans throughout BC.
"It's a great new platform for soccer in BC and we'll build on it in the years to come to stimulate increased media and corporate engagement in the game and to generate more resources and programs for our membership and ultimately, for soccer players of all ages," added Reed, who noted the joint venture is part of the BCSA's vision to create Canada's foremost integrated development system spanning grassroots, club, school, varsity and professional team excellence.
The BCSA and Whitecaps are further assessing a wide range of opportunities for collaboration in the promotion and development of soccer in BC.
For scheduling updates on Premiership Football on TEAM 1040 powered by BC Soccer and Vancouver Whitecaps FC, visit
team1040.ca
.
