Vancouver Whitecaps FC announce the signing of defender Justin Thompson and the re-signing of defender/midfielder Mason Trafford. Thompson and Trafford have both agreed to one-year contracts - plus an option.
Thompson, 27-years-old, rejoins the Whitecaps after stints with Hornchurch FC, Virginia Beach Mariners, Worcester City FC, and Portland Timbers. Thompson, who was born in Prince Rupert, BC, and raised in North Vancouver, BC, was a member of the Whitecaps during the 2004 season, where he played in 19 regular season and playoff games for a total of 1,301 minutes. Thompson started his professional career with Bury FC of the English Football League Two in 2003.
Following the 2004 season with Vancouver, the 6-foot-3, 200-pound centre back had brief stints with the now-defunct sides of Hornchurch FC of England’s Football Conference South, and Virginia Beach Mariners of the United Soccer Leagues First Division. At the start of the 2005-06 season, Thompson joined Worcester City FC – then of England's Conference North – where he played 97 matches and scored five goals over two seasons.
Thompson then returned to North America in the spring of 2007 and signed on with the Portland Timbers. In two seasons with the Timbers, the defender played in 51 regular season and playoff matches for 4,368 minutes of action. He contributed on the offensive end, with four goals and two assists.
Prior to turning professional, the graduate of Windsor Secondary School in North Vancouver played his first year of collegiate soccer at Union University in Jackson, Tennessee, before transferring to Fairfield University in Fairfield, Connecticut, in 2000. Thompson has also represented Canada on the international stage at the U-20 and U-23 levels, including the 2001 FIFA World Youth Championship in Argentina.
Trafford, 22, joined the Whitecaps mid-way through last season after spending four years at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV). In his first season in Vancouver, the defender/midfielder played 750 minutes in 17 matches.
In his four years at UNLV, the 6-foot-2, 180-pounder played in 66 matches and tallied two goals and four assists. Trafford, who was born in Boynton Beach, Florida, but raised in North Vancouver, played his youth soccer with the North Shore Selects. The graduate of Handsworth Secondary School also played for the British Columbia provincial team in 2000 and 2004.
Whitecaps 2009 season tickets are now on sale. Season tickets include all men’s and women's team regular season and playoff home matches at Swangard Stadium, Nutrilite Canadian Championship home matches against Toronto FC and Montreal Impact, as well as priority listing for BC Place and the proposed Whitecaps Waterfront Stadium. For more information on the 2009 season ticket packages, call 604.669.WAVE (9283) or CLICK HERE.
