Vancouver Royals

The Vancouver Royals were a football franchise from the Canadian city of Vancouver, which took part in the premiere season of the North American Soccer League ( NASL ) in 1968. It originated from the merger of the two franchises of the predecessor League United Soccer Association (USA), the Vancouver Royal Canadians, as well as the California San Francisco Golden Gate Gales, both in the single season of the United States 1967 - as all participants in the league - no own team had, but each complete for the play-free time purchased in Europe squad of FC Sunderland ( Vancouver ) and ADO Den Haag (San Francisco ) could accumulate.

USA

San Francisco Golden Gate Gales

The Gales franchise was founded by businessman George Fleharty, who also owned shares, which was founded at the same time NHL California Seals. For the allocation of customers acquired by the United States abroad teams of franchise ADO Den Haag was assigned. It was played in Kezar Stadium, the former home stadium of the NFL clubs San Francisco 49ers.

The Gales could sporty performed well; with 25 of the club scored the most goals the league, more than five victories of Gales reached no other team, because two defeats over division rival Los Angeles Wolves you still missed the championship game. Outstanding players were Henk Houwaart as the second best and fifth- Rene Pas top scorer in the league. With an average attendance of less than 5,500 it was significantly below the league average of 7,900.

Vancouver Royal Canadians

In the allocation of imported teams in the franchise, the English top-flight club Sunderland Fc was assigned, who always played in the second half of the 60s against relegation. As Vancouver Royal Canadians usually short Vancouver Canadians they played in, built in 1954 for the British Empire and Commonwealth Games Empire Stadium; which like most stadiums in the USA league never could even begin to be filled; with a capacity of over 30,000 it only achieved an average attendance of 7,019. Sporty was the season very poorly; 28 goals conceded was the worst performance in the league, the club was a total for points, victories and defeats each third- worst in the league. Despite the cutting of the club Jim Baxter was elected to the All-Star team in the league.

NASL

During the merger negotiations between the U.S. and its competitor, National Professional Soccer League ( NPSL ), it was agreed that the Gales should not exist in the city further due to the proximity of San Francisco to the NPSL franchise Oakland Clippers and thus the competition for viewers, the owner of Gales therefore acquired the franchise in Vancouver to fuse both.

For the 1968 season, each a separate squads for both franchises was compiled, from which protruded the two coaches, San Franciso Ferenc Puskás was hired during Vancouver should be supervised by the later English coach Bobby Robson as a player coach. As both clubs merged Puskás was elected as head coach, while Robson, the post was meant for an assistant, left the club in January 1968. Mainly because Puskás's time at Real Madrid, then known in Canada as the Royal, the short name of the club of Canadians was changed to the Royals.

Sporting the season for Vancouver ended badly; although the Luxembourg Henry Klein with 20 goals was the third-best scorer in the league, the Royals with twelve wins four -worst team were at five draws and 15 defeats the league and last of their own Pacific Division. Although the club with 6,200 having the third-best average attendance in the 1968 season, but necessary for cost recovery were approximately 20,000 missed by far.