For too long, Canadian soccer fans have endured the ramblings of non-fans about how Canada isn't a "soccer country." The idea, it seems, is that we have history of the game, no heritage to provide a foundation moving forward.
Well, we here at Some Canadian Guys think that's just plain nonsense, mister. And we've decided to fight back.
So, welcome to the first weekly edition of "Tracking Back." In this section, we'll put paid to the idea that Canada is without a history in the beautiful game by displaying archival photos highlighting our rich soccer heritage.
[PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]For the inaugural edition of Tracking Back, we've selected this photo from 1932 of a match between Nanaimo and Westminster* at Con Jones Park in Vancouver. The best part of this shot is the packed stands. Keep in mind that this is at the height of the Great Depression: by the following year nearly a third of the Canadian workforce was unemployed, and per capita income in B.C., would be down nearly 50 per cent from just a few years before. But a local soccer match could still bring in the support down to Con Jones Park. It's heartening to see.
Photo credit: Stuart Thomson fonds, City of Vancouver Archives, CVA 99-2629
*This should perhaps be Nanaimo v New Westminster, but I've listed it here as described by the City of Vancouver archives.