q'unq'inuqwstuxw Stadium will host Harbourside FC games beginning this spring as the team joins League1. (Jordan Davidson/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By Alex Rawnsley

game day

Countdown officially on for Harbourside FC’s debut in Nanaimo

Feb 16, 2023 | 4:34 PM

NANAIMO — The debut of the region’s latest sports franchise is a matter of weeks away.

Harbourside Football Club, playing in the semi-pro League1 for the first time this season, will officially debut at q’unq’inuqwstuxw Stadium on Third St. when they welcome Langley’s Unity FC on April 29.

Club executive director Jason Coates said they’re about halfway through securing an opening day roster of local, national and international soccer players following an open tryout camp in early January.

“Both the men’s and women’s team have an initial roster developed and we’re just in the process of finalizing all those player commitments. If you were going to put a number to it, we’re probably in that 10 to 15 range already identified and in the commitment process.”

Another camp will come in April, by which time coaches Bobbie Taylor (women’s) and Kevin Lindo (men’s) will have a better idea of what’s needed. Coates said both teams will carry around 25 players each.

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Key dates on the calendar for Harbourside include a Friday night date with the Victoria Highlanders leading into the Victoria Day long weekend in May.

A team from the Vancouver Whitecaps will travel to Nanaimo the following week on May 24 while the defending champion TSS Rovers visit in July.

All of Harbourside’s home and away games will see both men’s and women’s teams play back-to-back with the women taking the field first, followed by the men.

Coates said the growing fan base can expect to see a lot of familiar names, with a big focus on development and local talent.

“There’s actually requirements that we have to field so many players under 23 and even several under 19 in each game day roster. There’s a growing focus in the league and the very concept of it about those really strong linkages with the youth clubs and the pathway for players to continue their development.”

With roughly 10 weeks to go before kickoff, work continues behind the scene to also build out off-field activities.

Coates told NanaimoNewsNOW they’ll soon put out a call for volunteers and also look to bolster their team staff.

“We’ve got some initial teams to help us with everything from setup to crowd control, we’ve got a vision of a kids fun zone so when parents come to watch and they’ve got a kid who wants to do some fun soccer activities while the game’s going on, we’re going to have a variety of things.”

The schedule for Harbourside FC is out, with the newest sports team in Nanaimo hitting the pitch in late April. (Harbourside FC Twitter)

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