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<b>Willie Johnston's famous beer swig </b> |
Raise your glass, Willie Johnston is coming back to Vancouver!
As Whitecaps FC continue to celebrate 40 years of professional soccer in Vancouver, the club is pleased to announce that the Scottish fan favourite will be at BC Place for two upcoming MLS matches.
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<b>Willie Johnston entertains the crowd by sitting on the ball</b> |
“Wee” Willie helped guide Vancouver Whitecaps to the 1979 NASL Soccer Bowl championship. As we approach the anniversary of that famous victory on September 8, 1979, fans will have the opportunity to meet the club legend when the ‘Caps host D.C. United on Saturday, September 6 and San Jose Earthquakes on Wednesday, September 10.
“I had a great time in Vancouver and really enjoyed the football,” recalled Johnston. “It was always a tremendous atmosphere with fantastic fans. Anything I could do to entertain them, I was always happy to do it. It will be great to come back and be a part of the club’s 40th anniversary celebrations.”
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<b>More antics from Willie Johnston: Rangers vs. Celtic</b> |
On September 10, Johnston will be in attendance to help celebrate the induction of his fellow winger on that ’79 team, Carl Valentine, into the Whitecaps FC Ring of Honour.
Johnston was known for his fun and entertainment on the field. Among his antics was a game against San Jose Earthquakes. With a corner kick in the second half and the game tied at 1-1, Johnston took a famous sip of beer from a fan before taking the corner kick, which resulted in a winning goal off the head of Peter Daniel. To commemorate that memorable moment, a new section has been started at the northeast corner of BC Place, now known as “Willie’s Corner” – the same end of the field where that beer swig and corner kick was taken.
Tickets remain available for both the September 6 and 10 matches at whitecapsfc.com/tickets. To take part in a special meet and greet with Willie Johnston at either match, contact Darren Mackay at dmackay@whitecapsfc.com.
Thank you to Barry Walker for the "Willie's Corner" banner.
