VANCOUVER, BC – Vancouver Whitecaps FC will be paying tribute to club legend Tony Waiters at Sunday’s final regular season home match at BC Place. Waiters passed in November 2020 at the age of 83.
Kickoff is scheduled for after 3 p.m. PT. Fans are encouraged to be in their seats for the opening procession, as Waiters will be recognized prior to the singing of the national anthems. Members of the Waiters family will be in attendance.
Waiters steered the Whitecaps to the 1979 NASL Soccer Bowl championship as their head coach, and was inducted to the club's Ring of Honour in 2019.
A beloved and revered figure within the Whitecaps family whose contributions and influence remain to be felt today, Waiters coached two full seasons and two half seasons in Vancouver, finishing with a record of 66-30 in NASL play.
Following the NASL era, Waiters helped found the Vancouver 86ers which carried on to become the club that stands today.
Waiters would go on to become head coach of Canada’s men’s national team, leading the Red & White to the ‘84 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, and then to their first, and to this day only, FIFA World Cup appearance at Mexico ‘86.
Beyond his work with the ‘Caps and Canadian national team, Waiters also worked countlessly to support youth soccer, including many years with Cliff Avenue United FC.
In addition to being in the Whitecaps FC Ring of Honour, Waiters is also an honoured member of the BC Sports Hall of Fame and the Canada Soccer Hall of Fame.
Waiters was born in Southport, England and played 15 seasons in his native land prior to his managerial career. A former goalkeeper, he also played for the England national team.
