Our Story
Vancouver Athletic Football Club (VAFC) is one of Vancouver’s largest and most inclusive soccer communities, proudly serving more than 3,500 youth and adult players across the city.
While VAFC was officially established in 2013, our roots stretch back more than 70 years through the local neighbourhood clubs that shaped the game in Vancouver for generations — including Douglas Park Soccer Club, Grandview Legion Football Club (est. 1955), and Vancouver Girls Soccer Club. These founding clubs helped build a culture of grassroots soccer in Vancouver long before VAFC existed, and we are proud to carry that legacy forward.
Today, VAFC brings together players, families, coaches, referees, and volunteers from all corners of Vancouver. Our programs support every age and stage of development — from early childhood soccer and recreational house leagues to competitive youth pathways, divisional teams, development academy programs, and a growing adult division. For many, VAFC is where soccer begins; for others, it is where soccer continues throughout adulthood.
As we have grown, so have the opportunities available to our players. Through our partnership with the TSS Rovers, Vancouver’s premier development club, VAFC has strengthened its pathway by connecting grassroots soccer to higher-level training environments and aspirational development options. This collaboration gives ambitious players the opportunity to pursue their goals in a supportive environment while remaining part of their local soccer community.
What sets VAFC apart is our commitment to people. Soccer may be the game, but community is the purpose. We invest in developing players, coaches, officials, and volunteers; we prioritize inclusion and access so that more families can participate; and we work toward long-term sustainability so the club can thrive for generations to come. Our culture reflects the diversity and energy of Vancouver itself — welcoming, collaborative, competitive when it counts, and driven by a love for the sport.
As we look to the future, we are focused on strengthening pathways, expanding opportunities, and advocating for facilities that can support our growth. From the neighbourhood fields that built our history to the thousands of players now shaping our next chapter, VAFC is proud to play an important role in Vancouver’s soccer story.
