When Dave Knowles took over as president of Vic West seven years ago, the club was languishing with two teams in Division 4 of the Vancouver Island Soccer League and another in Division 6.
The heady dynasty days of 1976 to 1984 — when Vic West won six Jackson Cups, six B.C. titles and four Canadian championships — were just misty memories.
But Vic West slowly began to rebuild and now has a team in the top-tier Division 1, coached by Joshua Hart, another in Division 2 and one more in Division 4.
The club’s renaissance continues this season with Vic West battling for top spot in the nine-team Division 1 at 7-2-1 alongside Cowichan FC (8-2-1 heading into Friday night), Saanich Fusion (6-1-2) and Bays United (5-1-4).
“Players attract players, through friendship and word of mouth, which is very important for an adult club such as ours with no youth organization,” noted Knowles, also general manager of the Vic West Division 1 team.
“And having a reasonable level of success on the pitch also attracts players.”
Players such as Kye Taylor from Powell River and Cam Fischer from Sooke have joined a core led by Derek De Groot.
The result is that Vic West is a soccer happening place once again on the Island after nearly three decades in the wilderness.
“It’s been a great thrill. I love watching our guys play. I look forward to the games,” said Knowles, whose Vic West charges play Castaways (2-7-2) in a Division 1 fixture Sunday at 2 p.m. at Finlayson Field.
“Our goal is the Jackson Cup.”
The Jackson Cup was once considered a birthright for the lads in green and white. If Knowles’s painstaking rebuild goes as scheduled, it may one day be again.
In other VISL Division 1 games before the Christmas break, Saanich Fusion was playing Cowichan FC, while Gorge (2-7-3) was meeting Nanaimo United (6-4) in late-finishing games Friday night.
The winless Prospect Lake Lakers (0-11-1) host last year’s Cinderella team Lakehill Reds (4-5-2) tonight at 7 p.m.
In the final game before the break, Saanich Fusion hosts Nanaimo United next Friday.
