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Wednesday, April 15, 2026
Since 1892, adult amateur soccer teams across British Columbia have competed for the right to be crowned provincial champions. The history of the Provincial Cup follows the growth and development of the beautiful game in the province over the last 130 years.
Until 1979, all competitions were for men. Now, held annually, different categories of women's competitions have been added. This Report by the BC Soccer Hall of Fame & Heritage Archive has been compiled to celebrate the history of BC’s Provincial Cup play. Winning provincial championships is a tremendous achievement, and the report is designed to preserve and help recognize these teams, players and match officials.
The first BC Provincial Cup was held just three years after the first recorded soccer club in BC was formed in Victoria in August 1889, and just 20 years after the first FA Cup in England. Vancouver Island was soccer’s first hotbed, as Victoria’s naval base was home to many British sailors and the Nanaimo district coalfields attracted European miners, who brought association football with them.
Despite women’s soccer leagues developing in the mid-1970s, they remained unaffiliated with BC Soccer. The Women’s Open 'A-Cup' was instituted in 1982 when women’s leagues joined the Association. The first recorded women’s soccer game in BC had been in 1933, between two Nanaimo softball teams, the Northfield Wideawakes and the Brechin Dodo Kids. Northfield won that game and a rematch a month later, with goals from Dot Beban.
While the Open Provincial Championships played for the 'A-Cup' and to find the best amateur soccer team in the province, additional adult championships have been held to provide competition for players below this open competitive level. Originally, the 'B-Cup' was an open-age Challenge Cup for “recreational” players below the 'A-Cup' caliber.
Beginning with the BC Summer Games held in Richmond in 1979, a province-wide recreational level tournament (equivalent to the current B-Cup) was held as part of these games through to 1995. In 1996 the BC Summer Games moved away from adult play, so BC Soccer introduced its own 'B-Cup' for women, the trophy named for Leeta Sokalski, the association’s first female President.
In 1991, BC Soccer introduced the first Masters level provincial championship for male players aged over 30, recognizing that playing careers were lasting longer, with increased desire to play competitively in age-restricted leagues and competitions.
In 2000, BC introduced provincial championships for men’s Over-35 play, reflecting Canada Soccer switching its regional Master’s championships to the over-35 age group. The Master’s championship trophy is named for Deryl Hughes, the long-serving BC Soccer Registrar from 1969 to 1998.
In 2001, a provincial age-restricted championship for women aged over-30 was instituted, which leads to Canada Soccer’s regional competition. Originally called the “Classics” level, following Canada Soccer, this level has been renamed Masters play in recent years.
For the the entire history of the BC Soccer Adult Provincial Championships, including the full list of the winners of Provincial Cups, and Open Cup finals dates, venues, teams and scores, Click Here.
Contact the BC Soccer Hall of Fame & Heritage Archive with any information or images documenting soccer in BC. By submitting your documents you are helping tell the stories of those that built soccer in BC and prolong the history of the beautiful game in beautiful British Columbia.