Cascadia official soccer team
The Cascadia national soccer team is a soccer team representing the men's side of the Cascadia region of the United States and Canada and is controlled by the Cascadia Association Football Federation (CAFF). The team is composed of players from the U.S states of Oregon, Washington and the Canadian province of British Columbia. The stated mission of the team is "...to allow Cascadia as a distinct cultural entity, isolated bioregion and growing society with common interests to be represented at the international level in the sport we are all passionate about."[1] CAFF is a member of ConIFA. Cascadia is not a member of FIFA or any confederation or sub-confederation as the region is wholly a part of both the United States or Canada. However, CAFF is not opposed to those organizations and sees itself coexisting as a non-FIFA regional representative team.[citation needed]
| Nickname(s) | The Dougs |
|---|---|
| Association | Cascadia Association Football Federation |
| Confederation | ConIFA |
| Sub-confederation | North America and Caribbean |
| Head coach | James Nichols |
| Captain | Patrick Wilson |
| Most caps | Max Oldham (8) |
| Top scorer | Calum Ferguson (5) |
| First international | |
| Ellan Vannin 4–1 Cascadia (Sutton, Surrey; May 31, 2018) | |
| Biggest win | |
| Cascadia 8–1 Darfur (Kent, Cascadia; July 27, 2019) | |
| Biggest defeat | |
| Kernow 8–1 Cascadia (Northwood, Middlesex; May 22, 2021) | |
| ConIFA World Football Cup | |
| Appearances | 1 (first in 2018) |
| Best result | 6th, 2018 |
It is hoped that the team will help expose more players from the region to international competition as well as foster a connection between the culture of Cascadia with other regions and peoples around the world.[2] Cascadia participated in the 2018 ConIFA World Football Cup.[3]
History edit
The idea of a Cascadia representative soccer team existed long before the founder of CAFF and friends first discussed the possibility. People on internet soccer discussion forums discussed the possibility as far back as 2011.[4] In early 2012 an Adidas Cascadia football shirt was designed by Kelly Dews and sold through the Cascadia Trifecta Facebook group to supporters and fans of the three Cascadian MLS teams: Vancouver Whitecaps FC, Seattle Sounders FC, and the Portland Timbers. The first run of these shirts were highly popular and were visible at matches throughout the region.[5]
Following the 2012 London Olympic Games and noting the athletes from Cascadia, former CAFF President Leonard Laymon and others began investigating just what it would take to form a non-FIFA regional representative team.[citation needed] In August 2012 the decision was made to go forward with making such a team a reality and networking was conducted with the non-FIFA football community.[citation needed]
In January 2013 CAFF convened its first general meeting at the headquarters of Golazo Energy in Seattle.[6] At this meeting CAFF's board of directors was elected and its bylaws and team eligibility requirements ratified, by vote.[7] It was also determined in a vote by the CAFF board following the meeting that Cascadia would send a representative to the N.F. Board's Annual General in Munich Germany at the end of the next month. An Indiegogo campaign raised the funding for the application process in less than a week.
In February 2013 Sascha Tillmanns was elected as Cascadia's European representative and initially sent to the meeting to deliver CAFF's application documents, express Cascadia's interest in joining the N.F. Board and help CAFF get an understanding of what its next steps should be. Tillmanns was asked at the meeting to give a presentation on Cascadia which was well received. In early March 2013 Cascadia learned that the N.F. Board would be deciding in the summer to admit up to three new members, of which Cascadia was one. Following this positive news that the early work of looking for Cascadia eligible players and a coach began.
In late April 2013, Alan Koch of Simon Fraser University in Burnaby, BC was the first potential coach to step forward and declare interest in becoming Cascadia's first coach. Later in July 2013 another potential Cascadia coach emerged when in a Q&A session on Twitter, former US men's national team defender and ESPN analyst Alexi Lalas proclaimed that "it would be an honor" to coach Cascadia.
In 2014 Cascadia joined CONIFA under the leadership of then President, Aaron Johnsen.
In June 2018 Cascadia took park in the 2018 CONIFA World Football Cup in London, finishing 6th. CAFF qualified for the tournament by being the only active CONIFA member in North America
Cascadia hosted its first true home match on July 27, 2019, playing a friendly against Darfur at French Field in Kent, Washington.[8] Cascadia won the friendly 8–1.[9]
In October 2019 CAFF made an agreement with the Western Washington Premier League. WWPL became an affiliate league of CAFF, and the two organizations will work together on projects. [10]
International record edit
CONIFA World Football Cup edit
| Year | Position | P | W | D | L | GF | GA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | did not enter | ||||||
| 2016 | |||||||
| 2018 | 6th | 6 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 17 | 11 |
| 2020 | Cancelled due to COVID-19 | ||||||
| Total | 6 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 17 | 11 | |
Cascadia qualified to participate in the 2018 CONIFA WFC by merit of being the only organization of its kind in North America in good standing with CONIFA. In April, UEFA B license coach James Nichols was brought on to lead the team. Despite an opening day defeat to Ellan Vannin, a 6–0 victory over Tamil Eelam ensured Cascadia's progress to the quarter finals on goal difference. However a defeat to eventual winners Kárpátalja saw Cascadia crash out. A 4–0 win over Western Armenia ensured they would finish in the 5th–6th place playoff, for the best teams knocked out of the quarter finals. Despite coming back from 3 goals down to draw 3–3, Cascadia eventually lost on penalties to early tournament favorites Panjab to finish 6th.
Fixtures and results edit
2018 edit
| May 31, 2018 2018 ConIFA WFC Group A | Ellan Vannin | 4–1 | Cascadia | Sutton, Surrey |
| Whitley 15' Jones 41' Caine 62' McVey 70' | 18' Doughty | Stadium: Gander Green Lane |
| June 2, 2018 2018 ConIFA WFC Group A | Barawa | 1–2 | Cascadia | Carshalton, Surrey |
| Bettamer 9' | 35' Doughty 45+1' Morales | Stadium: Colston Avenue |
| June 3, 2018 2018 ConIFA WFC Group A | Tamil Eelam | 0–6 | Cascadia | Rotherhithe, Surrey |
| 10' (p), 87' Nouble 32', 71' Hayden-Smith 69' Farkas 89' Ferguson | Stadium: St Paul's Sports Ground, Rotherhithe |
| June 5, 2018 2018 ConIFA WFC QF | Kárpátalja | 3–1 | Cascadia | Sutton, Surrey |
| Gyürki 49' Takács 59' Gajdos 87' (pen.) | 80' Haddadi | Stadium: Gander Green Lane |
| June 7, 2018 2018 ConIFA WFC PR2 | Cascadia | 4–0 | Western Armenia | Bromley, Kent |
| Ferguson 24', 62' Oldham 54' Farkas 79' | Stadium: Hayes Lane |
| June 9, 2018 2018 ConIFA WFC PR3 | Panjab | 3–3 (4–3 p) | Cascadia | Rotherhithe, Surrey |
| Virk 18' Minhas 24', 34' | Morales 45' Ferguson 54', 60' | Stadium: St Paul's Sports Ground | ||
| Penalties | ||||
| Purewal Zia Virk Dhillon K. Singh Jung | Riley Gregory J. Wilson Oldham Haddadi Levock | |||
2019 edit
| May 25, 2019 Friendly | Cascadia | 6–3 | Chagos Islands | Whyteleafe, Surrey |
| Powell 22', 73' Boone 23', 78' Calfo 46' Oldham 50' | Report | Sagai 30' Bunjun 51' (p) Heroseau 87' | Stadium: Church Road Referee: Dan Friar |
2021 edit
Squad edit
Current squad edit
The following players were called up to the Cascadia squad for the friendly against Cornwall on May 22, 2021.
| No. | Pos. | Player | Date of birth (age) | Caps | Goals | Club |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | GK | James Mayo | 1 | 0 | Brockenhurst | |
| 3 | DF | Taylor Fisher | April 17, 2000 | 2 | 0 | Sittingbourne |
| 4 | DF | Albie Sheehan-Cozens | February 1, 1998 | 1 | 0 | Barking |
| 5 | DF | Patrick Wilson (captain) | May 16, 1986 | 7 | 0 | Brockenhurst |
| 12 | DF | Jacob Toms | 2 | 0 | Unattached | |
| 13 | DF | Kyle Lemon | November 28, 1998 | 1 | 0 | Unattached |
| 6 | MF | Connor Campbell | 1 | 0 | Unattached | |
| 7 | MF | Max Oldham | July 8, 1993 | 8 | 3 | Corinthian-Casuals |
| 8 | MF | Josh Ekim | November 17, 1991 | 1 | 0 | Corinthian-Casuals |
| 10 | MF | Tayshan Hayden-Smith | September 23, 1996 | 5 | 2 | Walton Casuals |
| 11 | MF | Kellen Fisher | 1 | 0 | Bromley | |
| 9 | FW | Gavin McCallum | August 24, 1987 | 1 | 0 | Bognor Regis Town |
| 14 | FW | Matt Smith | 0 | 0 | Unattached - UCFB | |
| 15 | FW | Adam Budz | November 28, 2000 | 0 | 0 | Sutton Coldfield Town |
Recent call-ups edit
| Pos. | Player | Date of birth (age) | Caps | Goals | Club | Latest call-up |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GK | Will Marment | October 16, 1998 | 4 | 0 | Vassar College | 2018 ConIFA WFC |
| GK | Alejandro De La Torre | May 7, 1999 | 2 | 0 | Round Rock | 2018 ConIFA WFC |
| GK | Dorian Lair | 1 | 0 | Snohomish County | Darfur | |
| GK | Brendan Norris | 1 | 0 | Winchester City | Chagos Islands | |
| MF | Anthony Wright | November 10, 1997 | 6 | 0 | Banbury United | 2018 ConIFA WFC |
| DF | James Riley | October 27, 1982 | 6 | 0 | Tacoma Stars | Darfur |
| DF | Charlie Gregory | December 27, 1991 | 7 | 0 | Sporting Bengal United | Chagos Islands |
| DF | Matt Braem | June 25, 1994 | 4 | 0 | AFC Ann Arbor | 2018 ConIFA WFC |
| DF | Noah Cavanaugh | August 17, 1995 | 1 | 0 | Real Unión | Darfur |
| DF | Joey Censoni | September 3, 1993 | 2 | 0 | Carpathia FC | 2018 ConIFA WFC |
| DF | Julius Lansiquot | November 6, 1999 | 1 | 0 | Barnet | 2018 ConIFA WFC |
| DF | Sofien El-Mehrik | December 15, 1993 | 0 | 0 | Unattached | 2018 ConIFA WFC |
| DF | Ellis Routledge | October 25, 1999 | 0 | 0 | Wingate & Finchley | 2018 ConIFA WFC |
| DF | Lorne Jenkins | May 23, 1995 | 1 | 0 | Unattached | Chagos Islands |
| MF | Héctor Morales | January 19, 1993 | 6 | 2 | AFC Ann Arbor | 2018 ConIFA WFC |
| MF | Angelo Calfo | 2 | 1 | RIASA | Darfur | |
| MF | Jordan Wilson | October 31, 1991 | 6 | 0 | Nykøbing FC | 2018 ConIFA WFC |
| MF | Josh Doughty | April 8, 1997 | 3 | 2 | Unattached | 2018 ConIFA WFC |
| MF | Nikko Stokes | July 16, 2000 | 0 | 0 | Waltham Forest | 2018 ConIFA WFC |
| MF | Tanner Williams | June 29, 1993 | 1 | 0 | Spokane Shadow | Darfur |
| MF | Duncan McCormick | November 1, 1995 | 1 | 0 | Phoenix Rising | Darfur |
| MF | Beau Blanchard | 1 | 1 | UoW Huskies | Darfur | |
| MF | Quinn Fahling | 1 | 0 | Seattle University | Darfur | |
| MF | Brian Simpson | May 24, 1998 | 3 | 0 | Hatfield Town | Chagos Islands |
| MF | Zane Provenzano | 2 | 0 | RIASA | Darfur | |
| MF | Scott Menzies | 1 | 1 | UoW Huskies | Darfur | |
| MF | Tyler Bjork | 1 | 3 | Spokane Shadow | Darfur | |
| FW | Calum Ferguson | May 17, 1995 | 6 | 5 | Elgin City | 2018 ConIFA WFC |
| FW | Yuri Farkas | July 21, 1993 | 4 | 2 | AFC Ann Arbor | 2018 ConIFA WFC |
| FW | Keaton Levock | October 17, 1994 | 3 | 0 | Carpathia FC | 2018 ConIFA WFC |
| FW | Jon Nouble | January 19, 1996 | 2 | 2 | Unattached | 2018 ConIFA WFC |
| FW | Hamza Haddadi | January 31, 1994 | 3 | 4 | Kitsap Pumas | Darfur |
| FW | Chase Boone | 1 | 2 | RIASA | Chagos Islands | |
| FW | Callum Powell | January 28, 1996 | 1 | 2 | Stourbridge | Chagos Islands |
Head coach edit
Records edit
Top goal scorers edit
| # | Name | Career | Goals | Caps | Position |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Calum Ferguson | 2018– | 5 | 6 | FW |
| 2 | Hamza Haddadi | 2018– | 4 | 3 | FW |
| 3 | Max Oldham | 2018– | 3 | 8 | MF |
| Tyler Bjork | 2019– | 3 | 1 | FW |
Kit edit
In early 2012, Kelly Dews designed an Adidas-produced limited run of Cascadia shirts. The kit was white, green and blue with a green sash, reflecting the colors of the Doug Flag.[citation needed]
In August the new design was announced by Kelly Dews and the Cascadia Association Football Federation. It is a horizontal tri-color design similar to that of the flag of Cascadia. It features the CAFF crest on the front and Cascadia on the neckline in the back. The new shirt is made by a local company, Looptworks, but never used. [citation needed] After Cascadia were announced to feature in the 2018 ConIFA World Football Cup the team announced Stingz Sportswear as their kit supplier and a Giordano sponsorship.
See also edit
References edit
- ^ . cascadiafa.com. Archived from the original on September 14, 2013. Retrieved August 26, 2013.
- ^ Cascadia: the heartland of football in North America World Soccer Magazine
- ^ West, Phil (May 24, 2018). "James Riley: From MLS to the CONIFA World Football Cup with Cascadia". MLS Soccer. Retrieved May 24, 2018.
- ^ Cascadia In Bed With Maradona
- ^ Cascadia National Team Jersey... Yes Please Stumptown Footy
- ^ Cascadia Football Announces First General Meeting March 3, 2016, at the Wayback Machine – Press Release
- ^ Cascadia Announces Board of Directors, Meeting Results March 3, 2016, at the Wayback Machine Press Release
- ^ The Pacific’s Cascadia to play Darfur United in first all-CONIFA Men’s soccer match in North America Darfur United
- ^ "Cascadia make home debut in 8-1 win over Darfur".
- ^ "Western Washington Premier League announces affiliation with CAFF and Team Cascadia". October 26, 2019.
External links edit
- Official website