If you’ve got a kid who plays soccer in Burnaby — or you just pass by the fields at Burnaby Lake on a Saturday morning — you’ve probably heard of Burnaby FC by now. The club’s new, but not really. It officially came together in 2023, the result of five long-running local clubs deciding it was time to work as one.

Mountain United FC, Cliff Avenue United, Burnaby Youth Soccer, Wesburn, and Burnaby Girls SC — all merged into one system. It’s a big move, but it makes sense. Instead of kids bouncing between different programs, Burnaby FC now gives them one clear pathway, from the early kick-and-run days right through to high-performance leagues and even League1 BC.

There are over 4,000 players in the club right now. Boys, girls, beginners, elite, U4s to U21s — they’ve got space for everyone. And if you’re wondering about the coaching — yes, they’re local. People like Joe Zupo and Adriano Clemente are running the top teams, and names like Todd May and Jonas Worth are leading the boys’ and girls’ League1 squads. These are coaches who’ve been working in this community and province for years. They know the kids, they know the system, and most importantly, they care.

And I’ve seen it myself. I sent my son to their spring break program, and I honestly didn’t know what to expect. It was just a short camp — but it was clear the coaches weren’t there to babysit or just run drills. They were teaching. My kid came home talking about passing angles and build-up plays. Now he’s asking when the next camp is.

It’s not just the Whitecaps and Vancouver FC doing good work here in Metro Vancouver. Burnaby FC is building something from the ground up — right here in our neighbourhoods, on the fields we walk past every day. One day, I hope I can say I supported them before they were huge.

They’re just getting started, but the pieces are already coming together. I’ll be watching — and cheering — as this one grows.

For more information, please visit:
https://www.burnabyfc.com/