Next time your parents want to haul out the old baby photos, send them to Canada Soccer’s Flickr page. It’s a massive database of images across just about every decade Canadian soccer was able to be photographed.
It’s an eerie experience at times. Seeing a sun-sweat Atiba Hutchinson arguing “the offside” or teenage Christine Sinclair in high definition creates an uncanny feeling, bringing experiences seen on a TV back to life again.
But before soccer even graced TV, we had the early 20th century. Club soccer was scattered across the country, national teams were smaller in scope.
Here are the most interesting early-to-mid 20th-century photos from Canada Soccer’s extensive archive, which we’d recommend you check out for yourself.
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Canada under a different banner, 1957
Canada’s FIFA World Cup qualifying campaign looked much, much different in 1957. Here, Les Rouges stand under the Canadian Red Ensign, ironically wearing blue, before a match with Mexico at Estadio Olímpico. Canada dropped two matches in Mexico City and finished second in the group.
Picturesque Pacific Coast Soccer League match, 1932
Westminster Royals take on an unknown foe at a packed Con Jones Park in 1932. Later renamed Callister Park, the stadium hosted Pacific Coast Soccer League matches for over three decades before being torn down in 1971. Also, do you see those mountains? Eat your heart out, Pacific FC.
Dustbowl football Vancouver, 1935
One more from what’s more-than-likely Con Jones Park in 1935: A Scottish all-star group battles the hometown Vancouver selects side for the ball.
‘Columbus! Go, Go, Go,’ 1960
Vancouver Columbus FC was a staple in the Pacific Coast Soccer League’s early 20th-century iteration, winning several league and national titles. Here we see Columbus celebrate winning the Anderson Cup final in 1960 – their first season in the PCSL.
‘See you this Thursday,’ 1961
A friendly for the ages. The short-lived International Soccer League brought European and Southern American sides to Montreal for a series of friendlies in 1961. The Concordia University squad went on to beat AS Monaco in the tournament, which was hosted at Molson Stadium.
English giants collide in Toronto, 1952
A soldout Varsity Stadium in Toronto witnesses a midsummer friendly between Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur in 1952.
The original Centre Circle, 1968
Former Canada under-23s coach Terry Weatherall instructs tactics during a national soccer “leadership clinic” in 1968.
A young Bruce Wilson scores, 1967
A Vancouver youth tournament from 1967 shows future Canada men’s team legend Bruce Wilson scoring for either Burnaby Norburn or Victoria Gorge FC. Little did Bruce know, he’d play a big role in Canadian soccer’s future.