Rovers at BFC; the Debut Burnaby Derby
This 2024 League1 BC season has been marked by change; Nautsa’mawt FC and the Victoria Highlanders are out, and Burnaby FC is in. A proper derby is born.
I say “proper” as the term “derby” has a looser definition over here in North America, as one Scottish Swanguardian is quick to remind us all. Two rivals does not a derby make. It’s not even regional, like a Cascadian battle between Vancouver vs. Seattle. No, a derby is contested between two competing teams of the same city. Man U vs. Man City. Chelsea-Arsenal. Liverpool-Everton. Celtic-Rangers. Shamrock Rovers-Bohemians (Google it). Etc.
The problem in this neck of the woods is that, unlike much of Europe, most cities here don’t have multiple teams competing against each other in the same sport and league(s). That’s not really the model. Yes, it’s possible with huge American cities like New York and Los Angeles, but the wide array of sports on offer here dilutes the possibilities. Rather than three sawker clubs in one town, there’s three different sports on offer.
Lucky us, then; with BFC’s entry into League1, we get the chance to live out the fantasies of footy fans everywhere: a real intercity derby.
And yes, to the shock of many, Rovers the football club *is* based in Burnaby, not Richmond. The TSS academy is located in Richmond, but not the club. We proudly call Swangard Stadium home, which flanks Burnaby’s southwest edge. Again, it’s in the name. Swanguardians. Anyway…
The only real problem with this new derby: manufacture a rivalry, one cannot. Burnaby FC formed in 2023 by five youth clubs merging together as one. They don’t have a supporters group yet, nor a real identity beyond their LAFC-like black and gold colour scheme. And there’s an eagle in BFC’s logo, which we dubbed the “Burnabeagle” last Friday. That’s the extent of the club’s culture. No organic DIY supporter scene, no rivalry. It felt like it was mostly parents in the crowd, or relations of some kind. That was the vibe; friendly, chill, but our handful of Pirates there, planted on the far end of the pitch, really stuck out.
The first thing you see as you head towards the very vague entrance to the grounds is a big, yet subtle tribute to the GOAT, Sincy. The fields are adjacent to the Christine Sinclair Community Centre (which, I might add, was given that name while she was still actively playing, a rare but fitting feat), which provides the washrooms for any match-goers. There was beer on offer within the “stadium,” which you know many Swanguardians treated themselves to despite the not-so-sunny weather. Did I mention it rained? Steadily. Sometimes a mist, sometimes more, sometimes just barely, but it rained the whole time. We had no cover. One Swanguardian brought a poncho. That was the move.
The only food on offer was various sweet and/or salty types of popcorn, which, though good, was not enough to keep hungry supporters going for five hours in the elements. Fortunately, in addition to the washrooms, the Sincy Centre also had a little cafe. I went in search of a hot coffee and some real sustenance, and what I found was maybe the best roast beef sandwich I’ve ever had. The GOAT beef! This thing was unassuming; sliced beef, lettuce, some sort of mayo/mustard special sauce on a burger bun. Was that really it? Damn it was good, though, everything was executed perfectly. Maybe this magical morsel was amplified by my really wanting a hot meal while out in the rain, but this sando unexpectedly has my early vote for away scran of the year. Paired with a hot coffee while standing pitch side? Heck, I was starting to feel as comfy as a duck in all that water.
We weren’t allowed smoke, but only one Rovers goal was scored on this day. Devon Kavanagh rippled the net for the second time in as many games, tying things up in the 66th minute in response to BFC’s early tally. Rovers battled incredibly hard in the second half to at least get out of there with a point; they had the run of play and looked more like the team that could find a late winner. But, we were foiled late once again. Stoppage time, our one true enemy. The Burnabeagles, their roster conveniently filled out by many former Rovers, stole all three points at the death. Our keeper Kirsten Tynan and a few others fell to the pitch in disappointment. Football is cruel sometimes.
The mens game was defined by a pair of reckless decisions. Rovers’ number 9, Massud Habibullah, got booked twice in a span of 12 minutes, leaving his teammates to play with only 10 men for just under an hour. After those two yellows made a red in the 38th minute, the only real objective for Rovers was to try and steal a point. They did just that. After a brief respite, the rain picked up over the second half and play lost its quick pace. Rovers took advantage of that, and BFC’s lacking a clinical touch in the final third, ensuring the possibility of an “invincible” season remained alive.
My favourite moment of the latter game was spontaneously writing a little – and by that I well and truly mean very short – ditty for our steady-handed keep Justyn, who’s allowed only one goal thus far this season. And it goes a little something like this:
“JUStyn, JUStyn, you’re so cool.”
It gave the gang a laugh, and pretty soon we were doing it with every save. We find ways to keep ourselves amused; even on rainy, smokeless, winless nights in the middle of nowhere. We’re the Swanguardians, that’s just what we do. Why not join the party? The water’s fine.
