From plenty of goals and penalty shootouts, to youth camps and creating role-models, David
Ousted looks back on the inaugural Kamloops International Cup.
Two of the oldest clubs in English soccer came across the Atlantic this summer and brought
a buzz to Kamloops as they took on teams from British Columbia and Alberta at Tournament
Capital Centre.
The picturesque venue hosted six matches in total across July and August, as Fulham’s U21
men and Aston Villa’s U21 women each had a trio of matches to test themselves prior to
returning to England for the kick-off of their 2024/25 seasons.
Fans who came to Hillside Stadium were treated to a total of 20 goals across the six
matches, with dramatic penalty shootouts taking place in two of Fulham’s three games.
We also had late winners, including Esi Lufo’s stoppage-time header for TRU Wolfpack to
defeat Villa, and impressive comebacks like Vancouver FC’s U23s coming from behind to
win against Fulham.
Plenty of future soccer stars from England and Canada were also on show – many of whom
are on the path to play professionally in their respective countries – as well as some
standout players from the local university and League1 BC scene.
The competition finished with a 2-0 win for Villa against a League1 BC Selects side that also
had English representation as they were managed by former international soccer players
Julie Fletcher and Issy Pollard.
“We wanted to create excitement,” said David Ousted, a former goalkeeper for Vancouver
Whitecaps who played an important behind-the-scenes role in the Kamloops International
Cup, along with Tourism Kamloops, City of Kamloops, Thompson Rivers University, Rebirth
Soccer, and Rivers FC.
“We knew that we had two English teams coming that had a lot of quality and we wanted to
highlight that, as well as the fantastic game that is soccer when it’s played at this level. The
penalty shootouts displayed some very good players performing under pressure.
“One of the key takeaways was how competitive the games were. Spectators were treated to
some fun matches, and the Canadian teams positively represented the level of soccer that’s
over here. It was important for both Fulham and Aston Villa that they had quality matches so
they could prepare for their new season, and they were very happy with the matchups they
had.
“They were also very impressed with the setting and the scenery, training out of McArthur
Island Sports Complex and playing at TCC. We have some beautiful locations, and the
facilities worked perfectly for their preseason.”
The footprint of the Kamloops International Cup also extended beyond the six matches.
Youth camps were staged with the visiting clubs, providing a unique experience for local
children to develop their game and meet the players who they were watching on the field.
“The camps were amazing. The Fulham and Aston Villa players and coaches were all very
engaged with the kids who had a fantastic experience training with them and seeing
something different than what they are used to in their everyday training here in Kamloops,”
said David.
“Getting to meet the players and see them do some of the drills was a great experience for
all of us. What meant the most to everyone was seeing the local kids getting a chance to
meet these players, giving them the chance to look up to players who they were seeing in
competitive matches with their own eyes. It was important for all of us to connect the
community like this.
“The visiting players also demonstrated the level of technique and commitment it takes to
become a top youth player on the brink of professional adult soccer. Showing them what
these players do on a daily basis is hopefully something that all the local kids take with them
and try to implement themselves when they are going about their training or just kicking a
ball around.”
While there was a heavy focus on making sure the inaugural competition was a success, the
team behind the Kamloops International Cup have always been thinking about how to use
this summer as a platform for bigger and better iterations in the years to come.
“We want to heighten the game of soccer in Kamloops and this was a great way to start that
journey,” David continued.
“The goals of the Kamloops International Cup were to show the level of soccer that we knew
these teams would bring, to engage with the community, and to give local children the
chance to meet players they can emulate and idolize. Those goals were met, and we are
very happy with how all that went.
“With the incredible partnership that we have with the City of Kamloops, Tourism Kamloops,
and Thompson Rivers University, we have big ambitions going forward. It's never been a secret that we want to make this a yearly thing in Kamloops where we develop it and bring in more teams and better competition.
“It all supports the mission to grow the soccer community in Kamloops, and to grow the level
of soccer in Canada.”
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