1978 Vic West Soccer Club

1911 Vic West Soccer Club

From 1975 to 1984, the Vic West compiled a Canadian soccer record equaled only by the legendary New Westminster Royals dynasties of 1928 to 1936 and 1951 to 1959. While the Royals were assembled from places far and wide, Vic West matched them with a locally produced team of players that came up through the Victoria minor soccer system. Vic West won four Canadian and six B.C. championships in their nine-year golden span. Included in that run were four straight B.C. titles -- the only team to hold that distinction in the history of the Province Cup. In its time, Vic West was the dominant amateur soccer team in Canada, taking the national title in 1976, 1979, 1983 and 1984. A team with no superstars, the Wests did it with a commitment to teamwork. Team members included Steve Forslund, Frank Woods, Dan Henry, Jim De Goede, Darryl Hooker, Ralph Anderson, Gary McLaren, Tom Lavasseur, Henry Paul, Alex Stewart, Mark Crisp, Butch Foster, Garnet Moen, Greg Mellish, Jaraslav Hrasky, Lew Williams, George Fuller, Ed Dewhurst, Ken Calve, Waining Lee, Rob Williams, Tim Achtzner, Bob Duncan, John McGuire, Steve Moss, and Bob English.

Reg Wenman

Reg Wenman with unidentified club members

Reg Wenman instructing a young player

Reg Wenman was the most prolific run-scorer in the history of Canadian cricket. A lanky, hard-hitting ace, his great career spanned more than 50 years and included thousands of runs and 37 centuries. Wenman played for Canada against some of the legends of the game, including Sir Donald Bradman of Australia. He also played on B.C. rep sides against the likes of the Melbourne Cricket Club and toured California. During World War II, Reg even made time from the grim realities of the war to score a century for the Kampong Cricket Club in Holland! When his career is put into perspective, it's hard to argue against Wenman being considered the greatest cricketer in Canadian history. He had such an elegant hitting style that he was among the most stylish and accomplished of batsmen, and a noted all-rounder. Wenmen played most sports, but his second love was rugby. He excelled in the sport, but at that time there was no Canadian rugby going on. He moved into coaching, which evolved over a 50-year period, helping enhance the sports he loved, on many levels as a coach and an administrator.

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saveonABOUT THE GREATER VICTORIA
SPORTS HALL OF FAME

Victoria enjoys a stellar sports history and we celebrate the many athletes, teams and builders who have contributed to that history.  Our displays are seen at the Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre (1925 Blanshard St.)  through Gate Three.

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