About

The Vancouver Royals, Vancouver, North American Soccer League, were a Canadian professional side founded on 1 January 1967. Walkouts presents signed football shirts from the Royals era, a concise player and supporter story preserved through match and retail garments from the late 1960s.

Formed in 1967 as the Vancouver Royal Canadians, the club was a charter member of the United Soccer Association before the USA and the rival National Professional Soccer League merged to create the NASL in 1968. The Royals staged their home fixtures at the Empire Stadium, and the team folded at the conclusion of the 1968 NASL season, leaving a short but well documented footprint in Vancouver football history.

Because the Royals existed for just two seasons, shirts from the original runs are scarce and therefore of interest to collectors who value provenance and visible player signatures. Contemporary interest covers match-worn garments where available, and signed retail shirts that were sold or distributed to supporters at matches and club events during the era.

There are no recorded post-1970 anniversary releases for the Royals, so commemorative drops are not part of the collecting story; instead, collectors seek authentic pieces produced in the club’s active years, and any surviving retail or match-issued shirts representing the 1967 and 1968 campaigns carry particular weight. Documentation tying a shirt to Empire Stadium or a specific fixture increases provenance value, while there is no documented iconic away colourway tied to a cup final for the Royals.

Signed retail demand is notable, with collectors specifically chasing signed fanshop shirts and early-run variants such as player-issue or region-specific releases where they exist, often accompanied by authentication. Walkouts lists items with provenance and supply notes, and where present items are offered with COA. Free worldwide shipping is available on qualifying framed and signed pieces.

Highlight seasons for collectors are the United Soccer Association season of 1967 and the 1968 NASL season, both seasons that define the club’s brief competitive history and the provenance of surviving shirts. Provenance that links a shirt to Empire Stadium, to specific fixtures during the 1967 USA campaign, or to matches in the 1968 NASL calendar is especially valuable to historians and fans, and Walkouts lists examples with clear sourcing in closing entries.

Honours

The Vancouver Royals did not register major silverware during their brief existence, but their competitive journey still offers a concise snapshot of North American football’s formative years. As a charter entrant to the United Soccer Association, the club took part in the experimental cross-border format that helped popularise the sport across Canada and the United States. Following the merger with a rival competition, the Royals transitioned to the newly created North American Soccer League and completed one campaign before the team was wound up. With no domestic title wins and no continental participation listed, their honours record is defined by pioneering presence rather than trophies. In historical terms, their contribution lies in representing Vancouver on an emerging professional stage and in helping establish major-league soccer in the region. While cups and championships eluded them, their role in the transitional era between two foundational leagues remains their most enduring competitive legacy.

Legends & Leadership

Eusebio is regarded by supporters as a legend player for the club in the 1960s, symbolising the world-class pedigree that touched Vancouver’s short-lived professional era and lifted interest in top-level football across the city.

László Kubala is remembered as a legend player of the 1960s, bringing continental flair to the narrative around the club and embodying the international appeal that helped define Vancouver’s brief time on the professional map.

Phil Woosnam stands as a legend player from the 1960s, associated with leadership and nous that resonated during the club’s transition between leagues and reflected the broader growth of the sport in North America.

Leo Ehlen is cited as a legend player of the 1960s within the club’s story, representing resilient defensive standards that fans associate with the competitive spirit of Vancouver’s fleeting tenure.

Jackie Charlton is noted as a legend player for the 1960s, reflecting the era’s rugged excellence and the calibre of names linked with Vancouver’s early professional chapter.

Stadium

Empire Stadium served as the home ground for the Vancouver Royals, giving the team a clear identity during a formative moment for professional football in the city. Set against Vancouver’s coastal backdrop, the venue provided the stage for the club’s swift journey from the experimental United Soccer Association into the newly unified NASL. Supporters remember Empire Stadium as a place where international opposition and emerging North American sides created lively, often novel matchups, bringing a fresh style of play to local audiences. Though the Royals’ tenure was brief, the ground’s atmosphere helped anchor the club’s short story, from home debuts to farewell fixtures. With its straightforward name and strong local association, Empire Stadium remains inseparable from the Royals’ legacy and the excitement of seeing high-level football arrive in Vancouver during a transitional era for the sport on the continent.

Also known as
Empire Stadium

FAQ

Q: Who were the Vancouver Royals? A: The Vancouver Royals were a professional football club from Vancouver, Canada, active for two seasons and best known for competing in the United Soccer Association before moving into the North American Soccer League.

Q: What ground did the team use for home matches? A: The club played its home fixtures at Empire Stadium in Vancouver.

Q: Are the Vancouver Royals still active? A: No. The team ceased operations after their single NASL campaign.

Q: Do you authenticate signed memorabilia related to the club? A: Yes. Where applicable, items are supplied with a certificate of authenticity to verify the signature. Free worldwide shipping.