# 1979 Vancouver Whitecaps season

The 1979 Vancouver Whitecaps season was the club's sixth season in the North American Soccer League.

## Roster

The 1979 squad coached by Tony Waiters:
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
| No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |
| 1 | GK | ENG | Phil Parkes |
| 2 | MF | ENG | Ray Lewington |
| 3 | DF | ENG | Bob McNab |
| 4 | DF | ENG | John Craven |
| 5 | DF | CAN | Robert Lenarduzzi |
| 6 | DF | ENG | Roger Kenyon |
| 7 | MF | CAN | Buzz Parsons |
| 8 | MF | ENG | Jon Sammels |
| 9 | FW | ENG | Trevor Whymark |
| 10 | MF | CAN | Bob Bolitho |
| 11 | FW | ENG | Kevin Hector |
| 12 | DF | CAN | Paul Nelson |
| 17 | DF | ENG | Peter Daniel |
| 18 | DF | CAN | Dan Lenarduzzi |
| No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |
| 20 | FW | SCO | Willie Johnston |
| 21 | FW | CAN | Carl Valentine |
| 22 | GK | ZIM | Bruce Grobbelaar |
| 23 | FW | ENG | Alan Ball |
| 23 | MF | CAN | Drew Ferguson |
| 24 | FW | ENG | Derek Possee |
| 25 | MF | CAN | David McCaig |
| 26 | MF | CAN | David McGill |
| 27 | MF | SCO | Gerry Gray |
| 28 | FW | CAN | Steve Nesin |
| 29 | DF | CAN | Carl Shearer |
| 30 | DF | CAN | Alan Soundraal |
| 31 | FW | CAN | Ralston Dunlop |
| 32 | FW | CAN | Brent Barling |

## North American Soccer League

| Competition | First match | Last match | Starting round | Final position | Record | Record | Record | Record | Record | Record | Record | Record |
| Competition | First match | Last match | Starting round | Final position | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Win % |
| Regular season | 30 March | 11 August | Matchday 1 | 1st NC West, 4th Overall | 30 | 20 | | 10 | 54 | 34 | +20 | 066.67 |
| Playoffs | 15 August | 8 September | Conference Quarterfinals | Winner | 9 | 7 | | 2 | 13 | 8 | +5 | 077.78 |
| Total | Total | Total | Total | Total | 39 | 27 | 0 | 12 | 67 | 42 | +25 | 069.23 |
Last updated: 4 August 2023 Source: Competitions

### Regular season
#### Standings

-Playoffs via division standings. -Playoffs via wildcard.
NC West Division standings :
| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | L | GF | GA | GD | BP | Pts |
| 1 | Vancouver Whitecaps | 30 | 20 | 10 | 54 | 34 | +20 | 52 | 172 |
| 2 | Los Angeles Aztecs | 30 | 18 | 12 | 62 | 47 | +15 | 54 | 162 |
| 3 | Seattle Sounders | 30 | 13 | 17 | 58 | 52 | +6 | 47 | 125 |
| 4 | Portland Timbers | 30 | 11 | 19 | 50 | 75 | −25 | 56 | 122 |
National Conference standings :
| Pos | Div | Teamvte | Pld | W | L | GF | GA | GD | BP | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | E | New York Cosmos | 30 | 24 | 6 | 84 | 52 | +32 | 72 | 216 | Playoffs (division winner) |
| 2 | C | Minnesota Kicks | 30 | 21 | 9 | 67 | 48 | +19 | 58 | 184 | Playoffs (division winner) |
| 3 | W | Vancouver Whitecaps (N) | 30 | 20 | 10 | 54 | 34 | +20 | 52 | 172 | Playoffs (division winner) |
| 4 | E | Washington Diplomats | 30 | 19 | 11 | 68 | 50 | +18 | 58 | 172 | Playoffs (division runner-up) |
| 5 | W | Los Angeles Aztecs | 30 | 18 | 12 | 62 | 47 | +15 | 54 | 162 | Playoffs (division runner-up) |
Overall standings :
| Pos | Div | Teamvte | Pld | W | L | GF | GA | GD | BP | Pts |
| 2 | AC | Houston Hurricane | 30 | 22 | 8 | 61 | 46 | +15 | 55 | 187 |
| 3 | NC | Minnesota Kicks | 30 | 21 | 9 | 67 | 48 | +19 | 58 | 184 |
| 4 | NW | Vancouver Whitecaps (C) | 30 | 20 | 10 | 54 | 34 | +20 | 52 | 172 |
| 5 | NE | Washington Diplomats | 30 | 19 | 11 | 68 | 50 | +18 | 58 | 172 |
| 6 | AE | Tampa Bay Rowdies | 30 | 19 | 11 | 67 | 46 | +21 | 55 | 169 |

#### Results

Match record by division :
| Conference | West | Central | East | Total |
| National Conference | 4–2 (0–0) | 4–2 (0–1) | 4–2 (0–0) | 12–6 (0–1) |
| American Conference | 6–2 (0–1) | 1–1 (1–0) | 1–1 (0–1) | 8–4 (1–2) |
| Total | 10–4 (0–1) | 5–3 (1–1) | 5–3 (0–1) | 20–10 (1–3) |

#### Matches
### Playoffs
#### Conference Quarterfinals – vs Dallas (N6)

Vancouver won series 2–0.

#### Conference Semifinals – vs Los Angeles (N5)

Series tied 1–1, Vancouver won tiebreaking mini-game.

#### Conference Championships – vs New York (N1)

Series tied 1–1, Vancouver won tiebreaking mini-game.