{{about|the men's team|the women's team|Victoria Highlanders FC (women)}} {{Use Canadian English|date=April 2021}} {{Use mdy dates|date=April 2021}} {{Infobox football club | clubname = Victoria Highlanders FC | image = Victoria_Highlanders_2018_logo.jpg | upright = 0.7 | fullname = Victoria Highlanders Football Club | nickname = The Highlanders | founded = {{start date and age|2008}} | stadium = Centennial Stadium<br />Victoria, British Columbia | capacity = 5,000 | chrtitle = | chairman = Marvin Diercks | manager = | mgrtitle = Head coach | league = | season = 2023 | position = L1BC, 1st<br>Playoffs, Finalists | current = | website = http://highlandersfc.ca/ }}
'''Victoria Highlanders FC''' is a Canadian soccer team based in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada. The club was founded in 2008.
The team had played in the American USL League Two from 2009 to 2019 (except 2015) and in League1 British Columbia from 2022 to 2023. The team's colours are white, black, and gold.
==History== thumb|left|Highlanders logo 2009–2017 The Highlanders were founded in 2008 when the United Soccer League awarded the city of Victoria, British Columbia the rights to a semi-professional Premier Development League franchise.<ref name=living>{{cite web|url=https://livinginvictoriabc.com/sports/victoria-highlanders|title=Victoria Highlanders|work=All About Victoria|first=Geoff|last=McLean|date=September 25, 2010}}</ref> One of the major contributing factors was the successful 2007 FIFA U-20 World Cup, of which Victoria was a host city, which led local businessman Alex Campbell Jr. to create the Highlanders.<ref name=living /> The initial goal of the club was to eventually move to the fully professional USL First Division.<ref name=replace>{{cite web|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090627193001/http://victoriahighlandersfc.com/news.php?newsid=39|url=http://victoriahighlandersfc.com/news.php?newsid=39|title=Highlanders could replace Whitecaps|work=Times Colonist|first=Cleve|last=Dheensaw|date=March 19, 2009|archive-date=June 27, 2009|url-status=usurped}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131217224050/http://www.victoriahighlandersfc.com/news.php?newsid=45|url=http://www.victoriahighlandersfc.com/news.php?newsid=45|title=Highlanders Continue To Impress|date=April 9, 2009|archive-date=December 17, 2013|first=Cleve|last=Dheensaw|url-status=usurped|work=Times Colonist}}</ref> Their initial home field was the Bear Mountain Stadium in Langford, British Columbia, achieving great attendance in their inaugural season.<ref name=living />
The team debuted in the 2009 season, after spending a year assembling a coaching staff under head coach Colin Miller and recruiting a roster.<ref name=living /> They played their first match on May 1, 2009 against the Spokane Spiders, winning by a score of 1–0, with the first goal in franchise history being scored by Patrick Gawrys.<ref>{{Cite web|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090628131758/http://victoriahighlandersfc.com/news.php?newsid=57|url=http://victoriahighlandersfc.com/news.php?newsid=57|archive-date=June 28, 2009|date=May 1, 2009|title=Highlanders victorious in Spokane|work=Victoria Highlanders|url-status=usurped}}</ref> They finished their inaugural season placing 5th in the Northwest Division with a 6–4–6 record.<ref name=living /> Over the course of their inaugural season, they averaged crowds of 1,734, including a crowd of 2,412 for their home opener.{{citation needed|date=April 2021}} After the season, head coach Colin Miller announced his resignation to be closer to his family in Abbotsford.<ref>{{cite web|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131217224841/http://www.victoriahighlandersfc.com/news.php?newsid=111|url=http://www.victoriahighlandersfc.com/news.php?newsid=111|title=Miller Announces Resignation|date=July 26, 2009|url-status=usurped|archive-date=December 17, 2013|work=Victoria Highlanders}}</ref> The club also announced an affiliation with USL First Division club Austin Aztex in a farm club role, for player development as well as exhibition matches.<ref>{{Cite web|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100404170203/http://www.victoriahighlandersfc.com/news.php?newsid=116|url=http://www.victoriahighlandersfc.com/news.php?newsid=116|title=Highlanders FC ink Affiliation|date=July 24, 2009|first=Ted|last=Hill|work=Goldstream Gazette|url-status=usurped|archive-date=April 4, 2010}}</ref> Ian Bridge was named Miller's replacement for the 2010 season.<ref name=sacked />
In 2011, they qualified for the playoffs for the first time after placing second in their division,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.vicnews.com/sports/highlanders-headed-to-playoffs/|title=Highlanders headed to playoffs|date=July 25, 2011|first=Travis|last=Paterson|work=Victoria News}}</ref> but lost to the Fresno Fuego in the first round by a score of 3–1.<ref name=sacked>{{Cite web|url=https://www.eightysixforever.com/2012/6/14/3084895/highlanders-fc-sack-head-coach-bridge-replaced-by-reserve-coach|title=Highlanders FC Sack Head Coach Bridge; Replaced by Reserve Coach Simonson|date=June 14, 2012|first=Benjamin|last=Massey|work=Eighty-Six Forever}}</ref> In 2012, the Juan de Fuca Plate, which was awarded to the best British Columbia PDL team based on matches between the clubs (originally the Highlanders, Vancouver Whitecaps FC U-23, and Fraser Valley Mariners and later TSS FC Rovers).<ref name=juandefucaplate>{{cite web|url=http://www.juandefucaplate.ca/history.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150713022904/http://juandefucaplate.ca/history.html|url-status=dead|title=Juan de Fuca Plate: History|publisher=Juan de Fuca Plate|archivedate=July 13, 2015|access-date=April 26, 2021}}</ref> The Highlanders finished as runners-up for the original title, finishing second to the Whitecaps due to a tiebreaker.<ref name=juandefucaplate/>
In 2013, they won their first Northwest Division title, as well as the Western Conference Championship.<ref name=2013champ>{{cite web|url=https://aftn.ca/there-can-be-only-one-a-2013-victoria-highlanders-year-in-review/|work=Away From the Numbers|title=There can be only one: A 2013 Victoria Highlanders year in review|date=August 9, 2013|first=Michael|last=McColl}}</ref> In the playoffs, they defeated Ventura County Fusion and Portland Timbers U23s in the first two rounds, before being defeated by the Thunder Bay Chill in the semi-finals.<ref name=2013champ /> In 2014, the club played exhibition matches with Scottish club Rangers F.C. and NASL club FC Edmonton.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.timescolonist.com/sports/glasgow-rangers-fans-thrilled-by-game-against-victoria-highlanders-1.1254840|work=Times Colonist|title=Glasgow Rangers' fans thrilled by game against Victoria Highlanders|first=Mario|last=Annicchiarico|date=July 21, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.martlet.ca/storied-soccer-club-rangers-fc-to-play-victoria-highlanders/|title=Storied soccer club Rangers FC to play Victoria Highlanders|work=Martlet|date=July 10, 2013|first=Alex|last=Kurial}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.independentsportsnews.com/2014/06/29/highlanders-host-nasls-fc-edmonton-in-first-of-two-july-exhibition-matches/|title=Highlanders host NASL's FC Edmonton in first of two July exhibition matches|date=June 29, 2014|work=Independent Sports News}}</ref> They finished second in their division in 2014, but lost in the play-in round of the playoffs 7-2 to the Vancouver Whitecaps FC U-23,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.whitecapsfc.com/post/2014/07/16/whitecaps-fc-u-23-advance-pdl-playoffs-after-7-2-win-over-victoria-highlanders-fc|title=Whitecaps FC U-23 advance in PDL playoffs after 7-2 win over Victoria Highlanders FC|date=July 16, 2014|first=Aaron|last=Martin|work=Vancouver Whitecaps FC}}</ref> but they did capture their first Juan de Fuca plate title after defeating the Whitecaps U23 in both regular season matches.<ref name=juandefucaplate/>
In January 2015, team owner Alex Campbell Jr. folded the team due to not finding financial partners amid mounting financial losses, as the club had never posted a profit since 2009.<ref>{{cite news|last=Annicchiarico|first=Mario|title=Victoria Highlanders cease operations|date=February 1, 2015|url=http://www.timescolonist.com/sports/soccer/victoria-highlanders-cease-operations-1.1749176|work=Times Colonist}}</ref> However, on April 1, Marvin Diercks and Dave Dew, long time Victoria soccer advocates, purchased the franchise and branding rights to the Highlanders from previous owner Alex Campbell reviving the team and announcing that they would join the Pacific Coast Soccer League for the 2015 season.<ref name=weback>{{cite web|url=https://www.timescolonist.com/sports/highlanders-are-back-but-in-pacific-coast-soccer-league-1.1812072|title=Highlanders are back, but in Pacific Coast Soccer League|first=Cleve|last=Dheensaw|work=Times Colonist|date=April 1, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.eightysixforever.com/2015/4/30/8525293/victoria-highlanders-fc-begin-their-second-life-in-pcsl|title=Victoria Highlanders FC Begin Their Second Life in PCSL|date=April 30, 2015|work=Eighty-Six Forever}}</ref> After a good run in the regular season, the Highlanders finished third overall and clinched a berth into the Sheila Anderson Memorial Challenge Cup play-offs. In the playoffs, the Highlanders advanced to the finals, where they lost in a penalty kick shootout to Khalsa Sporting Club.<ref name=finals>{{cite web|url=https://www.timescolonist.com/sports/khalsa-edges-highlanders-in-soccer-final-1.2013564|title=Khalsa edges Highlanders in soccer final|first=Mario|last=Annicchiarico|work=Times Colonist|date=July 27, 2015}}</ref>
After a successful season in the PCSL, the club started making plans to return to the USL PDL.<ref name=finals/> During the USL Winter meetings in December 2015, Diercks and Dew purchased the PDL franchise rights from the Puget Sound Gunners FC and rejoined the PDL on January 29, 2016.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.soccertoday.com/victoria-highlanders-return-pdl/?cn-reloaded=1|title=Victoria Highlanders Return to the PDL|date=March 2, 2016|first=Chris|last=Rael|work=Soccer Today}}</ref> Also in 2016, the Highlanders forged a partnership with English club Sheffield Wednesday.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.timescolonist.com/sports/victoria-highlanders-partner-up-with-england-s-sheffield-soccer-club-today-1.2240503#sthash.S2bntPP0.dpuf|title=Victoria Highlanders partner up with England's Sheffield soccer club today|first=Mario|last=Annicchiarico|work=Times Colonist|date=April 26, 2016}}</ref>
In 2018, the Highlanders ownership group expanded to include Brett Large, Moreno Stefani, Grant Olson, Mark deFrias, and Ryan Wilson, in addition to Diercks and Dew.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.highlandersfc.ca/news/highlanders-fc-announce-new-ownership-group|work=Victoria Highlanders|title=Highlanders FC Announce New Ownership Group|date=January 31, 2018}}</ref> The club also revamped their logo at the time.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.timescolonist.com/sports/victoria-highlanders-go-with-bold-but-simplistic-logo-1.23190780|first=Cleve|last=Dheenshaw|date=March 2, 2018|title=Victoria Highlanders go with 'bold but simplistic' logo|work=Times Colonist}}</ref>
In December 2019, the Highlanders announced they would return to the PCSL, as they awaited the formation of League1 British Columbia for 2021.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.highlandersfc.ca/news/highlanders-league-update-2020-2021-and-beyond|title=Highlanders League Update 2020, 2021 and Beyond|date=December 13, 2019|first=Mark|last=deFrias|work=Victoria Highlanders}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://northerntribune.ca/canada-second-division-opt-out/|title=Report: Rovers, Highlanders, Whitecaps Academy Opt Out Of Rumoured Second Division|date=March 21, 2021|work=Northern Tribune|first=John|last=Jacques}}</ref> They joined the Vancouver Island Soccer League for the 2020-21 winter season, after the 2020 PCSL season was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://aftn.ca/new-vancouver-island-soccer-league-season-gets-underway-with-goals-galore/|title=New Vancouver Island Soccer League season gets underway with goals galore|date=October 9, 2020|first=Vince|last=Greco|work=Away From the Numbers}}</ref>
In 2021, it was announced that the Highlanders would be joining the new League1 British Columbia in both the men's and women's division, with the men's Highlanders organization merging with the women's club Vancouver Island FC, which played in the Women's Premier Soccer League.<ref name=bcs>{{cite web|url=https://bcsoccer.net/news/post/league1bc-welcomes-victoria-highlanders-as-founding-license-holder|title=League1BC welcomes Victoria Highlanders as founding License Holder|work=British Columbia Soccer Association|date=November 26, 2021|access-date=November 26, 2021|archive-date=November 26, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211126190517/https://bcsoccer.net/news/post/league1bc-welcomes-victoria-highlanders-as-founding-license-holder|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name=chapter>{{cite web|url=https://northerntribune.ca/league1-bc-victoria-highlanders/|title=Victoria Highlanders Begin New Chapter In League1 BC|date=November 26, 2021|work=Northern Tribune|first=John|last=Jacques}}</ref> Their debut match in the league occurred on May 23 with the women's match against the Whitecaps FC Academy, serving as the first ever match for the league.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://aftn.ca/whitecaps-unity-and-rivers-lead-the-way-in-womens-division-after-historic-league1-bc-opening-weekend/|title=Whitecaps, Unity, and Rivers lead the way in women's division after historic League1 BC opening weekend|date=May 24, 2022|first=Michael|last=McColl|work=Away from the Numbers}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.timescolonist.com/sports/highlanders-begin-new-soccer-era-sunday-in-league1-bc-5396112|date=May 21, 2022|title=Highlanders begin new soccer era Sunday in League1 B.C.|first=Cleve|last=Dheensaw|work=Times Colonist}}</ref>
In 2023, they won the League1 BC regular season title, qualifying the team for the 2024 Canadian Championship,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.highlandersfc.ca/news/victoria-highlanders-are-league-1-bc-champions|title=Victoria Highlanders are League1 BC Champions!!|date=July 23, 2023|work=Victoria Highlanders FC|first=Fran|last=Bartolillo}}</ref> before being defeated by the Whitecaps FC Academy in the playoff final.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.timescolonist.com/sports/whitecaps-academy-edge-highlanders-on-penalty-kicks-in-league1-bc-soccer-final-7373910|title=Whitecaps Academy edge Highlanders on penalty kicks in League1 BC soccer final|date=August 6, 2023|work=Times Colonist|first=Cleve|last=Dheensaw}}</ref> In April 2024, the club withdrew from the league due to rising costs, in addition withdrawing their spot in the 2024 Canadian Championship, but would continue to operate a team in the Vancouver Island Soccer League.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.highlandersfc.ca/news/highlanders-announcement|date=April 8, 2024|work=Victoria Highlanders FC|title=Highlanders Announcement}}</ref>
==Club culture== With the purchase of season tickets, one also gets a membership in the Victoria Highlanders Supporters Board that administers the fan's 30% ownership in the club. The Supporters Board is a democratic registered non-profit society with limited liability, and all money or other assets belonging to the Supporters Board belong to all members equally. The structure is to facilitate a formalized way to provide feedback, voice opinions, help guide the club's direction, and expand the club's membership base.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.prostamerika.com/2011/12/07/victoria-sees-n-americas-first-independent-supporters-trust|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160306220809/http://www.prostamerika.com/2011/12/07/victoria-sees-n-americas-first-independent-supporters-trust|title=Victoria Sees Creation of Independent Supporters' Trust|first=Devon|last=Rowcliffe|publisher=Prost Amerika|date=December 7, 2011 |archive-date=March 6, 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref> Day-to-day club operations are handled by senior club management.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://aftn.ca/victoria-highlanders-supporters-board-the-first-fans-trust-in-canada/|title=Victoria Highlanders Supporters' Board – the first fans' trust in Canada|first=Devon|last=Rowcliffe|work=Away From the Numbers|date=February 13, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131126130913/http://victoriahighlandersfc.com/society.php|archive-date=November 26, 2013|url-status=usurped|url=http://www.victoriahighlandersfc.com/society.php |title=Victoria Highlanders Society|work=Victoria Highlanders}}</ref>
The Highlanders are cheered on by members of the supporters group Lake Side Buoys (LSB).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lakesidebuoys.org/p/about-us.html |title=About Us |publisher=Lake Side Buoys}}</ref> The Highlanders' mascot is a Scottish sheep dog or highland terrier named Striker, who wears the highland dress.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://victoriahighlandersfc.com/mascot.php |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110408025558/http://www.victoriahighlandersfc.com/mascot.php |url-status=usurped |archive-date=April 8, 2011 |title=Striker (Mascot)|publisher=Victoria Highlanders}}</ref>
==Stadiums== * Bear Mountain Stadium; Langford, British Columbia (2009–2011) * Royal Athletic Park; Victoria, British Columbia (2011–2015) * Centennial Stadium; Victoria, British Columbia (2016–present)
The Highlanders when first announced were to begin playing in a 4500-seat stadium at the Juan de Fuca Recreation Centre, however, after this project did not proceed the city of Langford, British Columbia built its own stadium, Bear Mountain Stadium, which the Highlanders committed to using.<ref>{{cite web|work=Victoria Times Colonist|url=http://www.canada.com/victoriatimescolonist/news/story.html?id=fad66d77-1480-4cc1-b385-d9b29df21d6d|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121110111019/http://www.canada.com/victoriatimescolonist/news/story.html?id=fad66d77-1480-4cc1-b385-d9b29df21d6d|date=November 19, 2008|archive-date=November 10, 2012|url-status=dead|first=Cleve|last=Dheensaw|title=Langford to build its own stadium}}</ref> Capacity concerns regarding dressing rooms, field space, mid-field seating capacity, and training time conflicts for the four Highlander teams with the Victoria Rebels Football Club of the Canadian Junior Football League and other tenants resulted in the move to Royal Athletic Park in Victoria in the middle of the 2011 season.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.goldstreamgazette.com/news/119098739.html |work=Goldstream News Gazette|title=Highlanders shifting matches to Royal Athletic Park|date=April 1, 2011|first=Edward|last=Hill}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://myemail.constantcontact.com/Highlanders-FC---Newsletter.html?soid=1102445029332&aid=iUdRbXP_KhQ|title=Highlanders Host Five at RAP|date=April 1, 2011|work=Victoria Highlanders}}</ref> At the Royal Athletic Park, the team was a secondary tenant to the Victoria HarbourCats baseball team, consequently having their home matches scheduled around those.<ref name=centennial>{{Cite web|url=https://www.timescolonist.com/sports/victoria-highlanders-to-play-at-centennial-stadium-1.2164263|title=Victoria Highlanders to play at Centennial Stadium|first=Cleve|last=Dheensaw|work=Times Colonist|date=February 2, 2016}}</ref> In 2016, they moved to Centennial Stadium in Victoria.<ref name=centennial />
==Seasons== {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" |- !Year !Level !League !{{tooltip|Record|Wins, draws, losses}} !Regular season !Playoffs !Juan de Fuca Plate<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.juandefucaplate.ca/ |title=Official Homepage of the Juan de Fuca Plate |publisher=Juandefucaplate.ca |access-date=March 18, 2013}}</ref> !Canadian Championship !Ref |- |2009 |rowspan=6|4 | rowspan="6" |PDL |6–4–6 |5th, Northwest |''did not qualify'' |rowspan=3|''no competition'' |rowspan=14|''ineligible'' |rowspan=11|<ref>{{cite web|url=http://cansha.coffeecup.com/vichigh.html|title=Victoria Highlanders Statistics|work=Canadian Soccer History Archive}}</ref> |- |2010 |7–3–6 |4th, Northwest |''did not qualify'' |- |2011 |9–3–4 |2nd, Northwest |Round of 16 |- |2012 |6–4–6 |6th, Northwest |''did not qualify'' |style="background:silver;"|Runner-Up |- |2013 |8–4–2 |bgcolor="B3B7FF"|1st, Northwest |Semi-finals |style="background:silver;"|Runner-Up |- |2014 |8–3–3 |2nd, Northwest |Play-in Round |bgcolor="FFEBAD"|Winner |- |2015 |– |PCSL |8–7–1 |3rd |style="background:silver;"|Runner-Up |rowspan=2|''no competition'' |- |2016 |rowspan=4|4 | rowspan="3" |PDL |3–6–5 |5th, Northwest |''did not qualify'' |- |2017 |5–1–8 |4th, Northwest |''did not qualify'' |bgcolor="FFEBAD"|Winner |- |2018 |5–0–9 |5th, Northwest |''did not qualify'' |style="background:silver;"|Runner-Up |- |2019 |USL League Two |6–1–7 |4th, Northwest |''did not qualify'' |style="background:silver;"|Runner-Up |- |2020–21 |rowspan=2|– |rowspan=2|Vancouver Island Soccer League |6–0–1 |2nd{{refn|group=note|The 2020–21 season was cancelled before its conclusion due to the COVID-19 pandemic}} |''Season cancelled'' |rowspan=2|''no competition'' |<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://visl.org/webapps/spappz_live/div_stats?reg_year=2021&division=1&sched_pool=A&sched_type=reg|title=Standings|work=Vancouver Island Soccer League}}</ref> |- |2021–22 |11–4–5 |4th |TBD | |- |2022 |rowspan=2|3 |rowspan=2|League1 British Columbia |3–2–7 |7th |''did not qualify'' |5th{{refn|name=juan|group=note|The Juan de Fuca Plate became a combined men's and women's competition in 2022}} |<ref name=bcmen>{{cite web|url=https://cansha.coffeecup.com/l1bcmen.html|title=League1 British Columbia Standings|work=Canadian Soccer History Archive}}</ref> |- |2023 |10–2–2 | bgcolor="B3B7FF" |1st |style="background:silver;"|Runner-Up |4th{{refn|group=note|name=juan}} |''did not qualify'' |<ref name=bcmen /> |- |} {{reflist|group=note}}
== Notable former players == ''This list of notable former and current players who went on to play professional soccer after playing for the team in the Premier Development League or League1 British Columbia, or those who previously played professionally before joining the team.'' {{cmn|colwidth=18em| *{{flagicon|ENG}} Cory Bent *{{flagicon|CAN}} Caleb Clarke *{{flagicon|USA}} Jamie Cunningham *{{flagicon|CAN}} Jamar Dixon *{{flagicon|CAN}} Manny Gómez *{{flagicon|CAN}} A. J. Gray *{{flagicon|CAN}} Josh Heard *{{flagicon|CAN}} Jordan Hughes *{{flagicon|CAN}} Tyler Hughes *{{flagicon|CAN}} Diaz Kambere *{{flagicon|CAN}} Brett Levis *{{flagicon|NIR}} Ryan McCurdy *{{flagicon|CAN}} Callum Montgomery *{{flagicon|CAN}} Riley O'Neill *{{flagicon|USA}} Matt Polster *{{flagicon|CAN}} Jake Ruby *{{flagicon|CAN}} Sahil Sandhu *{{flagicon|GER}} Peter Schaale *{{flagicon|SCO}} Blair Sturrock *{{flagicon|CAN}} Nolan Wirth *{{flagicon|CAN}} Sean Young *{{flagicon|CAN}} Daniel Zadravec }}
==Coaching history== *{{flagicon|Canada}} Colin Miller (2009) *{{flagicon|Canada}} Ian Bridge (2010–2012) *{{flagicon|Canada}} Steve Simonson (2012–2015) *{{flagicon|Canada}} Dave Dew (2016–2017) *{{flagicon|Germany}} Thomas Niendorf (2018–?) *{{flagicon|Canada}} Steve Simonson <!--Since at least 2021-->(?–present)
==Reserves== The Highlanders also established reserve teams. In 2009, their U20 reserves only played exhibition matches,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.victoriahighlandersfc.com/news.php?newsid=104|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131217224221/http://www.victoriahighlandersfc.com/news.php?newsid=104|title=Nurturing Home-Grown Talent|date=July 10, 2009|first=Sharie|last=Epp|work=Times Colonist|archive-date=December 17, 2013|url-status=usurped}}</ref> before joining the Men's Premier Division of the Pacific Coast Soccer League in 2010.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.victoriahighlandersfc.com/news.php?newsid=128|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100404170208/http://www.victoriahighlandersfc.com/news.php?newsid=128|date=February 1, 2010|archive-date=April 4, 2010|url-status=usurped|title=Highlanders FC Reserves join the PCSL|work=Victoria Highlanders}}</ref> In March 2011, the Highlanders announced an affiliation with a Nanaimo-Ladysmith based group to be named the Mid-Isle Highlanders. The Mid-Isle Highlanders play in the Pacific Coast Soccer League (PCSL) Reserves Division (a U-21 division) as a development squad. The Mid Isle side was older than the Highlanders U20 Reserves (who were U-17 and U-18) playing in the PCSL Premier Division, but younger than the U-23 PDL roster.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.victoriahighlandersfc.com/news.php?newsid=228|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110513122349/http://www.victoriahighlandersfc.com/news.php?newsid=228|url-status=usurped|archive-date=May 13, 2011|title=Highlanders Announce Mid Isle Affiliation|work=Victoria Highlanders|date=March 29, 2011}}</ref> They also have younger youth teams as part of their Victoria Highlanders Futures program.
==Women== {{Main|Victoria Highlanders Women}} In 2010, the Highlanders added a women's team, when they adopted the Victoria Stars FC of the PCSL, who ran into financial difficulties and renamed them as the Victoria Highlanders Women.<ref>{{Cite web|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100404164400/http://www.victoriahighlandersfc.com/news.php?newsid=126|url=http://www.victoriahighlandersfc.com/news.php?newsid=126|title=Highlanders launch Women's FC Team|date=February 4, 2010|archive-date=April 4, 2010|url-status=usurped|work=Victoria Highlanders}}</ref> In 2011, the team joined the USL W-League.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.victoriahighlandersfc.com/news.php?newsid=212|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131217225247/http://www.victoriahighlandersfc.com/news.php?newsid=212|title=Movin On Up|archive-date=December 17, 2013|url-status=usurped|date=December 1, 2010|work=Victoria Highlanders}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.saanichnews.com/sports/highlanders-fc-soccer-club-folds-after-six-years/|title=Highlanders FC soccer club folds after six years|date=February 3, 2015|work=Saanich News|first=Travis|last=Paterson}}</ref> After two seasons, the team returned to the PCSL for 2013, with the team rebranding as the '''Peninsula Co-op Women's Soccer''' after their major sponsor, although the Highlanders continued to be the operators of the team despite the name rebrand.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.independentsportsnews.com/2012/02/23/peninsula-co-op-on-board-as-highlander-womens-sponsor/|title=Peninsula Co-op on Board as Highlander Women's Sponsor|work=Independent Sports News|date=February 23, 2012}}</ref> The women's team folded after the 2014 season and was not part of the 2015 revival with the new ownership group.<ref name=weback />
In 2021, it was announced that the Highlanders would be joining the new League1 British Columbia in both the men's and women's division, with the men's Highlanders organization merging with the women's club Vancouver Island FC, which played in the Women's Premier Soccer League.<ref name=bcs/><ref name=chapter/>
== References == {{reflist|colwidth=30em}}
== External links == * [http://www.lakesidebuoys.org/ Lake Side Buoys] (supporters club)
{{League1 British Columbia}} {{British Columbia Sports}} {{Victoria Sports}} {{Soccer in Victoria}}
Category:Soccer clubs in British Columbia Category:British Columbia Premier League clubs Highlanders FC Category:Fan-owned football clubs Category:USL League Two teams Category:United Soccer League teams based in Canada Category:Association football clubs established in 2008 Category:2008 establishments in British Columbia Category:Victoria Highlanders FC