Vancouver Athletic Announces Strategic Investment in Rovers Football Club

Partnership deepens pathway from grassroots to semi-pro soccer in British Columbia

Vancouver Athletic FC (VAFC) has announced a strategic investment in Rovers Football Club

Ltd of the BC Premier League, formalizing and deepening a long-standing partnership between TSS Football Club and Vancouver Athletic FC and further strengthening one of the most comprehensive player development pathways in British Columbia.

VAFC and TSS Football Club have worked closely together for several years, aligning on player development and providing VAFC athletes with direct access to high-performance programming through the Rovers environment. This collaboration has already created a clear and proven pathway for players to progress from grassroots through to elite competition, including opportunities within BC Premier League (formerly League 1 BC) and beyond.

This new investment sees VAFC become a part owner of Rovers Football Club Ltd, which for the past 4 years has been owned by both TSS Football Club and over 500 shareholder/supporters, the first of its kind in Canada. Rovers Football Club competes in the BC Premier League (formerly League 1) at the semi-professional level with both a men’s and a women’s team and carries the Rovers brand. This investment reinforces a shared long-term vision to grow the game, enhance the player experience, and build a sustainable soccer ecosystem in the region. 

“Today marks an important step forward for both organizations,” said Darren Sherbot, President of Vancouver Athletic FC. “Our relationship with the TSS Football Club has been built over time through a shared commitment to player development and community. This investment strengthens that alignment and ensures that VAFC players have a clear, supported pathway all the way through to the highest levels of the game, while remaining connected to their home club.”

TSS Football Club, established in 1997, has built a strong reputation for developing players and competing at a high level within the provincial and national landscape. The club’s men’s and women’s programs continue to serve as a key bridge between youth soccer and senior-level competition.

We are excited to take this next step with VAFC,” said Brendan Quarry, Co-Owner and Operations Director of TSS Football Club. “This partnership has already delivered meaningful opportunities for players, and this investment allows us to align even more closely moving forward by being mutual owners of Rovers Football Club in the BC Premier League. Together, we can continue to elevate standards, expand opportunities, and build something truly impactful for the soccer community in Vancouver.”

The partnership will continue to focus on enhancing player development, strengthening the matchday and fan experience, and creating meaningful opportunities for VAFC players to engage with and progress into the Rovers environment. 

With this next phase of collaboration, both organizations are committed to building one of the strongest and most complete player pathways in the province — supporting players from their first introduction to the game through to the semi-pro level.

About Vancouver Athletic FC

Vancouver Athletic FC is one of the largest youth soccer clubs in British Columbia, serving more than 3,000 players annually and supporting one of the highest rates of girls’ participation in the province. The club offers programming from U3 through adult, with a focus on community, inclusion, and player development at all levels.

About TSS Football Club

TSS Football Club is a Richmond-based club competing in youth BCSPL league and the semi-pro BC Premier league through Rovers Football Club, with a long-standing reputation for player development on both the male and female side of the game