Tuesday August 16, 2022 | LANGFORD, BC
by Mary P Brooke | Island Social Trends
New managing director, incoming!
Today the Langford-based Pacific FC (PFC) soccer team announced that leading sports executive Paul Beirne will be their new Managing Director of Pacific FC.
Beirne was instrumental in the launch of the Canadian Premier League (CPL) in 2019 (of which PFC is one team) and is known as a trailblazer of the pro soccer business in Canada. He has more than 25 years of experience in the sports and entertainment industry.
“As we looked ahead to what’s upcoming for Pacific FC as a purpose-driven club that supports professional players and countless youth programs across the region, we knew Paul’s drive, experience and commitment to the sport would help us achieve our goals,” said Josh Simpson, President, Pacific FC.
Expecting expansion:
“Now in our fourth season, with a championship to our name, we are looking to Paul to help us expand on what we can do as an organization in the community and for the betterment of Canadian soccer overall,” says Simpson.
Toronto-born Beirne served as the CPL’s first President when the league launched in 2019. In this role, he oversaw all logistics including soccer operations, branding and club management.
Beirne was the person behind the launch of Toronto FC and BMO Field in 2007 and was honoured by Major League Soccer as their “MLS Executive of the Year” for that record-breaking launch.
Relocating to Langford:
“I can’t wait to get to Langford and meet with the staff, supporters and partners of the club,” said Beirne. “I applaud Josh and SixFive Sports & Entertainment for their courageous vision of a purpose-driven club that will harness the power of soccer to create a platform for social change,” Beirne was quoted in a news release issued this morning by PFC.
Beirne’s leadership in soccer took him overseas in 2014 where he served in a key role at Brighton & Hove Albion Football Club in the English Championship overseeing commercial business. However, his expertise in sports runs beyond the soccer pitch. He has also held senior executive roles with the Toronto Raptors, Toronto Maple Leafs and Ottawa Senators.
Exciting time in PFC history:
PFC says that Beirne joins Pacific at an exciting time in the club’s history. The Tridents won the 2021 CPL championship and are now competing in the Scotiabank Concacaf League.
Pacific will host Costa Rica’s CS Herediano tonight August 16 at Starlight Stadium in Round of 16 play, arguably the biggest match in the club’s history.
Stadium expansion:
Off the field, the City of Langford recently announced an $8 million expansion to Starlight Stadium, nearly doubling the seating to a capacity of 10,000 in the coming years. The expansion depends on work being done by BC Hydro to relocate a few transmission towers and lines in the busy and highly-populated Westhills area of Langford.
Rob Friend now focusing on Vancouver:
Beirne will bolster the club’s leadership team as Pacific FC owner Rob Friend steps away from his role to launch the CPL’s new Vancouver-based club ahead of the 2023 season.
That puts two CPL clubs into the BC zone.
Friend will now serve as Co-Founder/Partner of SixFive Sports & Entertainment and President of the Vancouver club.
Josh Simpson remains as President:
Josh Simpson remains the President of Pacific FC Sports Inc. and is also a Co-Founder/Partner of SixFive Sports & Entertainment.
===== ABOUT ISLAND SOCIAL TRENDS:
Island Social Trends (formerly West Shore Voice News 2014-2020) has been covering news of the south Vancouver Island region since 2008. Editor and Publisher Mary P Brooke has been following news of the Pacific FC team since the start in 2018, and first game in 2019.