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Chris Bennett (soccer)
Encyclopedia
Chris Bennett is a former Canadian international
and North American Soccer League
soccer player. He was also one of the original Vancouver Whitecaps players from their first season in 1974. Since retiring from playing, he has been a soccer coach and instructor in the Vancouver
area.
immigrant to Canada, Bennett was a member of the Vancouver Whitecaps
of the NASL in their inaugural season of 1974, playing 8 games and netting two goals and an assist. Just before the 1976 season, the Whitecaps traded Bennett to the Seattle Sounders in exchange for Tommy Baldwin
. In 1978, he moved to the Memphis Rogues
. Prior to going to North America, Bennett was a member of Chelsea F.C.
in 1970 and '71, although he never played a first-team game http://chelsea2.chelseafc.com/database/database.htm. He played indoor soccer
at some point, likely the 1978-9 season, for the Cleveland Force.
, including 1998 to 2000 as the U-15 boys team head coach as well as assistant coach to the U-20 side and as an interim to the national side. The U-20 mens team won the 1995-6 CONCACAF
gold medal whereas the 1993-4 team finished third in the same tournament. From 2001 he has provided soccer coaching to his local community in Coquitlam and at Penticton, BC, Canada
.
Bennett was in 2005 and possibly 2006 coach of the Whitecaps F.C. men's reserves. In 2004 he led the Whitecaps women's team to the W-League
championship which subsequently led to his inauguration in the BC Sports Hall of Fame
in 2007.
National 'B' License Course
National 'A' License Course
2001 - 2002 Coach of the Year, North Coquitlam
Canada men's national soccer team
The Canada men's national soccer team represents Canada in international soccer competitions at the senior men's level. They are overseen by the Canadian Soccer Association and compete in the Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football .Their most significant...
and North American Soccer League
North American Soccer League
North American Soccer League was a professional soccer league with teams in the United States and Canada that operated from 1968 to 1984.-History:...
soccer player. He was also one of the original Vancouver Whitecaps players from their first season in 1974. Since retiring from playing, he has been a soccer coach and instructor in the Vancouver
Vancouver
Vancouver is a coastal seaport city on the mainland of British Columbia, Canada. It is the hub of Greater Vancouver, which, with over 2.3 million residents, is the third most populous metropolitan area in the country,...
area.
Professional
An EnglishEngland
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
immigrant to Canada, Bennett was a member of the Vancouver Whitecaps
Vancouver Whitecaps (NASL)
The original Vancouver Whitecaps were founded on December 11, 1973 and during the 1970s and 1980s played in the North American Soccer League . The Whitecaps achieved success, winning the 1979 Soccer Bowl. The Whitecaps of that era included international players such as Alan Ball, but also "home...
of the NASL in their inaugural season of 1974, playing 8 games and netting two goals and an assist. Just before the 1976 season, the Whitecaps traded Bennett to the Seattle Sounders in exchange for Tommy Baldwin
Tommy Baldwin
Thomas "Tommy" Baldwin is an English former footballer who played in the Football League for Arsenal, Chelsea, Millwall, Manchester United and Brentford. He was capped twice by England at under-23 level....
. In 1978, he moved to the Memphis Rogues
Memphis Rogues
The Memphis Rogues were a professional soccer team in the former North American Soccer League. They operated in the 1978, 1979, and 1980 seasons and played their home games in Memphis' Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium.-History:...
. Prior to going to North America, Bennett was a member of Chelsea F.C.
Chelsea F.C.
Chelsea Football Club are an English football club based in West London. Founded in 1905, they play in the Premier League and have spent most of their history in the top tier of English football. Chelsea have been English champions four times, FA Cup winners six times and League Cup winners four...
in 1970 and '71, although he never played a first-team game http://chelsea2.chelseafc.com/database/database.htm. He played indoor soccer
Indoor soccer
Indoor soccer or arena soccer, or six-a-side football in the United Kingdom, is a game derived from association football adapted for play in an indoor arena such as a turf-covered hockey arena or skating rink. The most important difference in play is that the indoor field is surrounded by a wall...
at some point, likely the 1978-9 season, for the Cleveland Force.
National team
Bennett earned six 'A' caps between 1973 and 1975 for Canada, scoring once. He also earned four Olympic team caps in 1975, scoring once.Coach
Bennett was a coach for 12 years with the Canadian Soccer AssociationCanadian Soccer Association
The Canadian Soccer Association is the governing body of soccer in Canada. It is a national organization that oversees the Canadian men's and women's national teams for international play, as well as the respective junior sides...
, including 1998 to 2000 as the U-15 boys team head coach as well as assistant coach to the U-20 side and as an interim to the national side. The U-20 mens team won the 1995-6 CONCACAF
CONCACAF
The Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football is the continental governing body for association football in North America, Central America and the Caribbean...
gold medal whereas the 1993-4 team finished third in the same tournament. From 2001 he has provided soccer coaching to his local community in Coquitlam and at Penticton, BC, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
.
Bennett was in 2005 and possibly 2006 coach of the Whitecaps F.C. men's reserves. In 2004 he led the Whitecaps women's team to the W-League
W-League
The USL W-League is a national women's soccer league in the United States on the 2nd level of women's soccer in the United States soccer pyramid, alongside the Women's Premier Soccer League and below Women's Professional Soccer....
championship which subsequently led to his inauguration in the BC Sports Hall of Fame
BC Sports Hall of Fame
For over 40 years, the community has entrusted the BC Sports Hall of Fame and Museum with the responsibility to collect, preserve, study, and interpret materials that relate to British Columbia’s rich sport history...
in 2007.
Coaching Certification
Level I, II, III NCCP Theory, Technical and Practical CertifiedNational 'B' License Course
National 'A' License Course
Special Recognition
2004 - 2005 BC Directors Coaching Award, for dedication to the development of soccer through coaching2001 - 2002 Coach of the Year, North Coquitlam