RAP staff are using cutout coyote mannequin decoys to scare away geese, which have been adversely affecting field conditions for years.
The quips came quicker than the goose droppings ahead of today’s Canadian Premier League soccer game, between Pacific FC and defending-champion Atlético Ottawa, 4 p.m. at Royal Athletic Park. “We have our shovels ready,” said PFC head coach Terry Dunfield, with a chuckle.
The story making headlines was the cutout coyote mannequin decoys being used by park staff on the RAP grass pitch to scare away geese, which have been adversely affecting field conditions for years. “I have heard of Goosegate and I have heard they want some of us to sleep overnight there and chase the geese off – just joking, of course,” said PFC captain and hometown-product Josh Heard.
“The groundskeepers do a great job there. Grass plays differently and is easier on the body. I have a lot of good memories of playing at RAP in the PDL Highlanders days,” Heard said about the storied stadium that first opened in 1913. “It’s always exciting to play there and on grass closer to downtown. It’s been around for a bit.”
The road went through RAP the first time Canada qualified for the World Cup in 1986 with several of the CONCACAF qualifying games played there and also the qualifiers for the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics, which remains the last time Canada has played in the Summer Games in men’s soccer.
The CPL was established ahead of Canada co-hosting the 2026 World Cup. The previous Canadian professional soccer league was the CSL, which started in 1987 to build off the momentum of Canada’s 1986 World Cup appearance. The Victoria Vistas played in that league at RAP. Later, the amateur club Victoria United was based there with players like Josh Simpson, the 43-time Canada-capped former Bundesliga pro from the Island, who is part of the group that owns PFC. Big-time touring clubs such as Fulham, Sunderland, Chelsea, Wolves, Tottenham, Newcastle United, Sheffield Wednesday, Dundee United and Hearts have also played at RAP. Heard has said that 1986 World Cup players from the Island — George Pakos, Ian Bridge and Jamie Lowery, as well as the Vistas — paved the way for Island players like him.
Dunfield grew up in Vancouver but has fond memories of RAP as well: “I remember coming with my dad to watch Canada play. It was an amazing, really special day coming over the ferry, and the crowd was terrific and right on top of the pitch.”
Dunfield went on to play for Canada himself, 14 times, during a pro career with Man City, Vancouver Whitecaps and Toronto FC. PFC, whose regular home is Starlight Stadium, has played selected games at Royal Athletic Park the past two seasons with another scheduled against Forge FC on Oct. 25. Third-place Ottawa comes in with 12-9-4 in wins-losses-draws while PFC, eliminated from the playoff race, is 2-15-8.
Meanwhile, PFC defender Tristan Marshall returns after representing St. Vincent and the Grenadines in the CONCACAF Nations League, while Ralph Khoury of Atlético Ottawa is also back after playing for Lebanon. They are among 10 CPL players who were with their national teams during the just-concluded FIFA international window. “What a great two weeks Tristan [Marshall] has had with four wins and playing every minute,” said Dunfield.
CORNER KICKS: PFC assistant coach Jesse Acteson joins the Canadian team for the FIFA women’s U-17 World Cup beginning Friday in Morocco and will miss the rest of the CPL season. “It’s a fantastic opportunity for Jesse. We’ve been working very closely with Canada Soccer and it’s amazing to see some of the fruits of the partnership. It works really well,” said Dunfield.