Patrick Metcalfe certainly doesn’t forget his roots.
In less than ideal weather, he was at Hugh Boyd Park Sunday afternoon watching his hometown Richmond FC U18 Metro team win its Coastal Cup semi-final game. Three days earlier, he had signed is first professional contract with Whitecaps FC2 of the United States Professional Soccer League.
The latest development is part of Metcalfe’s remarkable journey over the past year.
The 18-year-old was winding down his youth career and had already committed to the UBC Thunderbirds when he got the attention of Whitecap scouts. He was offered a spot on their U18 Residency team that plays in the U.S. Development Academy League. He started in the 2016 championship game and became a fixture in midfield.
“Patrick's journey is a great story and inspiration for kids who may be waiting for their chance," said WFC2 head coach Rich Fagan. "He came on our radar towards the end of his youth career after playing at Fusion FC in our partner league with B.C. Soccer, the BCSPL. We could tell he had something right away, so we offered him a spot in the Residency program. Full credit to Patrick for taking the opportunity and making the most of it.”
Meltcalfe’s time with the Residency program ends at the USDA nationals in Indianapolis come June. Graduating players are offered a professional contract or encouraged to continue their careers at the university level. Metcalfe had scholarships on the table from several schools, including North Carolina, Portland, Santa Clara and New Mexico. Back in December, he figured he would be heading south.
“They always have individual meetings, usually every couple of months, to tell you where you are at,” explained Metcalfe. “It was just before Christmas and they said I wasn’t good enough for the USL team and I was better off going to school. Two months later they changed their mind.
“It really has been pretty crazy since I joined the Residency program last March. Before that, my only option was to play for UBC. Thinking back to then, I had no clue I would end up here a year later — a professional player with Whitecaps FC2.”
Metcalfe began training with WCF2 in January and even dressed for a recent regular season game in Portland. It will be a juggling act over the next couple of months with him still suiting up with the Residency team as well. He is the eighth player to sign a professional contract from last year’s U18 team.
Upon his arrival with the Whitecaps, he played mostly defender before the coaching staff realized his skill set was better suited to midfield.
“I have definitely improved in the past year more so than I have in the last six. Just because I’m playing a group of players who all have the same mindset, Metcalfe explained. “We are all working towards the same goal in a professional environment and it really has benefitted me.
“I’m not the type of player who will dribble through a team. I like to pass so I need the team around me to make me a better player. It’s definitely been great.”
Metcalfe played with Fusion FC from U14 to U18. He was voted team MVP at the U17 level and named captain a year later. He was coached by former Whitecaps FC players Srdjan Djekanovic and Alex Elliott, with former ‘Caps player and Richmond native Jason Jordan leading the club as technical director. From U7 to U14, Metcalfe played with Richmond FC, including winning a Provincial “A” Cup at the U13 level.
He also was part of B.C. Soccer’s provincial team program from U13 to U15 and trained with youth teams at German clubs FC Nurnberg and SpVgg Unterhaching.
