A Week for the Community: Club Night Success and Upcoming Reid Davidson Charity Shield Game

It’s a true community week here at Nanaimo United! We could not be more stoked about how Tuesday’s home opener went. Thank you to everyone who came out to support our squads and celebrate our first ever Club Night. Our teams and the Whitecaps and Rise FC Academy squads felt the love. We are incredibly grateful and proud of Nanaimo’s soccer community. 

Home Opener in Review

Men’s Game

Charlie Smith started the goal-scoring frenzy - after Alex Dedame won a scramble at the top of the box, he popped the ball to an eagerly awaiting Smith who stepped off his defender, created some space and launched it past the keeper. Soon after, our lads won a penalty kick. Hussein (Suka) Behery stepped up to take the shot. The Whitecaps keeper, Isaac Francoeur, made an insane save but that didn’t stop Suka from getting his goal. In the 47th minute, he nimbly maneuvered past Whitecaps’ defensive line and secured his point. Check out a recording of his foot skills here. 

Check out the full game highlights here. Final score: 3-2 for the Whitecaps thanks to a late penalty kick. What a game!

Women’s Game

A match full of chances and speed - the teams matched each other’s energy and put on a full-gas game. Taylor Kinley and Mary Nicholls had some incredible shots (to name only a few) and goalkeeper Kaiden Thorpe was a brick wall. The ladies lost 2-0, but had only 2 less scoring chances than the Rise. The Rise had 13 shots on net, and NUFC had 11. Such a close game! 

Check out the highlights here. 

This Weekend: 3rd Annual Reid Davidson Charity Shield Home Game

The community love continues as we head into the first leg of the 2026 Reid Davidson Charity Shield - a total points home and home competition between Kamloops FC and Nanaimo United, involving both the men's and women's teams. The clubs are working together to honour and remember Reid, and to establish scholarships in his name in their communities. Reid was a well-loved member of both soccer communities and the Nanaimo United FC Member Services Coordinator.

Date: Saturday, April 18

Location: Q'unq'inuqwstuxw Stadium (NDSS Turf Field)

Men's Game: 11 AM start

Women's Game: 1:30 PM start

Read about 2025 and 2024’s Charity Shield competition here! The teams are ready to compete for the 2026 title. Be sure to check out the trophy on your way past the ticket booth!

Thank You!

Shout-out to Seaview Home and Auto Glass for supporting our Youth Zone this year (get ready for some bubbles and pizza!) and be sure to check out our squads’ warm-up jerseys. Junk in Our Trunk is back as a sponsor - at this point, their logo is an essential part of our kit!

See you at the turf tomorrow!