On Saturday, July 26, at Thunderbird Stadium, Langley United—playing its very first season in League1 BC—was locked in a tense 2-2 battle with the Whitecaps Academy.

As the final minutes ticked away, so did Langley’s margin for error. Only a win would be enough to leap over TSS Rovers and claim the league title. With every missed chance, desperation started to creep in, and the dream was slipping.

Then, just as hope began to fade, Michael Ajagbe collected the ball on the edge of the area. He darted down the right flank, took on two defenders, and—under pressure—forced the foul that would flip the game on its head: a penalty, with everything on the line.

In an afternoon that seemed destined to end in heartbreak, Langley United suddenly had a chance—at the death—to win the league.

Up stepped 19-year-old Amirmahdi Ghasemi, staring down the biggest moment of his young career.

After a few seconds of silence and taking many steps back, the Canadian-Iranian calmly struck the ball, sending it into the back of the net and securing the championship for Langley United.

Langley United won League1 BC in the very last moment — the referee blew the final whistle immediately after the penalty was scored.

That goal not only gave them the league title, but also secured a spot in next year’s Canadian Championship for the very first time, Canada’s domestic cup competition, where they could face teams like the Vancouver Whitecaps, Toronto FC, and CF Montréal.

But this last-minute winner wasn’t just a single moment of brilliance—it was the result of a collective effort, a reflection of the years of dedication from the club’s volunteers, players, coaching staff, and leadership.

While it was their first season in the semi-pro league, it was far from their first year as a club—they’re actually gearing up to celebrate their 100th anniversary.

“We have so much on the horizon over the next six months,” said Langley United Executive Director Marcel Horn to TrueNorthFoot. “As a soccer community, we’re preparing for the arrival of the World Cup, gearing up to celebrate our club’s centennial year, and launching the first-ever grassroots soccer campus in Langley—with supporting infrastructure, it’s a $150 million project.”

The League1 BC title really couldn't have come at a better time.

“Winning League1 in our very first season—it honestly feels like we’re living a fairytale,” said Horn. “Here we are, about to celebrate our 100th year, opening a new grassroots campus, earning a spot at the Canada Cup, and all of it while Canada prepares to host the World Cup in 2026. It’s an unbelievable trifecta for our club and our city.

But the way it happened—tied 2-2 with the Whitecaps, a whole season’s work on the line, and then, in the dying seconds of the 95th minute, we win it with a penalty—was straight out of a movie script. As someone who’s spent over 15 years inspiring kids to play to the very last whistle, to see that lesson pay off on the biggest stage was emotional. You hold your breath, and when that ball hits the net, you just explode in tears. All those years working with the community, the city, fighting to create a safe haven for soccer—it all came together in that single, unforgettable moment. If you tried to script a better story, I don’t think you could.”

Marcel Horn began volunteering with Langley United in January 2010—more than 15 years ago. Since then, he’s steadily risen through the ranks, serving on the Board of Directors, becoming President, and now holding the role of Executive Director.

For him, seeing the club fulfill its purpose is nothing short of incredible—or, as he put it, “dream to reality.”

“I get goosebumps,” Horn told TrueNorthFoot. “You know, everyone sees the club from the outside, but behind the scenes, it’s built on the dedication of 400 volunteer coaches and countless staff—people who show up, day in and day out, to make sure every kid has a safe and memorable experience. It’s so much more than just a ball and a pair of cleats. To reach the national stage, and have the chance to showcase what Langley soccer is all about after nearly a century—it’s honestly unimaginable. This is what turning dreams into reality really looks like.”

"It means the world," he added.

Langley United is the only League1 Canada club without a single sponsor. It’s entirely membership-driven, backed by a community of over 6,000 members.

Langley—and many other semi-pro teams across the country—offer something most professional clubs don’t: true pathways.

At clubs like these, kids can begin playing as early as age four and progress through the ranks, all the way to the semi-pro level.

For young players, the chance to stay with the club where they made friends, grew up, and now get to face professional teams—it's something truly special.

“That was the entire goal behind taking on a League1 franchise,” Horn told TrueNorthFoot. “The only reason we were willing to shoulder the added strain was to create something bigger—a dedicated pathway for our young players. Our technical directors and coaches stepped up and took on the challenge, not for extra pay, but because we all wanted to give local kids the chance to grow their community pride, foster their love of the game, and see where hard work can really take them. We wanted to show that, right here in Langley, you can start at grassroots and—without ever leaving your home club—work your way to the national stage.”

Brody Thomas, the men’s team captain who lifted the trophy after coming all the way through the Langley United ranks, is living proof of that journey.

“When you see a story like Brody’s, you can’t ignore it—it fills you with pride,” said Horn. “As a country, we’re searching for our own sporting identity, for Canadian-made heroes, for something that sparks our national pride. Can you imagine what it means, for a local kid to compete on the national stage in the sport they grew up loving, representing not just themselves, but their friends, their club, their whole community? That’s what this is all about.”

Semi-pro teams have often resorted to parking the bus against professional opponents—and understandably so, given the significant quality gap between League1 Canada sides and CPL teams, let alone those in MLS.

Still, we've seen our share of surprises. The most famous example? TSS Rovers’ dominant win over Valour in 2023, where the League1 BC side dismantled the Winnipegers 3-1 (The scoreline doesn't give justice to the Rovers' performance, which included a missed penalty).

Other semi-pro clubs have also held their own, playing balanced matches and showing they belong on the same pitch.

That’s exactly the mindset Langley United is taking in.

"Langley professes playing out of the back in a tactical, technical, precise manner," said Horn. "It’s genuinely an enjoyable club to coach and to play for, because we use all eleven players on the pitch. We’re always looking and hunting for opportunities. When you watch us, you’ll see a team that takes the ball with purpose—pushing forward, hunting space, and searching for those chances. That’s our identity. Just look at the final 30 seconds of the League1 final—our intent was clear, we knew exactly what we wanted to hunt down, and that moment was no accident. That’s something you set up, not just hope for."

What can we expect from Langley United?

“Continuously for 90 minutes, you’re going to see precision," Horn added. "When our team steps on the field, they play with confidence, composure, and complete focus. They’re always scanning for opportunities, moving with tactical intent, and using their skill to make the most of open space."

Azad Palani, Assistant Technical Director of the club and Head Coach of the League1 BC men's team, added to Marcel's comments:

"Whether you're playing a 4-2-3-1, 4-4-2, 3-5-2, 3-4-3, these are just formations and style," Azad told TrueNorthFoot. "What I can tell you is that we prioritize development, because ultimately, we have to look at League1 as a pathway to pro. And yes, we are going up against the pros; we're also showcasing young players. I'm not going to give too much away on how we're going to play, but you can expect to see us sticking to our identity, and we will have a game plan, like we've had all year. The other thing we have to respect and understand is that we put this team together a year ago. We had to sit in front of the young players and share what our philosophy was, how we were going to play with it, and come up with a plan week after week to continue having success."

Azad, like Marcel, has been with Langley United for over a decade. With the help of Technical Director Mark Parker, he began his coaching journey at the club and now finds himself leading it into a historic matchup against a professional team.

But it’s not just the club’s rise that’s remarkable—Azad’s personal story is one of resilience and inspiration.

He arrived in Canada in 1994 as a refugee, bringing with him a deep passion for the game. At the time, professional soccer in Canada was virtually non-existent, with the Canadian Soccer League having folded just a few years earlier.

Despite the challenges, Azad quickly made a name for himself. He was selected to the Alberta provincial team at the U15 level, where they earned a third-place finish at the national championships. After relocating to British Columbia, he continued to impress—earning a spot on the BC provincial team and representing the province at the U17 nationals.

In 2000, his talent was recognized on the national stage. He was named to Canada Soccer’s U17 player pool and invited to the National Training Centre (NTC) program. He later joined Douglas College in 2005, where he helped the men’s soccer team win the championship and finished as the top scorer that same year.

However, a promising playing career was cut short by injury. By the age of 24, Azad had already undergone a few knee surgeries and suffered two torn hamstrings—ultimately forcing him to step away from pursuing professional soccer as a player.

In 2007, he turned his focus to coaching. Six years later, he joined Langley United, where he’s grown into a respected leader within the club, the city of Langley, and the wider BC soccer community. He has helped shape the club’s development pathway while continuously pursuing growth himself.

He recently earned his CONCACAF A Diploma and remains committed to furthering his coaching education.

"I guess you can say it's a way of life," he said. "Under the mentorship of the Technical Director, Mark Parker, I pursued my certifications and continued over the years from grassroots and the youth, and now I've just completed my A license. It's been a wonderful experience as a coach. I have two kids in the club myself—my nine-year-old daughter and seven-year-old son. That's why I say it's a way of life. The club has developed much over the years, from a grassroots club with about 1,000 kids to approximately 6,000 over the fall and spring seasons. It's a massive growth within our community. From a grassroots club to the semi-pro level—not just for myself, but I think for all."

Azad will find himself in a unique situation during next year’s Canadian Championship.

As both the head coach of Langley United and the assistant manager at CPL’s Vancouver FC, the possibility of facing his own club in a competitive match presents an unusual challenge.

Naturally, we had to ask: “What happens if both teams face off?”

"It's one that I'm not going to say I haven't thought about," he laughed. "I've definitely thought about it. It's been brought up with Mark, Rob (Friend), Marcel (Horn), and the staff. What I can tell you is that it's a true testament to the development in our community between Langley United and Vancouver FC, and providing two different platforms. That partnership has worked out really well."

Langley United serves as the affiliate club of Vancouver FC, giving the CPL side the ability to loan players to the League1 BC outfit for additional playing time in a competitive environment.

"Over the last couple of years, I've somewhat mastered how to put my VFC hat on in the morning and then put on my Langley hat in the afternoon," he remarked. "If we're drawn in the first round, you can expect me to have a Langley hat on, because [Vancouver] will have plenty of staff. What I can tell you is that you can expect a jam-packed stadium at Willoughby if the two teams face each other."

Both sides play at Willoughby Community Park.

"I'm looking forward to it. Excited, but a little bit nervous as well!" he added.

Azad also acknowledged that the situation goes beyond just him, noting that several staff members and even players on developmental contracts have been involved with both teams throughout the season.

To wrap up the interview, we asked Azad, Marcel, and Langley United’s Technical Director, Mark Parker, if there was one club they’d most like to face in next year’s Canadian Championship.

Their unanimous answer? The Vancouver Whitecaps.

Parker, though, hopes to meet them in the final. It’s a bold wish, but one that would complete a wild storyline: beating the Whitecaps Academy in the League1 BC title decider, then facing the Whitecaps’ first team in the Canadian Championship final.

Azad added that facing any MLS team would bring valuable exposure to the club—an opportunity that would benefit not just Langley, but Canadian soccer as a whole.

Langley United will learn their Preliminary Round opponent in late 2025 or early 2026, with a likely matchup against one of the professional Western Canadian teams: Vancouver FC, Cavalry, Pacific, Valour, or the Whitecaps.