Nick Soolsma

{{Short description|Dutch footballer}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2023}}

{{Infobox football biography

| name = Nick Soolsma

| image = Nick Soolsma.JPG

| fullname =

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1988|1|07}}

| birth_place = Andijk, Netherlands

| height = {{height|ft=6|in=1}}

| position = Forward, midfielder

| currentclub =

| clubnumber =

| youthyears1 = 2003–2004

| youthclubs1 = PSV

| youthyears2 = 2004–2007

| youthclubs2 = FC Volendam

| years1 = 2007–2008

| clubs1 = HFC Haarlem

| caps1 = 7

| goals1 = 0

| years2 = 2008–2009

| clubs2 = FC Chabab

| caps2 = 16

| goals2 = 11

| years3 = 2009–2010

| clubs3 = VV Young Boys

| caps3 = 21

| goals3 = 17

| years4 = 2011–2012

| clubs4 = Toronto FC

| caps4 = 31

| goals4 = 3

| years5 = 2012–2013

| clubs5 = Excelsior

| caps5 = 22

| goals5 = 0

| years6 = 2013

| clubs6 = South Melbourne

| caps6 = 11

| goals6 = 2

| years7 = 2014–2015

| clubs7 = Langley Hurricanes

| caps7 = ?

| goals7 = 17

| years8 = 2016–2018

| clubs8 = BC Tigers

| caps8 = ?

| goals8 = 42

| years9 = 2018

| clubs9 = TSS FC Rovers

| caps9 = 9

| goals9 = 2

| years10 = 2018–2020

| clubs10 = BC Tigers

| caps10 = ?

| goals10 = 48

| nationalyears1 =

| nationalteam1 =

| nationalcaps1 =

| nationalgoals1 =

| club-update = 30 June 2018

| nationalteam-update =

}}

Nick Soolsma (born 7 January 1988) is a Dutch footballer.

Club career

=Netherlands=

Soolsma began his career in the youth ranks of Dutch side FC Volendam. During the 2007 season he played for FC Volendam's Under-19 side. He left Volendam at the end of the season and joined HFC Haarlem in the Eerste Divisie and appeared in seven league matches for his new side. The following seasons he played for Dutch lower division sides FC Chabab and VV Young Boys.

While with Chabab, Soolsma was regarded as one of the club's finest players and began to draw interest from several higher-level clubs.{{cite web|url=http://www.parool.nl/parool/nl/14/Amateurvoetbal/article/detail/36977/2008/10/13/Hollanders-brengen-Chabab-wat-extra-s.dhtml|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090103111313/http://www.parool.nl/parool/nl/14/Amateurvoetbal/article/detail/36977/2008/10/13/Hollanders-brengen-Chabab-wat-extra-s.dhtml|title=Hollanders brengen Chabab wat extra's|trans-title=The Dutch bring something extra to Chabab|language=Dutch|date=13 October 2008|url-status=dead |archive-date=3 January 2009 }} He went on a trial stint with Eredivisie side RKC Waalwijk during the 2009 season.{{cite web|url=http://www.voetbalzone.nl/doc.asp?uid=74863|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090313020105/http://www.voetbalzone.nl/doc.asp?uid=74863|title=RKC test vijf amateurs in duel met Willem II |publisher=Voetbalzone.nl |date=10 March 2009|trans-title=RKC tests five amateurs in a duel with Willem II|archive-date=13 March 2009|url-status=dead}} After one season with FC Chabab, Soolsma joined VV Young Boys where he went on to quickly establish himself with the club scoring 17 league goals and 2 others in the domestic cup as he helped the club gain promotion to the Hoofdklasse. He began the 2010/11 season with Young Boys in top form scoring 6 goals in the club's first 11 matches.{{cite web|url=http://www.wijzijnvoetbal.nl/forum/nationaal/36014-hoofdklasse-a-zaterdagamateurs-seizoen-2010-11-a.html |title=Hoofdklasse A zaterdagamateurs seizoen 2010/11|work=Wij Zijn Voetbal – Voetbal forum|trans-title=Dutch big league A Saturday amateurs season 2010/11}} His play with Young Boys led to offers from several Qatari clubs, which Soolsma elected to reject.{{cite web|url=https://www.nhnieuws.nl/nieuws/52495/young-boys-spits-slaat-aanbieding-qatar-af|title=Andijker spits slaat aanbieding Qatar af|trans-title=Young Boys striker declines Qatar's offer|date=7 January 2011|work=NH Nieuws|language=Dutch}}

=Toronto FC=

In January 2011 Soolsma went on trial with Toronto FC of Major League Soccer in hopes of securing a contract. He signed with the Canadian club on 9 March 2011 along with two other Dutch trialists Elbekay Bouchiba and Javier Martina.{{cite web|url=https://www.torontofc.ca/news/tfc-inks-dutch-trio|title=TFC Inks Dutch Trio|publisher=Toronto FC|date=9 March 2011|access-date=9 March 2011|archive-date=12 March 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110312095746/http://www.torontofc.ca/news/2011/03/tfc-inks-dutch-trio|url-status=live}} Soolsma made his debut for the team on 19 March 2011 versus Vancouver Whitecaps FC in the first all-Canadian match-up in the league.{{cite news |title=Toronto Falls Short in Vancouver |url=https://www.torontofc.ca/news/toronto-falls-short-vancouver |publisher=Toronto FC |date=19 March 2011 |access-date=20 March 2011 |archive-date=25 December 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141225163253/http://www.torontofc.ca/news/2011/03/toronto-falls-short-vancouver |url-status=live }} On 29 June 2011 Soolsma scored his first goal for Toronto from the penalty spot in a 1–0 home victory over Canadian rivals Vancouver Whitecaps FC.{{cite news |title= Soolsma lifts Toronto FC over Whitecaps |url=https://www.cbc.ca/sports/soccer/soolsma-lifts-toronto-fc-over-whitecaps-1.1031057 |publisher=Canadian Broadcasting Corporation |date=29 June 2011 |access-date=29 June 2011 }} On 15 March 2012, Soolsma gave an assist for the first goal and later scored the final winning goal in CONCACAF Champions League quarter final against LA Galaxy.{{cite web|url=https://www.cbc.ca/sports/soccer/toronto-fc-advances-to-champions-league-semifinals-1.1160614|title=Toronto FC advances to Champions League semifinals|publisher=Canadian Broadcasting Corporation|date=15 March 2012}}

On 18 June 2012, Nick Soolsma, along with two other Toronto FC players, were arrested in Houston and charged with public intoxication.{{cite web |url=https://nationalpost.com/sports/soccer/three-toronto-fc-players-charged-with-public-intoxication-in-houston |title=Three Toronto FC players charged with public intoxication in Houston|work=National Post |first=Matthew|last=Scianitti}} Soolsma's contract was terminated on 11 July 2012.{{cite web|url=https://www.torontofc.ca/news/reds-soolsma-part-ways|title=Reds & Soolsma Part Ways|publisher=Toronto FC|date=11 July 2012|access-date=11 July 2012|archive-date=28 August 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120828005141/http://www.torontofc.ca/news/2012/07/reds-soolsma-part-ways|url-status=live}}

=Return to the Netherlands=

Afterwards, Soolsma returned to the Netherlands and was offered contracts with either SBV Excelsior or SC Cambuur.{{cite web|url=https://www.nhnieuws.nl/nieuws/84051/soolsma-kiest-cambuur-of-excelsior|trans-title=Soolsma chooses: Cambuur or Excelsior|language=Dutch|title=Soolsma kiest: Cambuur of Excelsior|date=24 July 2012|publisher=NH Nieuws|accessdate=16 May 2018}} He finally chose to sign a contract with Excelsior for one year.{{cite web|url=https://www.soccernews.nl/news/165448/veelzijdige-soolsma-kiest-uiteindelijk-voor-excelsior|trans-title=Versatile Soolsma ultimately chooses Excelsior|title=Veelzijdige Soolsma kiest uiteindelijk voor Excelsior|language=Dutch|date=17 August 2012}}{{cite web|url=https://www.nhnieuws.nl/nieuws/85659/soolsma-naar-excelsior|title=Soolsma naar Excelsior|trans-title=Soolsma to Excelsior|language=Dutch|date=17 August 2012|work=NH Nieuws}}

=South Melbourne=

In June 2013, Soolsma signed with South Melbourne FC of the second tier Victorian Premier League for the rest of the season.{{cite web|url=https://www.smfc.com.au/exciting-dutchman-signs-with-south/|title=Exciting Dutchman Signs with South Melbourne FC |publisher=South Melbourne FC| date=28 June 2013}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.ftbl.com.au/news/soolsma-on-a-league-radar-356165|title=Soolsma on A-League Radar|first=Aidan|last=Ormond|date=9 September 2013|work=FTBL}} Soolsma left South Melbourne at the end of the 2013 season to return to Canada.{{cite web|url=http://www.smfc.com.au/season-preview-south-announce-squad-2014/;|title=Season Preview: South announce squad for 2014|work=South Melbourne FC|first=John|last=Kyrou|date=13 March 2014|accessdate=16 May 2018}}

=British Columbia=

Later in 2013, he returned to Canada, moving to British Columbia, where he had family living. He had some contract discussion with the Vancouver Whitecaps, but no contract materialized. He then stepped back from the professional game and joined CCBRT United in the Vancouver Metro Soccer League (VMSL) during the 2013/14 season.{{Cite web|url=https://aftn.ca/tss-rovers-new-addition-nick-soolsma-looking-to-help-the-team-with-my-experience/|title=TSS Rovers new addition Nick Soolsma looking to "help the team with my experience"|date=13 April 2018|first=Michael|last=McColl|work=Away from the Numbers}}

In 2014, he joined the Langley Hurricanes of the VMSL, finishing as the league leading scorer to win the Golden Boot with 17 goals in the 2014–15 season,{{Cite web|url=https://vmslsoccer.com/Goldboot|title=VMSL Golden Boot Award|work=Vancouver Metro Soccer League}} and the Player of the Year award in 2014-15 and 2016–17.

Soolsma became the assistant technical director with Langley United Soccer Association in September 2016 and became a player/assistant coach role with BCT Rovers Tigers United (later BC Tigers) from 2017{{cite web|url=https://darpanmagazine.com/people/sportspersons/surreys-own-national-soccer-champions/|title=Surrey's Own National Soccer Champions|first=Harjan|last=Padda|date=27 November 2018|work=Darpan Magazine}} through 2020, he played with Surrey, British Columbia-based amateur club BC Tigers in the VMSL.

In early 2018, Soolsma joined TSS FC Rovers of the Premier Development League, as a player-coach,{{cite web|url=http://aftn.ca/former-tfc-player-nick-soolsma-joins-tss-rovers-as-player-coach/|title=Former TFC player Nick Soolsma joins TSS Rovers as player/coach – AFTN|website=aftn.ca|accessdate=16 May 2018}} after discussions with TSS head coach Colin Elmes, to help provide leadership for the young squad.

After the PDL season, he returned to the BC Tigers, helping them to win the 2018 Challenge Trophy to become Canadian amateur champions.{{cite web|url=https://aftn.ca/bc-tigers-maul-ontario-champs-to-bring-challenge-trophy-back-to-province-for-first-time-in-14-years/|title=BC Tigers maul Ontario champs to bring Challenge Trophy back to province for first time in 14 years|date=9 October 2018|first=Michael|last=McColl|work=Away from the Numbers}} Soolsma won the Golden Boot as the leading scorer in the Challenge Trophy tournament with nine goals in five matches, including a four-goal performance in the championship final.{{cite web|url=https://the11.ca/soolsma-rocks-you-like-a-tiger-hurricane/|title=Soolsma rocks you like a Tiger Hurricane|first=Steven|last=Sandor|work=The 11|date=8 October 2018}} He also was named MVP of the tournament.{{cite web|url=https://voiceonline.com/surrey-bc-tigers-hurricanes-win-2018-canada-soccer-toyota-national-championships/|title=Surrey BC Tigers Hurricanes win 2018 Canada Soccer Toyota National Championships|date=9 October 2018|first=Rattan|last=Mall|work=The Indo-Canadian Voice}} He became the first player to win both the Challenge Trophy as Canadian amateur champions and the Canadian Championship as Canadian professional champions.{{cite web|url=https://www.surreynowleader.com/sports/surreys-dominant-bc-tigers-team-roars-to-score-national-soccer-championship/|title=Surrey's dominant BC Tigers team roars to score national soccer championship|date=9 October 2018|first=Tom|last=Zillich|work=Surrey Now-Leader}}

During the 2018–19 season, he set the record for goals in a season in the VMSL with 32 goals scored (the record was later broken by Farivar Torabi of FC Tigers Vancouver the following season),{{cite tweet|number=1226616042186846210|user=fctigerssoccer|title=L.E.G.E.N.D.|date=9 February 2020}} including scoring fourteen goals in a single match in a 17–1 victory.{{Cite web|url=https://aftn.ca/vmsl-week-11-round-up-nick-soolsma-hits-fourteen-as-campo-capitulate-and-top-of-the-table-gets-even-tighter/|work=Away from the Numbers|title=VMSL Week 11 Round-up: Nick Soolsma hits FOURTEEN as Campo capitulate and top of the table gets even tighter|date=23 November 2018|first=Michael|last=McColl}}

He currently serves as assistant technical director with Albion FC.{{Cite web|url=https://albionfc.ca/techbio|title=Coaches Bios|work=Albion FC}}

Honours

=Toronto FC=

=BC Tigers=

References

{{reflist}}