'I want to keep going': One-on-one with Pacific FC's Josh Heard
On lessons learned from the USL and finding a home with Pacific FC
If you were to gaze into a crystal ball at the start of 2021, you might have expected most of the Canadian Premier League’s Golden Boot contenders—save, perhaps, one.
Marco Bustos? Sure. Reigning MVP Kyle Bekker? Makes sense. Mo Babouli? Why not? Austin Ricci? (Okay, that one was a surprise.1) And then there’s Josh Heard—projected as a depth piece at the season’s onset, but thriving in his new role as one of the club’s leaders and every-match performers.
Born in Cardiff, but raised in Victoria, Heard joined Pacific FC in 2020, but figured little at the Island Games. Not so in Winnipeg. Through eight appearances, the 26-year-old has turned the left wing into his personal showcase: out-hustling defenders to the tune of three goals and an 82% pass completion rate.
“His energy is unmatched,” Pacific FC head coach Pa-Modou Kah told reporters after Pacific’s 2-2 draw with York United, in which Heard single-handedly kept his club in the match—providing a goal and forcing a York United own goal to preserve the single point.
I spoke with the second-year Pacific winger about his recent run of success, lessons learned from the USL, and finding a home—fittingly—with his hometown club.
This interview has been lightly condensed for clarity.
At last check, you were petitioning to have that York United own goal classified as one of your goals. How’s that going for you?
JH: [Laughs] I’ve been campaigning pretty strong. As soon as it happened, I asked Pa [Modou Kah], “who do I have to talk to [in order] to reverse that?” No luck so far; I might just have to take that one on the chin. But at least we got a result.
Last year, you had the third-fewest minutes of anyone on Pacific FC. Now, you’re tied for second in the CPL scoring race. How does that happen?
JH: Last year, I signed for the club about a week before we left for the PEI bubble. I wasn’t fully integrated with the group, and the reason for that is because I was on loan in Austria.2 I was [under contract] with a team in the USL, the [Real] Monarchs, and when my loan ended, they wouldn’t let me back into the States because of COVID. So I flew back to Victoria, because this is where my parents are. I was basically waiting on my visa, and Pa gave me a call.
He was like, “listen, we’re going to PEI next week.” We kind of knew each other [already]. And he said, “we’d love for you to come play for us.” So basically, Salt Lake and Pacific came to a deal, and a week later, I came to PEI. And in the first game, the 80th minute, I pulled my hamstring.3 So I was in the PEI bubble, brand-new team, with a pulled hamstring.
I made sure coming into this season, having a full preseason, to really take care of myself. Because I wanted to make an impact—and so far, so good. But I want to keep going, man. I want to continue this momentum.
How did the offseason look for you, coming out of last year?
JH: I grew up here in Victoria, so [when] most guys go back home, this is home for me. I was here with a couple local guys—Sean Young, Callum Irving, and a few other guys. We trained a few days a week, and we hit the gym hard, man. We put in quite a bit of work in those offseason months; we had a strict workout routine, and I think you can tell by how we look as a team, physically, and just as a unit out there.
“We put in quite a bit of work in those offseason months … and I think you can tell by how we look as a team.”
Health aside, what was your focus, development-wise, coming out of last year’s Island Games?
JH: I wanted to get my health [at] 100 percent, and so I was in the gym quite a bit, just strengthening up that armour for the season. But besides that, just getting with teammates, getting repetitions on the ball, and getting comfortable with the team. You need to be comfortable with your teammates and your setting before you can actually excel in an environment, and I think just a little bit of time with teammates, working together, and getting to know each other a bit more, and them getting to know me, has made it much easier.
How much familiarity did you have with any of Pacific’s players before joining the club?
JH: Not a ton. But once you’re in the soccer world—because this is my sixth professional season—it’s quite a small world, as I’m sure you know. Everyone kind of knows each other, or at least knows somebody who played with a teammate or something like that. So I didn’t know anyone personally, but a large group of them, I’d had mutual teammates with at some point along the way. It’s always easier when you can go into a locker room and be like, “oh, you know so and so?” You have that connection right away.
I want to go back to 2016 for a moment. You were selected by the Whitecaps in the MLS SuperDraft.4 You ended up joining Bethlehem Steel and made 38 appearances (2016-17), then another 32 with Real Monarchs (2018-19). How did that time in the USL shape you?
JH: I learned a lot. It made me into the player I am today. It’s quite a nerve-wracking thing going out of university and packing your entire life up and just flying out to a city you’ve never been to. You learn a lot about yourself and what it takes to put in work and succeed under circumstances or environments that aren’t the most comfortable.
“It’s quite a nerve-wracking thing going out of university and packing your entire life up and just flying out to a city you’ve never been to. You learn a lot about yourself.”
Getting drafted, of course there’s the hope that you’re going to latch on with a MLS club and make it with the first team. How did you adjust to ending up in the USL and needing to forge a different route?
JH: Maybe December of 2015, I had a hernia surgery—and that was the week before the MLS Combine. I was quite disappointed; I wasn’t able to go to that. And then it turned out I had been drafted. But the one thing was that [the Whitecaps] wanted me to come in and earn my contract, so it wasn’t guaranteed. I was coming off an injury, and I didn’t feel super comfortable—and Bethlehem had offered me a contract right away.
For me, it was the best position to go down to the USL and [prove] myself there. I wasn’t going to be 100 percent going into that Whitecaps preseason, so it was the best decision for me [to take the Bethlehem offer], and I learned a lot from being put into a tough environment there.
That’s no knock on the USL at all; it’s a great league, and Bethlehem Steel is a great club to be a part of. But obviously, we’re competitors, and we want to play at the highest level possible. So that was a little bit disappointing, but I took it as a chip on my shoulder, and it motivated me to keep going.
In 2019, you went on a year-long loan to Austria’s FC Pinzgau Saalfenden. What did you take away from that experience?
JH: It was a cool project. A couple American investors got together and bought a third-division team out there, and they sent a bunch of USL [guys], MLS [guys], and players from Britain out to this team. The plan was to get it promoted to the second and first division of the Austrian Bundesliga. So when the opportunity came up, I was like, “this sounds awesome.”
I’d played in the USL for maybe four years already, and I was ready for a new opportunity. We went out there and did well—we came in second or first for the first round and [were] due to get promoted, and then of course, COVID happened, and everything kind of fell apart on that front; I had to come back here. But it was still a great opportunity, and I learned a lot.
What did you learn most from that experience?
JH: I think the number one thing… I mean, I had already been used to moving away for the game, so maybe that tool that I had—going into a new environment and trying to make things happen with a new team—[was] sharpened even more. And I think that’s an important thing to be able to do: to be adaptable to any circumstance or environment that’s thrown at you.
“I think that’s an important thing to be able to do: to be adaptable to any circumstance or environment that’s thrown at you.”
Number two, I enjoyed myself. It was a very cool opportunity in a pretty unique place in the world. Every opportunity I get, I just try to enjoy it, man. That’s very important for me.
How much German did you pick up during your time there?
JH: I tried to pick up quite a bit. It’s tough when you just get thrown into a completely new language—like, I didn’t even know one word of German. But the club gave us two classes a week over Skype, so we learned quite a bit.
I tell you what, though: you lose it if you’re not using it. So I have a base—barely a kindergartener’s [level] of German vocab. But it was fun. We lived in an alpine region—basically a lot of winter ski resorts—so we lived right in the middle of the mountains. [If] you know The Sound of Music, it was like that: straight out of a storybook. The views were unreal, so we did a lot of hiking and outdoorsy stuff. A lot of trails. I took advantage of that.
You’re into your second season with Pacific FC now—and one of the older players in the locker room. What do you make of the chemistry of the guys around you?
JH: We’ve got a good group, man. We’re tight on the pitch, and we’re tight off the pitch. There’s just a certain energy where everything clicks, and it feels good. And I definitely feel that with us. I’m excited for what’s to come.
Last year, there were glimpses of what Pacific could be, but at times, you were undone by penalties or late goals conceded. What’s been the difference in this club from last year to now?
JH: Like you said, there were glimpses of us last year. We were kind of an unfinished product. Pa really talks about it: his mindset is that we just want to keep growing, no matter what. And I’m not saying we’re a finished product now; we’re nowhere near that. We still have a lot of work to do. But as long as we’re better today than we were yesterday, that’s what’s most important. As long as we keep growing and keep going forward, that’s what we value. And I think that’s what we’ve seen—especially if you compare with last year.
“There were glimpses of us last year. We were kind of an unfinished product … As long as we keep growing and keep going forward, that’s what we value.”
What’s the tone set under Pa-Modou Kah?
JH: It’s an intensity, but also paired with the fact that we’re family, and we’re there for each other. And I think he’s got that perfect combination. It’s big on growth, and us growing together as a unit, and becoming the best possible players and people we can be. The football is obviously number one, but number two is making sure we’re good people. When we’re in the bubble, it’s little things—like when we’re at meals, we’re wiping down the tables and cleaning up after ourselves. We’re taking care of that kind of stuff, and that stuff goes a long way. If you get that stuff right, then everything will be tip-top on the pitch, too. It’s in the small details.
Looking at your performance on the pitch, you’ve formed a potent attacking trio with Alejandro Díaz and Marco Bustos.5 What is it like to play alongside those two?
JH: It’s a pleasure. We’ve got some serious firepower, and when it’s in motion, it’s extremely fun to be a part of. And on top of that, it’s not just us three. We have Ollie [Bassett] who hops in, we have Terran [Campbell], we have Victor Blasco. If I’m any other team, I don’t want to face any combination of the three of us. So I think as long as we keep going, and we keep fresh, and we keep attacking, I don’t think there’s many back lines that can stop us—no matter who’s out there.
Growing up in Victoria, you’re finally about to play your first home match for Pacific. What are you feeling ahead of this one?
JH: It’s quite a special feeling. Not many people get to play football in the town they grew up in. When I was growing up, this was never an option, so to have this happen, and to be able to come into a home stadium—a place where my family and friends can come see me and watch me play in front of a full [crowd]—it’s a pretty special feeling. I’m just excited to get it going.
From 2019-20, Ricci made 15 appearances for York9 FC and Valour FC, never scoring once. Now, in eight appearances in 2021, the Richmond Hill native leads the CPL with four goals.
From 2019-20, Heard went on loan with FC Pinzgau Saalfenden in the Austrian Regionalliga Salzburg, the country’s third tier of football.
Heard came on as a substitute for Victor Blasco in the 72nd minute and had nine touches in a 2-2 draw against HFX Wanderers FC on August 15, 2020.
Heard, a Reynolds Secondary School alum and former Victoria Highlander, was selected 71st overall in the fourth round by the Vancouver Whitecaps—the same draft year Richie Laryea, now with Toronto FC and the Canadian men’s national team, went seventh overall to Orlando City.
The three have combined for nine goals through Pacific FC’s opening eight matches—the most of any three teammates in the Canadian Premier League.