Handicapping the Canadian Premier League spring season Matthew Gourlie Predicting who will end up on top of the Canadian Premier League after its inaugural season is basically impossible at this stage. I am inclined to believe that anyone who thinks they can is deluding themselves. To whit: in 1996 DC United book-ended the first Major…
Forge FC 1 York 9 FC 1 HAMILTON — The first Canadian Premier League match between Forge FC and York 9 FC ended in a draw. But there were plenty of winners on the day. Both teams set out to attack and put on an entertaining display that sent the 17,611 home pleased following a…
Matthew Gourlie This web site is called June of 86 for a simple reason. It was the month that Canada competed for the first — and thus far only — time at a World Cup. But that’s not it. Not entirely. That was the month that I went from being a soccer fan to something…
Veteran players excited to be reunited with Forge FC boss Bobby Smyrniotis Matthew Gourlie HAMILTON — Jonathan Grant says that Bobby Smyrniotis changed his life. Grant’s high praise for Forge FC’s technical director and head coach is far from unique. When Forge FC steps onto a Canadian Premier League pitch for the first time Saturday…
Four Canadian internationals amongst first 10 Canadian Premier League player signings Matthew Gourlie Nineteen months ago the Canadian Premier League was ratified by the Canadian Soccer Association. Then came team launches, a head office, team identities, membership sales, a kit deal, nationwide open trials and a collegiate draft. Still, Thursday was a red-letter day in…
Sigma co-founder in charge at CPL’s Forge FC Matthew Gourlie Most Canadian Premier League head coaches have called the chance to build a team and a program from the ground up, a “once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.” For Bobby Smyrniotis, it will be at least a twice-in-a-lifetime opportunity. After co-founding the Sigma FC program in Mississauga, the 39-year-old…
New CPL club Forge FC offering co-founding memberships to general public Matthew Gourlie Bob Young described the creation of the Canadian Premier League and a club for Hamilton as a “six-year process.” Thursday all those years of hard work paid off as the Forge Football Club was unveiled in Hamilton at Tim Hortons Field. “The…
June of 86 