As the summer came to an end for many, it was just beginning for London TFC Academy and FC London. Hot on the heels of Canada’s Olympic success, teams across multiple leagues started late this year – due to COVID-19 delays – but with a high level of enthusiasm to make it their best year ever.
“It’s been a long series of delays based on Middlesex-London health protocols and making sure that our players stay safe,” said Ian Campbell, CEO of FC London.
For youth players aged 8 to 18, the club competes in five separate leagues with over 26 teams of both boys and girls. Each team practices three to four times per week and plays their home games at the new Tricar Field on Colonel Talbot Road in Southwest London. The newly completed turf field with lights is getting use every day and night and has become a hub of soccer activity.
“The logistics of scheduling has been challenging, but we’ve made it work,” said Club manager Dave Debenedictis. “With our new concession at the clubhouse, and our ability to use indoor rooms for meetings and strategy sessions, we’ve been able create the kind of professional atmosphere that players are looking for.”
Still affiliated strongly with MLS team Toronto FC, the teams will compete into the late fall.
On the senior side, League1 home games are being played this year at a new venue, the Hellenic Centre Stadium on Southdale Rd. Both men’s and women’s teams will compete from mid-summer though to the end of October. For the men, 16 teams will compete in two divisions, East and West, with the top two from each division making semifinals and finals to determine who will compete in the CONCACAF Canadian championship in 2022.
The women’s team, coming off three championship years, are looking to make it a 4th in 2021 and, at print time, had started the season undefeated through their first five games. The top four teams in the women’s league will compete for the Ontario championship trophy in late October and early November.
“Pulling together a competitive roster in tandem with university and college coaches has been challenging, but everyone is working together for the betterment of the players to create opportunities,” said Michael Marcoccia, head coach of both men’s and women’s League1 teams.
Submitted by FC London
