- Brampton United
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Brampton United Full name Brampton United Football Club Nickname(s) The Lions, United Founded 2002 (as Metro Lions) Ground Victoria Park Stadium
Brampton, Ontario
(Capacity: 2,000)Chairman Jose Leal, Mike Dimatteo Manager Armando Costa
League Canadian Soccer League 2010 10th Website Club home page Home coloursAway coloursBrampton City United FC are a Canadian soccer team, founded in 2002. The team is a member of the Canadian Soccer League, the third tier of competition in the Canadian soccer pyramid and the largest domestic pro league in Canada. The club plays out of Victoria Park Stadium in the community of Brampton, Ontario.
Contents
History
The team first entered the league as the Metro Lions in 2002, playing at Birchmount Stadium in Scarborough for three years. On March 30, 2005 it was announced the Metro lions were purchased by Oakville Soccer Club, and Oakville Premier Soccer Academy relocated to Oakville for the 2005 CPSL season, and the franchise was renamed to the Oakville Blue Devils.[1] Former Toronto Lynx head coach, and president of the Premier Soccer Academy Duncan Wilde was appointed manager. Wilde brought in the likes of former USL players which included Darren Baxter, Aaron Steele, Shawn Faria, Igor Prostan, and CSL veterans Phil Ionadi, Sa Brahima Traore, and Marko Bedenikovic. He was able to led the Blue Devils in capturing their first Rogers Cup victory.
After the 2005 season Wilde resigned from his head coaching position, in order to manage to the Toronto Lynx again. During the 2006 season former team captain Phil Ionadi was appointed the new manager. He led them in clinching the National Conference, but were eliminated in the first round of the playoffs, losing 2–1 to the Windsor Border Stars.
In 2007 because of the Club's administration was totally committed to the development of soccer, the Blue Devils relocated back to Scarborough and were renamed the Canadian Lions.
On March 13, 2008 the Lions were relocated to Brampton for the 2008 season, prompting another name change to Brampton Lions but still maintaining the team's name, logo, history and statistics. The Lions announced their coaching staff on March 30, signing Armando Costa as manager.[2] On April 10 the team held a press conference announcing their management team, hiring the likes of former Hitmen captain Phil Ionadi as the Director of Business Operations, Barry Goldlist as the Vice President, Bill Dixon as the CFO, and Costa as the Director of Soccer Operations and Manager.[3] On March 29, 2009 the Brampton Lions announced the affiliation with Dixie Soccer Club where Dixie SC will serve as the reserve side for the Lions while playing in the CSL Reserve Division.[4]
On January 16, 2011 Brampton announced another re-branding. This time Brampton United will be the team's name.[5] The new crest bears a strong resemblance to the English Premier League's Manchester United, with a majestic lion in place of Manchester's traditional red devil.
Current squad
As of August 15, 2011. Note: Flags indicate national team as has been defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
No. Position Player 1 GK Roy Blanche[6] 2 DF Denny Velasteguis 3 DF Tarik Robertson 4 DF Alex Kawalit 5 DF Giovanni Annisi 6 DF Nicholas-Kofi Poku 7 MF Cameron Medwin 8 MF Oswald Adu 9 FW Richard West 10 FW Judah Hernandez No. Position Player 11 FW Jeremy Shepherd 13 GK Jacob Matthews 14 MF Nikola Miodrag 17 DF Kevin McIntosh 18 MF Andy Garcia 20 MF Daniel Cameira 21 DF Blazej Skoczlyas 23 MF Andrew DaSilva GK Kodzo Awitor David Velastegui (Sheridan Bruins[7]) Crest
As the Lions, the team maintained a similar logo for most of their history, aside from the 2005 and 2006 seasons when they were purchased by the Oakville Soccer Club and renamed the Oakville Blue Devils. The modified version of the Lions logo returned when the team was relocated to Scarborough, and once again when the team was moved to Brampton. For the 2011 season the club underwent a complete rebranding and received a new crest similar in style to Manchester United. The new crest pays homage to the club's history with a heraldic lion featured in the center.
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Oakville Blue Devils crest
(2005–06)
Honours
Brampton United captured their first CSL Championship [known at the time as the Rogers Cup for sponsorship reasons] on October 10, 2005 in a 2-1 match against the Vaughan Shooters at Esther Shiner Stadium. The winning goal was scored during extra time in the 100' minute by Ryan Gamble. At the time, the club was still known as the Oakville Blue Devils.
- Rogers Cup: 1
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- 2005
- National Conference: 1
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- 2006
Year-by-year
Year Division League Regular Season Playoffs 2002 "1" CPSL 2nd, Eastern Semi Final 2003 "1" CPSL 5th, Eastern Did not qualify 2004 "1" CPSL 2nd, Eastern Quarter Final 2005 "1" CPSL 2nd, Western Champions 2006 "1" CSL 1st, National Quarter Final 2007 "1" CSL 4th, National Quarter Final 2008 "1" CSL 3rd, National Quarter Final 2009 "1" CSL 3rd, National Quarter Final 2010 "1" CSL 10th Did not qualify Notable players
Martin Artale
Marko Bedenikovic
Shawn Faria
Phil Ionadi
Marko Janjicek
Michael Marchese
Liam Martin
Daniel Nascimento
Kevin Omokhu
Peter Petropanagos
Igor Prostan
Darren Baxter
Aaron Steele
Jay Wright
Nordo Gooden
Daryl Gomez
Brahima Sa Traoré
Mohammed Kanu
Hayden Fitzwilliams
Ryan Reece
Reserve Squad
as of 10 July 2011 Note: Flags indicate national team as has been defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
No. Position Player DF Armen Grewal DF David Ferreira DF Michael Odhomer DF Mohamed Diaby DF Devon Bowye MF Donavon Wilson No. Position Player MF Yousif Walied MF Jonathan Singh FW Avian Singh FW Peter Niles FW Saul Varela[8] References
- ^ Oakville Blue Devils Enter CPSL
- ^ BRAMPTON LIONS FC SIGN TOP COACH
- ^ City welcomes the Lions
- ^ March 2009 CSL Brampton Lions FC affiliate with Dixie Soccer Club
- ^ "BRAMPTON IS UNITED....promises strong player development in competitive environment". 16 January 2011. Canadian Soccer League. http://canadiansoccerleague.ca/news_archive.php?news_id=363169. Retrieved 17 January 2011.
- ^ "Canada Futsal Profile". http://www.canadasoccer.com/players/profile.asp?playerid=1502. Retrieved 16 August 2011.
- ^ "Soccer Bruins come out kicking". Brampton Guardian. 28 September 2011. http://www.bramptonguardian.com/sports/article/1111554--soccer-bruins-come-out-kicking. Retrieved 30 September 2011.
- ^ "SAUL VARELA INTERVIEW WITH SPORTS ASTROS MAGAZINE". http://canadiansoccerleague.com/newsnet/templates/?a=304&z=20. Retrieved 11 July 2011.
External links
- Brampton City United Home Page
- Canadian Soccer League
- YouTube coverage of Brampton Lions press conference
Sports teams based in the Greater Toronto Area General Baseball Basketball Football Hockey NHL: Toronto Maple Leafs, AHL: Toronto Marlies, OHL: Brampton Battalion · Mississauga St. Michael's Majors · Oshawa Generals, OJHL: Aurora Tigers · Brampton Capitals · Burlington Cougars · Dixie Beehives · Georgetown Raiders · Markham Waxers · Milton Icehawks · Mississauga Chargers · Newmarket Hurricanes · North York Rangers · Oakville Blades · Orangeville Flyers · Pickering Panthers · St. Michael's Buzzers · Stouffville Spirit · Streetsville Derbys · Toronto Jr. Canadiens · Vaughan Vipers · Villanova Knights · Whitby Fury, GMJHL: Bradford Rattlers · Lefroy Wave · Richmond Hill Rams · Toronto Canada Moose, CWHL: Brampton Thunder · Burlington Barracudas · Toronto FuriesSoccer MLS: Toronto FC, CSL: Brampton United · North York Astros · SC Toronto · Serbian White Eagles FC · TFC Academy · Toronto Croatia USL W-League: Toronto Lady Lynx, USL Premier Development League: Toronto LynxLacrosse NLL: Toronto Rock, MSL: Brampton Excelsiors, OLA Jr. A: Brampton Excelsiors Jr. A · Orangeville Northmen · Toronto Beaches · Whitby Warriors, OLA Jr. B: Clarington Green Gaels · Halton Hills Bulldogs · Markham Ironheads · Mimico Mountaineers · Mississauga Tomahawks · Oakville Buzz · Scarborough Saints · Orangeville Northmen Jr. BUniversity athletics College athletics Roller derby Categories:- Ontario soccer teams
- Sport in Brampton
- Canadian Soccer League (2006–present) teams
- Brampton United
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