Brampton Lions

Football club infobox | clubname = Brampton Lions


fullname = Brampton Lions FC
nickname = Lions
founded = 2002
ground = Victoria Park Stadium
chairman = Arnold Milan
manager = Armando Costa
league = Canadian Soccer League
season = 2007
position = 4th, Playoff Quarter-Final
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Brampton Lions FC are a Canadian soccer team, founded in 2002. The team is a member of the Canadian Soccer League, the highest level soccer league in Canada, and play in the National Division.

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 [ [http://22066.vws.magma.ca/05cpsl04.htm Oakville Blue Devils Enter CPSL] ] . 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 [ [http://www.bramptonlionsfc.ca/news2.php?news_id=85685 BRAMPTON LIONS FC SIGN TOP COACH] ] . 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 [ [http://www.bramptonlionsfc.ca/news2.php?news_id=87617 City welcomes the Lions] ] .

Current squad

Crest

Honours

*Rogers Cup 1
** Champions 2005
*National Conference 1
** Champions 2006

Year-by-year

Former Players

*flagicon|CAN Darren Baxter
*flagicon|CAN Aaron Steele
*flagicon|CAN Shawn Faria
*flagicon|CRO Igor Prostan
*flagicon|CAN Phil Ionadi
*flagicon|CIV Sa Brahima Traore
*flagicon|CAN Marko Bedenikovic
*flagicon|Saint Kitts and Nevis Daryl Gomez
*flagicon|Trinidad and Tobago Hayden Fitzwilliams

References

External links

* [http://www.bramptonlionsfc.ca/ Canadian Lions]
* [http://www.canadiansoccerleague.ca/news2.php?news_id=77339 Welcome to a new look Canadian Soccer League]
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ZxoGUtVOds YouTube coverage of Brampton Lions press conference]