Simcoe County Rovers FC

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Simcoe County Rovers Football Club is a Canadian semi-professional soccer club based in Barrie, Ontario, that plays in the League1 Ontario Premier men's and women's divisions. The Rovers won the 2023 League1 Ontario championship and qualified for the 2024 Canadian Championship. The Rovers played their first season in League1 Ontario in 2022.

Simcoe County Rovers
Full nameSimcoe County Rovers Football Club
Nickname(s)Rovers
Founded2021
StadiumJ.C. Massie Field at Georgian College
Capacity474 seated. 1,200 including standing room
OwnerRovers Sports and Entertainment Group
Head coachZak 'Zico' Mahrady (men)
Dave Kelly (women)
LeagueLeague1 Ontario
2023League, 2nd; Playoffs, Champions (men)
League, 7th; Playoffs, DNQ (women)
WebsiteClub website
Current season

History

The club was founded in 2021, by former Canadian national team player Julian de Guzman, Peter Raco, and the Barrie Soccer Club under the name FC Barrie, who had initially been part of the group forming 1812 FC Barrie, before departing to form their own team.[1][2]

On July 6, 2021, the club was officially unveiled under the name Simcoe County Rovers FC as a joint partnership between Raco and de Guzman.[3] In August 2021, it was announced that Canadian national team player Cyle Larin was joining the club as a co-owner;[4][5][6] in December 2021, fellow Canadian national team player Doneil Henry was announced as another co-owner.[7] In January 2022, Canadian women's team player Janine Beckie also joined the ownership group.[8][9] In April 2022, Atiba Hutchinson also joined the ownership group.[10] Since its formation, the team has been affiliated with youth clubs Barrie SC and Aurora FC (who previously operated a team in League1 Ontario until 2020), and Orangeville-based school Athlete Institute.[3][11]

On October 21, 2021, it was announced that the club was officially joining both the male and female divisions of League1 Ontario for 2022, acquiring the license of Aurora FC, who did not play in 2021 and joined the Rovers as an affiliate club.[12][13] Both teams played their debut matches on April 24 against Blue Devils FC, with the women winning 3–0 and the men drawing 1–1.[14][15] In 2022, the men's reserve team won the League1 Ontario U21 Reserve Division.[16]

In 2023, the men finished the regular season in second place, earning their first home playoff game,[17] where they defeated Vaughan Azzurri in the semi-finals, in front of over 1,200 fans.[18] In the championship final, they defeated Scrosoppi FC to win the League1 Ontario title, thereby qualifying for the 2024 Canadian Championship.[19][20][21] Over 600 travelling supporters attended the League1 Ontario final, marking a League1 Canada traveling supporters record.

On April 24, 2024, the club made their Canadian Championship debut, where they were defeated 5-0 by Major League Soccer club Toronto FC, with over 2000 estimated Rovers fans having purchased tickets and attending the match.[22][23]

Players, staff, and ownership

Men's roster

As of 16 April 2023[24]

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No.Pos. NationPlayer
MF  CUBAlejandro Portal
FW  CANChiemeka Azurunwa
FW  CANGabriel Boakye
FW  JAMShawn-Claud Lawson
FW  CANIjah Halley
FW  CANJevontae Layne
FW  CANRahim Thorpe
FW  CANJustin Yarde

Coaching staff

Women's team[25][26]
NamePosition
Will DevillisSporting Director
Carli TingstadHead coach
Mallory MacdonaldAssistant coach
Zack WilsonAssistant coach and Associate Sporting director
Jerry PennantGoalkeeper coach
Sarah DonatoStrength coach

Owners

Rovers Sports and Entertainment Group (RSEG) owns the Simcoe County Rovers Football Club. RSEG is made up of current and former Canadian National team players, as well as others. The ownership group includes Julian de Guzman, Peter Raco, Kosi Stobbs, Will Devellis, Jason Melbourne, David Zbar, Steve Mantzouranis, as well as Canadian national team players Atiba Hutchinson, Janine Beckie, Cyle Larin, and Doneil Henry.[27]

Executives

NamePositionTenure
Julian de GuzmanPresident (former)2020–2024
Peter RacoPresident2024-present
Peter RacoChief Executive Officer2020–present
Will DevellisChief Operating Officer2020–present
David ZbarChief Marketing Officer2023–present
Jamie MassieSenior Executive Advisor2021–present
Andy WilsonDirector of Game Day Operations2020-present

Seasons

Men

SeasonLeagueTeamsRecordRankPlayoffsRef
2022League1 Ontario2213–5–35thSemi-finals
20232115–1–42ndChampions

Women

SeasonLeagueTeamsRecordRankPlayoffsRef
2022League1 Ontario2012–5–25thQuarter-Finals
2023198–4–67thdid not qualify

Honours

First Teams

Reserves Teams

Notable players

The following players have either played at the professional or international level, either before or after playing for the League1 Ontario team:

Men

Women

Club records

Below are current record holders for the club.

Men

RecordRecord holderDateRef
Largest victory9–1 vs. Unionville MillikenJune 17, 2023[citation needed]
Most appearances[a]Shawn-Claud Lawson (50)2022–present[citation needed]
Most career goals[a]Jevontae Layne(18)2022 / 2023-present[citation needed]
Home attendance1,180August 27, 2023[citation needed]
Away attendance2,250 (BMO Field)April 24, 2024[citation needed]

Women

RecordRecord holderDateRef
Largest victory7–0 vs. ProStars FCJuly 12, 2023[citation needed]
Most appearances[a]Cloey Uddenberg (42)2022–present[citation needed]
Most career goals[a]Brianne Desa & Courtney Chochol (16)2022–2023[citation needed]

References