CSL launches teams in Hamilton, Brantford and Milton for 2010 season
TORONTO, ON — The Canadian Soccer League will kickoff the 2010 season early May with three new teams in its First Division, all representing communities just west of Toronto.
Hamilton Croatia, Brantford Galaxy and Milltown FC – which represents the town of Milton just west of Mississauga – will boost the CSL’s teams to 13 in a single top division.
The teams will each play 24 games in an almost six-month long campaign from early May to the playoffs late October.
The Hamilton Croatia entry was announced by the league on February 4 and the Brantford Galaxy and Milltown FC memberships were finalized last weekend.
The City of Brantford has been in the spotlight for many years with its favourite son, Wayne Gretzky, and it will be the first time the community has ventured into professional soccer.
“We’re here because we’ve seen an opportunity for soccer to grow and because of the new direction of the CSL,” Gerry Crnic, one of the principals of the new team along with president Bosko Borjan, told the Brant News.
The team is situated between Hamilton and London in the heart of southwestern Ontario, known to produce an abundance of youth players with the talent and skills for a higher level.
“Our ownership group is very excited to bring exciting Canadian Soccer League action to Milton. This fast growing and incredibly dynamic community will be the ideal home for our club”, said Dino Rossi Jr, president of Milltown FC.
“Soccer is the most popular participation sport in the Town of Milton. We intend to give the local soccer community a professional club to embrace and call their own. We also want to give the thousands of youth soccer players in Milton, and Halton Region in general, something to aspire to.”
Milltown is a description popular and familiar to many in the population just north of Oakville and south of Halton Hills, going back to the community’s formation. It was a big reason for the team adopting the name.
“These expansion teams have been awarded membership for 2010 season, and in each case we have sought out a group that would be committed to providing leadership in the community in youth soccer development,” said CSL chairman, Domenic Di Gironimo.
“We are confident that the relationship between these new CSL teams and their respective youth affiliates will ensure this objective is met.”
The CSL also takes an expansion step with its Reserve Division where it’s expected 11 teams will compete in an environment strong on professional development. The three new entries from Hamilton, Brantford and Milton each have reserve a squad to give their players an opportunity to accelerate that development while waiting for a chance to move to the higher level.
Milltown FC Final Expansion Team Awarded Membership For 2010 Season
The Canadian Soccer League has awarded its 13th franchise to Milltown FC, proudly representing the Town of Milton, Ontario. This new professional soccer club will debut this May.
“Milltown FC is the final expansion team awarded membership for the 2010 season”, said Domenic Di Geronimo, Chairman of the Canadian Soccer League. “In each case, we have sought out a group that would be committed to providing leadership in the community in youth soccer development. We are confident that Milltown FC will meet this objective.”
Milltown FC is owned and operated by True FC Inc., a privately held Mississauga, Ontario based company. The principal members of the ownership group guiding Milltown FC have been deeply involved in Canadian soccer for many years, on a variety of levels.
“We are very happy to have the opportunity to bring exciting Canadian Soccer League action to Milton. This rapidly growing and dynamic community is the ideal home for our club”, said Dino Rossi Jr, President of Milltown FC.
“Soccer is the most popular participation sport in the Town of Milton. We intend to give the local soccer community a professional club they will want to embrace and call their own. We also seek to give the thousands of youth soccer players in Milton, and Halton Region in general, something to aspire to.”
A major element of Milltown FC’s successful application to join the CSL is the formal affiliation agreement that has been agreed to with Milton Youth Soccer Club (MYSC).
MYSC and Milltown FC have developed a progressive and mutually beneficial agreement that will see MYSC become the primary player development feeder system for their new partner club. MYSC’s best and brightest future stars will benefit tremendously from this affiliation, as will the club’s dedicated group of volunteer coaches.
Milltown FC is committed to working with MYSC to conduct a wide variety of skill development programs for youth players, as well assisting with existing coaching education/mentorship programs. Most importantly, the arrival of Milltown FC creates a feasible and attainable pathway for elite young players who aspire to play soccer at the highest level possible.
“Milton Youth Soccer Club is excited about the opportunity to affiliate with Milltown FC”, said Gary Collins, President of MYSC. “The association between these organizations will provide the youth of MYSC the chance to train and develop their skills with a professional organization. It will be exciting for these youth players to now have the ability to play the game they love, within a professional environment, in their own hometown.”
“In addition, MYSC coaches will gain amazing experience through the joint development programs that are involved with this affiliation”, Mr. Collins added. “This is great news for the youth of Milton, for MYSC, for Milltown FC and the Town of Milton.”
Milltown FC is very fortunate to be able to come out of the gate in its first year with an impressive technical staff. The club’s Director of Soccer Operations and Head Coach will be Rafael Carbajal, the CSL’s 2008 Coach of the Year and one of very few Canadian coaches who holds “A” level coaching certifications from both UEFA and the United States Soccer Federation.
Mr. Carbajal is joined by Paolo Pacione, who will serve as Strength and Conditioning coach. Mr. Pacione is highly respected for his expertise in soccer specific training and has worked for several years at the Ontario Soccer Association as well as having served as Strength and Conditioning Coach for the Canadian U17 Women’s National Team in 2008 and again this winter. Additional members of the Milltown FC coaching staff will be named in the near future.
The Canadian Soccer League has grown from 10 clubs in 2009 to 13 members for the 2010 season, twelve of which are based in Ontario and one in Quebec. The lone Quebec member, Trois Rivieres Attak, is the current CSL Champion. The 2010 season will feature a 24-game schedule over a 6 month period, starting in May and ending in late October. The CSL also operates a Reserve League that provides critical player development opportunities for young players trying to crack into their club’s First Team.
In addition to adding three new franchises, the CSL has also been recently granted full membership into the Canadian Soccer Association, paving the way for the league to be a more significant part of the professional soccer structure in Canada.
Soccer fans who are interested in more information about Milltown FC should visit www.milltownfc.com for the latest information about season tickets/club memberships, tryouts, important team updates and more.
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