HFX Wanderers FC
Full name | HFX Wanderers Football Club[1] | ||
---|---|---|---|
Founded | May 5, 2018 | ||
Stadium | Wanderers Grounds Halifax, Nova Scotia | ||
Capacity | 6,500 | ||
Owner | Sports & Entertainment Atlantic | ||
President | Derek Martin | ||
Coach | Patrice Gheisar | ||
League | Canadian Premier League | ||
2022 | Canadian Premier League, 7th | ||
Website | http://hfxwanderersfc.canpl.ca/ | ||
| |||
HFX Wanderers Football Club, commonly known as HFX Wanderers, and spoken as Halifax Wanderers,[2] is a Canadian professional soccer club in Halifax, Nova Scotia. The club competes in the Canadian Premier League at the top of the Canadian soccer league system, and play their home matches at Wanderers Grounds.
History
This section needs to be updated.(July 2022) |
In December 2016, Sports & Entertainment Atlantic owner Derek Martin met with Canadian Premier League officials to discuss launching a franchise in Halifax.[3] Martin pitched the idea of a pop-up stadium to Halifax City Councillors in March 2017, and approval was given three months later.[4][5] On May 5, 2018, Halifax was one of four groups accepted by the Canadian Soccer Association for professional club membership.[6]
HFX Wanderers FC was officially unveiled on May 25, 2018, as the third team to join the Canadian Premier League.[7] As well as confirming their place in the league for the 2019 launch season, the club also revealed their crest, colours and branding.[8]
On July 28, 2018, HFX Wanderers FC fielded an Atlantic Selects team to play a friendly against Fortuna Düsseldorf's under-21 squad at Wanderers Grounds. The Atlantic Selects won on penalties after a 2–2 score in regulation time. The official attendance was 4,809.[9]
They played their first league game on April 28, 2019, in 1–0 away loss to Pacific FC.[10]
Stadium
The club plays their home games at Wanderers Grounds.[11] The modular stadium opened with a capacity of 6,500 spectators.[12] The stadium's design allows for it to be expanded as required for future growth.[13]
Crest and colours
The shape of the crest takes inspiration from the Halifax Citadel, located near the club's stadium.[7] The crest includes the Angus L. Macdonald Bridge, which connects the Halifax Peninsula with Dartmouth, and an anchor to represent the Atlantic Ocean and Halifax Harbour.[14]
Underneath the club's name reads the Scottish Gaelic motto, Ar Cala, Ar Dachaigh, Ar n-Anam, which translates to Our Harbour, Our Home, Our Soul.[15] Scottish Gaelic is used to signify that Nova Scotia is one of the few places remaining where the language is still spoken.[16]
The crest was created by Canadian graphic designer Mark Guilherme[15] based on consultation and feedback from meetings with supporters, Halifax city leaders and local residents.[17]
The official club colours are navy, grey, and cyan (branded by the club as "harbour blue," "naval grey," and "aqua ocean"). These colours symbolize the night sky, the Royal Canadian Navy, and the Atlantic Ocean.[14]
Club culture
Supporters
The first supporters group to lobby for a Halifax team to join the Canadian Premier League was founded in September 2016 under the name Wanderers SG.[18] At the launch event to unveil HFX Wanderers' identity, supporters announced they were changing their name to Privateers 1882 in order for the club to continue the Wanderers name.[15] The 1882 signifies the year of formation for the Wanderers Amateur Athletic Club, who previously competed at the Wanderers Grounds.[19] 'Privateers' refers to the history of privateering in the region, as well as the popular regional song Barrett's Privateers.
Honours
- Canadian Premier League
- Runners-up: 2020
Players and staff
Roster
- As of September 5, 2022[20]
Where a player has not declared an international allegiance, nation is determined by place of birth.
No. | Position | Player | Nation |
---|---|---|---|
1 | GK | Kieran Baskett | Canada |
2 | DF | Peter Schaale | Germany |
3 | DF | Zachary Fernandez | Canada |
4 | DF | Cristian Campagna | Canada |
7 | MF | Alex Marshall | Jamaica |
8 | FW | Mour Samb | Senegal |
9 | FW | Samuel Salter | Canada |
10 | FW | João Morelli | Brazil |
11 | FW | Akeem Garcia | Trinidad and Tobago |
13 | MF | Aidan Daniels | Canada |
16 | DF | Kareem Sow | Canada |
18 | MF | Andre Rampersad | Trinidad and Tobago |
19 | DF | Obeng Tabi | Canada |
20 | DF | Jake Ruby | Canada |
21 | MF | Marcello Polisi | Canada |
22 | MF | Mohamed Omar | Canada |
23 | FW | Cory Bent | England |
25 | FW | Ludwig Kodjo Amla | Denmark |
27 | FW | Ryan Robinson | Canada |
30 | DF | Colin Gander | Canada |
31 | DF | Eriks Santos | Brazil |
37 | FW | Lifumpa Mwandwe | England |
50 | GK | Christian Oxner | Canada |
52 | DF | Gabriel Escobar | Canada |
77 | DF | Nic Gagan | Canada |
— | DF | Nassim Nouajaa | Canada |
— | FW | Owen Degelman | Canada |
Out on loan
No. | Position | Player | Nation |
---|---|---|---|
— | DF | Ousman Maheshe (at FC Edmonton) | DR Congo |
— | MF | C. J. Smith (at FC Edmonton) | Canada |
— | DF | Wesley Timoteo (at FC Edmonton) | Canada |
Current staff
Executive | |
---|---|
President | Derek Martin |
General manager | Vacant |
Coaching staff | |
Head coach | Vacant |
Assistant coach | Alejandro Dorado |
Goalkeeping coach | Jan-Michael Williams |
Scouting & recruitment staff | |
Head scout | Victor Mendes |
Head coaches
- As of November 30, 2022
Coach | Nation | Tenure | Record | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G | W | D | L | Win % | ||||
Stephen Hart | Trinidad and Tobago | June 27, 2018 – October 13, 2022 | 105 | 31 | 31 | 43 | 29.52 | |
Patrice Gheisar | Canada | November 30, 2022 – present |
Club captains
Years | Name | Nation |
---|---|---|
2019 | Jan-Michael Williams | Trinidad and Tobago |
2020–present | Andre Rampersad | Trinidad and Tobago |
Record
Year-by-year
Season | League | Playoffs | CC | Continental | Average attendance |
Top goalscorer(s) | |||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Div | League | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | PPG | Pos. | Name | Goals | ||||||
2019[24] | 1 | CPL | 28 | 6 | 10 | 12 | 21 | 35 | –14 | 28 | 1.00 | 7th | DNQ | R3 | Ineligible | 6,601 | Akeem Garcia | 7 | |
2020 | CPL | 10 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 15 | 14 | +1 | 16 | 1.60 | 2nd | RU | DNQ | DNQ | N/A | Akeem Garcia | 6 | ||
2021 | CPL | 28 | 8 | 11 | 9 | 28 | 34 | –6 | 35 | 1.25 | 6th | DNQ | QF | João Morelli | 15 | ||||
2022 | CPL | 28 | 8 | 5 | 15 | 24 | 38 | –14 | 29 | 1.04 | 7th | DNQ | QF | 5,825 | Samuel Salter | 12 |
1. Average attendance include statistics from league matches only.
2. Top goalscorer(s) includes all goals scored in league season, league playoffs, Canadian Championship, CONCACAF League, and other competitive continental matches.
See also
References
- ^ "HFX Wanderers Football Club Joins Canadian Premier League". Canadian Premier League. May 25, 2018. Retrieved February 3, 2021.
- ^ "Halifax Canadian Premier League team to be called the HFX Wanderers". Sportsnet. Retrieved September 21, 2018.
- ^ Smith, Amy (December 9, 2016). "Promoter sees pro soccer in Halifax as sport reaches 'tipping point'". CBC News. Retrieved June 10, 2018.
- ^ Boon, Jacob (March 24, 2017). "Pop-up soccer stadium could come together this summer". The Coast. Retrieved June 10, 2018.
- ^ "Halifax approves downtown soccer stadium for new professional league team". The Chronicle Herald. June 21, 2017. Archived from the original on June 12, 2018. Retrieved June 10, 2018.
- ^ "4 clubs get membership from Soccer Canada; expected to join CPL". Sportsnet. May 5, 2018. Retrieved June 10, 2018.
- ^ a b McIsaac, Greg (May 25, 2018). "HFX Wanderers Football Club Joins Canadian Premier League". Canadian Premier League. Retrieved June 10, 2018.
- ^ MacDonald, Glenn (May 25, 2018). "HFX Wanderers FC introduced". The Chronicle Herald. Archived from the original on June 12, 2018. Retrieved June 10, 2018.
- ^ Palov, Willy (July 28, 2018). "Wanderers win shootout thriller over Fortuna Dusseldorf". The Chronicle Herald. Archived from the original on July 29, 2018. Retrieved July 28, 2018.
- ^ "HIGHLIGHTS: Pacific FC earns historic 1st win in CPL". April 28, 2019. Retrieved April 29, 2019.
- ^ Shaw, Kyle (May 25, 2018). "HFX Wanderers unveiled as Canada's newest professional soccer club". The Coast. Retrieved June 10, 2018.
- ^ "Welcome to 'The Kitchen': Wanderers Grounds could be fortress for HFX Wanderers FC". canpl.ca. October 30, 2018. Retrieved October 30, 2018.
- ^ "Stadium Profile". hfxwanderersfc.canpl.ca. HFX Wanderers FC. May 25, 2018. Retrieved June 10, 2018.
- ^ a b "Emblem Inspiration". hfxwanderersfc.canpl.ca. HFX Wanderers FC. May 25, 2018. Retrieved June 10, 2018.
- ^ a b c "Explaining the Canadian Premier League Teams, Logos and Uniforms". SportsLogos.net. March 5, 2020. Retrieved March 5, 2020.
- ^ "Keeping Canada's unique Gaelic culture alive". BBC News. October 21, 2010. Retrieved June 10, 2018.
- ^ "HFX Wanderers FC: Club Story". Retrieved December 5, 2018.
- ^ "Who Are We?". Privateers 1882. May 25, 2018. Archived from the original on June 12, 2018. Retrieved June 10, 2018.
- ^ Kloke, Joshua (May 25, 2018). "The Starting XI: Interview with HFX Wanderers president Derek Martin, examining rumours of Giovinco and Piatti transfers". The Athletic. Retrieved June 10, 2018.
- ^ "Halifax Wanderers Roster". HFX Wanderers FC. Retrieved April 7, 2022.
- ^ "Owners Profile". hfxwanderersfc.canpl.ca. Retrieved September 11, 2018.
- ^ Jacques, John. "Jan-Michael Williams Returns To Wanderers In Coaching Role". Northern Tribune. Retrieved December 10, 2019.
- ^ "Halifax Wanderers add Alejandro Dorado to Coaching Staff". HFX Wanderers FC. January 12, 2022. Retrieved January 12, 2022.
- ^ "HFX Wanderers FC: 2019 season in review". canpl.ca. Jonathan Briggins. Retrieved December 24, 2019.