Forge FC
Forge Football Club is a Canadian professional soccer club based in Hamilton, Ontario, that competes in the Canadian Premier League, the top tier of Canadian soccer. The club plays its home matches at Tim Hortons Field.[2]
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Full name | Forge Football Club | ||
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Nickname(s) | The Hammers | ||
Founded | May 6, 2017 | ||
Stadium | Tim Hortons Field, Hamilton, Ontario | ||
Capacity | 10,016[1][lower-alpha 1] | ||
Owner | Bob Young | ||
Coach | Bobby Smyrniotis | ||
League | Canadian Premier League | ||
2019 | Canadian Premier League, 2nd (overall) Finals: Champions | ||
Website | Club website | ||
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The club became the first champions of the Canadian Premier League in 2019, and were the first Canadian Premier League side to compete in a continental competition when it qualified for the 2019 CONCACAF League.
History
Hamilton was linked to a professional soccer team as early as June 2013, when reports first emerged of a professional soccer league launching in Canada.[3] Hamilton Tiger-Cats owner Bob Young was part of a group of investors, predominantly from the Canadian Football League, working with the Canadian Soccer Association and president Victor Montagliani.[3]
In February 2016, the ownership group sought permission from Hamilton City Council to erect a dome over the Tim Hortons Field playing surface to allow for year-long activity, including soccer. When the Canadian Premier League was officially announced, it was revealed that Hamilton's club would be the flagship franchise.[4]
On May 6, 2017, Hamilton was one of two cities accepted by the Canadian Soccer Association for professional club membership when the Canadian Premier League was unanimously approved.[5]
Forge FC was officially unveiled as the league's sixth team on July 12, 2018. The club revealed its crest, colours and branding, as well as its place in the league for the 2019 launch season.[6] The name was chosen to represent city's industrial heritage and forging ahead building its future.[7]
On October 1, 2018, Forge FC announced that Bobby Smyrniotis would be its first head coach and technical director.[8] On November 29, 2018, Kyle Bekker and Chris Nanco were announced by the club as its first signings. This announcement coincided with a much larger unveiling event that consisted of each team announcing its initial player signings.[9]
The club qualified for the 2019 CONCACAF League after defeating Valor FC 2–0 on June 16, 2019.[10] In their debut, Forge defeated Antigua GFC 2–1 on aggregate in the two-leg series to advance to the Round of 16.[11] Forge FC was eliminated with a 4–2 aggregate score, against Honduran club Olimpia, in the round of 16.[12]
Forge FC were league champions in their inaugural season after defeating Cavalry FC 2–0 on aggregate in the 2019 CPL Finals.[13] Golden Boot winner Tristan Borges scored the opening goal during the first leg on October 26 in Hamilton. David Choinière scored the final goal late in stoppage time during the second leg, held on November 2 in Calgary.
Stadium
The club plays its home games at Tim Hortons Field, a 23,218-seat multi-purpose stadium which had primarily been used for Canadian football. The capacity is reduced to 10,000 spectators to provide an intimate setting for supporters.[14]
The stadium opened in 2014 as the home venue for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats of the Canadian Football League, and was used as a soccer venue during the 2015 Pan American Games.
Crest and colours
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Forge FC kits. |
The crest is designed to represent both an 'H' for Hamilton and an 'F' for Forge. The open space in the lettering represents a waterfall, and the three orange sparks represent Forge FC's city, community and club.[15]
The club's secondary crest is a hammer with the 'H' of the primary crest at the head, with six stripes on the handle to represent the six municipalities amalgamated in 2001 to form the new City of Hamilton: Dundas, Ancaster, Stoney Creek, Flamborough, Glanbrook and, of course, Hamilton.[16]
The official club colours are orange, grey, and white (branded by the club as "spark orange," "platinum steel," and "waterfall white"). These colours symbolize the sparks that come from the strike of a hammer, the local manufacturing industry, and the area's many waterfalls.[15]
To celebrate Hamilton's founding date of June 9, 1846, Forge FC will wear a black and gold uniform for the first home game in June. The city's traditional sporting colours have been worn by the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, the Hamilton Bulldogs, and the Hamilton Tigers.[15]
Home
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() 2019
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![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() 2020
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Away
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() 2019
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![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() 2020
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Third
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Club culture
Honours
- Canadian Premier League
- Champions: 2019
Players and staff
Current roster
No. | Position | Player | Nation |
---|---|---|---|
1 | Goalkeeper | Triston Henry | ![]() |
2 | Defender | Jonathan Grant | ![]() |
4 | Defender | Dominic Samuel | ![]() |
5 | Defender | Daniel Krutzen | ![]() |
6 | Defender | Kwame Awuah | ![]() |
7 | Midfielder | David Choinière | ![]() |
8 | Midfielder | Elimane Cissé | ![]() |
9 | Forward | Marcel Zajac | ![]() |
10 | Midfielder | Kyle Bekker | ![]() |
11 | Forward | Chris Nanco | ![]() |
13 | Midfielder | Alexander Achinioti-Jönsson | ![]() |
14 | Defender | David Edgar | ![]() |
15 | Defender | Maxim Tissot | ![]() |
16 | Defender | Klaidi Cela | ![]() |
17 | Forward | Kadell Thomas | ![]() |
19 | Forward | Molham Babouli | ![]() |
20 | Forward | Gabriel Balbinotti | ![]() |
21 | Defender | Jordan Dunstan | ![]() |
22 | Defender | Monti Mohsen | ![]() |
23 | Forward | Anthony Novak | ![]() |
24 | Midfielder | Paolo Sabak | ![]() |
31 | Goalkeeper | Baj Maan | ![]() |
Current staff
- As of March 4, 2019[23]
Executive | |
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Chairman | Bob Young |
Vice-chairman | John McGrane[14] |
President | Matt Afinec[18] |
Coaching staff | |
Head coach | Bobby Smyrniotis |
Assistant coach | Peter Reynders |
Assistant coach Goalkeeping coach |
Johan Albert |
Head coaches
- As of November 2, 2019
Coach | Nation | Tenure | Record | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G | W | D | L | Win % | ||||
Bobby Smyrniotis | ![]() |
October 1, 2018 – present | 36 | 21 | 7 | 8 | 58.33 |
Club captains
Years | Name | Nation |
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2019 | Kyle Bekker | ![]() |
Record
Year-by-year
Year | Regular season | Position | CPL Finals | Canadian Championship | CONCACAF League | League attendance | Top scorer | Ref | |||||||||
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GP | W | D | L | GF | GA | Pts | Spring | Fall | Overall | Name | Gls | ||||||
2019 | 28 | 17 | 5 | 6 | 45 | 26 | 56 | 2nd | 2nd | 2nd | Champions | Second qualifying round | Round of 16 | 6,872 | Tristan Borges | 13 | [24] |
2020 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Note: Only league goals counted for top scorer
International competition
- Scores and results list Forge FC's goal tally first.
Year | Competition | Round | Club | Home | Away | Aggregate |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2019 | CONCACAF League | Preliminary round | ![]() |
2–1[25] | 0–0[11] | 2–1 |
Round of 16 | ![]() |
1–0[26] | 1–4[12] | 2–4 |
Notes
- expandable to 23,218
References
- "Co-Founder Bob Young & Forge FC to Celebrate Inaugural CPL Match With Soccer Unites Hamilton". forgefc.canpl.ca. Retrieved March 6, 2019.
- "Forge FC unveiled as Hamilton's Canadian Premier League club for 2019". The Globe and Mail. The Canadian Press. July 12, 2018. Retrieved July 12, 2018.
- Milton, Steve (June 6, 2013). "Ticats involved in early days of new vision for Canadian soccer". The Hamilton Spectator. Retrieved July 12, 2018.
- Milton, Steve (February 4, 2016). "Pro soccer team for city sees dome at Ticat field". The Hamilton Spectator. Retrieved July 12, 2018.
- O'Connor-Clarke, Charlie (May 6, 2017). "Canadian Premier League unanimously ratified by CSA". Waking the Red. Retrieved June 11, 2018.
- McIsaac, Greg; Gogishvili, Aaron (July 12, 2018). "Forge FC unveiled as Hamilton's Canadian Premier League Club". canpl.ca. Canadian Premier League. Retrieved July 12, 2018.
- W. Larson, Kurtis (July 13, 2018). "CPL forges ahead, adding team in Hamilton". Toronto Sun. Retrieved July 19, 2018.
- Milton, Steve (October 1, 2018). "Opinion | Bobby Smyrniotis named first Forge FC coach". TheSpec.com. Retrieved October 1, 2018.
- "Kyle Bekker, Chris Nanco reunite with Bobby Smyrniotis at Forge FC". Canadian Premier League. November 29, 2018. Retrieved November 29, 2018.
- Veenstra, Michael (June 16, 2019). "Forge FC get turnaround win; Qualify for CONCACAF League". Retrieved June 24, 2019.
- "Forge FC advances to CONCACAF League Round of 16 after win over Antigua". www.sportsnet.ca. Canadian Press. Retrieved August 9, 2019.
- Rhodes, Benedict. "Recap: Forge FC knocked out of CONCACAF League by C.D. Olimpia". Waking the Red. Retrieved September 4, 2019.
- O'Connor-Clarke, Charlie (November 2, 2019). "HIGHLIGHTS: Forge FC crowned CPL champions in win over Cavalry". Canadian Premier League. Retrieved November 15, 2019.
- Milton, Steve (July 12, 2018). "Forge FC's name a nod to city's past and future". The Hamilton Spectator. Retrieved July 12, 2018.
- "Emblem Inspiration". forgefc.canpl.ca. Forge FC. July 12, 2018. Retrieved July 12, 2018.
- O'Connor-Clarke, Charlie (July 12, 2018). "Canadian Premier League unveils Forge FC in Hamilton". Waking The Red. Retrieved July 12, 2018.
- "About Us". bartonbattalion.ca. Barton St Battalion. Retrieved July 12, 2018.
- "Hamilton Event: Watch Live". canpl.ca. Canadian Premier League. July 12, 2018. Retrieved July 16, 2018.
- Bedakian, Armen. "CPL inaugural match: Forge FC hosts York9 FC". canpl.ca. Retrieved February 16, 2019.
- "Canadian Premier League kicks off, marking new era for soccer in Canada". sportsnet.ca. April 27, 2019.
- "Roster". Forge FC. Retrieved July 30, 2020.
- "Forge FC inks promising Belgian attacker Paolo Sabak – Forge FC". forgefc.canpl.ca. April 23, 2020. Retrieved April 23, 2020.
- "Forge FC Adds Reynders and Albert to Coaching Staff". forgefc.canpl.ca. Retrieved March 4, 2019.
- "Canadian Premier League". Canadian Premier League. Retrieved February 2, 2020.
- "Forge FC beats Antigua GFC in first leg of CONCACAF League match". TSN. Retrieved August 5, 2019.
- "Forge FC vs. Olimpia". concacafleague.com. Retrieved August 24, 2019.