Ottawa South United

Ottawa South United is a Canadian semi-professional soccer club based in Ottawa, Ontario that plays in the Première Ligue de soccer du Québec. The club previously competed in League1 Ontario.

Ottawa South United
Nickname(s)OSU Force
Founded2003 / 2017
LeaguePremière Ligue de soccer du Québec
2019League1 Ontario, 16th
Playoffs: DNQ
WebsiteClub website

History

The club was founded as a youth soccer club in 2003 through a merger between Osgoode – Rideau Soccer Association (founded in 1972) and South Nepean United(founded in 1980). In 2012, they hired Paul Harris as club technical director, who came from English Premier League club Everton F.C..[1] In 2016, Atlético Madrid partnered with Ottawa South United to host a soccer camp in the city, a precursor to the Spanish club ultimately forming Atlético Ottawa to play in the Canadian Premier League in 2020.[2] In 2016, they also partnered with Major League Soccer club Vancouver Whitecaps FC to launch a new Whitecaps FC Ottawa Academy Centre, in partnership with the Whitecaps FC Residency program where players could proceed in the next stage of their development.[3] In 2020, they partnered with Canadian Premier League club Atlético Ottawa becoming th first club to join Atletico’s ‘Community Partnership Soccer Program.’ Through this, OSU will have access to coaching development, player development, Atletico player appearances, and open practices, while their male and femal semi-pro teams will wear a “Powered by Atletico” crest on their sleeve.[4]

In 2017, the club joined League1 Ontario, a Division III league, fielding a team in the men's division.[5] They defeated Aurora FC in their inaugural match on April 29, 2017 by a score of 3–1.[6] In 2019, they added a team in the women's division of League1 Ontario.[7]

For the 2020 season, the club moved both its male and female teams to the Première Ligue de soccer du Québec, a league on the same pyramid level located in the province of Quebec in a move sanctioned by the Canadian Soccer Association.[8] While previously, the Ontario-based Ottawa Fury Academy had played in the Quebec-based league, but this move represented the first time League1 Ontario and PLSQ have transferred a club between organizations.[9] The move to play in a different province was approved to ease travel for both OSU and the other League1 Ontario clubs, as Ottawa was located closer to the Quebec clubs than any of the other Ontario teams.[10]

Seasons

Men

Season League Teams Record Rank Playoffs League Cup Ref
2017 League1 Ontario 16 6–1–14 6th, Eastern (12th) Did not qualify Quarter-finals [11]
2018 17 3–4–9 14th Did not qualify Round of 16 [12]
2019 16 0–1–14 16th Did not qualify – [13]
2020 Première Ligue de soccer du Québec 6 – –

Women

Season League Teams Record Rank Playoffs League Cup Ref
2019 League1 Ontario 14 6–2–5 5th Quarter-finals – [14]
2020 Première Ligue de soccer du Québec 4 0–0–3 4th 4th –

Notable former players

References
  1. "New League1 Ontario Club Profile: OSU Force". League1 Ontario. March 21, 2017.
  2. Tim Baines (January 15, 2020). "Pro soccer back in Ottawa? Group hoping to field team in 2020 CPL season". Ottawa Sun.
  3. "Whitecaps FC launch new Academy Centre in partnership with Ottawa South United". Vancouver Whitecaps FC. November 21, 2016.
  4. Don Brennan (August 7, 2020). "Atletico Ottawa lands major partnership before heading to 'The Island Games'". Ottawa Sun.
  5. Martin Cleary (February 7, 2017). "Ottawa soccer gets a big boost". Ottawa Sun.
  6. Chris Dubsky (May 1, 2017). "Ottawa South United Force @ Aurora FC". Northern Starting XI.
  7. "Ottawa Soccer Clubs Seek to Maintain Gains". Ottawa Sportspage. April 18, 2019.
  8. "Ottawa South United Se Joint à La PLSQ" [Ottawa South United Joins the PLSQ]. Première Ligue de soccer du Québec. January 30, 2020.
  9. "Ottawa South United announces historic move to PLSQ". League1 Ontario. January 30, 2020.
  10. "OSU Force Academy Zone: Ottawa South United announces historic move to PLSQ". Ottawa Sportspage. February 27, 2020.
  11. "2017 Men's Standings". League1 Ontario.
  12. "2018 Men's Standings". League1 Ontario.
  13. "2019 Men's Standings". League1 Ontario.
  14. "2019 Women's Standings". League1 Ontario.
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