FC London explained

Clubname:FC London
Fullname:Football Club London
Founded:2008 (as Forest City London)
Stadium:Tricar Field
Capacity:900
Chrtitle:Owner
Chairman:Dave DeBenedictis
Mgrtitle:Head Coach
Manager:Yiannis Tsalatsidis (men)
Garett Peters (women)
League:League1 Ontario
Season:2023
Position:League, 13th; Playoffs, DNQ (men)
League, 6th; Playoffs, SF (women)
Current:2024 League1 Ontario season
Website:http://www.fclondon.ca

FC London is a Canadian semi-professional soccer club based in London, Ontario that plays in the men's and women's divisions of League1 Ontario in the Canadian third tier.[1] The men's plays in League1 Ontario's second tier Championship division and the women's team play's in League1 Ontario's first tier Premier Division.

The team was founded in 2008 as Forest City London Soccer Club, and were a member of the Premier Development League from 2009 to 2015; they won the 2012 PDL title, their first championship during this time. They re-branded to FC London following their move to League1 Ontario in 2016, being officially named Football Club London.

In 2017, the club partnered with Toronto FC. FC London's youth teams were renamed London TFC, while the senior team retained the name FC London, but changed its colours to red to match those of Toronto FC.

History

Founded in 2008, Forest City London joined the Premier Development League in 2009.[2] In their first season, they had to split home matches between four stadiums.[3] and played their first ever game on May 29, 2009, against Cleveland Internationals.[4] London won the game 2–1, with the first goal in franchise history being scored by Kevin Zimmermann.[5]

London's debut season was a generally positive one; they remained unbeaten over the course of their first ten games, winning seven games. London's first loss was a 3–1 drop to the Indiana Invaders at the beginning of July, and it initiated a complete reversal of fortune for the team. They did not win another game all season and dropped down the divisional standings. The team finished third in the Great Lakes Division, seven points behind divisional champions Kalamazoo, and faced off against Chicago Fire Premier in the first round of the playoffs. London lost their playoff match 1–0 to the Illinoisans on a goal by Andre Akpan. Kevin Zimmermann and Alan McGreal were London's top scorers in their debut season, with nine and seven goals respectively, while Anthony Di Biase contributed four assists.

They won the 2012 PDL Championship defeating Carolina Dynamo in the finals.[6] The won their first Great Lakes division title the following season.[7] The club moved to League1 Ontario in 2016, adding teams in both the male and female divisions.[8] The club went under new ownership and were renamed Football Club London following the move to L1O.[9]

The women's team won the league title in the 2016 and 2017 seasons by winning the league division, while also winning the League Cup in 2017.[10] They won the league division again in 2018, but fell in the semi-finals in the new playoff format.[11] In 2019, they finished third in the regular season, but won the league championship, defeating Oakville Blue Devils in the playoff final.[12]

The men's team won the Western Conference in their debut season in L1O in 2016, but fell to Vaughan Azzurri in the championship final.[13] In 2018, they finished as regular season champions, but ultimately fell in the playoffs.[14] During the 2019 season, they defeated Alliance United in the two legged playoff semi-finals by a 15–0 aggregate score, after victories of 5–0 and 10–0 across the two legs, respectively,[15] before ultimately falling to Master's FA in the championship final.[16] In the latter part of 2017, the club became a partner of Major League Soccer club Toronto FC, with the club being renamed London TFC, although the senior side retained the name FC London, under which it still competes in L1O.[17] As part of the rebrand, FC London changed their club colours and logo to red to match those of Toronto FC.[18] [19] In 2022, the club changed ownership from Ian Campbell to a group led by Dave DeBenedictis, the director of the London TFC Academy.[20]

In 2024, the women's team won the league cup, in the first edition of the competition since 2018.[21]

Former players

The following players have either moved on to the professional ranks after their time with FC London, or played professionally before joining the club.

Seasons

Men

SeasonLeagueRegular seasonPlayoffsLeague CupCanadian ChampionshipRef
2009Premier Development League8–3–53rd, Great LakesDivisional Semifinals—not eligible[22]
201010–1–52nd, Great LakesConference Semifinals
20119–5–23rd, Great LakesConference Quarterfinals
20127–5–42nd, Great LakesChampions
201310–2–21st, Great LakesConference Final
20146–4–44th, Great Lakesdid not qualify
20159–4–13rd, Great LakesDivisional Playoff
2016League1 Ontario15–2–51st, WestRunner-upRound of 16[23]
201711–5–64th, Westdid not qualifyQuarter-finals
201812–2–21st (overall)Group stageQuarter-finalsdid not qualify
20198–1–67th (overall)Runner-up—did not qualify
2020Season cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic[24]
20218–0–43rd, Westdid not qualify—did not qualify
20222–4–1522nddid not qualify—did not qualify
20236–7–713thdid not qualify—did not qualify

Women

SeasonLeagueTeamsRankPlayoffsLeague CupRef
2016League1 Ontario914–0–2–Semi-finals[25]
20171115–3–2–
20181311–1–01stSemi-finalsQuarter-finals
2019147–3–33rd–
2020Season cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic
202179–2–11stSemi-finals–
20222013–2–44thSemi-finals–
2023199–5–46thSemi-finals–
2024League1 Ontario Premier1012–2–42nd–

Honours

Head coaches

Stadium history

Average attendance

Attendance[26]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 22 March 2023. FC Men hungry to compete, develop on the pitch. Michael. Elioff. gamedaylondon.com. 7 May 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220510155841/https://www.gamedaylondon.com/stories/fc-men-hungry-to-compete-develop-on-the-pitch. 10 May 2022.
  2. Web site: PDL adds London, Ontario for 2009. https://web.archive.org/web/20120229144503/http://pdl.uslsoccer.com/home/292820.html. February 29, 2012. dead. December 3, 2008. United Soccer League.
  3. Web site: Canada in the USL PDL: The Ontario Teams. Benjamin. Massey. April 22, 2009. Eighty Six Forever. September 19, 2020. September 26, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210926191716/https://www.eightysixforever.com/2009/4/22/1615811/canada-in-the-usl-pdl-the-ontario. live.
  4. Web site: FC London kicks off with high hopes . The Londoner . January 20, 2012 . https://web.archive.org/web/20100114141544/http://www.thelondoner.ca/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=1337596 . January 14, 2010 . dead .
  5. Web site: United Soccer Leagues (USL) . . May 29, 2009 . January 20, 2012 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20110610175335/http://www.uslsoccer.com/stats/2009/1026977.html . June 10, 2011 .
  6. Web site: FC London wins USL PDL Championship. Canadian Soccer Association. August 6, 2012. September 19, 2020. September 19, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200919124559/https://www.canadasoccer.com/news/fc-london-wins-usl-pdl-championship/. live.
  7. Web site: Canadian clubs turning heads with PDL success. Dave. Rowaan. July 29, 2013. Waking The Red. September 19, 2020. March 8, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210308014423/https://www.wakingthered.com/2013/7/29/4567584/premier-development-league-victoria-thunder-bay-ottawa-london-easton-report. live.
  8. Web site: Everything new at FC London. Morris. Dalla Costa. The London Free Press. October 9, 2017. September 21, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170921045822/http://www.lfpress.com/2016/01/27/everything-new-at-fc-london. live.
  9. Web site: FC London rebrands for League1. Ryan. Pyette. December 17, 2015. The London Free Press. September 19, 2020. August 9, 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160809051625/http://www.lfpress.com/2015/12/17/fc-london-rebrands-for-league1. live.
  10. Web site: FC London Women Win 2017 League1 Ontario Title. October 3, 2017. Ontario Soccer Association. September 19, 2020. September 19, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200919085704/https://www.ontariosoccer.net/news_article/show/840230. live.
  11. Web site: FC London: Growing Soccer For Young Women. Greg. Bowman. August 29, 2018. Radio Western. September 19, 2020. March 31, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220331012308/https://radiowestern.ca/program/news/sports/2018-08-29/fc-london-growing-soccer-young-women. live.
  12. Web site: FC London wins 2019 League1 Ontario women's championship. September 1, 2019. Canadian Premier League. September 19, 2020. May 13, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210513210718/https://canpl.ca/article/fc-london-wins-2019-league1-ontario-womens-championship. live.
  13. Web site: Vaughan Azzurri kicks up a storm to win Ontario soccer championship. October 21, 2016. Michael. Hayakawa. Vaughan Citizen. September 19, 2020. July 17, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200717143326/https://www.yorkregion.com/community-story/6920926-vaughan-azzurri-kicks-up-a-storm-to-win-ontario-soccer-championship/. live.
  14. Web site: FC London begins playoffs as favourites. Paul. Vanderhoeven. September 28, 2018. The Sun Times.
  15. Web site: FC London men looking to follow women's lead. Paul. Vanderhoeven. September 24, 2019. The London Free Press. September 19, 2020. July 11, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200711212819/https://lfpress.com/sports/local-sports/fc-london-men-looking-to-follow-womens-lead. live.
  16. Web site: FC London battles to the finish in League1 championship loss to Scarborough Masters. Paul. Vanderhoeven. September 28, 2019. The London Free Press. September 19, 2020. October 21, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20201021100332/https://lfpress.com/sports/local-sports/fc-london-battles-to-the-finish-in-league1-championship-loss-to-scarborough-masters. live.
  17. Web site: Soccer: FC London's academy changes look, adds programs with Toronto FC link. Morris. Dalla Costa. November 29, 2017. The London Free Press. September 19, 2020. May 18, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210518020632/https://lfpress.com/2017/11/29/soccer-fc-londons-academy-changes-look-adds-programs-with-toronto-fc-link. live.
  18. Web site: FC London changes colours, continues to grow. Morris. Dalla Costa. April 27, 2018. The London Free Press. September 19, 2020. October 29, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20201029232955/https://lfpress.com/sports/soccer/fc-london-changes-colours-continues-to-grow. live.
  19. Web site: A Bluffer's Guide to FC London. July 29, 2022. League1 Ontario. August 1, 2022. August 1, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220801015933/https://www.league1ontario.com/news_article/show/1234072. live.
  20. Web site: FC Women eyeing another chance at fourth title. Gameday London. April 28, 2022. Todd. Devlin. May 14, 2022. April 28, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220428182954/https://www.gamedaylondon.com/stories/fc-women-eyeing-another-chance-at-fourth-title. live.
  21. Web site: London Lifts L1 Cup Over Nitros. August 1, 2024. Nelson. Mahmoudi. Northern Tribune.
  22. Web site: Forest City London. Canadian Soccer History Archives. September 17, 2020. April 16, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210416165011/http://cansha.coffeecup.com/forestcity.html. live.
  23. Web site: FC London. Canadian Soccer History Archives. September 17, 2020. April 16, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210416174540/http://cansha.coffeecup.com/fclondon.html. live.
  24. Web site: League1 Ontario cancels Fall season plans for 2020 due to COVID-19 restrictions . . September 4, 2020 . December 4, 2020 . March 2, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210302014742/https://canpl.ca/article/league1-ontario-cancels-fall-season-plans-for-2020-due-to-covid-19-restrictions . live .
  25. Web site: League1 Ontario Historical Standings Women's Division. Canadian Soccer History Archives. October 7, 2020. October 21, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20201021220940/http://cansha.coffeecup.com/l1owomen.html. live.
  26. Web site: Previous Season Stat Archives. December 14, 2009 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20100105175057/http://www.uslsoccer.com/history/index_E.html . January 5, 2010. United Soccer League.

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