Master's FA explained

Clubname:Master's Futbol
Upright:.8
Fullname:Master's Futbol Academy
Nickname:Saints
Stadium:L'Amoreaux Park
Scarborough, Toronto, Ontario
Owner:Junior Groves
Mgrtitle:Head Coach
Manager:Giuseppe Mattace-Raso
League:League1 Ontario
Season:2023
Position:League1 Ontario, 19th
Playoffs: DNQ
Website:http://www.mfasoccer.ca
Current:2024 League1 Ontario season

Master's Futbol Academy, commonly known as Master's FA, is a Canadian semi-professional soccer club based in Scarborough, Toronto, Ontario. The club was founded in 2009 as a soccer academy and added its team in the semi-professional League1 Ontario, the third tier in the Canadian soccer league system.

The club was one of the ten original founding men's teams in League1 Ontario, which was established in 2014. Their team initially competed under the name Master's FA Saints.[1]

History

In 2009, Master's Futbol Academy was founded by Junior Groves.[2] [3] In 2014, the semi-professional club was established to play in the newly formed League1 Ontario as one of the founding members.[4] [5] They were one of the three Ontario Soccer Association Recognized Non-Club Academies permitted to enter a team in the league, along with ANB Futbol and Sigma FC.[6] The club played their debut match on May 31, 2014 against the Cataraqui Clippers, winning 3–0.[7] In their inaugural season, they finished in seventh place.[8]

Their most successful season came in 2019, when they won the 2019 League1 Ontario playoffs, defeating FC London 4–1 in the finals.[9] This victory qualified the club for the Canadian Championship for the first time in 2020.[10] [11] However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, their participation was shifted to the 2021 Canadian Championship.[12] In the match in 2021, they were defeated by Canadian Premier League club York United FC in the preliminary round by a score of 5–0.[13]

Squad

[14]

Seasons

Men

SeasonLeagueTeamsRankPlayoffsLeague CupCanadian ChampionshipRef
2014League1 Ontario95–2–97thGroup stageNot eligible[15]
2015121–3–1812thGroup stageNot eligible
2016163–2–178th, Eastern (16th overall)did not qualifyRunner-upNot eligible
2017169–3–105th, Eastern (9th overall)did not qualifyQuarter-finalsNot eligible
2018174–7–510thdid not qualifyQuarter-finalsdid not qualify
2019169–3–34thChampionsdid not qualify
2020Season cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemicMoved to 2021[16]
2021156–3–32nd, East (5th overall)Semi-finalsPreliminary Round
2022224–5–1219thdid not qualifydid not qualify
2023214–2–1419thdid not qualifydid not qualify

Women

Notable former players

The following players have either played at the professional or international level, either before or after playing for the League1 Ontario team:

Honours

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Introducing Master's FA. Tyrrell. Meertins. May 29, 2014. League1 Ontario.
  2. Web site: History of Master's Futbol Academy. Master's FA.
  3. Web site: Marty. Thompson. February 27, 2021. 'Nobody has built this before': The incredible story of Master's FA's 2019 title. League1 Ontario.
  4. Web site: Ontario launches provincial semi-professional men's league . . April 8, 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20200704081554/https://www.canadasoccer.com/ontario-launches-provincial-semi-professional-men-s-league-p156183. July 4, 2020. dead .
  5. Web site: OSA announces League1 Ontario teams . . April 8, 2014 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20140518030038/http://www.ontariosoccer.ca/OSABlog/index.php/archives/9764 . May 18, 2014.
  6. Web site: Vaughan to field 2 teams in inaugural soccer league. April 10, 2014. Michael. Hayakawa. Vaughan Citizen.
  7. Web site: Master's FA Saints 3 – Cataraqui Clippers 0. Tyrrell. Meertins. June 2, 2014. League1 Ontario.
  8. Web site: A Bluffer's Guide to Master's FA. November 3, 2022. League1 Ontario.
  9. Web site: FC London battles to the finish in League1 championship loss to Scarborough Masters. Paul. Vanderhoeven. September 28, 2019. The London Free Press.
  10. News: Master’s Futbol Academy Wins League1 Ontario For The First Time . John. Jacques. Northern Tribune . September 28, 2019.
  11. Web site: 12 teams from four leagues to contest 2020 Canadian Championship. Sportsnet. December 18, 2019.
  12. Web site: Masters FA moved from amended 2020 CanChamp, will play in 2021 edition. Marty. Thompson. June 16, 2020. League1 Ontario.
  13. Web site: RECAP: York United advance in CanChamp with dominant 5–0 win over Master's FA. August 21, 2021. Canadian Premier League. Charlie. O'Connor-Clarke.
  14. Web site: Master's FA. League 1 Ontario.
  15. Web site: League1 Ontario Historical Standings Men's Division. Canadian Soccer History Archives.
  16. Web site: League1 Ontario cancels Fall season plans for 2020 due to COVID-19 restrictions . . September 4, 2020.