Alliance United FC
Alliance United Futbol Club is a Canadian semi-professional soccer club based in Markham, Ontario. The club was founded in 2017 to compete in League1 Ontario. The club was formed as a partnership between two youth clubs - Markham FC and Wexford SC. It fields teams in both the men's and women's divisions of League1 Ontario.
 | |
| Full name | Alliance United Futbol Club |
|---|---|
| Founded | 2017 |
| Stadium | Centennial College |
| Head Coach | Ilya Orlov |
| League | League1 Ontario |
| 2019 | League1 Ontario, 3rd Playoffs: Semi-finals |
| Website | Club website |
Founders
The club was founded in 2017 as a joint partnership between clubs Markham FC and Wexford SC with the team playing out of Centennial College.[1][2] The name Alliance United was initially meant to be a temporary with a 'name the team' initiative planned, but it ultimately remained the official name.[3]
Markham FC
Markham FC is a youth soccer club in Markham, Ontario. It was founded in 1971 as the Markham Minor Soccer Club, before changing its name to the Markham Youth Soccer Club.[4]
Wexford SC
Wexford SC is a youth soccer club in Scarborough in Toronto. It was founded in 1967 as the Buchanan Soccer Club and is the longest running club in Scarborough.[5]
History
Alliance United joined the men's division of League1 Ontario for the 2018 season.[6] They played their inaugural match on April 29, 2018 against North Mississauga SC at home, which they lost by a score of 1–0.[7] They finished in 7th place in their debut season.[8] They improved to a 3rd-place finish in the 2019 season, but had a very poor showing in the playoffs where they lost 15–0 to FC London on aggregate in the semi-finals over the two game series, due to being unable to field many of their best players, who missed the series due to college and university commitments,[9] thereby having to rely on many youth players instead.[10]
In 2019, the club added a team in the women's division of League1 Ontario.[11]
Seasons
Men
| Season | League | Teams | Record | Rank | Playoffs | League Cup | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | League1 Ontario | 17 | 7–3–6 | 7th | Group Stage | Preliminary Round | [12] |
| 2019 | 16 | 11–3–1 | 3rd | Semi-finals | – | [12] | |
| 2020 | Season cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic[13] | ||||||
Women
| Season | League | Teams | Record | Rank | Playoffs | League Cup | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | League1 Ontario | 14 | 6–2–5 | 7th | Quarter-finals | – | [14] |
| 2020 | Season cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic[13] | ||||||
Notable former players
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References
- "East-GTA Partnership Driving New League1 Club Alliance United FC Has Orlov In The Manager's Seat". League1 Ontario. February 9, 2018.
- Glover, Robin (June 20, 2018). "L1O Game of the Week: Late equalizer seals Alliance United draw". Waking The Red.
- Cudmore, John (December 21, 2017). "League1 expansion focus zooms in on Unionville, Markham entries". Markham Economist & Sun.
- "About Markham Soccer". Markham Soccer Club.
- "Wexford History". Wexford SC.
- "Significant Expansion Planned for League1 Ontario". Ontario Soccer Association. December 20, 2017.
- Anchour, Yacine (April 27, 2018). "New season, New Kits & New Ambitions". NMSC.
- Stancati, Johnny (September 24, 2018). "Alliance Books Spot In The Playoffs With 1-0 Victory Over Sanjaxx". League1 Ontario.
- Thompson, Marty (October 30, 2020). "Ilya Orlov on Alliance's COVID-19 training, 'biggest worry' from L1O stoppage". League1 Ontario.
- Vanderhoeven, Paul (September 24, 2019). "FC London men looking to follow women's lead". The London Free Press.
- "FC Oshawa set to make soccer debut in League1 Ontario loop". Oshawa This Week. February 1, 2019.
- "League1 Ontario Historical Standings Men's Division". Canadian Soccer History Archives.
- "League1 Ontario cancels Fall season plans for 2020 due to COVID-19 restrictions". Canadian Premier League. September 4, 2020.
- "League1 Ontario Historical Standings Women's Division". Canadian Soccer History Archives.
