Forge FC

Forge FC 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] Forge FC joined the CPL in 2019 as one of the league's seven inaugural teams.

Forge FC
Full nameForge FC
Nickname(s)The Hammers
FoundedMay 6, 2017 (2017-05-06)
StadiumTim Hortons Field, Hamilton, Ontario
Capacity10,016[1][lower-alpha 1]
OwnerBob Young
CoachBobby Smyrniotis
LeagueCanadian Premier League
2020Canadian Premier League, 1st (group stage)
Final: Champions
WebsiteClub website

The club was the first and second champions of the Canadian Premier League, winning back-to-back league titles in 2019 and 2020. Forge was also the first CPL 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 Valour 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
Tim Hortons Field is Forge FC's home 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

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]

Club culture

Supporters

The Barton St. Battalion supporters group was founded in February 2016 after details of the Canadian Premier League and a Hamilton club emerged.[17] At the club's official launch, supporters of the group sat behind the stage and were revealed as the first 75 founding members.[18]

Rivalries
Main article: 905 Derby

Forge FC has a rivalry with York9 FC, the only other southern Ontario-based team in the league. On January 29, 2019, the Canadian Premier League announced that the inaugural match of the league would be Forge hosting York9 in the 905 Derby on April 27, 2019.[19] The match ended in a 1–1 draw.[20]

Honours

Canadian Premier League Awards
Year Name Award Status
2019[21] Tristan Borges Golden Boot Winner
Kyle Bekker Player of the Year Nominated
Tristan Borges Winner
Tristan Borges Under 21 Canadian Player of the Year Nominated
Bobby Smyrniotis Coach of the Year Nominated
2020[22] Kyle Bekker Player of the Year Winner
Triston Henry Golden Glove Winner
Bobby Smyrniotis Coach of the Year Nominated

Players and staff

Current roster
As of August 4, 2020[23][24]
No. Position Player Nation
1 Goalkeeper Triston Henry  Canada
2 Defender Jonathan Grant  Canada
4 Defender Dominic Samuel  Canada
5 Defender Daniel Krutzen  Belgium
6 Defender Kwame Awuah  Canada
7 Midfielder David Choinière  Canada
8 Midfielder Elimane Cissé  Senegal
9 Forward Marcel Zajac  Canada
10 Midfielder Kyle Bekker  Canada
11 Forward Chris Nanco  Canada
13 Midfielder Alexander Achinioti-Jönsson  Sweden
14 Defender David Edgar  Canada
15 Defender Maxim Tissot  Canada
16 Defender Klaidi Cela  Canada
17 Forward Kadell Thomas  Canada
19 Forward Molham Babouli  Canada
20 Forward Gabriel Balbinotti  Canada
21 Defender Jordan Dunstan  Canada
22 Defender Monti Mohsen  Canada
23 Forward Anthony Novak  Canada
24 Midfielder Paolo Sabak  Belgium
31 Goalkeeper Baj Maan  Canada

Current staff
As of November 10, 2020 [25][26]
Executive
Caretaker Bob Young
Chief executive officer Scott Mitchell
President Matt Afinec
Coaching staff
Head coach Bobby Smyrniotis
Assistant coach Peter Reynders
Assistant coach
Goalkeeping coach		 Johan Albert

Head coaches
As of December 8, 2020
Coach Nation Tenure Record
GWDLWin %
Bobby Smyrniotis  Canada October 1, 2018 – present 51 29 12 10 056.86

Club captains
Years Name Nation
2019–present Kyle Bekker  Canada

Record
Main article: List of Forge FC records and statistics

Year-by-year
Season League Playoffs CC Continental Average
attendance		 Top goalscorer(s)
Div League PldWDLGFGAGDPtsPPG Pos. Name(s) Goals
2019 1 CPL 2817564526+19562.00 2nd W R2 CONCACAF League R16 6,872 Tristan Borges 13
2020 CPL 105411710+7191.90 1st W F CONCACAF League QF N/A Daniel Krutzen 4

1. Average attendance include statistics from league matches only.
2. Top goalscorer(s) includes all goals scored in league season, league playoffs, Canadian Championship, CONCACAF League, and other competitive continental matches.

International competition
Scores and results list Forge FC's goal tally first.
Year Competition Round Club Home Away Aggregate
2019 CONCACAF
League		 Preliminary round Antigua GFC 2–1[27] 0–0[11] 2–1
Round of 16 Olimpia 1–0[28] 1–4[12] 2–4
2020 Preliminary round Municipal Limeño N/A2–1[29]N/A
Round of 16 Tauro N/A2–1[30]N/A
Quarter-finals Arcahaie N/A1–1 (2–4 p)[31]N/A
Play-in round Marathón N/A0–1[32]N/A
2021 Preliminary round TBD

Notes
  1. expandable to 23,218

References
  1. "Co-Founder Bob Young & Forge FC to Celebrate Inaugural CPL Match With Soccer Unites Hamilton". forgefc.canpl.ca. Retrieved March 6, 2019.
  2. "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.
  3. Milton, Steve (June 6, 2013). "Ticats involved in early days of new vision for Canadian soccer". The Hamilton Spectator. Retrieved July 12, 2018.
  4. Milton, Steve (February 4, 2016). "Pro soccer team for city sees dome at Ticat field". The Hamilton Spectator. Retrieved July 12, 2018.
  5. O'Connor-Clarke, Charlie (May 6, 2017). "Canadian Premier League unanimously ratified by CSA". Waking the Red. Retrieved June 11, 2018.
  6. 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.
  7. W. Larson, Kurtis (July 13, 2018). "CPL forges ahead, adding team in Hamilton". Toronto Sun. Retrieved July 19, 2018.
  8. Milton, Steve (October 1, 2018). "Opinion | Bobby Smyrniotis named first Forge FC coach". TheSpec.com. Retrieved October 1, 2018.
  9. "Kyle Bekker, Chris Nanco reunite with Bobby Smyrniotis at Forge FC". Canadian Premier League. November 29, 2018. Retrieved November 29, 2018.
  10. Veenstra, Michael (June 16, 2019). "Forge FC get turnaround win; Qualify for CONCACAF League". Retrieved June 24, 2019.
  11. "Forge FC advances to CONCACAF League Round of 16 after win over Antigua". www.sportsnet.ca. Canadian Press. Retrieved August 9, 2019.
  12. Rhodes, Benedict. "Recap: Forge FC knocked out of CONCACAF League by C.D. Olimpia". Waking the Red. Retrieved September 4, 2019.
  13. O'Connor-Clarke, Charlie (November 2, 2019). "HIGHLIGHTS: Forge FC crowned CPL champions in win over Cavalry". Canadian Premier League. Retrieved November 15, 2019.
  14. Milton, Steve (July 12, 2018). "Forge FC's name a nod to city's past and future". The Hamilton Spectator. Retrieved July 12, 2018.
  15. "Emblem Inspiration". forgefc.canpl.ca. Forge FC. July 12, 2018. Retrieved July 12, 2018.
  16. O'Connor-Clarke, Charlie (July 12, 2018). "Canadian Premier League unveils Forge FC in Hamilton". Waking The Red. Retrieved July 12, 2018.
  17. "About Us". bartonbattalion.ca. Barton St Battalion. Retrieved July 12, 2018.
  18. "Hamilton Event: Watch Live". canpl.ca. Canadian Premier League. July 12, 2018. Retrieved July 16, 2018.
  19. Bedakian, Armen. "CPL inaugural match: Forge FC hosts York9 FC". canpl.ca. Retrieved February 16, 2019.
  20. "Canadian Premier League kicks off, marking new era for soccer in Canada". sportsnet.ca. April 27, 2019.
  21. "RUNDOWN: Analyzing & comparing the 2019 CPL Awards nominees". Canadian Premier League. November 12, 2019. Retrieved February 1, 2020.
  22. Molinaro, John (September 18, 2020). "Bustos, Bekker and Garcia finalists for CPL Player of the Year award". Canadian Premier League. Retrieved September 18, 2020.
  23. "Roster". Forge FC. Retrieved July 30, 2020.
  24. "Forge FC inks promising Belgian attacker Paolo Sabak – Forge FC". forgefc.canpl.ca. April 23, 2020. Retrieved April 23, 2020.
  25. "Business Operations Staff List". Forge FC. Retrieved November 10, 2020.
  26. "Soccer Operations". Forge FC. Retrieved November 10, 2020.
  27. "Forge FC beats Antigua GFC in first leg of CONCACAF League match". TSN. Retrieved August 5, 2019.
  28. "Forge FC vs. Olimpia". concacafleague.com. Retrieved August 24, 2019.
  29. "Forge FC scores late to win CONCACAF League preliminary-round game in El Salvador". The Toronto Star. Retrieved October 23, 2020.
  30. "Forge FC converts late penalty to beat Panama's Tauro FC in CONCACAF League play". The Toronto Star. November 5, 2020. Retrieved November 12, 2020.
  31. "Forge FC falls on penalties to Haitian club Arcahaie FC in CONCACAF League quarters". CBC. December 1, 2020. Retrieved December 2, 2020.
  32. "Forge FC's CONCACAF League run ends with ill-tempered loss to Honduras side". CBC. December 9, 2020. Retrieved December 10, 2020.
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