HFX Wanderers FC

HFX Wanderers Football Club, commonly known as HFX Wanderers, and also spoken as Halifax Wanderers,[1] is a Canadian professional soccer club based in Halifax, Nova Scotia. The club competes in the Canadian Premier League at the top of the Canadian soccer league system, and play their home matches at Wanderers Grounds.

HFX Wanderers
Full nameHFX Wanderers Football Club
FoundedMay 5, 2018 (2018-05-05)
StadiumWanderers Grounds
Halifax, Nova Scotia
Capacity6,500
OwnerSports & Entertainment Atlantic
PresidentDerek Martin
CoachStephen Hart
LeagueCanadian Premier League
2019Canadian Premier League, 7th
WebsiteClub website

History

In December 2016, Sports & Entertainment Atlantic owner Derek Martin met with Canadian Premier League officials to discuss launching a franchise in Halifax.[2] Martin pitched the idea of a pop-up stadium to Halifax City Councillors in March 2017, and approval was given three months later.[3][4] On May 5, 2018, Halifax was one of four groups accepted by the Canadian Soccer Association for professional club membership.[5]

HFX Wanderers FC was officially unveiled on May 25, 2018, as the third team to join the Canadian Premier League.[6] As well as confirming their place in the league for the 2019 launch season, the club also revealed their crest, colours and branding.[7]

On July 28, 2018, HFX Wanderers FC fielded an Atlantic Selects team to play a friendly against Fortuna Düsseldorf's under-21 squad at Wanderers Grounds. The Atlantic Selects won on penalties after a 2–2 score in regulation time. The official attendance was 4,809.[8]

They played their first league game on April 28, 2019, in 1–0 away loss to Pacific FC.[9]

Stadium

The club plays their home games at Wanderers Grounds.[10] The modular stadium opened with a capacity of 6,500 spectators.[11] The stadium's design allows for it to be expanded as required for future growth.[12]

Crest and colours

Home

Away

The shape of the crest takes inspiration from the Halifax Citadel, located near the club's stadium.[6] The crest also includes the Angus L. Macdonald Bridge, which connects the Halifax Peninsula and Dartmouth, and an anchor to represent the Atlantic Ocean and Halifax Harbour.[13]

Underneath the club's name reads the Scottish Gaelic motto, Ar Cala, Ar Dachaigh, Ar n-Anam, which translates to Our Harbour, Our Home, Our Soul.[14] Scottish Gaelic is used to signify that Nova Scotia is one of the few places remaining where the language is still spoken.[15]

The crest was created by Canadian graphic designer Mark Guilherme[14] based on consultation and feedback from meetings with supporters, Halifax city leaders and local residents.[16]

The official club colours are navy, grey, and cyan (branded by the club as "harbour blue," "naval grey," and "aqua ocean"). These colours symbolize the night sky, the Royal Canadian Navy, and the Atlantic Ocean.[13]

Club culture

Supporters

The first supporters group to lobby for a Halifax team to join the Canadian Premier League was founded in September 2016 under the name Wanderers SG.[17] At the launch event to unveil HFX Wanderers' identity, supporters announced they were changing their name to Privateers 1882 in order for the club to continue the Wanderers name.[14] The 1882 signifies the year of formation for the Wanderers Amateur Athletic Club, who previously competed at the Wanderers Grounds.[18] 'Privateers' refers to the history of privateering in the region, as well as the popular regional song Barrett's Privateers.

Players and staff

Current roster
As of May 4, 2020[19][20]
Akeem Garcia in home colours.

Where a player has not declared an international allegiance, nation is determined by place of birth.

No. Position Player Nation
1 Goalkeeper Jason Beaulieu  Canada
2 Defender Peter Schaale  Germany
3 Defender Jems Geffrard  Haiti
5 Midfielder Louis Béland-Goyette  Canada
6 Defender Chrisnovic N'sa  Canada
7 Midfielder Alex Marshall  Jamaica
8 Midfielder Omar Kreim  Morocco
9 Forward Ibrahima Sanoh  Guinea
10 Forward Alessandro Riggi  Canada
11 Forward Akeem Garcia  Trinidad and Tobago
13 Defender Daniel Kinumbe  Canada
14 Defender Mateo Restrepo  Canada
15 Midfielder Scott Firth  Canada
17 Midfielder Aboubacar Sissoko  Mali
18 Midfielder Andre Rampersad  Trinidad and Tobago
22 Forward João Morelli  Brazil
24 Defender Alex De Carolis  Canada
31 Defender Eriks Santos  Brazil
50 Goalkeeper Christian Oxner  Canada
— Forward Cory Bent  England

Current staff
As of March 3, 2020[21][22][23]
Executive
President Derek Martin
General manager Stephen Hart
Coaching staff
Head coach Stephen Hart
Assistant coach Mesut Mert
Goalkeeping coach Jan-Michael Williams
Scouting & recruitment staff
Head scout Victor Mendes

Head coaches
As of October 31, 2019
Coach Nation Tenure Record
GWDLWin %
Stephen Hart  Trinidad and Tobago June 27, 2018 – present 34 9 11 14 026.47

Club captains
Years Name Nation
2019 Jan-Michael Williams  Trinidad and Tobago

See also

References
  1. "Halifax Canadian Premier League team to be called the HFX Wanderers". Sportsnet. Retrieved September 21, 2018.
  2. Smith, Amy (December 9, 2016). "Promoter sees pro soccer in Halifax as sport reaches 'tipping point'". CBC News. Retrieved June 10, 2018.
  3. Boon, Jacob (March 24, 2017). "Pop-up soccer stadium could come together this summer". The Coast. Retrieved June 10, 2018.
  4. "Halifax approves downtown soccer stadium for new professional league team". The Chronicle Herald. June 21, 2017. Archived from the original on June 12, 2018. Retrieved June 10, 2018.
  5. "4 clubs get membership from Soccer Canada; expected to join CPL". Sportsnet. May 5, 2018. Retrieved June 10, 2018.
  6. McIsaac, Greg (May 25, 2018). "HFX Wanderers Football Club Joins Canadian Premier League". Canadian Premier League. Retrieved June 10, 2018.
  7. MacDonald, Glenn (May 25, 2018). "HFX Wanderers FC introduced". The Chronicle Herald. Archived from the original on June 12, 2018. Retrieved June 10, 2018.
  8. Palov, Willy (July 28, 2018). "Wanderers win shootout thriller over Fortuna Dusseldorf". The Chronicle Herald. Archived from the original on July 29, 2018. Retrieved July 28, 2018.
  9. "HIGHLIGHTS: Pacific FC earns historic 1st win in CPL". April 28, 2019. Retrieved April 29, 2019.
  10. Shaw, Kyle (May 25, 2018). "HFX Wanderers unveiled as Canada's newest professional soccer club". The Coast. Retrieved June 10, 2018.
  11. "Welcome to 'The Kitchen': Wanderers Grounds could be fortress for HFX Wanderers FC". canpl.ca. October 30, 2018. Retrieved October 30, 2018.
  12. "Stadium Profile". hfxwanderersfc.canpl.ca. HFX Wanderers FC. May 25, 2018. Retrieved June 10, 2018.
  13. "Emblem Inspiration". hfxwanderersfc.canpl.ca. HFX Wanderers FC. May 25, 2018. Retrieved June 10, 2018.
  14. "Explaining the Canadian Premier League Teams, Logos and Uniforms". SportsLogos.net. March 5, 2020. Retrieved March 5, 2020.
  15. "Keeping Canada's unique Gaelic culture alive". BBC News. October 21, 2010. Retrieved June 10, 2018.
  16. "HFX Wanderers FC: Club Story". Retrieved December 5, 2018.
  17. "Who Are We?". Privateers 1882. May 25, 2018. Archived from the original on June 12, 2018. Retrieved June 10, 2018.
  18. Kloke, Joshua (May 25, 2018). "The Starting XI: Interview with HFX Wanderers president Derek Martin, examining rumours of Giovinco and Piatti transfers". The Athletic. Retrieved June 10, 2018.
  19. "Roster". HFX Wanderers FC. Retrieved April 28, 2019.
  20. HFX Wanderers FC [@HFXWanderersFC] (February 28, 2020). "Get the name and number of your favourite player on the back of your NEW Wanderers home shirt. The new kit is out now here: bit.ly/2Ta4bMx Or at our Quinpool Road fan shop, Monday through Friday. Our 2020 squad numbers are here" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  21. "Owners Profile". hfxwanderersfc.canpl.ca. Retrieved September 11, 2018.
  22. Jacques, John. "Jan-Michael Williams Returns To Wanderers In Coaching Role". Northern Tribune. Retrieved December 10, 2019.
  23. Gareth Hampshire (March 3, 2020). "Wanderers hire celebrated local soccer figure Mesut Mert to team's coaching staff". HFX Wanderers FC. Retrieved March 4, 2020.
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