Electric City FC

Electric City Football Club is a Canadian semi-professional soccer team based in Peterborough, Ontario, that competes in League1 Ontario's men's and women's division.

Electric City FC
Full nameElectric City Football Club
Short nameECFC
Founded2021 (2021)
StadiumFleming College Stadium
Capacity2,000
OwnerGregory Couch
Head CoachVacant
LeagueLeague1 Ontario
2023League, 7th; Playoffs, DNQ (men)
League, 8th; Playoffs, DNQ (women)
WebsiteClub website

History

Formation

The presence of soccer in Peterborough is large despite its small size, and the club is an initiative for the city to take pride in its community, not just for soccer enthusiasts.[1] The history of the sport in the city dates back to the 1880s,[2] and with two college and university teams, highly skilled OWSL and OSL teams, as well as multiple local youth clubs, soccer has held a significant presence in Peterborough.[3]

The club's origins begin in late 2019, when former Canadian national team and Toronto FC player Adrian Cann met local community leader Keaton Robbins who was part of a group who was discussing the possibility of a team in the region,[4] later joined by local business leaders Neil Morton and Richard Wood.[5] Robbins first discussed the idea back in 2014 with League1 Ontario commissioner, Dino Rossi.[6] The club formed a partnership with local youth club Maple Leaf Cavan FC to serve as a feeder system,[7] later expanding the affiliations to include four other local youth clubs - Peterborough City SC, Peterborough Youth SC, Northumberland United and Kawartha Lakes SC.[8][9] The group initially intended to build a 3,000 seat outdoor stadium on the former Rona property on Chemong Road.[10][11] The club has previously approached Trent University about potentially using its Justin Chiu Stadium until a permanent facility is completed on Chemong Road.[5]

Their goal was originally to try to get an expansion team for 2021 in League1 Ontario, a semi-professional league, underneath the top tier Canadian Premier League,[12][13] although Morton said 2022 may be more realistic, with the ultimate goal being to eventually join the Canadian Premier League.[5] Morton said the goal is to start with a men's team and eventually add a women's side.[10][14] Cann was initially expected to serve as the team's head coach.[5] In January 2021, the club announced that they delayed their application to the league to 2022, in part due to the uncertainty caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.[15]

Official announcement

Electric City FC secondary logo

The club was officially announced in August 2021, announcing their intention to join the semi-professional League1 Ontario in 2022, as well as a women's team in 2023,[16] with aspirations of joining the professional Canadian Premier League, as early as 2024.[17] The club would announce their first head coach later in the fall.[18] The club officially joined League1 Ontario in October 2021, after acquiring the L1O license held by Toronto Skillz FC.[19][20] They also announced their intention to build a 74 acre Sports Complex on the edge of Peterborough including a soccer-specific stadium for the club to be completed within three years.[19][21] In November 2021, they announced they would field a women's team in League1 Ontario women's division for the 2022, a year earlier than their original expectation.[22][23]

Playing history

The men's team played their first match on April 21, 2022, ending in a 0-0 draw against defending champions Guelph United F.C.[24] They played their first home match on May 7 at Fleming College, earning their first ever victory, defeating Windsor TFC 3-0, while setting a League1 Ontario attendance record of 1565.[25][26] The women's team played their first match on the road on April 23, defeating Alliance United 2-1.[27] The women's team set a League1 Ontario women's attendance record in their home opener on May 14 in 4-1 victory over Blue Devils FC.[28][29] In their inaugural seasons, the men's team finished in tenth place, while the women's team finished in eighth place in the league, with both teams failing to qualify for the playoffs.[30][31]

Partnerships

In February 2022, they announced a partnership with Ontario Hockey League club, the Peterborough Petes, to work together with cross-promotional opportunities.[32][33] In March 2022, they partnership with Bobcaygeon Brewing Co. to create an official beer for the team called Electric Ale.[34][35] The club has reached sponsorship agreements with companies such as Mercedes-Benz, Mark’s and Leon's, while also selling club merchandise in local stores.[36][37]

The club announced partnerships with former League1 Ontario club Toronto Skillz FC to field their U21 L1O men's Reserve team and FC Durham (who had previously been part of the women's FC Oshawa team) to field their women's reserve team and men's U19 reserve team (both clubs will enter the reserve division under their own club names).[38]

In March 2022, the team announced a partnership with Fleming College for the use of its Sports Complex for Electric City FC's home games.[39]

Squad

As of 16 April 2023[40]

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
GK Ukraine UKR Svyatoslav Artemenko
DF Canada CAN Tomas Alvarez
DF France FRA Benjamin Fortuin
DF Canada CAN Nicholas Gagan
DF Canada CAN Bradley Heath
DF Canada CAN Ethan Keen
MF Canada CAN Max Bodurtha
MF Canada CAN Sebastian Cochrane
MF Canada CAN Kyle Cordeiro
MF Canada CAN Ben Creswick
No. Pos. Nation Player
MF Canada CAN Abel Nesibu
MF Canada CAN Daniel Oshana
MF Canada CAN Logan Rieck
MF Cayman Islands CAY Elijah Seymour
MF Canada CAN Liam Vivian
MF Canada CAN Connor Wilson
FW Canada CAN Nigel Buckley
FW Canada CAN Baldwin Igbinobaro
FW Canada CAN Alex Lewis
FW Canada CAN Filip Rakic
FW Canada CAN Benjamin Vyfschaft

Seasons

Men

Season League Teams Record Rank Playoffs Ref
2022 League1 Ontario 22 8–6–7 10th Did not qualify
2023 21 11–4–5 7th Did not qualify

Women

Season League Teams Record Rank Playoffs Ref
2022 League1 Ontario 20 10–2–7 8th Did not qualify
2023 19 8–3–7 8th Did not qualify

Notable players

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

Men

Women

References

  1. El Chiekh Khalil, Mariam (August 19, 2020). "Peterborough Woman Who Started Football Academy In Jordan On The Impact A Pro Team Would Have On This Community She Adores". PTBO Canada.
  2. Bates, Matt (April 21, 2022). "A Bluffer's Guide to Electric City". League1 Ontario.
  3. McClelland, Beth (August 13, 2020). "The Impact Soccer In Peterborough Has Had On One Woman's Life & What A Pro Team Coming Here Would Mean To Her". PTBO Canada.
  4. Davies, Mike (August 13, 2020). "Untapped market for soccer in Peterborough area: Cann". The Peterborough Examiner.
  5. Davies, Mike (July 23, 2020). "Group wants to bring pro soccer team to Peterborough". The Peterborough Examiner.
  6. Davies, Mike (July 28, 2020). "Peterborough poised to become a soccer hotbed". The Peterborough Examiner.
  7. Davies, Mike (August 27, 2020). "Electric City FC teaming up with Cavan FC". The Peterborough Examiner.
  8. "Electric City Football Club partnering with five Peterborough area youth soccer clubs". The Peterborough Examiner. February 3, 2022.
  9. O'Grady, Angela (February 3, 2022). "Electric City Football Club Announces Partnerships With Five Local Soccer Clubs". PTBO Canada.
  10. A pro soccer team could be coming to Peterborough. Global News. July 24, 2020.
  11. Davies, Mike (July 26, 2020). "Sports plans for Chemong Road site in Peterborough's north end delayed, but still a go". Niagara Falls Review.
  12. Davies, Mike (December 28, 2020). "A sports year like no other for Peterborough". The Peterborough Examiner.
  13. Telford, Casey (September 1, 2020). "CanPL & Canadian Soccer Expansion Tracker – September 2020". Northern Starting XI.
  14. Shaughnessy-Rowe, Liz (September 6, 2020). "Peterborough Woman On Her Love For The Beautiful Game & What Electric City FC Would Mean To Her". PTBO Canada.
  15. Davies, Mike (January 18, 2020). "Electric City FC delays League1 Ontario bid to 2022". The Peterborough Examiner.
  16. Jacques, John (August 10, 2021). "Peterborough Aims For Pro Football With Electric City FC". Northern Tribune.
  17. Davies, Mike (August 9, 2021). "Electric City FC brings pro soccer to Peterborough". The Peterborough Examiner.
  18. Rellinger, Paul (August 9, 2021). "Professional soccer to make its debut in Peterborough in May 2022". Kawartha Now.
  19. "Electric City FC of Peterborough joins L1O for 2022 season". League1 Ontario. October 20, 2021.
  20. "Peterborough's new Electric City Football Club officially joins League1 Ontario". Kawartha Now. October 20, 2021.
  21. Jacques, John (October 20, 2021). "Electric City FC Joins League1 Ontario, Reveals Stadium Plans". Northern Tribune.
  22. "Electric City announces Women's team and open tryouts for the 2022 season". League1 Ontario. November 10, 2021.
  23. Davies, Mike (November 10, 2021). "Peterborough's Electric City FC to field women's League1 Ontario team". The Peterborough Examiner.
  24. Davies, Mike (April 21, 2022). "Electric City FC debuts with scoreless draw against league champion Guelph United". The Peterborough Examiner.
  25. Davies, Mike (May 8, 2022). "Electric City FC men win home opener in Peterborough". The Peterborough Examiner.
  26. Bui, David Tuan (May 8, 2022). "Electric City Football Club Men's Team Shines Under the Bright Lights in Home Opener". PTBO Canada.
  27. Davies, Mike (April 23, 2022). "Peterborough's Electric City women win season opener". The Peterborough Examiner.
  28. Bui, David Tuan (May 16, 2022). "Electric City Football Club Women's Team Dazzles In Home Opener". PTBO Canada.
  29. Davies, Mike (May 15, 2022). "Electric City women victorious in Peterborough home opener". The Peterborough Examiner.
  30. Davies, Mike (August 20, 2022). "Peterborough's ECFC wraps complicated first season". The Peterborough Examiner.
  31. Davies, Mike. "Peterborough's Electric City women look back at a successful first year". The Peterborough Examiner.
  32. "Peterborough Petes, new Electric City Football Club team up on cross-promotions". The Peterborough Examiner. February 1, 2022.
  33. O'Grady, Angela (February 1, 2022). "Electric City Football Club And Peterborough Petes Join Forces To Make Peterborough A Top Sports Destination". PTBO Canada.
  34. Skarstedt, Clifford (March 4, 2022). "Photos: Bobcaygeon Brewing launches Electric City Football Club's official brew Electric Ale". Peterborough Examiner.
  35. "New brew for Electric City Football Club in Peterborough". Peterborough Examiner. March 3, 2022.
  36. Morrison, Dan (April 21, 2022). "Enthusiasm for Electric City Football Club is growing — and not just among soccer fans". Peterborough Currents.
  37. Ganley, Rosemary (June 15, 2023). "Peterborough's Electric City Football Club has a new fan". Peterborough Examiner.
  38. "Electric City Football Club inks affiliation deals with FC Durham, Toronto Skillz FC". The Peterborough Examiner. February 9, 2022.
  39. "Electric City FC home games will be played at Fleming Sports Complex in Peterborough". KawarthaNow. March 28, 2022.
  40. "Electric City FC". League 1 Ontario.
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