HFX Wanderers FC

Halifax Wanderers FC, also written as HFX Wanderers FC, is a Canadian professional soccer club in Halifax, Nova Scotia. The club competes in the Canadian Premier League (CPL) at the top of the Canadian soccer league system, and play their home matches at Wanderers Grounds.[2]

"Halifax Wanderers" redirects here. For the defunct sports club, see Wanderers Amateur Athletic Club.
HFX Wanderers FC
Full nameHalifax Wanderers Football Club[1]
Short nameHFX Wanderers
FoundedMay 5, 2018 (2018-05-05)
StadiumWanderers Grounds
Halifax, Nova Scotia
Capacity6,500
OwnerSports & Entertainment Atlantic
PresidentDerek Martin
CoachPatrice Gheisar
LeagueCanadian Premier League
2022Canadian Premier League, 7th
WebsiteClub website

History

Foundation

In December 2016, Sports & Entertainment Atlantic owner Derek Martin met with Canadian Premier League officials to discuss launching a franchise in Halifax.[3] Martin pitched the idea of a pop-up stadium to Halifax City Councillors in March 2017, and approval was given three months later.[4][5] On May 5, 2018, Halifax was one of four groups accepted by the Canadian Soccer Association for professional club membership.[6]

HFX Wanderers Football Club was officially unveiled on May 25, 2018, as the third team to join the Canadian Premier League.[7] As well as confirming their place in the league for the 2019 launch season, the club also revealed their crest, colours and branding.[8] Stephen Hart was also announced as the club's inaugural manager. [9]

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.[10]

First seasons

The club played its first league match on April 28, 2019, a 0–1 away loss to Pacific FC.[11] On May 4, 2019, the team defeated Forge FC 2–1 for its first-ever league victory. Trinidadian international Akeem Garcia opened the scoring and became the first league goal scorer in club history.[12]

The 2020 season was shortened and modified because of the COVID-19 pandemic and branded as The Island Games because all matches were held on Prince Edward Island. The Wanderers advanced to the final, falling 0–2 to Forge FC in the final match.[13][14] Akeem Garcia won the Golden Boot with six goals[15] and Stephen Hart won the CPL's Coach of the Year award.[16]

The 2021 season was also modified due to COVID-19 health restrictions, and the first portion of the season was held entirely at IG Field in Winnipeg, Manitoba.[17] Upon returning to Halifax, the Wanderers were only able to play in front of season ticket holders in order to limit crowd sizes. Finally, the public was once again allowed to purchase tickets to the Canadian Championship game against CF Montréal, and the 6,413 spectators set a new attendance record.[18] Although the Wanderers finished the season in 6th place, João Morelli won the league's Golden Boot by scoring 14 goals, a CPL record at the time, and the CPL Player of the Year award.[19][20]

In April 2022 in the second match of the season, star striker Morelli suffered a season-ending ACL injury in a match against Atlético Ottawa.[21] After the disappointing 2022 campaign, Stephen Hart was relieved as team manager, and Patrice Gheisar was brought in to replace him.[22] It was announced in March 2023 that Morelli would miss at least the first half of the 2023 season as he recovered from the previous year's surgery.[23]

Stadium
Wanderers Grounds is a stadium located in South End, Halifax

The club plays their home games at Wanderers Grounds.[24] The modular stadium opened with a capacity of 6,500 spectators.[25] The main grandstand (Sections 101–107) is along the north edge of the pitch, and the stands in the east end (Sections 108–111) are general admission seating, intended for the supporters groups. The general admission stands are commonly known as The Kitchen, a reference to "kitchen party", which is a common term in the region for an informal and well-attended house party.

The stadium's design allows for it to be expanded as required for future growth.[26] Many structures are built out of shipping containers, which is an economical and flexible building option, but it also demonstrates a connection with Halifax's history as a port city. Past modifications include the addition of a patio area below The Kitchen, a premium cornerside area in the southwest portion, the installation of 18 separate entry points to maintain health protocols during the COVID-19 pandemic, a new media room installed to replace the camera platforms which were damaged in Hurricane Fiona, and a deployable giant screen.

The Wanderers Grounds is city property, and was leased to the Wanderers for a three-year test project in 2018, with the club's intention being to create a permanent stadium, should the club and league prove to be a fitting primary tenant for the site. The lease was renewed for another two years in 2021, to expire in April 2024.[27] In September 2023, Derek Martin formally presented to Halifax city council, detailing a plan for the city to build a permanent stadium at the Wanderers Grounds. The proposed stadium would have a modular design, an initial capacity of 8,500 people, and an artificial turf which would increase its usability for other events. Including renovations to the surrounding landscape, the estimated cost to the city would be $40 million, and the Halifax Wanderers offered to sign a 30-year lease as a means of repayment.[28] The proposal is under consideration.

Crest and colours

The shape of the crest takes inspiration from the Halifax Citadel, located near the club's stadium.[7] The crest includes the Angus L. Macdonald Bridge, which connects the Halifax Peninsula with Dartmouth, and an anchor to represent the Atlantic Ocean and Halifax Harbour.[29]

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.[30] Scottish Gaelic is used to signify that Nova Scotia is one of the few places remaining where the language is still spoken.[31]

The crest was created by Canadian graphic designer Mark Guilherme[30] based on consultation and feedback from meetings with supporters, Halifax city leaders and local residents.[32]

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.[29]

Club culture

The Wanderers are one of the most popular CPL teams, with great support within Halifax.[33] The team recurrently tops the attendance charts, with frequent sellouts at the Wanderers Grounds,[34] and local businesses often fly their flags of support on game day.

Supporters
Supporters section at Wanderers Grounds.

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.[35] 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.[30] The 1882 signifies the year of formation for the Wanderers Amateur Athletic Club, who previously competed at the Wanderers Grounds.[36] 'Privateers' refers to the history of privateering in the region, as well as the popular regional song "Barrett's Privateers". Other supporters groups affiliated with the Wanderers include the "Block 108 Ultras", the "Stonewall Pirates", and the "One Ten Den".

Another unique aspect of Wanderers supporter culture is "The Cookbook", a paper fanzine written, published, and sold by the Privateers 1882 to function as a game-day programme.

Social Media

There are several long-running fan-based websites which cover the Wanderers, including "The Wanderers Notebook" and The Merchant Sailor. The Coast hosts the Wanderer Grounds (sic) podcast in addition to regular sports coverage. Most notable is the Down The Pub podcast, whose hosts have interviewed dozens of players[37] and coaches[38], reviewed almost every game, and also worked with the club to co-host events.[39][40] At the end of each season, the hosts award the "Pubbies" to notable players and events.[41]

Travel

Given Halifax's distance from the other teams in the league, traveling to away games is a relatively uncommon occurrence, although trips to Ontario are the most feasible. In 2023, Wanderers president Derek Martin queried the fans about possibly chartering a plane to a mid-week game in Toronto, and the response was so overwhelming that a plane was able to be booked almost exclusively for the use of Wanderers fans, until Porter discontinued that flight's service to Halifax.[42]

Honours

Players and staff

Roster
As of August 7, 2023[43]

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

No. Position Player Nation
1 GK Yann Fillion  Canada
2 DF Daniel Nimick  Canada
3 DF Zachary Fernandez  Canada
4 DF Cristian Campagna  Canada
5 DF Cale Loughrey  Canada
6 MF Lorenzo Callegari  France
7 DF Ryan James  Canada
8 FW Massimo Ferrin  Canada
9 FW Théo Collomb  France
10 FW Aidan Daniels  Canada
11 FW João Morelli  Brazil
13 MF Armaan Wilson  Canada
14 MF Callum Watson  England
15 DF Doneil Henry  Canada
17 DF Wesley Timoteo  Canada
18 MF Andre Rampersad  Trinidad and Tobago
19 FW Tiago Coimbra  Canada
20 DF Jake Ruby  Canada
21 FW Jordan Perruzza (on loan from Toronto FC)  Canada
22 DF Mohamed Omar  Canada
23 DF Riley Ferrazzo  Canada
24 MF Tomas Giraldo  Canada
25 FW Ludwig Kodjo Amla (placed on ineligible list)  Denmark
37 FW Lifumpa Mwandwe  England
66 GK Aiden Rushenas  Canada
— DF Yorgos Gavas  Canada

Out on loan
No. Position Player Nation

Current staff
As of February 6, 2023[44][45][46][47]
Executive
President Derek Martin
Team Operations Manager Jose Guevara
Coaching staff
Head coach Patrice Gheisar
Assistant coach Jed Davies
Assistant coach Jorden Feliciano
Goalkeeping coach Jan-Michael Williams
Scouting & recruitment staff
Head scout Victor Mendes
Head of youth development Jed Davies

Head coaches
As of November 30, 2022
Coach Nation Tenure Record
GWDLWin %
Stephen Hart  Trinidad and Tobago June 27, 2018 – October 13, 2022 105 31 31 43 029.52
Patrice Gheisar  Canada November 30, 2022 – present

Club captains
Years Name Nation
2019 Jan-Michael Williams  Trinidad and Tobago
2020–present Andre Rampersad  Trinidad and Tobago

Record
Main article: List of HFX Wanderers FC records and statistics

Year-by-year
Season League Playoffs CC Continental Average
attendance		 Top goalscorer(s)
DivLeaguePldWDLGFGAGDPtsPPGPos.NameGoals
2019[48] 1 CPL 28 6 10 12 21 35 –14 28 1.00 7th DNQ R3 Ineligible 6,601 Trinidad and Tobago Akeem Garcia 7
2020 CPL 10 4 4 2 15 14 +1 16 1.60 2nd RU DNQ DNQ N/A Trinidad and Tobago Akeem Garcia 6
2021 CPL 28 8 11 9 28 34 –6 35 1.25 6th DNQ QF 5,198 [49] Brazil João Morelli 15
2022 CPL 28 8 5 15 24 38 –14 29 1.04 7th DNQ QF 5,825 Canada Samuel Salter 12
2023 CPL CPL 28 11 9 8 39 32 +7 42 1.5 3rd Pre 5,854 Canada Massimo Ferrin 9

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.

See also

References
  1. "Halifax Wanderers Football Club Football Department Update". Halifax Wanderers. November 22, 2021. Retrieved May 7, 2023.
  2. "Halifax Canadian Premier League team to be called the HFX Wanderers". Sportsnet. Archived from the original on April 28, 2019. Retrieved September 21, 2018.
  3. Smith, Amy (December 9, 2016). "Promoter sees pro soccer in Halifax as sport reaches 'tipping point'". CBC News. Archived from the original on April 28, 2019. Retrieved June 10, 2018.
  4. Boon, Jacob (March 24, 2017). "Pop-up soccer stadium could come together this summer". The Coast. Archived from the original on April 28, 2019. Retrieved June 10, 2018.
  5. "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.
  6. "4 clubs get membership from Soccer Canada; expected to join CPL". Sportsnet. May 5, 2018. Archived from the original on April 27, 2019. Retrieved June 10, 2018.
  7. McIsaac, Greg (May 25, 2018). "HFX Wanderers Football Club Joins Canadian Premier League". Canadian Premier League. Archived from the original on April 28, 2019. Retrieved June 10, 2018.
  8. MacDonald, Glenn (May 25, 2018). "HFX Wanderers FC introduced". The Chronicle Herald. Archived from the original on June 12, 2018. Retrieved June 10, 2018.
  9. "HFX Wanderers hire former Canada national team boss Stephen Hart as inaugural head coach". www.sportingnews.com. August 12, 2021. Retrieved May 4, 2023.
  10. 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.
  11. "HIGHLIGHTS: Pacific FC earns historic 1st win in CPL". April 28, 2019. Archived from the original on May 11, 2019. Retrieved April 29, 2019.
  12. Benjamin, Graeme. "HFX Wanderers defeat Forge FC 2-1 to earn first ever CPL victory". Global News. Retrieved May 2, 2023.
  13. Quon, Alexander. "HFX Wanderers, Forge FC advance to CPL final as Cavalry FC knocked out of Island Games". Global News. Retrieved May 2, 2023.
  14. Molinaro, John. "Forge FC beats HFX Wanderers FC in Island Games final to repeat as CPL champions". Canadian Premier League. Retrieved May 2, 2023.
  15. MacDonald, Glenn. "HFX Wanderers career leading scorer Akeem Garcia hangs up cleats, for now". Salt Wire. Retrieved May 4, 2023.
  16. Fraser, Narissa. "Hart named Canadian League Coach of the Year". Trinidad and Tobago Newsday. Retrieved May 4, 2023.
  17. Tkach, Marek. "Winnipeg to host first month of Canadian Premier League games in 2021 bubble". Global News. Retrieved May 4, 2023.
  18. Hollingsworth, Paul; April, Allan. "Overflow crowd for Halifax Wanderers game generates buzz for more big events". CTV News Atlantic. Retrieved May 4, 2023.
  19. Palov, Willy. "Wanderers' Joao Morelli named CPL player of the year". Salt Wire. Retrieved May 4, 2023.
  20. Jacques, John. "Brace Yourself: Morelli Sets CPL Record In Golden Boot Race". Northern Tribune. Retrieved May 4, 2023.
  21. O'Connor-Clarke, Charlie. "HFX Wanderers' João Morelli to miss rest of 2022 season with torn ACL". Canadian Premier League. Retrieved May 4, 2023.
  22. "Halifax Wanderers to play home opener this weekend". CBC. Retrieved May 4, 2023.
  23. MacDonald, Glenn. "HFX Wanderers injured star Joao Morelli sidelined for first half of 2023 Canadian Premier League season". Salt Wire. Retrieved May 4, 2023.
  24. Shaw, Kyle (May 25, 2018). "HFX Wanderers unveiled as Canada's newest professional soccer club". The Coast. Archived from the original on March 24, 2019. Retrieved June 10, 2018.
  25. "Welcome to 'The Kitchen': Wanderers Grounds could be fortress for HFX Wanderers FC". canpl.ca. October 30, 2018. Archived from the original on October 31, 2018. Retrieved October 30, 2018.
  26. "Stadium Profile". hfxwanderersfc.canpl.ca. HFX Wanderers FC. May 25, 2018. Archived from the original on June 12, 2018. Retrieved June 10, 2018.
  27. Jacques, John (October 26, 2021). "Halifax Municipality Extends Land Agreement With HFX Wanderers". Northern Tribune. Retrieved May 4, 2023.
  28. "Halifax's professional soccer team pitches city on $40-million stadium". CBC News. September 14, 2023. Retrieved October 5, 2023.
  29. "Emblem Inspiration". hfxwanderersfc.canpl.ca. HFX Wanderers FC. May 25, 2018. Archived from the original on June 12, 2018. Retrieved June 10, 2018.
  30. "Explaining the Canadian Premier League Teams, Logos and Uniforms". SportsLogos.net. March 5, 2020. Archived from the original on March 6, 2020. Retrieved March 5, 2020.
  31. "Keeping Canada's unique Gaelic culture alive". BBC News. October 21, 2010. Archived from the original on June 22, 2018. Retrieved June 10, 2018.
  32. "HFX Wanderers FC: Club Story". Archived from the original on March 27, 2023. Retrieved December 5, 2018.
  33. "'Off the charts': HFX Wanderers' home-opener comes as soccer sees wave of popularity". Atlantic. April 26, 2022. Archived from the original on February 8, 2023. Retrieved February 8, 2023.
  34. "Rabid fans create hope that Canadian soccer could be headed for big things". The Signal. Archived from the original on February 8, 2023. Retrieved February 8, 2023.
  35. "Who Are We?". Privateers 1882. May 25, 2018. Archived from the original on June 12, 2018. Retrieved June 10, 2018.
  36. Kloke, Joshua (May 25, 2018). "The Starting XI: Interview with HFX Wanderers president Derek Martin, examining rumours of Giovinco and Piatti transfers". The Athletic. Archived from the original on June 12, 2018. Retrieved June 10, 2018.
  37. Development, PodBean. "Episode 173: Hfx Wanderer Callum Watson! | Down the Pub Podcast- A Soccer Podcast". www.downthepub.ca. Retrieved October 21, 2023.
  38. Development, PodBean. "Episode 168: Wanderer's Assistant, Jorden Feliciano!! | Down the Pub Podcast- A Soccer Podcast". www.downthepub.ca. Retrieved October 21, 2023.
  39. ""Pints with Patrice": a Halifax Wanderers Q&A". X (formerly Twitter). Retrieved October 21, 2023.
  40. Development, PodBean. "Episode 165: Meet the Gaffer Live at Garrison! | Down the Pub Podcast- A Soccer Podcast". www.downthepub.ca. Retrieved October 21, 2023.
  41. Development, PodBean. "Episode 158! End of Season Review and Awards! | Down the Pub Podcast- A Soccer Podcast". www.downthepub.ca. Retrieved October 21, 2023.
  42. Jacques, John (February 10, 2023). "February 10: Recapping The Last Week In CPL". Northern Tribune. Retrieved May 4, 2023.
  43. "Halifax Wanderers Roster". HFX Wanderers FC. Archived from the original on May 21, 2022. Retrieved April 7, 2022.
  44. "Owners Profile". hfxwanderersfc.canpl.ca. Archived from the original on September 11, 2018. Retrieved September 11, 2018.
  45. Jacques, John. "Jan-Michael Williams Returns To Wanderers In Coaching Role". Northern Tribune. Archived from the original on December 10, 2019. Retrieved December 10, 2019.
  46. "Halifax Wanderers add Alejandro Dorado to Coaching Staff". HFX Wanderers FC. January 12, 2022. Archived from the original on January 12, 2022. Retrieved January 12, 2022.
  47. "Wanderers announce full soccer operations staff for 2023". HFX Wanderers FC. February 6, 2023. Archived from the original on February 6, 2023. Retrieved February 6, 2023.
  48. "HFX Wanderers FC: 2019 season in review". canpl.ca. Jonathan Briggins. Archived from the original on December 24, 2019. Retrieved December 24, 2019.
  49. The 2021 season had variable attendance restrictions throughout the season, due to the COVID-19 Pandemic.
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