Master's FA
 | |
| Full name | Master's Futbol Academy |
|---|---|
| Nickname(s) | Saints |
| Founded | 2009 |
| Stadium | L'Amoreaux Park Scarborough, Toronto, Ontario |
| Owner | Junior Groves |
| Head Coach | Giuseppe Mattace-Raso |
| League | League1 Ontario |
| 2024 | L1O-C, 5th (men) L2O, 10th (women) |
| Website | http://www.mfasoccer.ca |
Master's Futbol Academy, commonly known as Master's FA, is a Canadian semi-professional soccer club based in Scarborough, Toronto, Ontario. The club was founded in 2009 as a soccer academy and added its team in the semi-professional League1 Ontario, the third tier in the Canadian soccer league system.
The club was one of the ten original founding men's teams in League1 Ontario, which was established in 2014. Their team initially competed under the name Master's FA Saints.[1]
History
[edit]In 2009, Master's Futbol Academy was founded by Junior Groves.[2][3] In 2014, the semi-professional club was established to play in the newly formed League1 Ontario as one of the founding members.[4][5] They were one of the three Ontario Soccer Association Recognized Non-Club Academies permitted to enter a team in the league, along with ANB Futbol and Sigma FC.[6] The club played their debut match on May 31, 2014 against the Cataraqui Clippers, winning 3–0.[7] In their inaugural season, they finished in seventh place.[8]
Their most successful season came in 2019, when they won the 2019 League1 Ontario playoffs, defeating FC London 4–1 in the finals.[9] This victory qualified the club for the Canadian Championship for the first time in 2020.[10][11] However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, their participation was shifted to the 2021 Canadian Championship.[12] In the match in 2021, they were defeated by Canadian Premier League club York United FC in the preliminary round by a score of 5–0.[13]
Squad
[edit]- As of 16 April 2023[14]
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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Seasons
[edit]Men
[edit]| Season | League | Teams | Record | Rank | Playoffs | League Cup | Canadian Championship | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | League1 Ontario | 9 | 5–2–9 | 7th | – | Group stage | Not eligible | [15] |
| 2015 | 12 | 1–3–18 | 12th | – | Group stage | Not eligible | [15] | |
| 2016 | 16 | 3–2–17 | 8th, Eastern (16th overall) | did not qualify | Runner-up | Not eligible | [15] | |
| 2017 | 16 | 9–3–10 | 5th, Eastern (9th overall) | did not qualify | Quarter-finals | Not eligible | [15] | |
| 2018 | 17 | 4–7–5 | 10th | did not qualify | Quarter-finals | did not qualify | [15] | |
| 2019 | 16 | 9–3–3 | 4th | Champions | – | did not qualify | [15] | |
| 2020 | Season cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic | Moved to 2021 | [16] | |||||
| 2021 | 15 | 6–3–3 | 2nd, East (5th overall) | Semi-finals | – | Preliminary Round | ||
| 2022 | 22 | 4–5–12 | 19th | did not qualify | – | did not qualify | ||
| 2023 | 21 | 4–2–14 | 19th | did not qualify | – | did not qualify | ||
| 2024 | League1 Ontario Championship | 10 | 5–4–9 | 5th | – | Quarter-Finals | did not qualify | |
Women
[edit]| Season | League | Teams | Record | Rank | Playoffs | League Cup | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | League2 Ontario Northeast | 10 | 0–2–12 | 10th | – | Round of 32 |
Notable former players
[edit]The following players have either played at the professional or international level, either before or after playing for the League1 Ontario team:
Honours
[edit]- League1 Ontario
- Championship (1): 2019
References
[edit]- ^ Meertins, Tyrrell (May 29, 2014). "Introducing Master's FA". League1 Ontario.
- ^ "History of Master's Futbol Academy". Master's FA.
- ^ Thompson, Marty (February 27, 2021). "'Nobody has built this before': The incredible story of Master's FA's 2019 title". League1 Ontario.
- ^ "Ontario launches provincial semi-professional men's league". Canadian Soccer Association. April 8, 2014. Archived from the original on July 4, 2020.
- ^ "OSA announces League1 Ontario teams". Ontario Soccer Association. April 8, 2014. Archived from the original on May 18, 2014.
- ^ Hayakawa, Michael (April 10, 2014). "Vaughan to field 2 teams in inaugural soccer league". Vaughan Citizen.
- ^ Meertins, Tyrrell (June 2, 2014). "Master's FA Saints 3 – Cataraqui Clippers 0". League1 Ontario.
- ^ "A Bluffer's Guide to Master's FA". League1 Ontario. November 3, 2022.
- ^ Vanderhoeven, Paul (September 28, 2019). "FC London battles to the finish in League1 championship loss to Scarborough Masters". The London Free Press.
- ^ Jacques, John (September 28, 2019). "Master's Futbol Academy Wins League1 Ontario For The First Time". Northern Tribune.
- ^ "12 teams from four leagues to contest 2020 Canadian Championship". Sportsnet. December 18, 2019.
- ^ Thompson, Marty (June 16, 2020). "Masters FA moved from amended 2020 CanChamp, will play in 2021 edition". League1 Ontario.
- ^ O'Connor-Clarke, Charlie (August 21, 2021). "RECAP: York United advance in CanChamp with dominant 5–0 win over Master's FA". Canadian Premier League.
- ^ "Master's FA". League 1 Ontario.
- ^ a b c d e f "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.
