AFC Toronto

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Not to be confused with Toronto FC, a men's soccer club.

AFC Toronto
Full nameAssociation Football Club Toronto
FoundedApril 26, 2023; 18 months ago (April 26, 2023)
Stadium
Capacity4,000
CEOHelena Ruken
Head CoachMarko Milanović
LeagueNorthern Super League
Websiteafctoronto.ca
Current season

Association Football Club Toronto is a professional women's soccer club based in Toronto, Ontario that competes in the Northern Super League, a league at the top of the Canadian soccer pyramid.

History

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In April 2023, AFC Toronto was established by a group of local soccer community members, including Helena Ruken, Brenda Ha, Jill Burgin, Billy Wilson, Mike Ruthard, Kamal Sandhu, and Shamez Mangalji.[1] They became the third club to enter as a founding member of the Northern Super League, which will launch its inaugural season in 2025.[2][3] Although several of the founders held a connection with the North Toronto Nitros, including Ruken who serves as the Nitros President, AFC Toronto will operate as a separate entity.[4] In January 2024, Canadian Olympic sprinter Andre De Grasse joined the club as an investor.[5][6] In June 2024, the club unveiled their official branding, maroon and vermillion serving as the team's colours, and their crest, which features a letter T at the centre symbolizing Toronto and mirrored 7s on either side representing the team’s original seven founding members, as well as the city’s original six boroughs plus the GTA.[7][8] It was announced that the team would play at York Lions Stadium as their home venue for the 2025 season, sharing the venue with Canadian Premier League club York United FC and MLS Next Pro side Toronto FC II.[9][10] In October 2024, Jade Kovacevic was unveiled as the club and league's first ever player signing.[11]

Players and Staff

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Players

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As of October 21, 2024

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

No. Pos. Nation Player
— FW Canada CAN Jade Kovacevic

Current staff

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As of August 7, 2024[12]
Executive
Chief Executive Officer Helena Ruken
Chief Operating Officer Brenda Ha
Chief Marketing Officer Jill Burgin
Technical director Billy Wilson
Coaching staff
Head coach Marko Milanović
Assistant coach Sylvia Forbes

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Dichter, Myles (April 26, 2023). "Toronto named 3rd franchise in Canadian women's pro soccer league set to start in 2025". CBC Sports.
  2. ^ Molinaro, John (April 26, 2023). "'Breaking through is possible': Matheson thrilled Toronto joining pro women's league". Sportsnet.
  3. ^ Davidson, Neil (April 26, 2023). "AFC Toronto City becomes 3rd team to sign on to Canadian women's pro soccer league". Global News.
  4. ^ "Toronto 'an untapped pool' of women's soccer talent: AFC Toronto City CEO Helena Ruken". Canadian Soccer Daily. April 28, 2023.
  5. ^ "Star sprinter De Grasse invests in AFC Toronto City women's soccer team". CBC Sports. January 17, 2024.
  6. ^ "Sprinting to kickoff in Canadian pro women's soccer: Andre De Grasse invests in Project 8's AFC Toronto". Canadian Soccer Daily. January 18, 2024.
  7. ^ Ngabo, Gilbert (June 3, 2024). "Toronto's pro women's soccer team unveils its crest, with kickoff set for next year". Toronto Star.
  8. ^ Nightingale, Tom (June 3, 2024). "Northern Super League's AFC Toronto unveil branding ahead of inaugural NSL season". Canadian Soccer Daily.
  9. ^ Jacques, John (August 28, 2024). "AFC Toronto To Play From York Lions Stadium Next Year". Northern Tribune.
  10. ^ "Northern Super League's AFC Toronto will share York Lions Stadium with CPL side York United". Candian Soccer Daily. August 28, 2024.
  11. ^ Molinaro, John (October 21, 2024). "Jade Kovacevic excited to live dream as AFC Toronto's first-ever signing". Sportsnet.
  12. ^ "AFC Toronto Welcomes Marko Milanovic and Sylvia Forbes as New Coaching Team". AFC Toronto. August 7, 2024.
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