HFX Wanderers Football Club, commonly known as HFX Wanderers, and spoken as Halifax Wanderers,[2] is a Canadian professional soccer club 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.
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Full name | HFX Wanderers Football Club[1] | ||
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Founded | May 5, 2018; 4 years ago (2018-05-05) | ||
Stadium | Wanderers Grounds Halifax, Nova Scotia | ||
Capacity | 6,500 | ||
Owner | Sports & Entertainment Atlantic | ||
President | Derek Martin | ||
Coach | Vacant | ||
League | Canadian Premier League | ||
2022 | Canadian Premier League, 7th | ||
Website | Club website | ||
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![]() | This section needs to be updated. (July 2022) |
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 FC 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]
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.[9]
They played their first league game on April 28, 2019, in 1–0 away loss to Pacific FC.[10]
The club plays their home games at Wanderers Grounds.[11] The modular stadium opened with a capacity of 6,500 spectators.[12] The stadium's design allows for it to be expanded as required for future growth.[13]
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.[14]
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.[15] Scottish Gaelic is used to signify that Nova Scotia is one of the few places remaining where the language is still spoken.[16]
The crest was created by Canadian graphic designer Mark Guilherme[15] based on consultation and feedback from meetings with supporters, Halifax city leaders and local residents.[17]
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.[14]
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.[18] 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.[15] The 1882 signifies the year of formation for the Wanderers Amateur Athletic Club, who previously competed at the Wanderers Grounds.[19] 'Privateers' refers to the history of privateering in the region, as well as the popular regional song Barrett's Privateers.
Where a player has not declared an international allegiance, nation is determined by place of birth.
No. | Position | Player | Nation |
---|---|---|---|
1 | GK | Kieran Baskett | ![]() |
2 | DF | Peter Schaale | ![]() |
3 | DF | Zachary Fernandez | ![]() |
4 | DF | Cristian Campagna | ![]() |
5 | MF | Pierre Lamothe | ![]() |
7 | MF | Alex Marshall | ![]() |
8 | FW | Mour Samb | ![]() |
9 | FW | Samuel Salter | ![]() |
10 | FW | João Morelli | ![]() |
11 | FW | Akeem Garcia | ![]() |
13 | MF | Aidan Daniels | ![]() |
16 | DF | Kareem Sow | ![]() |
18 | MF | Andre Rampersad | ![]() |
19 | DF | Obeng Tabi | ![]() |
20 | DF | Jake Ruby | ![]() |
21 | MF | Marcello Polisi | ![]() |
22 | MF | Mohamed Omar | ![]() |
23 | FW | Cory Bent | ![]() |
25 | FW | Ludwig Kodjo Amla | ![]() |
27 | FW | Ryan Robinson | ![]() |
28 | MF | Jérémy Gagnon-Laparé | ![]() |
30 | DF | Colin Gander | ![]() |
31 | DF | Eriks Santos | ![]() |
37 | FW | Lifumpa Mwandwe | ![]() |
50 | GK | Christian Oxner | ![]() |
52 | DF | Gabriel Escobar | ![]() |
77 | DF | Nic Gagan | ![]() |
— | DF | Nassim Nouajaa | ![]() |
— | FW | Owen Degelman | ![]() |
No. | Position | Player | Nation |
---|---|---|---|
— | DF | Ousman Maheshe (at FC Edmonton) | ![]() |
— | MF | C. J. Smith (at FC Edmonton) | ![]() |
— | DF | Wesley Timoteo (at FC Edmonton) | ![]() |
Executive | |
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President | Derek Martin |
General manager | Vacant |
Coaching staff | |
Head coach | Vacant |
Assistant coach | Alejandro Dorado |
Goalkeeping coach | Jan-Michael Williams |
Scouting & recruitment staff | |
Head scout | Victor Mendes |
Coach | Nation | Tenure | Record | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G | W | D | L | Win % | ||||
Stephen Hart | ![]() |
June 27, 2018 – October 13, 2022 | 105 | 31 | 31 | 43 | 029.52 |
Years | Name | Nation |
---|---|---|
2019 | Jan-Michael Williams | ![]() |
2020–present | Andre Rampersad | ![]() |
Season | League | Playoffs | CC | Continental | Average attendance |
Top goalscorer(s) | |||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Div | League | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | PPG | Pos. | Name | Goals | ||||||
2019[24] | 1 | CPL | 28 | 6 | 10 | 12 | 21 | 35 | –14 | 28 | 1.00 | 7th | DNQ | R3 | Ineligible | 6,601 | ![]() |
7 | |
2020 | CPL | 10 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 15 | 14 | +1 | 16 | 1.60 | 2nd | RU | DNQ | DNQ | N/A | ![]() |
6 | ||
2021 | CPL | 28 | 8 | 11 | 9 | 28 | 34 | –6 | 35 | 1.25 | 6th | DNQ | QF | ![]() |
15 | ||||
2022 | CPL | 28 | 8 | 5 | 15 | 24 | 38 | –14 | 29 | 1.04 | 7th | DNQ | QF | 5,825 | ![]() |
12 |
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.
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