TSS FC Rovers are a Canadian soccer team based in Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada that play in League1 British Columbia. Established for the 2017 PDL season by general manager Will Cromack and head coach Colin Elmes, the Rovers are the under-23 team of the TSS Academy, one of the largest soccer schools in British Columbia's Lower Mainland.[1]
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Short name | TSS Rovers |
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Founded | 1997 2017 (semi-pro team) |
Stadium | Swangard Stadium Burnaby, British Columbia |
Capacity | 5,288 |
Coach | Will Cromack (men) Chelsey Hannesson (women) |
League | League1 British Columbia |
2022 | L1BC, 2nd; Playoffs, Champions L1BC, 4th; Playoffs, DNQ (women) |
Website | Club website |
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TSS (Total Soccer Systems) Academy was founded in 1997, based in Richmond, British Columbia.[2]
In late 2016, they purchased the rights to Premier Development League franchise of the Washington Crossfire, creating a team in British Columbia fielding their first roster in the spring of 2017.[3][4] They have a supporters group called the "Swanguardians" in reference to the Rovers home stadium Swangard Stadium, who previously attended Vancouver Whitecaps games when they played out of Swangard Stadium, prior to their joining the MLS. When these supporters heard about the Rovers returning soccer back to the iconic stadium, they came out in support with much fanfare.[4] The team has a stated policy of fostering Canadian talent, or players eligible for the Canadian men's national teams, stating every player must be "either a Canadian citizen, permanent resident or refugee or immigrant with an intent to one day wear the Maple Leaf."[5][6]
2018 saw the founding of the women's side to play in the WPSL, notable signings included Canada WNT players Jordyn Huitema and Julia Grosso.[7] In 2018, the men's side saw the team's first truly non-Canadian signing in Dutch, former Toronto FC midfielder Nick Soolsma as a player-coach.[8]
The club competed with the Victoria Highlanders for the Juan de Fuca Plate, which was awarded annually to the best PDL/USL League Two club in British Columbia.[9] The Rovers won it in 2018 and 2019.[10]
In 2020, the club updated their logo to include a sword fern, an indigenous plant to coastal BC.[11]
On November 1, 2021 it was announced that the club would be playing in the inaugural season of League1 British Columbia.[12] In addition, the club decided to change their ownership structure, to become fan-owned, similar to clubs in Germany, with fans having voting rights and a say in the team's direction.[13][14] Fans will own 49% of the team through this initiative.[15] In the debut League1 BC season, the men's team advanced to the Championship Final after finishing in second place in the regular season standings, where they defeated Varsity FC in penalty kicks to win the inaugural League1 BC title.[16] As champions, they qualified for the national 2023 Canadian Championship.[17]
Men
No. | Pos. | Player | Nation |
---|---|---|---|
— | GK | Jackson Cowx | ![]() |
— | GK | Tyson Gugushe | ![]() |
— | GK | Justyn Sandhu | ![]() |
— | DF | Josh Bhandal | ![]() |
— | DF | Naseeb Bains | ![]() |
— | DF | Jun Won Choi | ![]() |
— | DF | Gabriel Escobar | ![]() |
— | DF | Owen McBride | ![]() |
— | DF | Chris Schmit | ![]() |
— | DF | Fugo Segawa | ![]() |
— | DF | Jaskarn Sondhi | ![]() |
— | DF | Lennon Thompson | ![]() |
— | DF | Anthony White | ![]() |
— | DF | Nik White | ![]() |
— | MF | Jack Cluff | ![]() |
— | MF | Connor MacMillan | ![]() |
— | MF | Liam McGowan | ![]() |
— | MF | Jonah Quarry | ![]() |
— | MF | Mark Talisuna | ![]() |
— | MF | Anthony Vega | ![]() |
— | MF | Grant Verhoevan | ![]() |
— | FW | Euan Aitchison | ![]() |
— | FW | Conrad Cheng | ![]() |
— | FW | Daniel Davidson | ![]() |
— | FW | Erik Edwardson | ![]() |
— | FW | John Joseph | ![]() |
— | FW | Devin Ohea | ![]() |
— | FW | Taylor Richardson | ![]() |
— | FW | Ivan Yepes | ![]() |
— | FW | Ali Zohar | ![]() |
Women
No. | Pos. | Player | Nation |
---|---|---|---|
— | GK | Mae Hobensheild | ![]() |
— | GK | Julia McDonald | ![]() |
— | GK | Kirstin Tynan | ![]() |
— | DF | Cassie Chan | ![]() |
— | DF | Jessica Fennell | ![]() |
— | DF | Chantaya Ipsen | ![]() |
— | DF | Reese Moffat | ![]() |
— | DF | Molly Quarry | ![]() |
— | DF | Brooklyn Tidder | ![]() |
— | DF | Joanna Verzosa-Dolezal | ![]() |
— | DF | Claire Ye | ![]() |
— | MF | Kathleen Aitchison | ![]() |
— | MF | Harmeet Dadrao | ![]() |
— | MF | Stella Downing | ![]() |
— | MF | Madi Elcombe | ![]() |
— | MF | Ella Gagno | ![]() |
— | MF | Megan Lauener | ![]() |
— | MF | Jessica Merk | ![]() |
— | MF | Maya Rogers | ![]() |
— | MF | Shayla Chorney | ![]() |
— | MF | Aislin Streicek | ![]() |
— | FW | Raya Athwal | ![]() |
— | FW | Katie Bishop | ![]() |
— | FW | Isabella Muzzolini | ![]() |
Year | Level | League | Record | Regular season | Playoffs | Juan de Fuca Plate | Top scorer | Ref |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2017 | 4[lower-alpha 1] | USL League Two[lower-alpha 2] | 3–3–8 | 6th, Northwest | Did not qualify | Runner-Up | Daniel Davidson (5) | [20] |
2018 | 5–2–7 | 4th, Northwest | Did not qualify | Winner | Zach Verhoven (5) | |||
2019 | 3–2–9 | 6th, Northwest | Did not qualify | Winner | Matteo Polisi (6) | [21] | ||
2020 | Season cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic | |||||||
2021 | Did not play due to COVID-19 pandemic travel restrictions | |||||||
2022 | 3 | League1 British Columbia | 6–4–2 | 2nd | Champions | 2nd[lower-alpha 3] | Erik Edwardson (10) |
Year | League | Record | Regular season | Playoffs | Juan de Fuca Plate | Top scorer | Ref |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2018 | Women's Premier Soccer League | 3–2–2 | 4th, Northwest | – | – | Jenna Baxter (5) | [22] |
2019 | 4–0–4 | 5th, Northwest | – | – | [22] | ||
2020 | Season cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic | ||||||
2021 | Did not enter due to COVID-19 pandemic | ||||||
2022 | League 1 British Columbia | 6–3–3 | 4th | did not qualify | 2nd[lower-alpha 1] | Claire Ye (5) | |
The following players have either moved on to the professional ranks after playing for the PDL/WPSL/L1BC team club, played for their senior national teams, or played professionally before joining the club.
Men
Women
Men
The team is supported by The Swanguardians, a small group of supporters who stand at the south end of the pitch and support the team with banners, smoke displays, and original chants made primarily from Canadian songs.[23][24] The group was formed in 2017 shortly after the founding of the team, and continues to support its former players in their college, professional, and national team careers on social media through their #AlwaysARover hashtag.
League1 British Columbia | |||||
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Women's |
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See also |
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Sports teams based in British Columbia | ||
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Baseball |
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Basketball |
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Esports |
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Football |
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Ice hockey |
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Lacrosse |
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Soccer |
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Rugby league |
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Rugby union |
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Ringette |
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Roller derby |
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University athletics |
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Defunct teams |
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