TSS FC Rovers

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]

TSS FC Rovers
Short nameTSS Rovers
Founded1997
2017 (semi-pro team)
StadiumSwangard Stadium
Burnaby, British Columbia
Capacity5,288
CoachWill Cromack (men)
Chelsey Hannesson (women)
LeagueLeague1 British Columbia
2022L1BC, 2nd; Playoffs, Champions
L1BC, 4th; Playoffs, DNQ (women)
WebsiteClub website

History

Founding
Club logo from 2017 to 2020

TSS (Total Soccer Systems) Academy was founded in 1997, based in Richmond, British Columbia.[2]

PDL and WPSL era

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]

League1 BC era

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]

Current roster

Men

As of April 20, 2022[18]
No. Pos. Player Nation
— GK Jackson Cowx  Canada
— GK Tyson Gugushe  Canada
— GK Justyn Sandhu  Canada
— DF Josh Bhandal  Canada
— DF Naseeb Bains  Canada
— DF Jun Won Choi  Canada
— DF Gabriel Escobar  Canada
— DF Owen McBride  Canada
— DF Chris Schmit  Canada
— DF Fugo Segawa  Japan
— DF Jaskarn Sondhi  Canada
— DF Lennon Thompson  Canada
— DF Anthony White  Canada
— DF Nik White  Canada
— MF Jack Cluff  Canada
— MF Connor MacMillan  Canada
— MF Liam McGowan  Canada
— MF Jonah Quarry  Canada
— MF Mark Talisuna  Canada
— MF Anthony Vega  Canada
— MF Grant Verhoevan  Canada
— FW Euan Aitchison  Canada
— FW Conrad Cheng  Canada
— FW Daniel Davidson  Canada
— FW Erik Edwardson  Canada
— FW John Joseph  Canada
— FW Devin Ohea  Canada
— FW Taylor Richardson  Canada
— FW Ivan Yepes  Canada
— FW Ali Zohar  Canada

Women

As of July 1, 2022[19]
No. Pos. Player Nation
— GK Mae Hobensheild  Canada
— GK Julia McDonald  Canada
— GK Kirstin Tynan  Canada
— DF Cassie Chan  Canada
— DF Jessica Fennell  Canada
— DF Chantaya Ipsen  Canada
— DF Reese Moffat  Canada
— DF Molly Quarry  Canada
— DF Brooklyn Tidder  Canada
— DF Joanna Verzosa-Dolezal  Canada
— DF Claire Ye  Canada
— MF Kathleen Aitchison  Canada
— MF Harmeet Dadrao  Canada
— MF Stella Downing  Canada
— MF Madi Elcombe  Canada
— MF Ella Gagno  Canada
— MF Megan Lauener  Canada
— MF Jessica Merk  Canada
— MF Maya Rogers  Canada
— MF Shayla Chorney  Canada
— MF Aislin Streicek  Canada
— FW Raya Athwal  Canada
— FW Katie Bishop  Canada
— FW Isabella Muzzolini  Canada

Year-by-year

Men
Year Div League Record Regular season Playoffs Juan de Fuca Plate Canadian Championship Top scorer Ref
2017 4 USL League Two[lower-alpha 1] 3–3–8 6th, Northwest Did not qualify Runner-up Not eligible 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 2] Not eligible Erik Edwardson (10)
2023 TBD TBD TBD TBD First round
  1. The USL League Two was known as "Premier Development League" until 2018
  2. The Juan de Fuca Plate became a combined men's and women's competition beginning in 2022

Women
Year League Record Regular season Playoffs Juan de Fuca Plate Interprovincial Championship Top scorer Ref
2018 Women's Premier Soccer League 3–2–2 4th, Northwest – – N/A 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] Did not qualify Claire Ye (5)
  1. The Juan de Fuca Plate was a combined men's and women's competition beginning in 2022

Notable former players

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

Honours

Men

Major

Champions (1): 2022

Minor

Winners (2): 2018, 2019
Runners-up (1): 2017

Combined
Runners-up (1): 2022

Supporters

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.

References
  1. "TSS Academy Roots". TSS Rovers.
  2. "Richmond-based TSS part of BC Premier League expansion". Richmond News. February 6, 2020.
  3. McColl, Michael (January 10, 2017). "Everything you need to know about TSS FC Rovers – BC's newest PDL team". Away from the Numbers.
  4. "Vancouver TSS Rovers". Protagonist Soccer. September 30, 2019.
  5. Wells, Nick (May 31, 2017). "How Two Friends Launched Their Own Football Club". In Bed with Maradona.
  6. Prest, Andy (June 4, 2019). "Vancouver TSS Rovers bring soccer passion to Canada". North Shore News.
  7. McColl, Michael (April 4, 2018). "Canadian National Team players Jordyn Huitema and Julia Grosso headline first TSS Rovers WPSL roster". Away from the Numbers.
  8. McColl, Michael (April 13, 2018). "TSS Rovers new addition Nick Soolsma looking to "help the team with my experience"". Away from the Numbers.
  9. McColl, Michael (May 27, 2018). "The 2018 Juan De Fuca Plate kicks off in Victoria with TSS Rovers out for revenge". Away from the Numbers.
  10. "Highlanders Come Up Short Against TSS FC Rovers". Victoria Highlanders. July 6, 2019.
  11. Jacques, John (February 14, 2021). "Elmes: There Will Be No Canadian Teams In USL This Year". Northern Tribune.
  12. "League1BC welcomes TSS Rovers as a founding License Holder". BC Soccer Association. November 1, 2021.
  13. McColl, Michael (January 17, 2022). "TSS Rovers looking to build "real partnership" with local community as share issue affords opportunity to own part of new League1 BC sides". Away from the Numbers.
  14. Adams, J.J. (January 14, 2022). "Dreamed of owning part of a pro soccer team? Vancouver's TSS Rovers gives you the chance". The Province.
  15. Vickers, Aaron (January 19, 2022). "You can own part of this Metro Vancouver soccer team for less than $300". Daily Hive.
  16. "League1 BC season concludes with two dramatic finals". BC Soccer. August 2, 2022.
  17. Jacques, John (November 3, 2022). "League1 BC Announced As New Entrant In Canadian Championship". Northern Tribune.
  18. "Rovers Men 2022 Roster". TSS Football Club.
  19. "Rovers Women 2022 Roster". TSS Football Club.
  20. "TSS Rovers Stats". Canadian Soccer History Archives.
  21. "Vancouver TSS Rovers Stats". Canadian Soccer History Archives.
  22. "WPSL Standings". Women's Premier Soccer League.
  23. Corrigan, Chris (May 31, 2018). "A Supporting Life: What it means to support TSS Rovers". Away from the Numbers.
  24. Adams, J.J. (June 9, 2019). "TSS Rovers supporters putting their dollars where their hearts are". The Province.
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