Minor sports have been hard-hit by COVID-19 restrictions, with indoor facilities closed, town playing fields off-limits, and team sports banned for months.
Two of Bradford West Gwillimburys soccer clubs have used the challenges to create new opportunities, and new strength, by combining to form the new Union FC.
The Bradford (Eagles) Soccer Club and DFC Academy Dragons have been providing soccer programming in the community since at least 1993, sharing values, vision, and a passion for soccer.
Starting this fall, the two clubs will collaborate and share a new name: Union FC.
Also called “Project Unity,” the partnership will see the clubs share coaching resources, and draw on a larger combined pool of player talent, permitting the development of successful teams - rather than competing against each other.
As the clubs noted, both have had great success over the past decade, “producing players who have moved on to professional clubs within Canada, Europe, and to play college/university soccer across North America” - many winning scholarships, some even going on to play at the national level.
“We are going to build upon these tremendous successes to develop more highly-talented Canadian players,” Union FC now promises, looking toward the 2026 World Cup for which Canada is a host nation.
Union FC will offer soccer programs to players at all levels, starting from “a grassroots and recreational level” up to Academy and Elite. The goal is to provide “the first fully-developed player pathway,” giving players an opportunity to fulfill their development needs and reach their full potential – including, potentially, scholarships and a career in sports.
As the new club states, “Our aim is to unite people through their love of soccer.”
The focus will be on professional operation for the club, and on player development from the U4 to collegiate level.
And the goal is ambitious: “By pooling together resources, coaches, teams and facilities, Union FC’s collective ambition is to create the most complete overall teams and the best soccer hub for development in and around the GTA.”
A new crest represents the aspirations of Union FC.
It unites the symbols of the two founding clubs – the Eagle and the Dragon. Both are equal, shown facing upwards to the future, within a shield that represents strength, and inside a ring that represents unity.
The two symbols are separated by a diagonal edge, representing the ‘Line of Unity’ that brings the two clubs together – and at the top is a star, honoring the 2015 National Championship Eagles.
It’s all about aspiration, strength in unity, a passion for soccer, and being stronger together – because a dragon and eagle together are going to be unstoppable.
So far, say organizers, "The response to the Union FC announcement has been overwhelmingly positive and has added more energy to the project."
The Club is exploring the option of hosting an open meeting for players, parents, volunteers, sponsors, partners and anyone else within the community interested in being part of the project. In the coming weeks, watch for a digital forum, that will seek to answer questions about the Unity Project and Union FC.
In the meantime, Union FC invites people to get in touch. at the Union FC website. or check out UnionFC on Facebook.com.
Currently both the Bradford Eagles and the DFC Academy are in Phase 2 of Ontario Soccer's 'Return to Play' initiative, offering Academy and Competitive programs that have allowed players to return to the field in a safe and responsible manner.
When these programs conclude in September, Union FC will begin accepting registrations for a Fall/Winter session, beginning in October. There will be open tryouts, for male and female players - subjet to all of the safety protocols and guidelines in place during the ongoing pandemic.
