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Valour FC
Valour FC
from Wikipedia

Valour FC was a Canadian professional soccer club in Winnipeg, Manitoba. The club competed in the Canadian Premier League from 2019 to 2025, playing its home matches at Princess Auto Stadium.

Key Information

The team was community owned through the Winnipeg Football Club.

History

[edit]

On May 6, 2017, Winnipeg was one of two cities accepted by the Canadian Soccer Association for professional club membership when the Canadian Premier League was unanimously approved.[2] It was confirmed that Canadian Football League clubs the Winnipeg Blue Bombers and the Hamilton Tiger-Cats were behind the ownership groups.[3] Wade Miller, CEO of the Winnipeg Football Club, was named as the club's president.[4]

In May 2018, it was reported that the club would be called Valour FC.[5] On June 6, 2018, the club was officially unveiled as the fourth team to join the Canadian Premier League.[6] As well as confirming its place in the league for the 2019 launch season, the club also revealed its crest, colours and branding.[7] On June 26, the club named Rob Gale as the first head coach and general manager.[8]

In the overall standings, Valour ranked 7th of 7 teams in 2019, 6th of 8 teams in 2020, and 5th of 8 teams in 2021. On September 23, 2021, while in 5th place, Valour FC sacked head coach Rob Gale and named Phillip Dos Santos as his replacement.[9]

Valour FC suspended operations following the 2025 CPL season.[10][11]

Stadium

[edit]
The Princess Auto Stadium, the home of Valour FC, during a soccer match

The club played its home games at Princess Auto Stadium, a 33,234-seat Canadian football stadium.[12] The stadium opened in 2013 on the University of Manitoba campus next to University Stadium.[13] The stadium is also used by the Winnipeg Blue Bombers and the University of Manitoba Bisons football team.[14]

Crest and colours

[edit]

The club's identity was heavily linked to the story of Winnipeg's Valour Road, and named to recognize Corporal Leo Clarke, Sergeant-Major Frederick William Hall, and Lieutenant Robert Shankland, who all lived on the same street and received the Victoria Cross for acts of bravery during the First World War.[15]

The letter "V" in the centre of the crest emulates a folded medal ribbon and also represents the meeting of the Red River and Assiniboine River in Winnipeg.[16] The right side of the "V" creates a "W" for Winnipeg, and the circle under the "V" is in the shape of the Victoria Cross medal. The wheat at the top of the crest represents Manitoba's agricultural industry.[17]

The official club colours were maroon, gold and black (branded by the club as "Valour maroon," "wheat gold," and "earth black"). These colours symbolize the ribbon of the Victoria Cross and the wheat fields and soil of the Canadian Prairies.[16]

Youth

[edit]

On August 8, 2018, Valour FC Elite Girls (formerly the Manitoba Blizzard) was founded to give girls in Winnipeg an opportunity to travel to college showcases in Canada and the United States, while getting educated on the recruiting process. The team was led by Head Coach Jim Zinko and Manager Trevor Kidd. Training began in the fall, while the Valour FC Elite Girls competition season ran from late November into April.[18]

Club culture

[edit]

The club's mascot leaned heavily on imagery of the Victoria Cross, being a lion named 'Vic'. He wore the club's colours on a t-shirt, shorts, and wristbands.[19][non-primary source needed]

Red River Rising Supporters group first met at Nicolino's Restaurant in January 2017, before a Winnipeg team was announced. The group met regularly in anticipation of an eventual Winnipeg team and now occupy section 144 at Princess Auto Stadium.[20] The section was known as The Trench.[21]

Players and staff

[edit]
Themi Antonoglou joined Valour FC in 2024

Roster

[edit]
As of August 26, 2025[22]

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

No. Pos. Nation Player
1 GK  CAN Eleias Himaras
2 DF  ESP Roberto Alarcón
3 DF  CAN Rocco Romeo
4 DF  NED Diego Konincks (on loan from Chicago Fire FC II)
5 DF  CAN Kelsey Egwu (on loan from Narva Trans)
6 MF  CAN Dante Campbell
7 MF  ENG Kian Williams
8 MF  POR Diogo Ressurreição
9 FW  ROU Erik Pop
11 FW  CAN Kris Twardek
12 MF  CMR Wesley Wandje
13 DF  CAN Zachary Fernandez
14 MF  CAN Nico Nadeau
17 MF  CAN Jordan Faria
18 MF  UKR Markiyan Voytsekhovskyy
No. Pos. Nation Player
19 FW  CAN Jevontae Layne
20 MF  POR Xavier Venâncio
21 FW  CAN Myles Morgan
23 DF  CAN Gianfranco Facchineri
27 MF  GHA Raphael Ohin (captain)
28 MF  POR Bruno Figueiredo
30 DF  CAN Themi Antonoglou
33 GK  CAN Callum Weir
47 GK  CAN Adam Kour
50 GK  CAN Jonathan Viscosi
64 MF  CAN Safwane Mlah
80 MF  CAN Kianz Froese
99 GK  CAN Emil Gazdov (on loan from CF Montréal)
FW  NZL Oskar van Hattum

Current staff

[edit]
As of March 4, 2023[23][24]
Executive
President & CEO Canada Wade Miller
General manager Canada Phillip Dos Santos
Coaching staff
Head coach Canada Phillip Dos Santos
Assistant coach France Jean-Baptiste Pierazzi
Assistant coach Northern Ireland Daryl Fordyce
Goalkeeping coach Belgium Patrick Di Stefani
Strength and Conditioning Coach Canada Ibrahim Soukary

Head coaches

[edit]
As of May 14, 2024 [25]
Coach Nation Tenure Record
G W D L Win %
Rob Gale  England June 26, 2018 – September 23, 2021 57 18 8 31 031.58
Phillip Dos Santos  Canada September 23, 2021 – November 21, 2025 97 26 25 46 026.80

Club captains

[edit]
Years Name Nation
2019 Jordan Murrell[26][27]  Canada
2019 Skylar Thomas[26]  Canada
2020 Dylan Carreiro[28]  Canada
2020–2022 Daryl Fordyce[29]  Northern Ireland
2021–2023 Andrew Jean-Baptiste[29]  Haiti
2024–2025 Raphael Ohin[30]  Ghana

Records

[edit]

Year-by-year

[edit]
Season[31] League Playoffs CC Continental Average
attendance
Top goalscorer(s)
Div League Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts PPG Pos. Name Goals
2019 1 CPL 28 8 4 16 30 52 –22 28 1.00 6th DNQ R2 DNQ 5,335 Canada Marco Bustos 7
2020 CPL 7 2 2 3 8 9 –1 8 1.14 6th DNQ N/A Eight players 1
2021 CPL 28 10 5 13 38 36 +2 35 1.25 5th QF New Zealand Moses Dyer 9
2022 CPL 28 10 7 11 36 34 +2 37 1.32 5th PR 3,111 New Zealand Moses Dyer 9
2023 CPL 28 6 8 14 25 38 –13 26 0.93 8th PR 3,220 Canada Diego Gutiérrez
Chile Walter Ponce
England Kian Williams
4
2024 CPL 28 7 7 14 31 42 –11 28 1.00 8th PR 3,106 Canada Shaan Hundal
Australia Jordan Swibel
7
2025 CPL 28 7 5 16 35 62 –27 26 0.93 6th QF 3,213

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.

All-time most appearances

[edit]
As of November 21, 2024[32]
# Name Nation Career Appearances
CPL Cup Int'l Total
1 Diego Gutiérrez Canada 2019–2020, 2022–2023 79 3 0 82
2 Raphael Ohin Ghana 2019–present 75 5 0 80
3 Andy Baquero Cuba 2021–2023 74 2 0 76
4 Federico Peña Trinidad and Tobago 2019–2022 59 3 0 62
5 Daryl Fordyce Northern Ireland 2020–2022 56 3 0 59
6 Moses Dyer New Zealand 2020–2022 54 3 0 57
7 Dante Campbell Canada 2020, 2023–present 54 2 0 56
Stefan Cebara Canada 2020–2022 54 2 0 56
9 Sean Rea Canada 2021–2022 50 3 0 53
10 Brett Levis Canada 2020–2022 43 2 0 45

Note: Bold indicates active player

All-time top scorers

[edit]
As of November 21, 2024[32]
# Name Nation Career Goals
CPL Cup Int'l Total
1 Moses Dyer New Zealand 2020–2022 19 0 0 19
2 William Akio South Sudan 2021–2022 10 0 0 10
3 Marco Bustos Canada 2019 7 1 0 8
Austin Ricci Canada 2020–2021 5 3 0 8
5 Shaan Hundal Canada 2020, 2024–present 7 0 0 7
Sean Rea Canada 2021–2022 6 1 0 7
Jordan Swibel Australia 2024–present 7 0 0 7
8 Tyler Attardo Canada 2019 6 0 0 6
Matteo de Brienne Canada 2022–2023 6 0 0 6
Michael Petrasso Canada 2019 6 0 0 6
Walter Ponce Chile 2022–2023 6 0 0 6

Note: Bold indicates active player

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia
from Grokipedia
Valour FC is a Canadian professional men's soccer club based in , , that competes in the Canadian Premier League (CPL), the top tier of the country's soccer pyramid. Founded on June 6, 2018, as one of the league's inaugural franchises, the club draws its name from Valour Road in , honoring three local soldiers—Frederick William Hall, Leo Clarke, and Robert Shankland—who earned the for their heroism during the First World War. The team plays its home matches at , a 32,343-seat multi-purpose venue in south that was renamed from IG Field in April 2024 following a sponsorship deal announced in January 2024. Valour FC is owned and operated by the Winnipeg Football Club, a non-profit that also manages the of the Canadian Football League, ensuring shared resources and facilities like the stadium. Since joining the CPL, Valour has established itself as a competitive side in the eight-team league, though it has yet to claim a championship; its best regular-season finish came in 2021, when it secured a playoff spot and goalkeeper Jonathan Sirois won the league's Golden Glove award. The club's dedicated supporters' group, Red River Rising, formed in January 2017, occupies Section 144 at home games and embodies the passionate local fanbase that has helped set attendance records, including 11,390 fans for a June 2025 match against Vancouver FC. Under head coach and general manager Phillip Dos Santos, who returned to the role in January 2025 on a one-year contract after leading the team to improved form in the latter half of the 2024 season, Valour aims to build on its community roots and develop talent for higher levels of play. In the 2025 CPL season, the club finished sixth in the standings with a record of 7 wins, 5 draws, and 16 losses, and did not qualify for the .

History

Founding and launch

On May 6, 2017, the Winnipeg Football Club Inc. announced its intention to establish a professional soccer team in Winnipeg as one of the inaugural franchises in the newly sanctioned (CPL), following approval from the Canadian Soccer Association for professional club membership in the city. The selection of Winnipeg as a host city stemmed from a bid led by the Winnipeg Football Club, which emphasized strong community backing from local soccer organizations such as the Manitoba Soccer Association and the formation of the supporter group Red River Rising in January 2017, alongside financial commitments leveraging the club's established resources from operating the . The initial ownership structure adopted a community-based model under the Winnipeg Football Club Inc., with Wade Miller serving as president to oversee the transition to professional soccer. Pre-launch preparations accelerated in 2018, including the hiring of Rob Gale as the club's first and on June 26, following his tenure with Canada Soccer's U-20 men's national team. Early player signings began in late 2018 and early 2019, prioritizing homegrown talent such as native on a multi-year deal in February 2019. On June 6, 2018, the club officially launched its name as Valour FC, drawing inspiration from Valour Road in —formerly Pine Street—where three First World War Victoria Cross recipients, Frederick William Hall, Leo Clarke, and Robert Shankland, once resided, honoring the city's military heritage. The club made its professional debut in the CPL's inaugural 2019 season.

2019–2021 seasons

Valour FC entered the Canadian Premier League (CPL) in its inaugural 2019 season, competing in a split spring and fall format across 28 matches. The team finished sixth overall with a record of 8 wins, 4 draws, and 16 losses, accumulating 28 points while scoring 30 goals and conceding 52. Key signings such as forward provided offensive spark, including setting a league record for the fastest goal at 30 seconds against on June 15. The club's first home match at IG Field against on May 4 drew a record-breaking crowd of 9,699 spectators, reflecting strong local enthusiasm for professional soccer in . Valour's average home attendance of 6,578 ranked second in , demonstrating early adaptation to professional standards through community engagement and competitive play despite defensive vulnerabilities exposed in heavy defeats, such as an 8-0 loss to . The 2020 season was significantly altered by the COVID-19 pandemic, with all CPL matches held in a centralized bubble format known as The Island Games at the University of Prince Edward Island from August 13 to September 19. Valour played seven preliminary matches, finishing fourth in the standings with 5 wins, 1 draw, and 2 losses, totaling 16 points while struggling offensively by failing to score in four games. The format emphasized rapid adaptation to isolated conditions, with the team advancing to the playoffs but eliminated in the semifinal by Forge FC. Attendance was limited due to health protocols, shifting focus to virtual fan engagement as Valour navigated the professional league's evolving standards amid global disruptions. In 2021, Valour returned to a full 28-match schedule but faced inconsistencies, ultimately finishing fifth with a record of 9 wins, 6 draws, and 13 losses for 33 points. The season marked the club's debut in the Canadian Championship, where they advanced to the quarterfinals before a 4-3 aggregate defeat to across two legs on September 15 and 22. Early fan attendance remained solid, averaging around 4,500 per home game at IG Field, underscoring sustained community support during the transition to expanded national competition. Poor form in the latter half prompted the sacking of and Rob Gale on September 23, after a 7-2-9 record through 18 matches, with the club citing a need for renewed direction to meet professional expectations.

2022–2025 seasons

The 2022 season marked a turning point for Valour FC under and Phillip Dos Santos, who had been appointed on September 23, 2021. The team finished fifth in the Canadian Premier League standings with a record of 9 wins, 9 draws, and 10 losses, accumulating 36 points and securing their first-ever playoff appearance. In the postseason, Valour advanced to the conference semifinals but were eliminated by . In 2023, Valour FC regressed to eighth place with 6 wins, 8 draws, and 14 losses for 26 points, missing the . The team was knocked out early in the Canadian Championship by TSS Rovers in the preliminary round, falling 3-1 away. Despite the on-field challenges, the club began to solidify a tactical identity under Dos Santos, emphasizing possession-based play and defensive organization, which laid groundwork for future stability. The 2024 campaign saw further inconsistency, with Valour finishing eighth again on 7 wins, 7 draws, and 14 losses, totaling 28 points and again failing to reach the . Key offseason signings included Canadian defender Themi Antonoglou on February 2, 2024, who provided depth at full-back. Attendance trends showed gradual growth, with the club averaging around 3,106 fans per home match, supported by community initiatives and improved marketing efforts. Valour FC rebounded slightly in 2025, ending sixth with 7 wins, 5 draws, and 16 losses for 26 points. A highlight was their emphatic 4-1 away victory over on October 18, clinching the position and avoiding the bottom of the table. In the Canadian Championship, the team advanced to the quarterfinals after defeating TSS Rovers 1-0 in the preliminary round but were eliminated by on a 4-3 aggregate score. Jonathan Viscosi announced his retirement at the season's end, concluding a career that included steady contributions since joining in 2024. Overall, Dos Santos' tenure fostered tactical evolution toward a more fluid attacking style, while average attendance rose to over 3,500 per game, culminating in a record crowd of 11,390 for a June match against .

Facilities

Stadium

, located on the campus in , , serves as the primary home venue for Valour FC of the Canadian Premier League. Opened on May 26, 2013, the multi-purpose outdoor stadium has a seating capacity of 33,000, with over 80% of seats covered by distinctive yellow canopies. Designed primarily for , it accommodates soccer matches through standard field markings on its surface. The stadium is owned by Triple B Stadium Inc., a that includes the City of Winnipeg, the Province of Manitoba, the Winnipeg Football Club, and the . It is operated by the Winnipeg Football Club and has undergone several naming changes: originally Investors Group Field from 2013 to 2019, then IG Field until 2024, when Princess Auto secured a 10-year deal announced on January 23, 2024. For soccer, the stadium features a Vertex-Core 1 surface with CoolPlay infill, installed in 2024 at a cost of approximately $2 million, which is Quality Pro certified to meet international standards for professional play. The playing field measures 110 yards long by 65 yards wide, suitable for both and soccer configurations, with the soccer pitch marked within these dimensions. Valour FC's home opener on , 2019, against drew a then-record 9,699 spectators, the highest attendance for a CPL match at the time. Beyond soccer and its primary role as home to the of the Canadian Football League, has hosted major events including the 2015 , matches from the , the 2016 , and concerts by artists such as and . Recent upgrades include a new ribbon board, renovations to retail spaces, and field wall improvements, with the venue selected to host the 2025 .

Training facilities

Valour FC primarily conducts its training sessions at the practice fields and facilities adjacent to on the campus in , . These outdoor fields support daily practice and player development during the regular season and warmer months. For winter and inclement weather training, the club utilizes indoor facilities at the Winnipeg Soccer Federation's North and South complexes in . The 2023 preseason camp, for example, commenced on February 21 at these indoor venues to accommodate 's harsh winter conditions. The club operates the Valour FC High Performance Centre of Excellence, which supports player development through specialized programming and resources. This center provides access to professional coaching and athletic support tailored to first-team and academy athletes. Valour FC has incorporated international preseason camps into its regimen, including a 10-day trip to Melgaço, Portugal, in March 2024, where the team trained and played exhibition matches against local professional sides. To enable year-round training, the club has invested in high-quality at its primary venue, certified to Quality Pro standards, along with specialized equipment for indoor and outdoor sessions. This infrastructure, occasionally supplemented by stadium fields, ensures consistent access regardless of weather.

Club identity

Crest and colours

Valour FC's crest was unveiled in June 2018 alongside the club's founding announcement. The design draws direct inspiration from the , the highest military honour for valour, awarded to three Winnipeg soldiers—Corporal Leo Clarke, Sergeant-Major Frederick Hall, and Lieutenant Robert Shankland—during the . These recipients lived on what became known as Valour Road, a street renamed in 1925 to commemorate their heroism. The crest features a maroon circle evoking the medal itself, enclosing a stylized "V" that mimics the folded crimson ribbon of the . The centre of the "V" represents the confluence of 's Red and Assiniboine rivers, central to the city's geography and history, while the right arm of the "V" subtly forms a "W" for . Wheat stalks arch across the top, symbolizing Manitoba's agricultural heritage and the landscape. The words "Valour Road" are inscribed below, tying the emblem to local military and community legacy. The club's primary colours—branded as Valour , , and black—reflect elements of this symbolism and Winnipeg's natural and historical context. nods to the crimson ribbon of the , to the rippling wheat fields of the Prairies, and black to the fertile and underlying Manitoba's . functions as a secondary colour, providing contrast in branding applications. These hues connect to broader themes of , including the valour of early 20th-century residents and the enduring Indigenous significance of the , named for the Indigenous nation that historically inhabited the region. The crest has seen no major redesigns through 2025, maintaining its core elements to preserve the club's foundational identity.

Kits and sponsors

Valour FC has been supplied by Italian manufacturer Macron for its kits since the club's inaugural season in the Canadian . This partnership continued through 2025, with the league announcing a switch to hummel as the official supplier starting in 2026. The club's debut 2019 home kit featured a primarily shirt with black sleeves, paired with white shorts and socks, reflecting the team's foundational colour palette. By 2024, Valour FC introduced a white home kit with stripes across the chest, paying homage to the Winnipeg Fury, the city's first professional soccer club from the . The 2025 primary kit shifted to black and gold vertical stripes with accents on the sleeves and neck, while the alternate kit employed a design fading from white through gold to , inspired by sunsets; both were unveiled on March 4, 2025. Valour FC has produced special edition kits to highlight community ties, notably the 2024 alternate kit, which incorporated Indigenous art elements such as a central sunflower (zinda'aagan) and prairie crocuses in maroon and gold on a black base, honoring Manitoba's , , and Anisininew cultures; this design was worn during matches like the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. On the sponsorship front, has served as the front-of-jersey sponsor since 2019, aligning with the league's official broadcaster. Additional partnerships include , which secured for the club's stadium in 2024, rebranding it as , alongside various local brands supporting apparel and community initiatives.

Supporters and culture

Supporter groups

Red River Rising is the primary organized supporters' group for Valour FC, founded in January 2017 to build enthusiasm for the club's entry into the Canadian Premier League. Based in Section 144 of , known as "The Trench," the group creates a vibrant atmosphere through coordinated cheering and visual displays during home matches. Their efforts have contributed to growing fan engagement, with Valour FC's average home attendance of approximately 2,667 in the 2025 season. The group's traditions include energetic chants and songs performed throughout games, such as adaptations of classic soccer anthems tailored to Valour FC, which help foster a among fans. They also produce tifos—large choreographed banners and displays—often created through member competitions and unveiled to celebrate key moments, enhancing the matchday spectacle. Pre-match marches, a staple since the club's early days, see supporters gathering and parading to the stadium, as seen in their inaugural event in June 2018. Valour FC's mascot, Vic the Lion, introduced in February 2019, embodies the club's heritage tied to Winnipeg's Valour Road, a street renamed in 1925 to honor three recipients from ; the lion draws from the medal's emblem. Vic frequently interacts with Red River Rising members, joining in chants and poses for photos to energize the crowd. Beyond matchdays, Red River Rising organizes community events like tailgates before games, where fans gather for food and fellowship, and supports away travel by coordinating viewing parties and group trips to opposing stadiums. They also host fundraisers, such as pride kits benefiting LGBTQ+ organizations like , promoting inclusivity within Winnipeg's soccer culture.

Rivalries

Valour FC's most prominent rivalry has developed with , the only other team based in the Prairie provinces, fostering a regional competition driven by geographic proximity and shared western Canadian identity. Since the league's inception in , the two clubs have met 26 times, with Cavalry holding a dominant record of 16 wins to Valour's 4, alongside 6 draws. These encounters have often been intense, highlighted by dramatic finishes such as Cavalry's stoppage-time victory in a 2025 regular-season match. Matches against have also become high-stakes fixtures, particularly given Forge's status as a perennial powerhouse and multiple-time champions, contributing to competitive tension within the league. Over 25 meetings since 2019, Forge leads with 13 victories compared to Valour's 9, with 3 draws, though Valour secured a notable 2-1 upset win in September 2025 at . An earlier 1-1 draw in April 2025 exemplified the closely contested nature of these games, where Forge's early-season dominance was tempered by Valour's resilience. The fixture with has been markedly one-sided, underscoring a challenging for Valour despite occasional breakthroughs. In 26 encounters through 2025, Pacific has prevailed in 17 matches, Valour in 4, with 5 draws, reflecting Pacific's consistent edge in western conference play. A standout moment came in October 2025, when Valour achieved a decisive 4-1 victory over Pacific at , providing a rare high point in the series and helping secure Valour's sixth-place finish. These rivalries have evolved steadily since Valour's entry into the CPL in 2019, with regular-season clashes building anticipation among fans, though Valour has yet to face any of these opponents in the league's . Supporter groups occasionally incorporate chants referencing these matchups during games.

Youth system

Programs and teams

Valour FC's youth development initiatives emphasize structured programs designed to nurture talent from levels through competitive play, with a particular focus on female athletes and high-potential players. The Valour FC Elite Girls program, launched on August 8, 2018, serves as a cornerstone for women's soccer in , offering teams for players aged U16 and older that compete in regional leagues across . This initiative replaced the former program and has since expanded to include multiple age groups, providing advanced training and match experience to foster technical skills, tactical awareness, and leadership among participants. Open trials for youth talent identification, aimed at promising players, were held February 10–12, 2025, at the Soccer Federation South facility, allowing local youth to demonstrate their skills under club coaching staff. These efforts integrate with broader affiliations established in 2021 with Winnipeg-area clubs, including high-performance and developmental groups like St. Charles Soccer Association and Phoenix Soccer Club, to create seamless progression opportunities. In 2025, Valour FC deepened its commitment to talent identification through a key partnership with the Youth Soccer Association (WYSA), which connects grassroots organizations to professional pathways and supports events for emerging athletes across . This collaboration enhances accessibility and excellence in youth soccer, aligning with the club's overarching goal of bridging amateur and elite levels. The club also offers seasonal skill-building camps for players aged 16 and under during the off-season. The programs prioritize skill development, including technical proficiency, physical conditioning, and game intelligence, to establish a clear pathway to the senior team. Notable examples include the integration of high-potential into sessions; in March 2025, Valour FC signed Canadian international forward Myles Morgan to a contract through 2026. This reflects Valour FC's strategy to promote local talent and build a sustainable pipeline for the Canadian roster.

Community involvement

Valour FC emphasizes community engagement through initiatives that promote youth participation in soccer and foster social inclusion in . The club regularly organizes events and programs aimed at educational exposure and cultural connection, supporting local youth development and charitable causes. One key initiative is the School Day Game, first held on June 4, 2025, against , which drew a club-record crowd of 11,390 spectators, many of whom were students from local schools attending for an educational soccer experience. This event provided thousands of students with an opportunity to witness professional soccer live, enhancing their interest in the sport while integrating it into school curricula. In partnership with The WolfStrata Group, Valour FC maintains a dedicated Indigenous Youth Community Section at , offering 200 free match-day tickets per game to Indigenous youth and families to promote cultural connection and access to live soccer. This program invites nominations from community members for local Indigenous organizations, enabling groups to attend matches and participate in cultural celebrations that strengthen community ties through sport. Players actively contribute to local charities and youth outreach by participating in school visits, literacy programs, and soccer clinics designed to support underprivileged kids and promote social causes. For instance, through the Kickstart Reading Program, athletes visit schools to read stories and encourage literacy among youth, while additional clinics focus on skill-building for young participants from diverse backgrounds. In 2025, Valour FC expanded its efforts with new partnerships, including a collaboration with Youth Soccer to enhance accessibility and development opportunities for local players. This included free youth ticket offers for select and off-season skill-building workshops for players aged 16 and under, with registration bundled with game access to encourage broader participation.

Management

Ownership and administration

Valour FC is owned and operated through Valour FC Inc., a controlled entity of the Winnipeg Football Club, which follows a not-for-profit community ownership model without private equity shareholders. The Winnipeg Football Club, a community organization dating to 1932, committed to launching a professional soccer team in Winnipeg in 2017 as one of the founding members of the Canadian Premier League, formally incorporating Valour FC Inc. on March 3, 2018, to oversee its operations. Governance is provided by the Winnipeg Football Club's 13-member volunteer , which also constitutes the board for Valour FC Inc., ensuring decisions prioritize community benefit and local involvement from Winnipeg business and civic leaders. Wade Miller, President and CEO of the Winnipeg Football Club since August 2013, has led Valour FC's administration from its inception, managing high-level operations and integration with the club's broader sports initiatives through 2025. In its early years, Valour FC benefited from subsidies provided by the Canadian Premier League to support the establishment of founding clubs, including initial funding channeled through Canada Soccer. The club has pursued self-sustainability amid ongoing financial challenges, with the Winnipeg Football Club recording a $1.25 million impairment loss on loans to Valour FC in 2023 due to operating deficits.

Current staff

As of November 2025, Valour FC's technical staff is led by Phillip Dos Santos, who has been in the role since September 2021 and was renewed for the 2025 season on January 9, 2025. Dos Santos oversees a coaching team that includes assistant coaches Daryl Fordyce, a former club captain, and Jean-Baptiste Pierazzi, who joined in February 2025 after a playing career in and . The goalkeeping department is managed by Patrick Di Stefani, appointed in March 2025. The performance and support staff features strength and conditioning coach Ibrahim Soukary, added in February 2025 to replace Daniel Guerreiro and focus on player fitness protocols. Medical support is provided by head athletic therapist Evan Fehr and assistant Susie Falk, who contributed to injury rehabilitation efforts during the 2025 preseason and , including aiding player recoveries such as that of forward Kian Williams. These staff additions in early 2025 were instrumental in preparing the team for the season, emphasizing tactical development under Pierazzi and enhanced physical conditioning under Soukary to improve overall squad resilience and performance.
RoleNameJoined/Appointed
Head CoachPhillip Dos SantosSeptember 2021 (renewed January 2025)
Assistant CoachDaryl FordycePrior to 2025
Assistant CoachJean-Baptiste PierazziFebruary 2025
Goalkeeping CoachPatrick Di StefaniMarch 2025
Strength & Conditioning CoachIbrahim SoukaryFebruary 2025
Head Athletic TherapistEvan FehrPrior to 2025
Assistant Athletic TherapistSusie FalkPrior to 2025

Head coaches

Rob Gale served as Valour FC's inaugural and , appointed on June 26, 2018, ahead of the club's entry into the Canadian Premier League. Under Gale, the team compiled an overall league record of 18 wins, 8 draws, and 30 losses across the 2019, 2020, and partial 2021 seasons. His tenure emphasized player development and a philosophy focused on technical, tactical, and physical attributes, though the club struggled to achieve consistent results, finishing outside the in each full season. Gale was relieved of his duties on September 23, 2021, following a midseason slump that saw Valour winless in four league matches. No interim was appointed, as the club immediately transitioned leadership. Phillip Dos Santos was named and on the same day, taking over for the remainder of the 2021 season and continuing through 2025. Since his appointment, Dos Santos has overseen 33 league wins, including 7 in the 2025 season where Valour finished sixth with a 7-5-16 record. His tactical approach has shifted the club's toward a balanced style, prioritizing defensive organization, space limitation, and quick transitions to . This evolution marked a departure from Gale's more development-oriented, attacking foundations, fostering greater tactical discipline despite ongoing challenges in securing playoff berths.

Players

Current roster

As of the end of the 2025 regular season on October 18, 2025, Valour FC had utilized 29 players across all positions during the campaign, reflecting mid-season additions, loans, and departures announced throughout the year. The squad was bolstered by strategic signings, including international forward Oskar van Hattum on August 26, 2025, who joined from Sligo Rovers on a contract through the end of 2025 with a club option for 2026. Jonathan Viscosi, a mainstay since 2024, announced his retirement following the season, having appeared in 10 matches during 2025. Defensive Raphael Ohin served as team for his seventh season with the club, anchoring the midfield with his leadership and defensive prowess. Left-back Themi Antonoglou, who joined ahead of the 2024 campaign, continued as a key defensive contributor with his contract extending into 2025. The roster emphasized a mix of Canadian talent, international experience, and youth development, with several players on guaranteed contracts or club options exercised in December 2024 for the 2025 term. Below is a positional breakdown of select key players active at the end of the regular season:
PositionPlayerNationalityContract Status
GoalkeeperJonathan Viscosi (retired)CanadaEnded 2025
GoalkeeperEleias HimarasCanadaThrough 2025
GoalkeeperEmil GazdovCanadaLoan through 2025
DefenderThemi AntonoglouCanadaThrough 2025
DefenderRoberto AlarcónSpainThrough 2025
DefenderRocco RomeoCanadaThrough 2025
DefenderSafwane MlahCanadaGuaranteed through 2026
DefenderGianfranco FacchineriCanadaThrough 2026
MidfielderRaphael Ohin (captain)Ghana/CanadaThrough 2025
MidfielderDiogo RessurreiçãoPortugalGuaranteed through 2026
MidfielderDante CampbellCanadaThrough 2025
MidfielderKris TwardekCanadaThrough 2025
MidfielderJordan FariaCanadaThrough 2025
MidfielderKianz FroeseCanadaThrough 2025
MidfielderBruno FigueiredoPortugalThrough 2025
ForwardOskar van HattumNew ZealandThrough 2025, option 2026
ForwardErik PopCanadaThrough 2025
ForwardMyles MorganCanadaThrough 2025
This composition supported Valour FC's competitive efforts in the 2025 season, where the team finished mid-table while integrating new talent like van Hattum for late-season impact.

Notable former players

Moses Dyer stands as one of Valour FC's most prolific former players, serving as the club's all-time leading goalscorer with 19 goals across 57 appearances from 2020 to 2023. His contributions were instrumental in Valour's 2022 playoff qualification, the club's first postseason appearance, where he netted key goals during the regular season to help secure a fifth-place finish in the Canadian Premier League. Following his departure from Valour at the end of 2023, Dyer moved to with Irish club Galway United before transferring to Phnom Penh Crown in . Marco Bustos emerged as an early standout for Valour during the club's inaugural 2019 season, leading the team with 7 league goals in 18 matches and contributing to the squad's development in the nascent . His scoring prowess, including a notable brace in a 2-0 victory over , highlighted Valour's attacking potential amid the league's formative years. After leaving Valour following the 2019 campaign, Bustos continued his CPL career with stints at and , amassing further accolades as a consistent goal threat. Among Valour's alumni who advanced to international levels, represented a significant addition during the 2020 season, appearing in 6 matches and scoring once while earning call-ups to the Canadian men's national team. A versatile right-sided player with prior experience in Scotland's top flight, Aird's tenure bolstered Valour's defensive options during a shortened pandemic-affected campaign. He later moved to and , continuing to contribute to playoff-contending sides in the CPL. Tyler Attardo, a promising young forward, made an impact in Valour's early years by becoming one of the league's youngest goalscorers in 2019 before departing for opportunities abroad. His progression to Chilean club Fernández Vial in 2020 exemplified Valour's role in developing talent for international moves, aiding the club's reputation for nurturing prospects amid its initial playoff pushes.

Club captains

Valour FC has employed a co-captaincy system since its in , allowing multiple players to share leadership duties on and off the pitch. Captains are selected based on their experience, on-field performance, and ability to inspire teammates, often drawing from veteran players who embody the club's values of resilience and . The captain's , worn on the left arm during matches, symbolizes this authority and is passed to a or designated leader if the primary wearer is substituted, following standard soccer traditions. The inaugural captains were defender Jordan Murrell and centre-back Skylar Thomas, who guided the team through its debut season. Murrell's tenure ended prematurely in August 2019 when he was stripped of the armband following a red card in a match against , highlighting the club's emphasis on disciplinary standards in leadership roles. Thomas continued to provide defensive stability and vocal guidance. In 2020, midfielder Dylan Carreiro and veteran Daryl Fordyce were named co-captains ahead of the shortened season, praised for their complementary styles—Carreiro's local roots and energy paired with Fordyce's international pedigree and tactical acumen—to foster unity in a disrupted campaign. This leadership pair extended into 2021 with the addition of defender Andrew Jean-Baptiste, whose defensive expertise and mentorship helped stabilize the squad amid roster changes. Fordyce remained a co-captain through 2022, contributing to improved team cohesion before his retirement announcement in early 2023. By 2023, partnered with midfielder Diego Gutiérrez as co-captains, focusing on rebuilding morale after consecutive challenging seasons. Their efforts emphasized collective accountability, though the team finished last in . In 2024, midfielder Raphael Ohin, a club original since 2019, was appointed sole captain, leveraging his longevity and midfield presence to rally the group. Ohin retained the role into 2025, where his on-field leadership and off-pitch advocacy for inclusivity played a pivotal role in boosting team morale during a season of recovery, culminating in a sixth-place finish and the club's first playoff appearance since 2022.
YearCaptain(s)Position(s)Notes
2019Jordan Murrell, Skylar ThomasDF, CBMurrell relieved of duties mid-season due to disciplinary issue.
2020–2021Dylan Carreiro, Daryl Fordyce (with Andrew Jean-Baptiste from 2021)MF, MF (DF from 2021)Focused on unity during pandemic-affected seasons.
2022Daryl Fordyce, Andrew Jean-BaptisteMF, DFFordyce's final playing season as co-captain.
2023Andrew Jean-Baptiste, Diego GutiérrezDF, MFEmphasized accountability amid rebuild.
2024–2025Raphael OhinMFLed morale boost and playoff push in 2025.

Records and statistics

Season results

Valour FC has competed in the Canadian Premier League (CPL) since the league's inception in 2019. The club's regular season results are detailed in the following table.
SeasonPositionMatches playedWinsDrawsLossesGoals forGoals againstPoints
20196th288416305228
20206th7223898
20215th2810513383635
20225th2810711363437
20238th286814253826
20248th287714314228
20256th287516356226
The 2020 season was abbreviated to a single-location tournament format due to the . Valour FC has yet to qualify for the CPL as of the end of the 2025 season. Valour FC has also competed in the annual TELUS Canadian Championship, reaching the quarterfinals in 2025 before a 3–4 aggregate defeat to (2–2 first leg, 1–2 second leg).

All-time records

Valour FC's all-time records encompass the club's statistical achievements in the since its founding in 2019, highlighting key individual and team milestones through the 2025 season. Through 2025, the club has played 196 regular season matches, scoring 243 goals and conceding 313.

All-time most appearances

The player with the most appearances for Valour FC is Raphael Ohin, who has made 108 league appearances for the club through 2025. Other long-serving players include defenders and who have contributed significantly to the team's consistency.
RankPlayerPositionAppearances (through 2025)
1Raphael Ohin108

All-time top scorers

Moses Dyer holds the record as Valour FC's all-time leading goalscorer with 19 goals in 57 appearances during his tenure from 2020 to 2022. His tally includes notable contributions in the 2022 season, where he scored 9 goals. Other prominent scorers include players like , who added to the club's offensive records before departing.
RankPlayerGoalsAppearancesYears at club
1Moses Dyer19572020–2022
27532021–2023

Club records

Valour FC's largest margin of victory in league play is a 6–1 win over on April 24, 2022. The team has also recorded multiple high-scoring wins, including 5–2 against on September 6, 2025, and 4–1 against on October 18, 2025. The heaviest league defeat came in a 0–5 loss to on August 2, 2025. In cup competitions, the club suffered its worst result, a 0–7 loss to in the Canadian Championship on May 2, 2024. Valour FC's longest unbeaten streak in league play stands at 5 matches, achieved at home during the 2025 season.

Awards

Valour FC players have earned several individual accolades in the Canadian Premier League, though the club has not secured major team honors through 2025. Goalkeeper Jonathan Sirois won award in 2021 as the league's top goalkeeper. Midfielder was named the Best Canadian U-21 Player of the Year in 2022. Defender Matteo De Brienne won the Best Canadian U-21 Player award in 2023.

References

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