:TSS FC Rovers

{{Infobox football club

| clubname = TSS FC Rovers

| image = TSS Rovers new logo 2020.jpg

| upright = 1.1

| short name = TSS Rovers

| nickname =

| founded = 1997
2017 (semi-pro team)

| stadium = Swangard Stadium
Burnaby, British Columbia{{refn|TSS as an organization are based in Richmond, but their League1 British Columbia teams play their home matches in Burnaby.|group=n|name=location}}

| capacity = 5,288

| coordinates = {{coord|49|13|51|N|123|01|16|W|type:landmark_region:GB_scale:2000|display=it}}

| chrtitle = General manager

| chairman =

| coach = Brendan Teeling (men)
Kevin Booker (women)

| league = League1 British Columbia

| season = 2024

| position = L1BC, 1st; Playoffs, Champions (men)
L1BC, 4th; Playoffs, SF (women)

| current = 2024 League1 British Columbia season

| website = http://www.tssfc.ca/adult

| pattern_la1 =

| pattern_b1 = _arsenalh0204

| pattern_ra1 =

| pattern_sh1 =

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| leftarm1 =

| body1 =

| rightarm1 =

| shorts1 = 000000

| socks1 = 000000

| pattern_la2 = _black

| pattern_b2 = _greystripes3

| pattern_ra2 = _black

| pattern_sh2 =

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}}

TSS FC Rovers, commonly referred to as TSS Rovers, are a Canadian soccer team based in Richmond, British Columbia, Canada that play in League1 British Columbia, the third tier of soccer in Canada.{{refn|group=n|name=location}} 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.{{Cite web |title=TSS Academy Roots |url=https://www.tssfc.ca/academy/about/ |website=TSS Rovers}}

History

=Founding=

File:TSS_FC_Rovers.jpg

TSS (Total Soccer Systems) Academy was founded in 1997, based in Richmond, British Columbia.{{Cite web |date=February 6, 2020 |title=Richmond-based TSS part of BC Premier League expansion |url=https://www.richmond-news.com/local-sports/richmond-based-tss-part-of-bc-premier-league-expansion-3116422 |website=Richmond News}}

=PDL and WPSL era=

In late 2016, TSS purchased the rights to the Premier Development League franchise of the Washington Crossfire, and in the spring of 2017 fielded their first squad.{{Cite web |last=McColl |first=Michael |date=January 10, 2017 |title=Everything you need to know about TSS FC Rovers – BC's newest PDL team |url=https://aftn.ca/everything-you-need-to-know-about-tss-fc-rovers-bcs-newest-pdl-team/ |website=Away from the Numbers}}{{Cite web |date=September 30, 2019 |title=Vancouver TSS Rovers |url=https://www.protagonistsoccer.com/underthelights/tssrovers |website=Protagonist Soccer}} The club has a supporters group called the "Swanguardians," alluding to the Rovers' new home, Swangard Stadium, which was previously the home stadium of the Vancouver Whitecaps before the Caps joined the MLS. 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."{{Cite web |last=Wells |first=Nick |date=May 31, 2017 |title=How Two Friends Launched Their Own Football Club |url=http://inbedwithmaradona.com/journal/2017/5/29/how-two-friends-launched-their-own-football-club |website=In Bed with Maradona}}{{Cite web |last=Prest |first=Andy |date=June 4, 2019 |title=Vancouver TSS Rovers bring soccer passion to Canada |url=https://www.nsnews.com/local-sports/vancouver-tss-rovers-bring-soccer-passion-to-canada-3101057 |website=North Shore News}}

In 2018 the women's team was founded to play in the WPSL. Notable signings included Canada WNT players Jordyn Huitema and Julia Grosso.{{Cite web |last=McColl |first=Michael |date=April 4, 2018 |title=Canadian National Team players Jordyn Huitema and Julia Grosso headline first TSS Rovers WPSL roster |url=http://aftn.ca/canadian-national-team-players-jordyn-huitema-and-julia-grosso-headline-first-tss-rovers-wpsl-roster/ |website=Away from the Numbers}} In 2018, the men's team signed its first non-Canadian, Dutchman Nick Soolsma, a former Toronto FC midfielder, as player-coach.{{Cite web |last=McColl |first=Michael |date=April 13, 2018 |title=TSS Rovers new addition Nick Soolsma looking to "help the team with my experience" |url=http://aftn.ca/tss-rovers-new-addition-nick-soolsma-looking-to-help-the-team-with-my-experience/ |website=Away from the Numbers}}

The club competed with the Victoria Highlanders for the Juan de Fuca Plate, awarded annually to the best PDL/USL League Two club in British Columbia.{{Cite web |last=McColl |first=Michael |date=May 27, 2018 |title=The 2018 Juan De Fuca Plate kicks off in Victoria with TSS Rovers out for revenge |url=https://aftn.ca/the-2018-juan-de-fuca-plate-kicks-off-in-victoria-with-tss-rovers-out-for-revenge/ |website=Away from the Numbers}} The Rovers won it in 2018 and 2019.{{Cite web |date=July 6, 2019 |title=Highlanders Come Up Short Against TSS FC Rovers |url=http://www.highlandersfc.ca/news/highlanders-come-up-short-against-tss-fc-rovers |website=Victoria Highlanders}}

In 2020, the club updated their logo to include a sword fern, a plant indigenous to coastal BC.{{Cite web |last=Jacques |first=John |date=February 14, 2021 |title=Elmes: There Will Be No Canadian Teams In USL This Year |url=https://northerntribune.ca/canadian-usl-teams-2021/ |website=Northern Tribune}}

= League1 BC era =

On November 1, 2021, it was announced that the club would be playing in the inaugural season of League1 British Columbia.{{Cite web |date=November 1, 2021 |title=League1BC welcomes TSS Rovers as a founding License Holder |url=https://bcsoccer.net/news/post/league1bc-welcomes-tss-rovers-as-a-founding-license-holder |website=BC Soccer Association}} In addition, TSS decided to emulate those German clubs that were partly owned by their fans, giving the fans voting rights and a say in the direction of the team.{{Cite web |last=McColl |first=Michael |date=January 17, 2022 |title=TSS Rovers looking to build "real partnership" with local community as share issue affords opportunity to own part of new League1 BC sides |url=https://aftn.ca/tss-rovers-looking-to-build-real-partnership-with-local-community-as-share-issue-affords-opportunity-to-own-part-of-new-league1-bc-sides/ |website=Away from the Numbers}}{{Cite web |last=Adams |first=J.J. |date=January 14, 2022 |title=Dreamed of owning part of a pro soccer team? Vancouver’s TSS Rovers gives you the chance |url=https://theprovince.com/sports/soccer/dreamed-of-owning-part-of-a-pro-soccer-team-vancouvers-tss-rovers-gives-you-the-chance |website=The Province}} Fans will own 49% of the team through this initiative.{{cite web|url=https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/tss-rovers-soccer-team-buy-ownership-share|title=You can own part of this Metro Vancouver soccer team for less than $300|date=January 19, 2022|first=Aaron|last=Vickers|work=Daily Hive}} After finishing second in the league standings in their first season, the men's team went on to defeat Varsity FC on penalty kicks in the Championship Final,{{Cite web|url=https://bcsoccer.net/news/post/league1-bc-season-concludes-with-two-dramatic-finals|title=League1 BC season concludes with two dramatic finals|date=August 2, 2022|work=BC Soccer}} thereby qualifying for the national 2023 Canadian Championship.{{Cite web|url=https://northerntribune.ca/canadian-championship-league1-bc/|title=League1 BC Announced As New Entrant In Canadian Championship|date=November 3, 2022|first=John|last=Jacques|work=Northern Tribune}}

TSS Rovers made their first appearance in the Canadian Championship on April 19, 2023, at Swangard Stadium, where they defeated Valour FC 3–1, becoming the first semi-pro team to knockout a professional team in Canadian Championship history.{{Cite web |title=THE MIRACLE OF BURNABY: TSS Rovers stun Valour FC in magical CanChamp night (RECAP + HL) |url=https://onesoccer.ca/a/the-miracle-of-burnaby-tss-rovers-stun-valour-fc-in-magical-canadian-championship-night-recap-highlights |date=April 20, 2023|first=Armen|last=Bedakian |website=OneSoccer}}{{cite web|url=https://canpl.ca/article/the-party-is-still-going-inside-tss-rovers-rise-from-youth-academy-to-canadian-championship-quarter-finalists|title="The party is still going": Inside TSS Rovers’ rise from youth academy to CanChamp quarter-finalists|date=May 8, 2023|first=Benedict|last=Rhodes|work=Canadian Premier League}} They were then defeated by another CPL club, Pacific FC, in the quarter-finals.{{cite web|url=https://aftn.ca/like-lightning-in-a-bottle-the-story-of-the-rovers/|title=Like Lightning In A Bottle: The Story of the Rovers|date=May 12, 2023|first=Felipe|last=Vallejo|work=Away from the Numbers}} TSS Rovers would finish the 2023 League1 BC season in second place before falling to the eventual playoff winners, Whitecaps FC Academy, in the semi-finals.

On April 19, 2024, it was announced that TSS Rovers would participate in the 2024 Canadian Championship to replace Victoria Highlanders FC, who had withdrawn from the competition.{{cite web|url=https://canada-soccer-pressroom.prezly.com/update-to-participation-of-league1-british-columbia-in-the-2024-telus-canadian-championship|title=Update to Participation of League1 British Columbia in the 2024 TELUS Canadian Championship|date=April 19, 2024|work=Canadian Soccer Association}} They were drawn against Pacific FC for the preliminary round, where they drew 1-1 in normal time, with Pacific scoring a game-tying goal in the eighth minute of extra time, before being defeated 5-4 in penalty kicks.{{Cite web|url=https://www.timescolonist.com/sports/pacific-fc-gets-past-tss-rovers-on-penalties-in-dramatic-cup-win-8685581|title=Pacific FC gets past TSS Rovers on penalties in dramatic cup win|date=May 1, 2024|first=Cleve|last=Dheensaw|work=Times Colonist}} In 2024, the Rovers won the League1 BC regular season title, which qualified them for the 2025 Canadian Championship.{{Cite web|url=https://northerntribune.ca/league1-canada-mens-review-week-12-2024/|title=League1 Canada Men’s Review: Week 12|date=July 17, 2024|work=Northern Tribune|first=David|last=Parkes}} On August 4, 2024, TSS Rovers defeated Altitude FC 3-2 in the League1 BC playoff championship, making them the first team in League1 history to complete the league double.{{cite web|url=https://aftn.ca/make-mine-a-double-tss-rovers-out-to-make-more-league1-bc-history-in-mens-championship-game/|title=Make Mine A Double: TSS Rovers out to make more League1 BC history in Men’s Championship game|date=August 4, 2024|first=Michael|last=McColl|work=Away from the Numbers}}{{Cite web|url=https://northerntribune.ca/league1-canada-mens-review-week-15-2024/|title=League1 Canada Men’s Review – Week 15|date=August 7, 2024|work=Northern Tribune|first=Nelson|last=Mahmoudi}}

Club culture

=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.{{Cite web |last=Corrigan |first=Chris |date=May 31, 2018 |title=A Supporting Life: What it means to support TSS Rovers |url=https://aftn.ca/a-supporting-life-what-it-means-to-support-tss-rovers/ |website=Away from the Numbers}}{{Cite web |last=Adams |first=J.J. |date=June 9, 2019 |title=TSS Rovers supporters putting their dollars where their hearts are |url=https://theprovince.com/sports/soccer/tss-rovers-supporters-putting-their-dollars-where-their-hearts-are |website=The Province}} 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.

=Rivalries=

TSS Rovers participates in the Ironworkers Derby which is contested against Altitude FC.{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=JyNn7maVauY|title=Ironworkers Derby 2023 - Altitude FC vs TSS Rovers|date=June 17, 2023}} The derby is so named due to the Ironworkers Memorial Bridge which connects the North Shore, where Altitude FC's home field is located, to the rest of Greater Vancouver. The two teams met in the 2024 League 1 Playoff Championship, where TSS Rovers came out on top and completed the double.

Year-by-year

=Men=

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
Year !{{tooltip\|Div\|Division}} !League !{{tooltip\|Record\|Wins, draws, losses}} !Regular season !Playoffs{{efn\|Beginning in 2025, League1 British Columbia competition will not hold a playoff competition}} !Juan de Fuca Plate{{efn\|name=juan\|The Juan de Fuca Plate became a combined men's and women's competition beginning in 2022}} !Canadian Championship !Top scorer !Ref
2017 \|rowspan=5\| 4 \|rowspan=5\|USL League Two{{efn\|The USL League Two was known as "Premier Development League" until 2018}} \|3–3–8 \|6th, Northwest \| Did not qualify \|Runner-up \|rowspan=3\|Not eligible \| Daniel Davidson (5) \|rowspan=2\|{{Cite web \|title=TSS Rovers Stats \|url=https://cansha.coffeecup.com/tss.html \|website=Canadian Soccer History Archives}}
2018 \|5–2–7 \|4th, Northwest \| Did not qualify \|bgcolor="FFEBAD"\|Winner \| Zach Verhoven (5)
2019 \|3–2–9 \|6th, Northwest \| Did not qualify \|bgcolor="FFEBAD"\|Winner \| Matteo Polisi (6) \|rowspan=3\|{{Cite web \|title=Vancouver TSS Rovers Stats \|url=https://cansha.coffeecup.com/vantss.html \|website=Canadian Soccer History Archives}}
2020 \|colspan="6"\| *Season cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic*
2021 \|colspan="6"\| *Did not enter due to COVID-19 pandemic travel restrictions*
2022 \|rowspan=3\| 3 \|rowspan=3\|League1 British Columbia \|6–4–2 \|2nd \|bgcolor="FFEBAD"\|Champions \|2nd \|Not eligible \|Erik Edwardson (10) \|{{cite web\|url=https://cansha.coffeecup.com/l1bcmen.html\|title=League1 British Columbia Standings\|work=Canadian Soccer History Archive}}
2023 \|9–2–3 \|2nd \|Semi-finals \|2nd \|Quarter-finals \|Massud Habibullah (8) \|
2024 \|7–3–2 \|bgcolor="FFEBAD"\|1st \|bgcolor="FFEBAD"\|Champions \|2nd \|Preliminary round \|Massud Habibullah (7) \|

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"

Year

!{{tooltip|Div|Division}}

!League

!{{tooltip|Record|Wins, draws, losses}}

!Regular season

!Playoffs{{efn|Beginning in 2025, League1 British Columbia competition will not hold a playoff competition}}

!Juan de Fuca Plate{{efn|name=juan|The Juan de Fuca Plate became a combined men's and women's competition beginning in 2022}}

!Canadian Championship

!Top scorer

!Ref

2017