Durham Flames

Durham Flames (previously known as Oshawa Flames) played in the Canadian Professional Soccer League which is the third tier of Canadian football pyramid. The club was founded in 1999{{cite web|url=http://www.uoitridgebacks.com/varsity/m_soccer/coaches.htm|title=UOIT Ridgebacks Men's Soccer -Coaching Staff|work=UOIT Ridgebacks|access-date=2012-06-30|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130425015059/http://www.uoitridgebacks.com/varsity/m_soccer/coaches.htm|archive-date=2013-04-25}} and played their home matches at the Oshawa Civic Stadium in Oshawa.{{cite web |url= http://www.onsoccer.ca/?id=918 |title=ONSoccer.ca - CPSL Drops Wizards & Flames - December 3, 2003|work=ONSoccer.ca |access-date=2012-06-30}} The stadium is able to accommodate 2,000 spectators. The club was affiliated to the Canadian Soccer Association.

Durham Flames were originally known as Oshawa Flames and first entered the Canadian Professional Soccer League in 1999, as a replacement for the Mississauga Eagles. The club's first head coach was CSL and APSL veteran Jens Kraemer. Notable acquisition were Darryl Gomez, Pat Sullivan, and Hubert Busby, Jr.{{Cite web|title = Toronto Croatia vs Oshawa Flames|url = http://www.rocketrobinsoccerintoronto.com/99cpsl16.htm|website = www.rocketrobinsoccerintoronto.com|access-date = 2016-01-02|last = Glover|first = Robin}} The club finished in fifth position and reached the semi-finals of the League Cup before going out 2–0 on aggregate to Toronto Croatia, the second match proving decisive at Centennial Park Stadium.{{cite web |url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablesc/can99.html|title= Canada - Canadian Premier Soccer League 1999 - rsssf.org |work=RSSSF|access-date=2012-06-30}} The following season the team hired the services of Durham College head coach Stan Bombino to coach the team. Bombino led Durham to a seventh-place finish which reflected the fact that they drew 9 of their 14 matches.{{cite web |url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablesc/can00.html|title= Canada - Canadian Premier Soccer League 2000 - rsssf.org |work=RSSSF|access-date=2012-06-30}} Jimmy Kuzmanovski was the club's top goal-scorer with 9 league and cup goals.{{cite web |url= http://www.rocketrobinsoccerintoronto.com/00cp0063.htm|title=2000 CPSL - Final Year 2000 Results. |work=Rocket Robin |access-date=2012-06-30}} At the conclusion of the season Kuzmanovski was awarded the CPSL Rookie of the Year award.{{Cite web|title = LFP Sports: Croatia bags Primus Cup by upsetting Olympians|url = http://www.rocketrobinsoccerintoronto.com/00cpsl33.htm|website = www.rocketrobinsoccerintoronto.com|access-date = 2016-01-02|last = RUMLESKI|first = Kathy}} Under their new title of Durham Flames, and under the leadership of Danny Stewart the club again failed to reach the championship playoffs in the 2001 and 2002 seasons.{{cite web |url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablesc/can01.html|title= Canada - Canadian Premier Soccer League 2001 - rsssf.org |work=RSSSF|access-date=2012-06-30}}{{cite web |url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablesc/can02.html|title= Canada - Canadian Premier Soccer League 2002 - rsssf.org |work=RSSSF|access-date=2012-06-30}}{{cite web |url= http://www.rocketrobinsoccerintoronto.com/99cpsl00.htm |title=1999 CPSL League Schedule, Results, and Game Reports|work=Rocket Robin |access-date=2012-06-30}}{{cite web |url= http://www.rocketrobinsoccerintoronto.com/00cpsl00.htm |title=2000 CPSL League Schedule, Results, and Game Reports|work=Rocket Robin |access-date=2012-06-30}}{{cite web |url= http://www.rocketrobinsoccerintoronto.com/01cpsl00.htm |title=2001 CPSL League Schedule, Results, and Game Reports|work=Rocket Robin |access-date=2012-06-30}}{{cite web |url= http://www.rocketrobinsoccerintoronto.com/reports02/02cpsl00.htm |title=2002 CPSL League Schedule, Results, and Game Reports|work=Rocket Robin |access-date=2012-06-30}} Though Durham failed to reach the postseason they received the CPSL Fair Play award in 2001.{{Cite web|title = Voyageurs Soccer Talk|url = http://www.rocketrobinsoccerintoronto.com/01cpsl8u.htm|website = www.rocketrobinsoccerintoronto.com|access-date = 2016-01-02|last = Glover|first = Robin}}

In their final season in 2003 in the Eastern Conference the club struggled, winning just one of their 18 league matches. This contrasted with their performance in the Open Canada Cup when they reached the Cup Final weekend before losing 4–1 to London City in a wild card game on 29 August 2003. The Flames last ever match was played on 30 September 2003 when they went down 3–1 away to Vaughan Sun Devils.{{cite web |url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablesc/can03.html|title= Canada - Canadian Premier Soccer League 2003 - rsssf.org |work=RSSSF|access-date=2012-06-30}}{{cite web |url= http://www.rocketrobinsoccerintoronto.com/reports03/03cpsl00.htm|title=2003 CPSL League Schedule, Results, and Game Reports|work=Rocket Robin |access-date=2012-06-30}}{{cite web |url= http://www.rocketrobinsoccerintoronto.com/reports03/03cpsl0a.htm |title=2003 CPSL (Canadian Professional Soccer League) schedule - July to October 2003|work=Rocket Robin |access-date=2012-06-30}}{{cite web |url= http://www.rocketrobinsoccerintoronto.com/reports03/03cpsl1o.htm |title=CPSL - London wins Open Canada Cup wild card match|work=Rocket Robin |access-date=2012-06-30}} On October 5, 2003, the organization was awarded their second CPSL Fair Play award for being the most disciplined team.{{Cite web|title = October 5, 2003 CPSL Awards Dinner from CPSL site|url = http://www.rocketrobinsoccerintoronto.com/reports03/03cpsl6n.htm|website = www.rocketrobinsoccerintoronto.com|access-date = 2016-01-02}}

It was reported in the local press that The Flames were excluded from the League in December 2003, their franchise having been revoked following their failure to pay league fees and fines. Durham Storm took over their slot for home games in Oshawa's Civic Stadium on Friday nights. However The Storm bought the Mississauga Olympians franchise and did not take over the Durham Flames franchise.{{cite web |url= http://www.rocketrobinsoccerintoronto.com/reports04/04cpsl03.htm|title=2004 CPSL - New soccer team hopes to take Durham by Storm. |work=Rocket Robin |access-date=2012-06-30}}

The following players represented Durham Flames in their final season:

{{Fs start}}

{{Fs player|no= 1 |nat=Canada|name=Serge Desbiens|pos=GK}}

{{Fs player|no= 1 |nat=Canada|name=Daniel Baker|pos=GK}}

{{Fs player|no= 2 |nat=Canada|name=Jason Davis|pos=}}

{{Fs player|no= 3 |nat=Canada|name=Luke Brown|pos=DF}}

{{Fs player|no= 4 |nat=Canada|name=Jahmo Welsh|pos=FW}}

{{Fs player|no= 5 |nat=Canada|name=Mark Melo|pos=DF}}

{{Fs player|no= 6 |nat=Canada|name=Roger Badley|pos=DF}}

{{Fs player|no= 8 |nat=Canada|name=Ryan Dummett|pos=}}

{{Fs player|no= 9 |nat=Canada|name=Mike Mason|pos=}}

{{Fs player|no= 10 |nat=Canada|name=Dan Sadler|pos=MF}}

{{Fs player|no= 11|nat=Canada|name=Jamal Jupiter|pos=}}

{{Fs player|no= 12|nat=Canada|name=Jonathan Briggs|pos=}}

{{Fs player|no= 13|nat=Canada|name=Kwamie Wafie-Annoh|pos=DF}}

{{Fs mid}}

{{Fs player|no= 14|nat=Canada|name=Adam Vickers|pos=MF}}

{{Fs player|no= 15|nat=Canada|name=Zamar Brown|pos=}}

{{Fs player|no= 16|nat=Canada|name=Laurence Ledwidge|pos=DF}}

{{Fs player|no= 17|nat=Canada|name=Sean Caresdilero|pos=}}

{{Fs player|no= 18|nat=Canada|name=Danny Mattin|pos=FW}}

{{Fs player|no= 19|nat=Canada|name=Javed Hakim|pos=}}

{{Fs player|no= 20|nat=Canada|name=David Mills|pos=}}

{{Fs player|no= 21|nat=Canada|name=Desmond Humphrey|pos=MF}}

{{Fs player|no= 22|nat=Canada|name=Brandon Cedar|pos=GK}}

{{Fs end}}{{cite web|url=http://durhamflames.com/theTeam.html |title=Durham Flames 2003 - The Team |work=Web archive - durhamflames.com |access-date=2012-06-30 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030711152522/http://durhamflames.com/theTeam.html |archive-date=July 11, 2003 }}

The key officials of the club during the last season were:

{{col-begin}}

{{col-2}}

• Steve Kralj - President
• Carlos De sousa - Vice President
• Frank Kralj - Treasurer
• Stan Bombino - Technical Director

{{col-2}}

• Jack Methven - Manager
• Steve Hamill - Head Coach
• Tony Cabral - Assistant Coach
• Matt Gurr - Goalkeeper Coach

{{col-end}}{{cite web|url=http://durhamflames.com/administration.html |title=Archive of Durham Flames 2003 - Administration |work=Web archive - durhamflames.com |access-date=2012-06-30 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030711113119/http://durhamflames.com/administration.html |archive-date=July 11, 2003 }}

{{Reflist|2}}

{{Canadian Soccer League}}

Category:Canadian Soccer League (1998–present) teams

Category:Defunct soccer clubs in Canada

Category:Soccer clubs in Ontario

Category:Sport in Oshawa

Category:Association football clubs established in 1999

Category:Association football clubs disestablished in 2003

Category:1999 establishments in Ontario

Category:2003 disestablishments in Ontario