Hayden Fitzwilliams
{{short description|Trinidadian footballer}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2024}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Hayden Fitzwilliams
| image = Hayden Fitzwilliams2.jpg
| image_size = 200
| caption = Fitzwilliams in 2005
| fullname =
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1975|01|31|df=y}}
| birth_place = Carnbee, Trinidad and Tobago
| height =
| position = Forward
| currentclub =
| clubnumber =
| youthyears1 =
| youthclubs1 = St Clair Coaching School
| collegeyears1 = 2001
| college1 = New Haven Chargers
| years1 = 2002
| clubs1 = Mississauga Olympians
| caps1 = 7
| goals1 = 6
| years2 = 2003–2004
| clubs2 = Metro Lions
| caps2 = 39
| goals2 = 14
| years3 = 2005–2015
| clubs3 = Toronto Croatia
| caps3 = 199
| goals3 = 58
| years4 = 2016
| clubs4 = York Region Shooters
| nationalyears1 = 2003–2005
| nationalteam1 = Trinidad and Tobago
| nationalcaps1 = 5
| nationalgoals1 = 0
| club-update = 19 December 2016
}}
Hayden Fitzwilliams (born January 31, 1975) is a Trinidadian former footballer who played as a midfielder and forward and played at the international level with the Trinidad and Tobago national football team.
Playing career
= Youth career =
Fitzwilliams began playing football at the youth level with St Clair Coaching School in his native Trinidad.{{Cite web|date=2008-01-31|title=C.N.S.C. TORONTO CROATIA|url=http://www.torontocroatia.org/haydenfitzwilliams.html|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080131092116/http://www.torontocroatia.org/haydenfitzwilliams.html|archive-date=January 31, 2008|access-date=2020-07-20}} He also played at the college level with the University of New Haven.{{Cite web|title=Player Profile - Hayden Fitzwilliams|url=https://www.socawarriors.net/player-directory.html?view=playerprofile&id=141|access-date=2020-07-20|website=www.socawarriors.net}}
= Early career =
In 2002, he went abroad to Canada to play in the Canadian Professional Soccer League with the Mississauga Olympians.{{Cite news |last=Rogers |first=Alison |date=September 19, 2002 |title=Olympians send Wolves to sidelines: Mississauga victory keeps St. Catharines out of playoffs |pages=D1 |work=St. Catharines Standard}} He scored his first goal for the club on September 18, 2002, against St. Catharines Wolves, which included a hattrick.{{Cite news|last=Brown|first=Joel|date=September 20, 2002|title=Croatia, Olympians secure CPSL playoff berths|work=The Mississauga News}} Within five matches he would score six goals. He helped Mississauga secure a postseason by recording the winning goal against Hamilton Thunder in a 3-2 victory.{{Cite news |last=Brown |first=Joel |date=October 16, 2002 |title=Olympians Advance in Playoffs |work=Mississauga News}} The Olympians were eliminated in the opening round of the playoffs to the North York Astros.{{Cite news |last=Brown |first=Joel |date=October 25, 2002 |title=Olympians, Croatia Upset by Astros |work=Mississauga News}}
He resumed his career in the CPSL by signing with league rivals Metro Lions in the Eastern Conference.{{Cite web |date=2003-08-22 |title=CPSL - Canadian Professional Soccer League |url=http://www.cpsl.ca:80/gallery/metro_lions.asp |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030822034412/http://www.cpsl.ca/gallery/metro_lions.asp |archive-date=2003-08-22 |access-date=2018-05-05}} He recorded his first goal for the Lions on July 11, 2003, in a 1-0 victory over London City.{{Cite news |last=Rumleski |first=Kathy |date=July 12, 2003 |title=Metro Lions blank City for first win |work=London Free Press}} He participated in the 2003 Open Canada Cup where he contributed a goal against St. Catharines in the semifinal and advanced the Lions to the final.{{Cite news |date=September 2, 2003 |title=Wolves eliminated from Cup contention |pages=C3 |work=St. Catharines Standard}} The Metro Lions would face London in the tournament final but were defeated in a penalty shootout.{{Cite news |last=Dalla Costa |first=Morris |date=September 3, 2003 |title=Gauss deserves Cup glory |work=London Free Press}}
The following season he finished as the club's top goalscorer with nine goals and helped his team reach the postseason by finishing second in the Western Conference.{{Cite web|date=2004-12-13|title=CPSL - Canadian Professional Soccer League|url=http://www.cpsl.ca/league_stats.asp|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041213000907/http://www.cpsl.ca/league_stats.asp|archive-date=December 13, 2004|access-date=2020-07-20}}{{Cite news|last=Laskaris|first=Sam|date=June 16, 2004|title=Lions await fresh troops|work=InsideToronto}} They were eliminated in the opening round of the playoffs to the Vaughan Shooters.
= Toronto Croatia =
After the relocation of the Metro Lions to Oakville in 2005 he was picked up by defending champions Toronto Croatia.{{Cite news |last=Gossal |first=Amit |date=June 24, 2005 |title=Soccer win for Croatia |pages=11 |work=Mississauga News}}{{Cite news |last=Wallace |first=Jim |date=June 23, 2005 |title=Home not so sweet home: Wolves feeling the pressure of being winless at Roma Park |pages=C1 |work=St. Catharines Standard}}{{Cite news |last=Gossal |first=Amit |date=June 29, 2005 |title=Croatia cruises |pages=A15 |work=Mississauga News}} He finished as the club's top goal scorer and assisted in securing a playoff berth.{{Cite news |last=Gossal |first=Amit |date=September 21, 2005 |title=Toronto Croatia nets playoff spot after beating Brampton |pages=A8 |work=Mississauga News}} Toronto was eliminated in the semifinals to Vaughan. He re-signed with the Croats for the 2006 season.{{Cite news |last=Waddell |first=Dave |date=June 23, 2006 |title=Windsor to host league-leading Croatia: Stars in London tonight |pages=B2 |work=Windsor Star}} Throughout the 2006 season, he was named to the CSL All-Star team that faced Clyde F.C.{{Cite web |last=Thomson |first=Gordon |date=May 8, 2006 |title=Tourists Get Another Victory! {{!}} 8 May 2006 {{!}} News {{!}} Clyde Football Club |url=https://www.clydefc.co.uk/news/2006/05/08/1752/#.YkneIijMIkQ |access-date=2022-04-03 |website=Official Clyde Football Club Website}} For the second consecutive season, he finished as the club's top goalscorer.{{Cite web |title=2006 League Stats |url=http://cpsl.org/stats.asp |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070203180901/http://cpsl.org/stats.asp |archive-date=February 3, 2007 |access-date=April 30, 2022 |website=cpsl.org}}
In 2007, he assisted Toronto in qualifying once more for the postseason. He featured in the CSL Championship final and contributed a goal against the Serbian White Eagles in the first round.{{Cite news |last=McNulty |first=Dean |date=October 28, 2007 |title=Fans fume amid rain and rancour at Esther Shiner |pages=SP6 |newspaper=Toronto Sun}}{{Cite news |last=McCarthy |first=Gary |date=October 29, 2007 |title=Croatia on top, for now |work=Mississauga News}} The Croats would clinch the championship title in the second match by drawing with the Serbs.{{Cite news |last=McNulty |first=Dean |date=October 29, 2007 |title=A bittersweet championship; Croatia claims CSL title with fans left on outside |pages=S11 |newspaper=Toronto Sun}}{{Cite web |last=McGill |first=Aldwyn |title=T&T player excelled for Croatia in CSL |url=https://caribbeanstars.com/newsreviews/ |access-date=April 30, 2022 |website=caribbeanstars.com}} He would re-sign with Croatia for the 2008 season.{{Cite news |last=Gossai |first=Amit |date=May 23, 2008 |title=Soccer club starts season off on the wrong foot |work=Mississauga News}} For the third time in his career, he finished as the club's top goal scorer with 11 goals.{{Cite web |title=League Leaders |url=http://www.canadiansoccerleague.ca/league_leaders_CSL.php?league_id=4346 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081218001556/http://www.canadiansoccerleague.ca/league_leaders_CSL.php?league_id=4346 |archive-date=December 18, 2008 |access-date=April 30, 2022 |website=canadiansoccerleague.ca}} He would help Toronto secure a postseason berth.{{Cite news |last=Gossai |first=Amit |date=September 20, 2008 |title=Croatia grabs spot in CSL playoffs |work=Mississauga News}} He also played with Real Toronto in the 2008 Ontario Cup tournament and recorded a goal against AEK London in the finals which clinched the title for Toronto.{{Cite news |last=Dalla Costa |first=Morris |date=September 15, 2008 |title=Shorthanded AEK comes up just short; ONTARIO CUP SOCCER: Down 2-0, the London side couldn't equalize against Real Toronto and fell 2-1 in the final |pages=B1 |work=London Free Press}} Unfortunately, the decision was reversed after Toronto used an ineligible player as a result the title was given to London.{{Cite news |last=Dalla Costa |first=Morris |date=September 28, 2008 |title=London AEK suddenly headed for nationals; Soccer: An ineligible player violation disqualifies Real Toronto from Ontario title |pages=S2 |work=London Free Press}}
The following season the Croats once more secured a playoff berth with Fitzwilliams scoring goals in the opening round matches against Brampton Lions which advanced Toronto to the next round.{{Cite news |date=October 1, 2009 |title=Lions must roar |work=Brampton Guardian}}{{Cite news |date=October 6, 2008 |title=Lions muzzled by Croatia |work=Brampton Guardian}} In the second round, Croatia was eliminated from the playoffs after losing to the Serbian White Eagles.{{Cite web |title=Canada 2009 |url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablesc/can09.html |access-date=2022-04-30 |website=RSSSF}} The 2011 season proved would be a notable one for the midfielder as he provided goals against Mississauga Eagles and York Region Shooters in the opening rounds of the playoffs.{{Cite news |last=Colpitts |first=Iain |date=October 17, 2011 |title=Season ends for Eagles |work=Mississauga News}} As a result, the Croats reached the championship final where Fitzwilliams scored the single winning goal against Capital City.{{Cite news |last=Barrs |first=Rory |date=October 30, 2011 |title=Just one goal short for Capital City FC; First-year team loses CSL final |pages=C1 |work=Ottawa Citizen}} He added more silverware to his portfolio in 2012 by claiming the double with Toronto, by winning the First Division title, and his third CSL Championship.{{Cite web|date=October 29, 2012|title=Toronto Croatia downs Montreal to win CSL title|url=http://www.newspapers.com/image/426753121/?terms=Hayden+Fitzwilliams|access-date=2020-07-20|website=Newspapers.com|publisher=The Montreal Gazette|page=25|language=en}}
In 2014, he played his fourth championship final against York Region where they were defeated in a penalty shootout.{{Cite news |date=October 27, 2014 |title=Croatia loses CSL Championship game in a shootout |work=Mississauga News}} He re-signed with Croatia in 2015 for his eleventh and final season.{{Cite news |date=July 27, 2015 |title=Toronto Croatia nets 7-0 win over Scarborough |work=Mississauga News}}{{Cite web |date=12 June 2015 |title=Video: Srbi na Hrvate! To nikad ne može da bude dosadno! |trans-title=Video: Serbs against Croats! It can never be boring! |url=https://www.rtvbn.com/347562/Video-Srbi-na-Hrvate-To-nikad-ne-moze-da-bude-dosadno |access-date=24 March 2023 |website=BN}} He finished his tenure in Toronto with a fourth championship title by defeating SC Waterloo Region.{{Cite web|url=http://canadiansoccerleague.ca/toronto-croatia-win-a-squeaker-for-championship-milton-score-second-division-victory/|title=TORONTO CROATIA WIN A SQUEAKER FOR CSL CHAMPIONSHIP….Milton score Second Division victory {{!}} Canadian Soccer League|last=Adamson|first=Stan|website=canadiansoccerleague.ca|access-date=2016-12-19}} After the conclusion of the 2015 season Toronto Croatia departed from the league and played his final season with York Region Shooters in 2016.{{Cite web|url=http://canadiansoccerleague.ca/york-region-shooters/#clubdata|title=York Region Shooters {{!}} Canadian Soccer League|website=canadiansoccerleague.ca|access-date=2016-12-19}}
International career
Fitzwilliams made his national team debut on March 26, 2003 in a CONCACAF Gold Cup Qualifier match against Antigua and Barbuda.{{Cite web |title=Player Profile - Hayden Fitzwilliams |url=https://www.socawarriors.net/component/ttfootball/?view=playerprofile&id=141 |access-date=2022-04-30 |website=www.socawarriors.net}} He would appear in the 2006 World Cup Qualifiers, and in total he appeared in five matches for his country.{{Cite web |title=FIFA.com - FIFA Player Statistics: Hayden FITZWILLIAMS |url=https://www.fifa.com/worldfootball/statisticsandrecords/players/player=214121/index.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150518104106/http://www.fifa.com/worldfootball/statisticsandrecords/players/player=214121/index.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=May 18, 2015 |website=www.fifa.com |access-date=2015-05-10}}{{Cite web |title = Hayden Fitzwilliams |url=http://www.national-football-teams.com/player/6685/Hayden_Fitzwilliams.html |website=National Football Teams |access-date=2015-05-10 |first=Benjamin |last=Strack-Zimmermann}} He played against Dominican Republic on June 13, 2004, in the 2006 FIFA World Cup qualification – CONCACAF second round.{{Cite web |title=International Matches 2004 - North and Central America and Caribbean |url=https://www.rsssf.org/intldetails/2004nca.html |access-date=2022-04-30 |website=RSSSF}}
Achievements
Toronto Croatia
- CSL Championship: 2007, 2011, 2012, 2015
- Canadian Soccer League First Division: 2012
- Croatian World Club Championship: 2007, 2011
References
{{Reflist}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Fitzwilliams, Hayden}}
Category:Canadian Soccer League (1998–present) players
Category:Trinidad and Tobago men's footballers
Category:Trinidad and Tobago expatriate men's footballers
Category:Trinidad and Tobago men's international footballers
Category:Toronto Croatia players
Category:Brampton City United FC players
Category:York Region Shooters players
Category:Men's association football forwards
Category:Expatriate men's soccer players in Canada
Category:Trinidad and Tobago expatriate sportspeople in Canada