Unity FC (Canada)
{{short description|Semi-professional soccer club}}
{{About|the League1 BC team|the Ghanian team of the same name|Unity FC (Ghana)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=November 2021}}
{{Infobox football club
| clubname = Unity FC
| image = File:Unity_FC_Canada.png
| upright = 0.8
| fullname = Unity Football Club
| nickname =
| founded = 2021
| stadium = Cloverdale Athletic Park
| capacity =
| chrtitle =
| chairman =
| mgrtitle = Head Coach
| manager = Mike Shearon (men)
Graham Roxburgh (women)
| league = League1 British Columbia
| season = 2024
| position = L1BC, 5th; Playoffs, DNQ(men)
L1BC, 2nd; Playoffs, SF (women)
| current = 2024 League1 British Columbia season
| website = https://unityfc.ca/
}}
Unity Football Club is a Canadian semi-professional soccer club based in Surrey, British Columbia that plays in League1 British Columbia.
History
The club was officially unveiled on November 22, 2021, as an inaugural license holder for the first season of the new semi-professional League1 British Columbia in 2022, operating in Langley, British Columbia.{{cite web|url=https://bcsoccer.net/news/post/league1bc-welcomes-unity-fc-as-founding-license-holder|title=League1BC welcomes Unity FC as founding License Holder|work=BC Soccer Association|date=November 22, 2021}} The team was formed in partnership with Trinity Western University and their Spartans sports teams with the head coaches of both the TWU men's and women's soccer teams being involved with the club.{{cite web|url=https://northerntribune.ca/league1-bc-unity-fc/|title=League1 BC Comes To Langley With Unity FC|first=John|last=Jacques|date=November 22, 2021|work=Northern Tribune}}
Their inaugural matches occurred on May 22 on the road against TSS FC Rovers for both the male and female teams.{{cite web|url=https://northerntribune.ca/league1-bc-2022-schedule/|title=League1 BC Reveals Inaugural Season Schedule|date=February 18, 2022|first=John|last=Jacques|work=Northern Tribune}} The women's team recorded the club's first ever victory, defeating the Rovers 2-1.{{Cite web|url=https://aftn.ca/whitecaps-unity-and-rivers-lead-the-way-in-womens-division-after-historic-league1-bc-opening-weekend/|title=Whitecaps, Unity, and Rivers lead the way in women's division after historic League1 BC opening weekend|date=May 24, 2022|first=Michael|last=McColl|work=Away from the Numbers}}
In 2023, they formed an affiliation with Canadian Premier League club Vancouver FC, which enables Vancouver to send players to Unity on short-term loans throughout the season.{{Cite web|url=https://canpl.ca/article/canadian-premier-league-announces-downward-player-movement-pilot-project|title=Canadian Premier League announces downward player movement pilot project|date=April 21, 2023|work=Canadian Premier League}}{{Cite web|url=https://northerntribune.ca/canadian-premier-league-downward-player-movement-project/|title=CPL Introduces Affiliation Pilot Project With Lower Divisions|date=April 21, 2023|work=Northern Tribune|first=Nelson|last=Mahmoudi}} In 2023, the club hosted their home season opening male and female match in nearby Chilliwack, British Columbia, before playing the remainder of the season at their home in Langley.{{cite web|title=Chilliwack hosting B.C. League 1 soccer match between Unity FC and Rivers FC|url=https://www.theprogress.com/sports/chilliwack-hosting-b-c-league-1-soccer-match-between-unity-fc-and-rivers-fc/|date=May 26, 2023|first=Eric|last=Welsh|work=Chilliwack Progress}}{{cite web|url=https://northerntribune.ca/league1-bc-united-fc-kelcey-brade-ownership/|title=A Conversation With New Unity FC Owner Kelcey Brade|date=August 11, 2023|work=Northern Tribune|first=John|last=Jacques}} That season, the women advanced to the women's championship final, where they were defeated by Whitecaps FC Girls Elite, and also qualified for the League1 Canada Inter-Provincial Championship. In 2023, they announced an ownership change, with an investor group led by TSN sportscaster Kelcey Brade taking over a majority share of the club.{{cite web|title=L1BC's Unity FC Announces Ownership Changes|url=https://northerntribune.ca/unity-fc-announces-ownership-changes/|date=August 10, 2023|first=Nelson|last=Mahmoudi|work=Northern Tribune}}{{cite web|url=https://unityfc.team/news/canadian-tv-sports-host-kelcey-brade-headlines-investor-group-joining-unity-fc|title=Canadian TV sports host Kelcey Brade headlines investor group joining Unity FC|work=Unity FC|date=August 10, 2023}}
In February 2024, it was announced that the club would move to Surrey, British Columbia and formed a partnership with youth club Surrey United SC.{{cite web|url=https://www.unityfc.ca/blog/news-2/unity-fc-and-surrey-united-sc-announce-groundbreaking-multi-year-agreement-bringing-pro-am-soccer-to-cloverdale-athletic-park-1|title=Unity FC and Surrey United SC Announce Groundbreaking Multi-Year Agreement, Bringing Pro-Am Soccer to Cloverdale Athletic Park|date=February 6, 2024|work=Unity FC}}{{cite web|url=https://northerntribune.ca/league1-bc-unity-fc-surrey-united-partnership/|title=Unity FC Joins Forces With Surrey United|date=February 7, 2024|work=Northern Tribune|first=John|last=Jacques}}
Seasons
=Men=
| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;"
!Season !League !Teams !{{tooltip|Record|Wins, draws, losses}} !Rank !Playoffs !Ref |
| 2022
|rowspan="3"|League1 British Columbia |7 |3–3–6 |6th |did not qualify |4th{{efn|name=juan|The Juan de Fuca Plate is a combined men's and women's competition that combines both squads results}} | |
| 2023
|8 |5–5–4 |4th |Semi-finals |5th{{efn|name=juan}} | |
| 2024
|7 |4–4–4 |5th |did not qualify |3rd{{efn|name=juan}} |
{{notelist}}
=Women=
| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;"
!Season !League !Teams !{{tooltip|Record|Wins, draws, losses}} !Rank !Playoffs !Inter-provincial Championship !Ref |
| 2022
|rowspan="3"|League1 British Columbia |7 |8–0–4 |3rd |did not qualify |did not qualify |4th{{efn|name=juan|The Juan de Fuca Plate is a combined men's and women's competition that combines both squads results}} | |
| 2023
|8 |7–3–4 |3rd |Finalists |3rd |5th{{efn|name=juan}} | |
| 2024
|7 |7–2–3 |2nd |Semi-finals |did not qualify |3rd{{efn|name=juan}} | |
{{notelist}}
Notable former players
The following players have either played at the professional or international level, either before or after playing for the League1 British Columbia team:
Men
{{cmn|colwidth=18em|
- {{flagicon|CAN}} James Cameron
- {{flagicon|CAN}} Lennon Thompson
}}
Women
{{cmn|colwidth=18em|
- {{flagicon|CAN}} Kathryn Harvey
}}
References
{{reflist}}
{{League1 British Columbia}}
{{British Columbia Sports}}
Category:Soccer clubs in British Columbia
Category:Association football clubs established in 2021