Sigma FC

Sigma FC
Full nameSigma Sports
Nickname(s)The Betas
Founded2005
StadiumParamount Fine Foods Centre
Mississauga, Ontario
OwnerSigma Sports Solutions
Managing directorConstantine Smyrniotis
Head coachJohn Zervos
LeagueLeague1 Ontario
2024L1O-P, 9th
Websitehttp://www.sigmafc.ca/
Current season

Sigma Sports is a Canadian youth soccer development academy and player management company based in Mississauga, Ontario. They also operate a senior academy soccer team that currently competes in League1 Ontario, as Sigma FC. Over 140 Sigma players have gone on to play NCAA or U Sports soccer on scholarships.

History

Sigma was formed in 2005 by Constantine and Bobby Smyrniotis as a private academy aimed to develop young Canadian soccer players.[1] Over the years Sigma have sent players from their academy to the NCAA and to trials overseas.[2][3]

When League1 Ontario was formed in early 2014, Sigma announced they would be entering their senior academy team to compete as part of inaugural season.[4][5] They were one of the three Ontario Soccer Association Recognized Non-Club Academies permitted to enter a team in the league, along with ANB Futbol and Master's FA.[6] The Mississauga-based League1 Ontario teams - Sigma FC and North Mississauga SC (and formerly the now-Brampton-based ProStars FC)[7] - compete annually for the Credit River Cup, awarded by the Sauga City Collective supporters group, with the team's matches against each other during the L1O deciding the victor.[8]

Sigma made news in January 2015 when academy player Cyle Larin was drafted first overall by Major League Soccer club Orlando City at the 2015 MLS SuperDraft.[9] This was the first time a Canadian went first overall in an MLS draft.[10]

On October 1, 2018, Sigma co-founder Bobby Smyrniotis was named head coach and technical director of Canadian Premier League club Forge FC. Bobby had served as technical director and first team head coach of Sigma from 2005 to 2018.[11] 16 members of Forge's 2019 roster had played for Sigma in the past.[12] In 2023, they formalized their affiliation with Canadian Premier League club Forge FC, which enables Forge to send players to Sigma on short-term loans throughout the season.[13][14]

Seasons

Season League Teams Record Rank Playoffs League Cup Ref
2014 League1 Ontario 9 8–5–3 3rd – Runner-up [15]
2015 12 12–6–4 4th – Runner-up [15]
2016 16 14–2–6 2nd, Western (5th overall) did not qualify First round [15]
2017 16 17–4–1 2nd, Western (2nd overall) did not qualify First round [15]
2018 17 11–4–1 2nd Group stage Semifinals [15]
2019 16 8–3–4 5th Quarterfinals – [15]
2020 Season cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic[16]
2021 15 4–3–5 5th, Western (9th overall) did not qualify – [15]
2022 22 9–4–8 9th did not qualify – [15]
2023 21 9–5–6 9th did not qualify – [15]
2024 League1 Ontario Premier 12 7–4–11 9th – Quarter-Finals

Notable players

The following players have either played at the professional or international level, either before or after playing for the League1 Ontario team:

References

  1. ^ "Sigma Sports: About us". Sigma. Retrieved January 18, 2015.
  2. ^ Armstrong, Laura (October 23, 2016). "Local soccer academy has become playground for future stars". Toronto Star. Retrieved April 21, 2019.
  3. ^ Bates, Matt. "A Bluffer's Guide to Sigma". League1 Ontario.
  4. ^ Clarke, Ian (April 9, 2014). "Sigma FC: Laying the groundwork for Canadian youth development". Red Nation Online. Retrieved April 23, 2019.
  5. ^ Rowaan, Dave (April 8, 2014). "League1 Ontario announces teams for inaugural season". Waking the Red.
  6. ^ Hayakawa, Michael (April 10, 2014). "Vaughan to field 2 teams in inaugural soccer league". Vaughan Citizen.
  7. ^ @CreditRiverCup (August 11, 2021). "NEWS: We're excited to announce the 2021 Credit River Cup returns this Friday!" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  8. ^ Raza, Ali (August 14, 2019). "Credit River Cup announced for Mississauga-based soccer clubs". Mississauga News.
  9. ^ "MLS SuperDraft: Canadian international Cyle Larin selected first overall by Orlando City SC". Major League Soccer. January 15, 2015.
  10. ^ Davidson, Neil (January 15, 2015). "Canadian forward Cyle Larin goes first overall in MLS SuperDraft". Toronto Star.
  11. ^ Urciuoli, Anthony (October 1, 2018). "Forge FC names first-ever head coach". Global News. Retrieved April 22, 2019.
  12. ^ Bedakian, Armen (October 5, 2019). "'It's a high level': Forge's Sigma alum praise League1 Ontario platform". Canadian Premier League.
  13. ^ "Canadian Premier League announces downward player movement pilot project". Canadian Premier League. April 21, 2023. Retrieved May 28, 2023.
  14. ^ Mahmoudi, Nelson (April 22, 2023). "CPL Introduces Affiliation Pilot Project With Lower Divisions". Northern Tribune. Retrieved May 28, 2023.
  15. ^ a b c d e f g h i "League1 Ontario Historical Standings Men's Division". Canadian Soccer History Archives.
  16. ^ "League1 Ontario cancels Fall season plans for 2020 due to COVID-19 restrictions". Canadian Premier League. September 4, 2020.