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.[3][4] 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.[4] 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."[5][6]
In 2020, the club updated their logo to include a sword fern, a plant indigenous to coastal BC.[11]
League1 BC era
On November 1, 2021, it was announced that the club would be playing in the inaugural season of League1 British Columbia.[12] 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.[13][14] Fans will own 49% of the team through this initiative.[15] 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,[16] thereby qualifying for the national 2023 Canadian Championship.[17]
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.[18][19] They were then defeated by another CPL club, Pacific FC, in the quarter-finals.[20] 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that TSS Rovers would participate in the 2024 Canadian Championship to replace Victoria Highlanders FC, who had withdrawn from the competition.[21] They were drawn against Pacific FC for the preliminary round, where they drew 1-1 in normal time, with Pacific scoring a game-tying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.[22] In 2024, the Rovers won the League1 BC regular season title, which qualified them for the 2025 Canadian Championship.[23] 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.[24][25]
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.[26][27] 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.[28] 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.
