AFC Toronto聽is not just trying to build a soccer team, but a community. While the quality on the field must be exciting, so too must聽the atmosphere in and around the home stadium.聽The hope is that fans will enjoy the experience and want to return.
Despite heavy rain in the hours leading up to the first Northern Super League match played at York Lions Stadium on Thursday evening, it was exactly that kind of environment.
The queues outside the 4,000-seat stadium, which is also home to York United of the Canadian Premier Leagu,聽聽started to form hours before gates opened.
From kickoff to the final whistle, fans were entertained and rewarded with a 2-1 海角社区官网victory. But off the field, there was also plenty to be excited about.
The beat from a group of drummers reverberated around the stadium, and vibrant music from the team’s DJ lifted the mood on a rainy day. The in-game announcer kept the crowd of about 2,200 engaged throughout.
Many families braved less-than-ideal weather to cheer for a team that needed every ounce of crowd support on the way to its first NSL victory.
Fans brave the weather and line up to buy merchandise at AFC Toronto’s first match at York Lions Stadium.
Gilbert Ngabo/海角社区官网StarFay Marzuq was among the early birds to arrive, but she didn’t have any say in the matter. Nine-year-old daughter Zara McLeod had been chosen among a dozen kids from the North 海角社区官网Soccer Club to take part in on-field activities and the risk of being late was out of question.
鈥淪he has been more excited about this opportunity than anything else I can remember,鈥 said Marzuq, whose daughter has played for a few years and aspires to play professionally.
The family聽had to scramble to line up babysitting for McLeod鈥檚 two younger sisters. Not only was Thursday a chance to represent her youth club in front of other soccer fans, it was also a major source of inspiration for her and hundreds of other young girls with ambitions in the sport.
鈥淭hey don鈥檛 always get to see other girls playing professionally,鈥 said Marzuq. 鈥淢y daughter loves (Lionel) Messi and (Cristiano) Ronaldo but watching these girls on a regular basis means so much more to her.鈥
In heavy rain before the match, fans lined up to buy team merchandise, eager to represent the AFC 海角社区官网colours.
Several food and drink vendors had already set up shop at the stadium鈥檚 south end, another family-friendly element.
鈥淲e鈥檙e here to give fans a good time while supporting the team at the same time,鈥 said Kadeem Bashy of Bashy Patties, who were selling three beef patties for $10.
Tony Bradshaw, left, and聽Kadeem Bashy of Bashy Patties were selling discounted patties to fans at York Lions Staidum.
Gilbert Ngabo/海角社区官网StarIt鈥檚 the early days of a long season,聽 but the significance of having a professional women鈥檚 league in Canada can already be felt.聽
Kimiya Fani is a York University student who grew up dreaming of playing soccer professionally but has since moved into coaching at her former high school in Thornhill. Had there been a professional women鈥檚 league when she was younger, she has no doubt her playing career would have flourished.
Kimiya Fani attended AFC Toronto’s first game at York Lions Stadium, where she was able to create her own player card.
Gilbert Ngabo/海角社区官网Star鈥淚 had to come here and聽witness this milestone,鈥 said Fani, holding a player card of herself that was printed at a booth set up by Desjardins, the team鈥檚 official partner.
鈥淭his is exciting not only for the growth of women’s soccer in Canada, but also for community integration in general. Soccer is really a language that everyone speaks.鈥
The support from fans, rain or shine, at AFC Toronto’s first game at its new home didn’t go unnoticed by the team.
鈥淚t feels good to be home,鈥 said forward Nikayla Small. 鈥淚 feel like going forward we鈥檙e going to be really confident here.鈥
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