Kitchener Spirit
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Full name | Kitchener Kickers |
---|---|
Nickname(s) | Spirit, Kickers |
Founded | 1990 (as Kitchener Spirit) |
Dissolved | 1991 |
League | Canadian Soccer League |
1991 | 7th |
The Kitchener Spirit were a professional soccer team in Kitchener, Ontario that played in the Canadian Soccer League. The team debuted in the 1990 season as the Kitchener Spirit and were renamed the Kitchener Kickers in 1991. The club folded following the 1991 season.
History
In 1990, the team joined the semi-professional Canadian Soccer League as the Kitchener Spirit.[1][2] During their debut season, they set a league record for goals scored in a game with an 8–1 victory over the London Lasers.[3] They finished fourth in their division, advancing to the playoffs, where they defeated the Toronto Blizzard in the first round in penalty kicks before falling in the semi-finals against the Hamilton Steelers.[4] They were coached by John McGrane in 1990, but he departed after the season.[5]
After the 1990 season, the team changed owners and became known as the Kitchener Kickers with player Drew Ferguson becoming the team's head coach.[6] The club failed to make the playoffs, winning only four matches amid rumours of financial instability.[4] Just three weeks before the start of the 1992 league season, the club folded.[4]
The Kitchener–Waterloo region was without a professional team since the Kickers departed in 1991,[7] until SC Waterloo Region joined the later Canadian Soccer League in 2011, while K–W United FC played in the pre-professional Premier Development League from 2013 until 2017.[8]
Seasons
Name | Season | Tier | League | Record | Rank | Playoffs | Ref |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Kitchener Spirit | 1990 | 1 | Canadian Soccer League | 8–7–11 | 4th, East | Semifinals | [9] |
Kitchener Kickers | 1991 | 1 | Canadian Soccer League | 4–7–17 | 7th | Did not qualify | [9] |
Coaches
- John McGrane (1990) [10]
- Drew Ferguson (1991) [11]
Notable players
Ian Bridge
Mike Carter
Bob Colville
Jason de Vos
Paul Fenwick
Drew Ferguson
Peter Gilfillan
Dino Lopez
Peter Mackie
Craig Martin
Trevor McCallum
Peyvand Mossavat
Scott Munson
Mirosław Piękoś
Roderick Scott
Darren Tilley
Dean Walling
References
- ^ Litterer, Dave. "Canadian Soccer League I". Soccer History USA.
- ^ Kloster, Darron (May 27, 1990). "A rundown of teams that are off and running". Times Colonist. p. 10.
- ^ Conaway, Tom. "Spirit's 8 goals sets league record". CSL Memories. Waterloo Region Record.
- ^ a b c "Kitchener Spirit/Kickers (1990-91)". CSL Memories.
- ^ Cannon, Steve. "McGrane Resigns from Spirit". CSL Memories. Waterloo Region Record.
- ^ "Team-by-team preview of Canadian Soccer League". Vancouver Sun. May 24, 1991. p. 40.
- ^ Bryson, Mark (February 15, 2011). "Kitchener-Waterloo United fails to meet deadline". Waterloo Region Record.
- ^ "Region scores two new professional soccer teams". Waterloo Region Record. February 7, 2013.
- ^ a b "Canadian Soccer League Standings Archive". Canada Soccer History Archives.
- ^ "OSATv TouchLine With John McGrane". Archived from the original on February 2, 2011. Retrieved February 1, 2011.
- ^ Cannon, Steve (September 25, 1991). "Kickers, coach play waiting game". Waterloo Region Record. pp. C1. Archived from the original on October 18, 2012. Retrieved December 6, 2008.
- v
- t
- e
- Calgary Kickers/Strikers
- Edmonton Brick Men
- Hamilton Steelers
- Kitchener Spirit/Kickers
- London Lasers
- Montreal Supra
- North York Rockets
- Nova Scotia Clippers
- Ottawa Pioneers/Intrepid
- Toronto Blizzard
- Vancouver 86ers
- Victoria Vistas
- Winnipeg Fury
- Pepsi Cup (1990)
- Professional Cup (1992)