May 30, 2014 League 1 Ontario--Introducing Windsor Stars (from League 1 Ontario website)

  
Introducing Windsor Stars
. Fri May 30 
Written By: Fletcher, Alex  

The Windsor Stars have followed the example of franchises like Toronto FC, building a senior 
professional team before creating a youth development structure underneath. The Stars are 
currently establishing this youth section through a fruitful partnership with the Essex 
County Soccer Association and its member clubs, creating a progressive roadmap for soccer 
players in southwestern Ontario that aspire to the professional and university ranks.

Building strong relationships requires significant support, and the Windsor Stars have received 
it from both the city of Windsor as well. Club, city, and regional soccer association have 
banded together to overcome the Stars' biggest challenge – that of having a top class soccer 
facility available year-round in the city of Windsor. This issue is quickly being dealt with 
at the McHugh Park Soccer Complex, located in the heart of the city, where the club will play 
their League1 Ontario home matches. The facility is presently going through the upgrades 
required to support professional soccer, and to provide a high-quality training space for 
the entire community.

Stefano Vagnini, head coach of the Stars for the past three years, has a number of strong 
relationships within the city of Windsor. As a past player and member of the coaching staff 
at the University of Windsor, and current coach of the women's team at St. Clair College, 
he has been able to use both academic connections and a passion for teaching the game 
as important tools in the Windsor Stars arsenal.

He speaks to the team's last incarnation as a mix of young amateur players with some local 
professionals, but cites a change of direction this year as plans include only university 
and college players, many of whom are attending NCAA schools across the border. Vagnini 
explains that using amateur players in a semi-professional environment is an arrangement 
that has various conditions, but if managed correctly the players have continued collegiate 
eligibility, and both the individual and the school programs will benefit from the player's 
high level summer experience.

Around since the 1970s, the Windsor Stars already have a significant history of playing 
at the highest available levels, and are beginning to adapt to a new reality of focusing 
on more than just a single team. The creation of League1 Ontario is a welcome dovetail with 
their goals to create a long-term sustainable environment for player development in Essex 
County, as per the Canadian Soccer Association's (CSA)Long Term Player Development 
(LTPD) pathway.

Windsor Stars open their League1 Ontario campaign at the Ontario Soccer Centre on Saturday 
May 31 at 1 p.m. vs. Internacional de Toronto.

The club's home opener is scheduled for June 14, 7 p.m. at McHugh Stadium vs. 
Internacional de Toronto.

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