February 13, 2019--York 9 FC Pub Night at Archibald's Pub in Richmond Hill (by Rocket Robin)
Details of the Pub Night held at Archibald's Pub in Richmond Hill held by York 9 FC. Attendance was about 30 at one end of the pub. I did only count the people who looked like they were paying attention. The crowd was less than half the number of the one I attended on January 30th in Woodbridge. I'd say the two main reasons for tonight's small crowd were that this event was rescheduled from last Wednesday when it was cancelled because of a severe snowstorm. We had another bad one yesterday that cancelled schools hours before the storm even started. While today we'd recovered, there was another snowstorm that changed to rain and back to snow all with strong winds on my drive here. Nothing dangerous because all cars were crawling along northbound in bumper-to-bumper traffic. The event was scheduled for 6:00pm to 7:30pm...hey because of traffic even I was late. The presentation started at 6:50pm and the last mic comments ended exactly at 7:30pm. The format was Kurt Larson from the league office acting as the MC cueing videos and interviewing the head coach, the two advertised players, and the team president. The questions/answers were 'closed' by just the participants on-stage. In the last meet-and-greet (I didn't go to that one and the only comment/tweet I heard was one child asked twice about whether the team was signing Lionel Messi. I asked some questions before things got started to Larson (thinking there was going to be questions from the audience) so as to not be any awkward moments. I wanted a comment on the surprise change in the CPL qualifying for the CCL league (not for 2020 which was expected) and the rush to get a CPL team into the 2019 competition so soon. First why would only three teams (FC Edmonton, Forge FC, and Valour FC) be eligible AND would the upcoming schedule pack games between those teams the first month of the season to sort out the best team assuming they'd also count in the regular schedule standings too. Larson said he still hasn't seen the schedule and I'd have to ask the CSA (Canadian Soccer Association). Defender Daniel Gogarty and midfielder Joey Di Chiara were the scheduled players for tonight and the only ones who showed up. The pub night I was at in Woodbridge had some unsigned players pop out of the crowd to our surprise. The presentation started with the playing of the York 9 FC video which has been available on the CPL site for months. mp3 File...first segment...2 min 36 sec summary below Then Larson briefed us on the league and an introduction of the seven teams. There will be rosters of 23, made up of more than 50% Canadian players. There'd be six Canadian starters per team. There's also a rule that three players aged under 21 that must play a combined 1000+ minutes per season. (I didn't catch him say 'Canadian' U-21) but may have misheard that or it slipped in). He said York 9 has signed 16 players so far and then outlined the stadiums they will use for the next few years. The 'Coast to Coast' video was played. I've seen this before. mp3 File...second segment...11 min 43 sec summary below York 9 FC head coach Jimmy Brennan was called onstage to answer questions about training and preparations. The team will go to the Dominican Republic for ten days. They have already had one month of indoor training (the players who've been signed that long ago). They train about three times a week. Everybody is fighting for spots. Larson asked Brennan to compare this first training camp with the first TFC training camp (ie 2007 as he was there). He feels the players have a great deal of experience and are forming a brotherhood. Larson asked him how these players compare with other players in leagues around the world. Brennan said the Canadians don't get the respect they deserve but they are quite qualified. The York region is a hot bed for soccer. Larson asked him about the limited opportunities when Brennan started. Now, today is an exciting time and Brennan can someday see a starting 11 of York 9 players all being from the York Region within 8 to 10 years. Brennan was asked for his thoughts on the Voyageurs Cup draw (which is against AS Blainville). He said it would be a big test. Brennan dropped a bomb while praising that team when he said they've actually signed a player from that side!* *He then looked at me (about the 7 min 50 sec mark) saying I was writing it down. When the meeting broke up I missed asking Brennan who the player was before he left. The York 9 office staff couldn't help me and Larson didn't know either. One of them said he was a left back. Larson asked Brennan the style of play York 9 would play. Attack-minded and very entertaining was promised. Larson asked him for comments about Gogarty and Di Chiara. Those players then took the place of Brennan on stage. mp3 File...third segment...5 min 57 sec summary below Di Chiara was asked about how he ended up playing in such places as Russia and Kazakhstan and the qualities he acquired and what kind of player he'll be. Gogarty was asked his story which was playing in the local area for such teams as Vaughan and York University. Fortunately for him he graduated from York U just as the CPL is beginning their first season so he didn't have to go overseas. He was asked what type of player he will be. There was a draw for a toque and a signed ball. The lady who won had left already for another function. Another short video was played. I'd give it the title "We Are York 9" and has also been on the league website for months. mp3 File...fourth segment...9 min 56 sec Larson and York 9 president Preben Ganzhorn are now onstage and Ganzhorn is asked how do you build a team from scratch? Ganzhorn says that he and Brennan were put together by CPL president (Paul Beirne). In a coffee shop written on a napkin they scratched out initial plans for the team. They have a seven year horizon until World Cup 2026. Ganzhorn answered why he was doing this. His answer included 'developing Canadian talent and showcasing it to the world'. He was asked how he invisions a game day experience at York University. He also drew cheers for saying their future was in a 12 to 15K stadium in Richmond Hill. Ganzhorn was also asked to restate the road trip for York 9 fans to their first game in Hamilton. His plans have gotten greater as he now expects 1200 to 1500 will take up the offer of the bus ride and ticket for the game. Free for York season ticket holders. [That projection has increased from the original plan of 1000 made at the pub night in Woodbridge when the new sponsor--a transit company--exactly two weeks ago!] Larson said in a few weeks broadcast rights and a schedule will be out. [I was expecting an answer like that. If it's a mainstream cable broadcaster I'll assume this newcomer sport will have to squeeze its schedule between Ironman competitions and 2016 European Poker Tour Highlights. Also with the CPL announcement about rushing to provide an entrant for the 2019 CONCACAF League tournament, they may have to squeeze a lot of Forge vs Valour vs Edmonton games to choose a qualifier. If it's the channel that shows all the pro wrestling, will someone there suggest they all play at once?] Team VP, Ticket Sales & Fan Services Ben Zayandehroudi was brought onstage to provide more details of the travelling offer for April 27th. He first thanked everyone for coming out and the organizers then he added a new offer. Non season ticket holders could also receive the same round trip transport and ticket to the game as SSH (who are going for free) for a price of $50.00. [When I posted this on a message board and tweeted too, I received questions immediately about people not hearing about this. I assume this was the first announcement]. mp3 File...fifth segment...1 min 21 sec After the meeting broke up I asked Daniel Gogarty a few questions about York 9 getting a head start organizing with him and other Vaughan Azzurri 2018 guys including coach Carmine Isacco coming over to the team and hitting the ground running. Also his thoughts on playing first round Voyageurs Cup opponent AS Blainville. I was invited to another pub night by organizers. I haven't checked when those are but I wasn't planning on that. I used the opportunity to again ask for a press pass (although I'm a front-row SSH) to be able to ask post game questions (I enjoyed that for TFC II last year and for Canadian National team games) and the responses seemed positive.Jim Brennan answers questions.
Daniel Gogarty (left) and Joseph Di Chiara (center) answer questions from MC Kurt Larson.
York 9 FC president Preben Ganzhorn answers questions from MC Kurt Larson.
They had some clothing to sell tonight! I bought a toque for $20.00
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