It’s a global game, the global game, but it has always been built upon local engagement.
So we’re here to give a nod of the Milty cap to Ontario Soccer and all its affiliates and partners—in particular, Forge FC—for their creativity in broadening access to big-time soccer on several levels during the World Cup fever sweeping the area.
It's a necessary reminder that having a men’s World Cup in your vicinity, with your own Golden Generation national team competing, is a once-in-an-era, maybe once-in-a-lifetime, opportunity and that Forge is an integral part of the expanding high-level soccer pyramid in Canada.
The provincial governing body, in conjunction with its affiliated districts and clubs, has just announced an initiative to provide complimentary access to a selection of its members’ games to players aged eight and under.
In Forge’s case the initiative revolves around the Canada Day Match (1 p.m., July 1) against Vancouver FC and another CPL regular-season game two weeks later (July 16, 7 p.m.) against the league’s other west coast team, Pacific FC.
Hamilton Stadium has been central to the spectacular growth of high-level soccer in this country over the past decade and a half. It was built to accommodate the entire men’s and women’s soccer tournament of the 2015 Pan Am Games which, at the time, was the most highly-attended soccer tourney in Games’ history.
The stadium also spawned the Canadian Premier League and without an accredited domestic premier league a country is not permitted to host a FIFA men’s World Cup. So do the math: no Hamilton stadium or team, likely no CPL, and no World Cup hosting.
CPL teams have served as the local entry point for the professional global game, with Forge the most successful: they’ve won four of the league’s seven championships, have appeared in six league finals, hold the all-time single-game attendance record, and have played in more international matches in that time span than any other Canadian team, including the three MLS sides.
A large majority of players are Canadians, living and breathing proof to young players just discovering the sport that they too can forge (sorry) a career out of soccer.
That’s one of the platforms of the Canada Day Match, which links national pride to local passion. Forge’s lineup, like Team Canada’s, reflects the demographics of this country. And this year is an important one for telling the stories of Forge players, which can all be found on the Hammers’ website.
The night before the World Cup begins, Forge will play its final league game before its 22-day break: against Halifax Wanderers on International Night. The game will promote global unity through soccer, with an emphasis on youth and community-oriented activations. Details are still being finalized but will include multi-cultural celebrations of The Beautiful Game, with on-field programming and international storytelling. When we know the personal stories of the players we watch, we identify more with them and become more invested. Most of us can see ourselves, or our family, in at least one of them.
Soccer, which started bottom-up in communities viewing the local team together, has an ancient communal history and Forge will reflect and celebrate that heritage by hosting viewing parties for Canada’s three first-round games. There’s free admission to Hamilton Stadium where games will be shown on the video board. There will be food and beverage service in the Captain’s Lounge and access to the playing pitch; a community gathering with soccer as the guest of honour. Forge players will make an appearance.
And there will be small-sided drop-in games on the pitch, interactive message walls, sign-making, face painting and all kinds of prizes up for grabs. Hamilton soccer’s version of a country fair.
Surfing the World Cup wave can’t be limited to viewing experiences. To maximize the future of the game, young players have to make the connection between what they’re doing in their own practices and games and how they can move up the sport pyramid.
The CPL and the Ontario Premier League, the pro-am league on the next tier down, form the peak of the Ontario elite soccer pyramid, which has its base in the youngest players. So on June 7, three days before International Night, Forge and the Hamilton and District Soccer Association are partnering in an international-themed HDSA U-9/U-10 Festival. The festival is open to boys and girls and registration will include tickets to International Night.
More is yet to come—don’t forget the School Day Match (Wednesday May 13, 11 a.m.) which drew 17,911 fans last year—but this is Canada’s moment, the CPL’s moment, Forge FC’s moment, Hamilton soccer’s moment.
It’s an integrated approach, making the World Cup locally tangible. The combination of watching games and also actively taking part in the in-house celebration echoes the dual nature of the east-end property where Hamilton Stadium now soars above the neighbourhood, the steel mills always in view. The same acreage once housed the fields of the Scott Farm, then Scott Park and in both cases, a whole city arrived to play various sports over the years. So there has always been a combination of watching and participation, as there will be during this unique World Cup year.
It's a symbiotic relationship: Playing a sport encourages a casual fan or youngster to watch it more deeply. And watching it can encourage viewers to try playing it, perhaps for the rest of their lives. That’s how a huge global moment can translate into long-term growth, at every level, and now is absolutely the time for it.
So to Forge and Ontario Soccer, make that two tips of the Milty cap.