Forge FC Announce Sigma FC as Affiliate League1 Club as Part of the Canadian Premier League’s Downward Player Movement Pilot Project

April 21, 2023 – Canadian Premier League (CPL) – Forge FC News Release

Hamilton, ON – Forge FC announced Friday, that Sigma FC will be the clubs affiliate League1 side as part of the Canadian Premier League’s Downward Player Movement Pilot Project announced by the CPL today. As an affiliate club, Forge FC will be able to send down players from the club to Sigma FC to earn additional playing time in competitive matches.

“As a club committed to player development and success, we are thrilled to have Sigma FC as our affiliate League1 club as part of the CPL’s Downward Player Movement Pilot Project.” Said Bobby Smyrniotis, Forge FC Technical Director & Head Coach. “This project provides an opportunity for our players to gain valuable match experience and we are confident that Sigma FC will provide a competitive environment for our players to continue their development.”

The pilot project, approved by Canada Soccer, allows all eight of the CPL’s member clubs to affiliate with one team in either League1 Ontario, League1 BC, Ligue1 Québec, League1 Alberta Exhibition Series, Alberta Men’s Soccer League, USL League Two and the top men’s leagues in Manitoba and Nova Scotia.

CPL clubs may then move their professional players down to their designated affiliate club, to earn additional playing time in competitive matches. There is no upward movement from affiliate clubs to the CPL as part of the pilot project.

The pilot project is intended to improve player development within the Canadian soccer pyramid by ensuring CPL players have various opportunities to earn valuable match experience.

“It is common in professional soccer for the lion’s share of first-team minutes to be played by about two thirds of a team’s roster,” said Mark Noonan, Commissioner, Canadian Premier League. “By implementing this pilot project, we intend to maximize the benefits of the ever-improving pathway between amateur and professional men’s soccer in Canada, ensuring all our CPL players, especially those under the age of 23, get the consistent competitive game time that is critical to their growth, as well as the growth of the overall pool of players in our country.”

A comprehensive review of the project will be conducted following the conclusion of the 2023 CPL season to ensure it is making a positive impact on player development and competitiveness within sport and to determine whether it is a viable long-term solution that enables all rostered CPL player to log such important minutes.

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