St. Catharines Roma Wolves
Full name | St. Catharines Club Roma Soccer | ||
---|---|---|---|
Nickname(s) | The Wolves, Roma | ||
Founded | 1967 (as Club Roma Soccer Association) | ||
Stadium | Club Roma Stadium St. Catharines, Ontario | ||
Capacity | 750 | ||
Head of Operations League 1 | Mark Bolton | ||
Head coach | Federico Turriziani (men) Elisa Camporese (women) | ||
League | League1 Ontario | ||
2023 | League1 Ontario, 16th (men) League1 Ontario, 14th (women) | ||
Website | Club website | ||
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St. Catharines Roma Wolves (also known as St. Catharines Wolves or simply Roma Wolves), are a Canadian
Formed in 1967 as Club Roma Soccer Association and competed in various local leagues. In 1977 the club renamed itself the St. Catharines Roma, and joined the
History
Formation and National Soccer League days (1978–92)
The club was formed in 1967, and went under the name of Club Roma Soccer Association and began operations in the Niagara Peninsula Soccer League. During their tenure in the Niagara League, the club achieved two regular season championships and two playoff championships. In 1972, the organization transferred to the Inter-City League where Roma quickly established itself as a powerhouse claiming a double in 1973, two consecutive playoff championships in 1974, and 1975.[1][2] Their crowning achievement came in 1976 winning the Triple Crown – the league, cup and play-off championships.[3]
The following year the club was granted a franchise in the National Soccer League (NSL), later renamed the CNSL with the addition of the Winnipeg Fury in 1993, and changed their name to St. Catharines Roma. The club's president Armand Di Fruscio would also serve as the president of the NSL from 1986 to 1995.[4] St. Catharines would experience their first taste of success in the NSL during the early 1990s.[5][6]
The golden era and CPSL founding member (1993–01)
The club's golden era began in 1993 winning the NSL championship, and finishing runners-up in 1994 along with an Umbro Cup. Prominent players during that time period were future Canadian internationals Tomasz Radzinski, Davide Xausa, Martin Dugas, and Paul Fenwick.
In the 1995 CNSL season Mark Kormet served as the head coach, and assembled a roster which would in later years play a dominant role within the CNSL, and its successor leagues. The roster consisted of Canadian international
Their success would continue through the following season as Dino Perri was given the dual role of coaching and playing for the team. The team roster was reinforced with the signings of Rick Titus, Peyvand Mossavat, Jerry Cipriani, Peter Sarantopoulos, and Peter Gastis. Perri managed to defend St. Cathraine's Umbro Cup by finishing first in the cup standings. In the regular season the Wolves finished second in the overall standings, and clinched a postseason berth, as well as posting the best defensive record throughout the season.[11][12] Their opponents in the first round of the playoffs were the Toronto Supra, where St. Catharines advanced to the finals by winning the series on 2–1 on goals on aggregate. In the finals the Wolves faced the regular season champions Toronto Italia, but failed to capture the championship after losing by a score of 11–0 on goals on aggregate.[13]
St. Catharines built on their 1996 season, and added reinforcements to the roster with the signings of
In their debut season in the CPSL, St. Catharines would continue to flourish, and add prestige to its ranks. Where they secured a postseason berth by finishing second in the overall standings, and reached the finals of the
In 1999, St. Catharines experienced several bumps in the road throughout the season as losing their top striker Carlo Arghittu to the
Roma Wolves recovered from their mediocre season with head coach Ianiero re-signing the core members of the team, by bringing back Arghittu, Hughes, and recruiting the services of Andrew McKay, and Danny Gallagher. St. Catharines began with a high note winning their first three matches, after losing a match to Toronto Olympians they bounced back with a seven-game undefeated streak. The team's momentum continued throughout the Open Canada Cup tournament where history repeated itself with St. Catharines reaching the finals, and facing their rivals the Toronto Olympians. Unfortunately the Wolves fell victim once more to Toronto losing by a score of 1–0.[27][28] Overall the 2000 season was a success for the organization as they finished runners-up in the overall standings, and were tied with Toronto Olympians with the best defensive record. Their opponents in the postseason were Toronto Croatia, but were eliminated from the competition by losing the match by a score of 3–1.[29] For his efforts Ianiero received the CPSL Coach of the Year award.[30]
In 2001 the Wolves maintained their previous season roster with the addition of
Rebuilding period (2002–06)
The 2002 season brought significant changes within the structure as the club went through a rebuilding stage. St. Catharines transferred five core veterans to expansion franchise Hamilton Thunder, while others retired.[39][40] One notable addition to the changes were the hiring of former Roma Wolves head coach Jimmy Douglas as the General Manager [41] For the majority of the season the club was plagued with injuries, suspensions, and a poor team chemistry which resulted in a struggle to clinch the final playoff berth, and ended in a failure by falling short by four points.[42] The Wolves didn't feature better in the Open Canada Cup where they were eliminated in the first round of the tournament by Hamilton.[43] The season marked an end to the club's golden era which began in the final years of the CNSL, and concluded in the infant stages of the CPSL. The Wolves would go through a rebuilding period that would drag out for about five seasons.
During their rebuilding period Ianiero retired in 2004 after failing to qualify for the playoffs in two straight seasons, but managed a respectable run in the 2003 Open Canada Cup tournament by reaching the semi-finals before losing out to the
Return to prominence and departure (2007–14)
After five straight seasons of failing to secure a postseason berth, St. Catharines appointed the services of James McGillivray as head coach. McGillivray was instrumental in improving the performance of St. Catharines during the 2007 season. The Wolves returned to prosperity by achieving a nine-game undefeated streak, and clinching the National Division title their first piece of silverware since 2001.
In 2011, McGillivary signed with expansion rivals Niagara United, and his replacement was Carlo Arghittu.[54] The Wolves went through another period of rebuilding under Arghittu, failing to qualify for the postseason during his three-year tenure. In 2012–13, following the controversy faced by the CSL over the Canadian Soccer Association decision to adopt the recommendations from the Rethink Management Report the CSA de-sanctioned the league putting the future of many of its clubs and operations in doubt. In May 2014 the Roma Wolves ceased operations of the professional team due to the de-sanctioning of the CSL, including financial, volunteer issues and combined with competition from Niagara United for players in the Niagara Peninsula.
St. Catharines Club Roma Soccer still operates as a soccer club providing a place to play for children, both boys and girls ages 3 to 19, and women in house leagues, local travel leagues (Niagara Soccer League and the Hamilton MJ Soccer League). There are still competitive men's teams in the Peninsula Soccer League.[55]
Return to semi-pro
In 2021, the team was re-launched, joining League1 Ontario.[56] In 2022, they added a women's team in the League1 Ontario women's division.[57]
Year-by-year
Men
Year | League | Regular Season | Playoffs | NSL Cup |
---|---|---|---|---|
1977 | NSL 2nd Division | 5th | did not qualify | n/a |
1978[58] | NSL 2nd Division | 1st | Champion | n/a |
1979[58] | NSL | 2nd | Were not played | n/a |
1980[58] | NSL | 6th | Runners-up | n/a |
1981[58] | NSL | 6th | did not qualify | n/a |
1982[58] | NSL | 3rd | n/a | Runners-up |
1983 | NSL | 5th | n/a | n/a |
1984 | NSL | n/a | n/a | n/a |
1985 | NSL | 5th | Quarter-Finals | n/a |
1986 | NSL | 7th | did not qualify | n/a |
1987 | NSL | 9th | did not qualify | n/a |
1988 | NSL | 5th | n/a | n/a |
1989 | NSL | 8th | Were not played | n/a |
1990 | NSL | 3rd | Were not played | Champions |
1991 | NSL | 3rd | Were not played | n/a |
1992 | NSL | 2nd | Were not played | n/a |
Year | League | Regular Season | Playoffs | CNSL Cup |
1993 | CNSL | 4th | Champion | Semi-Finals |
1994 | CNSL | 2nd | Runners-up | Champion |
1995[59] | CNSL | 2nd | Champion | Champion |
1996[60] | CNSL | 2nd | Runners-up | Champion |
1997[61] | CNSL | 1st | Champion | 4th |
Year | League | Regular Season | Playoffs | Open Canada Cup |
1998[62] | CPSL | 2nd | Champions | Runner-up |
1999[63] | CPSL | 6th | did not qualify | Semi-Finals |
2000[64] | CPSL | 2nd | Semi-Finals | Runner-up |
2001[65] | CPSL | 5th | Champions | Semi-Finals |
2002[66] | CPSL | 4th, Western | did not qualify | First Round |
2003[67] | CPSL | 4th, Western | did not qualify | Semi-Finals |
2004[68] | CPSL | 6th, Western | did not qualify | Second Round |
2005[69] | CPSL | 4th, Western | did not qualify | Second Round |
2006[70] | CSL | 5th, National | did not qualify | Second Round |
2007[71] | CSL | 1st, National | Semi-Finals | Second Round |
2008[72] | CSL | 4th, National | Quarter-Finals | n/a |
2009[73] | CSL | 2nd, National | Quarter-Finals | n/a |
2010[74] | CSL | 13th | did not qualify | n/a |
2011[75] | CSL | 12th | did not qualify | n/a |
2012[76] | CSL | 15th | did not qualify | n/a |
2013[77] | CSL | 11th | did not qualify | n/a |
Year | League | Regular Season | Playoffs | L1 Cup |
2021 | L1O Summer Championship | 6th | Not held | Not held |
2022 | L1O | 16th | did not qualify | Not held |
2023 | L1O | 16th | did not qualify | Not held |
Women
Season | League | Teams | Record | Rank | Playoffs | Ref |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2022 | League1 Ontario | 20 | 8–1–10 | 11th | Did not qualify | |
2023 | 19 | 6–3–9 | 14th | Did not qualify |
Squad
- As of 16 April 2023[78]
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
|
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Notable players
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Head coaches
Years | Name | Nation |
---|---|---|
1994-1995 | Mark Kormet | Canada |
1996-1998 | Dino Perri | Canada |
1999-2004 | Lucio Ianiero | Canada |
2005 | Tom Bernadi | Canada |
2006 | Miro Marjanovic | Serbia |
2007-2010 | James McGillivray | Canada |
2011-2013 | Carlo Arghittu | Canada |
2021 | Federico Turriziani |
Italia |
Honours
- CNSL Championship (3): 1993, 1995, 1997
- Canadian National Soccer League Regular Season Champions (1): 1997
- NSL Cup (1): 1990
- CNSL Umbro Cup (3): 1994, 1995, 1996
- CPSL Championship(2): 1998, 2001
- Canadian Soccer LeagueNational Division (1): 2007
- NSL Second Division Champions (1): 1978
- Inter-City Soccer League - Hiram Walker Cup (4): 1973, 1974, 1975, 1976
- Inter-City Soccer League - McGuiness Trophy (2): 1973, 1976
References
- ^ Jose, Colin (2001). On-Side - 125 Years of Soccer in Ontario. Vaughan, Ontario: Ontario Soccer Association and Soccer Hall of Fame and Museum. p. 119.
- ^ Gatecliff, Jack (June 30, 1998). "Armand DiFruscio a busy man". St. Catharines Standard. p. C3.
- ^ "CPSL - St. Catharines Roma Wolves". 2001-02-24. Archived from the original on February 24, 2001. Retrieved 2016-02-07.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link) - ^ "Armand Difruscio | St. Catharines Sports Hall of Fame". scshof.com. Retrieved 2017-02-10.
- ^ "CPSL.CA FEATURED TEAM - ST. CATHARINES WOLVES". Archived from the original on May 11, 2003.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link) - ^ "CPSL - Canadian Professional Soccer League". 2003-04-16. Archived from the original on April 16, 2003. Retrieved 2016-03-21.
{{cite web}}
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- ^ Kippen, Steve. "Olympians, Croatia reach final". www.rocketrobinsoccerintoronto.com. London Free Press. Retrieved 2016-02-13.
- ^ Rumleski, Kathy. "LFP Sports: Croatia bags Primus Cup by upsetting Olympians". www.rocketrobinsoccerintoronto.com. Retrieved 2016-02-13.
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- ^ "News". www.rocketrobinsoccerintoronto.com. Retrieved 2016-02-13.
- ^ "Dynamites KO'd". www.rocketrobinsoccerintoronto.com. Retrieved 2016-02-13.
- ^ Glover, Robin. "Saturday October 13, 2001 CPSL St Catharines Romas Wolves vs Ottawa Wizards". www.rocketrobinsoccerintoronto.com. Retrieved 2016-02-13.
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- ^ Glover, Robin. "Sunday October 14, 2001 CPSL St Catharines Roma Wolves vs Toronto Supra". www.rocketrobinsoccerintoronto.com. Retrieved 2016-02-13.
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- ^ "October 5, 2003 CPSL Awards Dinner from CPSL site". www.rocketrobinsoccerintoronto.com. Retrieved 2016-02-14.
- ^ Glover, Robin. "May 27, 2005 CPSL Durham Storm vs St Catharines Roma Wolves (by Rocket Robin)". www.rocketrobinsoccerintoronto.com. Retrieved 2016-02-14.
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- ^ "November 5, 2007 CSL Award Ceremony 2007 (from CSL media release)". www.rocketrobinsoccerintoronto.com. Retrieved 2016-02-15.
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- ^ Glover, Robin. "May 15, 2011 CSL--Toronto Croatia vs St Catharines Wolves (by Rocket Robin)". www.rocketrobinsoccerintoronto.com. Retrieved 2016-02-15.
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- ^ "League1 Ontario adds four men's teams for 2021". League1 Ontario. January 28, 2021.
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