Master's FA
Master's Futbol Academy, commonly known as Master's FA, is a Canadian semi-professional soccer club based in Scarborough, Toronto, Ontario, that fields teams in League1 Ontario for men and women and emphasizes holistic player development for youth from disadvantaged backgrounds without cutting players from its programs.[1][2][3] Founded in 2009 by Junior Groves, a former professional soccer player who competed in Canada and Jamaica, the academy began as a grassroots initiative to foster education, family values, and soccer skills among underserved communities in the Greater Toronto Area.[2][4] In 2014, Master's FA established its semi-professional men's team as one of the founding members of League1 Ontario, the third tier of the Canadian soccer league system, where it has competed annually since inception.[4][5] The club's most notable achievement came in 2019, when it won the League1 Ontario championship by defeating FC London 4-1 in the final, marking its first playoff success and highlighting its underdog status with limited training resources and a predominantly Black roster and coaching staff.[2] This victory earned Master's FA a spot in the 2021 Canadian Championship, where it faced Canadian Premier League side York United FC, though it exited in the preliminary round.[2] Beyond the senior teams, the academy has produced graduates who advanced to professional levels, including players for Major League Soccer's Vancouver Whitecaps, the Canadian Premier League's Cavalry FC, and European clubs like PSV Eindhoven, while maintaining a philosophy inspired by global academies such as Boca Juniors and Manchester United.[3] As of 2025, Master's FA remains active in League1 Ontario, continuing its mission of community impact through soccer amid ongoing efforts to secure dedicated facilities.[5][6][7]History
Founding and early years
Master's Futbol Academy was established in winter 2009 by Junior Groves, a former professional soccer player from Jamaica who transitioned from a 23-year career in information technology to dedicate himself to youth soccer development in Canada.[8] Groves, recognized as Jamaica's Player of the Year in 1981/82 and a captain at Harbour View FC, drew inspiration from his extensive playing background, including a full scholarship to Cheyney State University in 1983, to create an academy rooted in holistic player growth.[8] The academy's founding philosophy centered on player development without cuts, offering programs for ages U7 through competitive levels in both recreational and select formats, with a strong emphasis on fostering student-athletes capable of securing university scholarships.[8] Operating initially in Scarborough, Toronto, Master's FA prioritized a supportive learning environment that extended beyond the field, promoting community involvement and avoiding the competitive pressures common in Canadian youth soccer.[9] This approach allowed the academy to build a reputation for nurturing talent from diverse backgrounds in the local area.[8] Key early milestones included the formation of initial teams building on Groves' prior coaching experience, such as assisting the 1988 Canadian Rep soccer team in 1999 and elevating the Pickering Power Rep 1988 boys' squad to top rankings in the Terra Power system by 2005/2006.[8] These efforts laid the groundwork for Master's FA's entry into local Ontario youth leagues, where teams competed in regional competitions focused on skill-building and team cohesion prior to the academy's expansion into semi-professional play in 2014.[8]League1 Ontario era
Master's FA entered the semi-professional ranks as a founding member of League1 Ontario in 2014, marking the club's transition from a youth academy to competitive senior soccer.[8] The men's team debuted on May 31, 2014, securing a 3–0 victory over the Cataraqui Clippers at the Soccer Centre Turf in Vaughan, Ontario.[10] This inaugural season positioned the club among the league's original ten teams, emphasizing player development in line with its academy roots.[1] The club's most notable competitive milestone came during the 2019 season, culminating in a dramatic playoff run that showcased its growing prowess. After a regular-season finish outside the top spots, Master's FA advanced through the postseason, defeating higher-seeded opponents to reach the final against FC London on September 27, 2019. In a dominant display, the team triumphed 4–1, powered by a hat trick from forward Akeem Priestley, securing the League1 Ontario championship title for the first time.[11] This victory earned qualification for the 2021 Canadian Championship, where the Saints faced Canadian Premier League side York United FC on August 21, 2021, at York Lions Stadium, ultimately falling 5–0 in a match that highlighted the gap between semi-professional and professional levels.[12] In parallel with these achievements, Master's FA expanded its operations to include a women's team, debuting in the League1 Ontario women's reserve division in 2021 before competing in the League2 division by 2024. The league itself underwent structural evolution, introducing tiered divisions including Premier, Championship, and League2 starting in 2024, with promotion and relegation opportunities. The men's team competed in the L1O Championship division starting with its introduction in 2024, finishing sixth in the standings in 2025 and continuing to build on its developmental foundation.[5] Beyond the pitch, the League1 Ontario era amplified Master's FA's broader impacts on the community and youth development. Post-2014 integration of the academy with senior teams fostered pathways for young players, with alumni like Matthew Groves progressing to UEFA professional levels while contributing as coaches.[8] The club's outreach efforts, rooted in founder Junior Groves' vision of holistic student-athlete growth, extended to diverse communities, exemplified by the 2019 championship team's predominantly Black roster and all-Black coaching staff, which inspired underrepresented youth in Ontario soccer.[9]Facilities
Stadium
L'Amoreaux Park, located at 100 Silver Springs Boulevard in Scarborough, Toronto, Ontario, has served as the primary home venue for Master's FA since the team's inception in 2014.[5] The facility, specifically Field #1 within the L'Amoreaux Sports Complex, features a regulation-sized grass soccer pitch equipped with lighting for night games, enabling evening matches and extended training sessions.[13][14] The stadium provides basic seating and standing areas along the sidelines, supporting community attendance for league fixtures. It plays a central role in club operations by hosting home games for both the men's and women's teams. Historically, L'Amoreaux Park has hosted Master's FA's home games since the 2014 League1 Ontario season, marking the team's entry into semi-professional competition.[15] The venue also hosted key 2019 playoff games, including the semi-final victory over Sigma FC on September 8.[16] In addition to competitive matches, the stadium has been utilized for youth tournaments and development events organized by the academy, fostering grassroots soccer in the Scarborough community. Recent initiatives include a club-led fundraising effort for an outdoor artificial turf surface to enhance durability and year-round usability.[17] The City of Toronto has planned broader upgrades to the sports complex, such as improved soccer fields and a rebuilt clubhouse, to support ongoing community and athletic activities.[18]Training grounds
Master's FA conducts its primary training at a dedicated 5.8-acre facility located on the border of Scarborough and Pickering, Ontario, which serves as the hub for player development across all levels of the academy.[8] This site includes an 11-vs-11 grass pitch for full-team sessions, a smaller turf training field for technical drills, and a 10,000-square-foot indoor arena equipped with premium artificial turf to support year-round training regardless of weather conditions.[19] The facility's design emphasizes accessibility and scalability, allowing simultaneous sessions for multiple age groups and skill levels while integrating seamlessly with the club's broader infrastructure for both semi-professional and youth programs. The academy's training infrastructure is tailored to foster holistic player growth, featuring multiple outdoor and indoor fields that enable a high training-to-game ratio of approximately 3:1 or 4:1, prioritizing skill refinement over competition volume.[20] This setup supports the club's no-cut policy, which ensures every motivated player from U7 upward receives developmental opportunities without exclusion, creating clear pathways to competitive teams, university scholarships, and professional showcases held on-site.[3] Supplementary training occasionally utilizes community pitches in Scarborough, such as those at L'Amoreaux Park, to accommodate overflow sessions and build resilience through varied environments, though the Pickering facility remains the core venue.[5] Within Toronto's soccer ecosystem, Master's FA leverages partnerships with organizations like League1 Ontario and local clubs such as Glen Shields for shared access to regional resources, enhancing training variety without relying solely on proprietary fields.[8] These collaborations underscore the academy's commitment to integrated development, where facility use extends to joint events and cross-training initiatives that align with the club's mission of inclusive, high-potential athlete cultivation.Teams
Men's team
The men's team of Master's FA participates in the League1 Ontario Championship division (L1O-C), the second tier of the league's men's structure, during the 2025 season.[5] This division features 12 teams competing in a double round-robin format, resulting in a schedule of 11 home games and 11 away games per team over 22 regular-season matches.[21] The squad comprises a blend of academy graduates and seasoned professionals, aligning with the club's academy-focused philosophy that emphasizes player development without cuts.[22] For instance, emerging talents from the internal program have advanced to professional levels, including the Canadian Premier League, while veterans provide leadership and stability in key positions.[22] The roster includes approximately 18 players, allowing flexibility for rotations and injuries in the demanding schedule.[23] Current head coach Ivan Galarza directs the team's tactics and strategy, focusing on cohesive play and youth integration to build competitiveness in the division.[5]Women's team
The Master's FA women's team competes in the League2 Ontario women's division, a developmental tier within the League1 Ontario structure designed to bridge amateur and semi-professional play. As part of the club's academy-focused model, the senior women's squad serves as a platform for emerging talent, participating in the Northeast conference to gain competitive experience.[24] Master's FA places significant emphasis on expanding women's soccer through structured development programs, creating clear pathways that transition players from youth age groups to the senior level. This holistic approach prioritizes skill-building and personal growth over early elimination, enabling female athletes to progress within a non-competitive cut environment that mirrors elite academies worldwide.[22] The team roster typically includes academy-developed players filling essential roles across the pitch, such as robust defenders, dynamic midfielders, and agile forwards, with many advancing directly from junior squads. Integration with the men's academy resources ensures access to advanced training techniques, scouting networks, and performance support, fostering a cohesive environment for all genders. The women's team shares ownership and facilities with the men's program, optimizing infrastructure like training grounds for collective use.[22] While navigating the challenges of building visibility in a competitive landscape, the women's program has demonstrated steady growth via academy-wide expansions, including increased enrollment and facility enhancements to support broader participation in women's soccer initiatives.[22]Seasons
Men's seasons
The men's team of Master's FA has competed in League1 Ontario since the league's inception in 2014, initially under the name Master's FA Saints. The team experienced early struggles in the league but achieved its greatest success in 2019 by winning the playoff championship after qualifying for the postseason for the first time. The 2020 season was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which disrupted league operations and player development across Ontario. The league resumed in 2021 with a shortened schedule amid ongoing COVID restrictions, and Master's FA has since competed primarily in the Championship division following league restructuring and promotion/relegation changes, showing inconsistent form with limited further playoff appearances, including a semi-final run in 2021.[5][9][25][26] Key trends include a lack of consistent playoff qualification outside of 2019, with the team often finishing in the lower half of the standings due to defensive vulnerabilities, as evidenced by high goals conceded in recent seasons. The COVID-19 cancellation and shortened 2021 season limited opportunities for momentum building from the 2019 title, contributing to a decline in form from 2022 onward, though the team showed improvement in 2025 with a playoff appearance. Recent seasons have highlighted challenges in scoring efficiency, with low goals for relative to goals against, though the 2019 championship remains a high-impact achievement that qualified the team for the 2021 Canadian Championship.[27][28]| Season | Division | Position | P | W | D | L | GF | GA | Pts | Playoff Result | Top Scorer(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | League1 Ontario | 7th | 18 | 5 | 4 | 9 | 28 | 37 | 19 | Did not qualify | N/A |
| 2019 | League1 Ontario | 5th | 22 | 10 | 5 | 7 | 42 | 35 | 35 | Champions (4–1 win over FC London in final) | Akeem Priestley (10 goals)[29] |
| 2020 | League1 Ontario | N/A | Cancelled due to COVID-19 | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| 2021 | League1 Ontario (shortened) | 2nd (East) | 12 | 6 | 3 | 3 | 24 | 18 | 21 | Semi-final loss (2–2 (9–8 p) vs Guelph United FC) | N/A |
| 2022 | League1 Ontario | 19th | 21 | 4 | 5 | 12 | 33 | 59 | 17 | Did not qualify | N/A |
| 2023 | League1 Ontario | 19th | 20 | 4 | 2 | 14 | 20 | 44 | 14 | Did not qualify | N/A |
| 2024 | League1 Ontario Championship | 8th | 18 | 5 | 4 | 9 | N/A | N/A | N/A | Quarter-finals | N/A |
| 2025 | League1 Ontario Championship | 6th | 22 | 9 | 7 | 6 | N/A | N/A | 34 | Round of 32 | N/A |