June 17, 2021...Rocket Robin attends York United FC training session

 
Thursday June 17, 2021.  

I was able to watch the players of CPL York United train today from 8-10AM at the Ontario Soccer 
Centre (OSC) a few blocks north of the border of the City of Toronto.  It wasn't really a crowd 
of spectators with me only counting two players' fathers watching their sons.  

The arrangement I promised so I would be allowed to stay is I had to stay outside the grounds 
so I watched through a high chain linked fence (just like around public schools), take no photographs, 
and conduct no interviews with players nor staff.  It seemed like a combo of CPL league pandemic 
protocol and team espionage so I wouldn't sell information to the other teams in the league. Yeah right!   
Although I am a Season Seat Holder I am interested in maintaining my press pass to cover the team 
on game days so of course I agreed to these terms.  

I had brought my 2019 press pass and papers proving I'm still one of the small minority who have been 
'double vaxed'.   No difference; rules ya know!  

I had caused a mini-riot on some soccer chat message boards last week when I was saying because 
the team felt bad for cancelling four 'home' games that will be played in a bubble, they were 
giving my account a credit for the ticket price, four free tickets cashable anytime that I can 
give to friends, and one more scarf and one more jersey (besides the one and one already promised).  
That turned out to be a much better deal than some other fans but it turned out I got so much because 
I have the most expensive class of seats (although the price is still less than 1/3 of what I used 
to pay for MLS Toronto FC tickets).   

The players warmed up with some light running while the goalies stopped some shots from trainers.  
Near the end of the practice they played an intersquad game that lasted somewhere between 45 minutes 
and an hour.  It was an 8 v 8 using just under half the field with the midfield goal being a portable 
one with no proper crossbar.  Two subs per team were standing on each side of the opposition goal 
but out of play.  If a ball rolled out of play they'd quickly pass it back into play (so no cornerkicks 
were practised in the mini game).  

I won't comment on how the game went—a combo of non-disclosure, no numbers on the pinneys, me glaring 
into the sun, and me not knowing all the players by sight—more than half the roster weren't 
on the team last year.  

I realized I haven't seen a game in person in 20 months!  Besides over a year of the pandemic, 
there was no local soccer over the winter of 2019-2020 before the pandemic began.  I was there just 
'marking out' (pro wrestling term) watching them play on this beautiful day, so warm that 
no jacket required.  

The practice ended with at least 20 minutes of stretching exercises so the players could unwind.  

I did hang around until practice was over and the players left the field straight to the parking lot.  
No access to the change rooms or anything in the building as Ontario has just entered Stage 1 
of reopening.  A few team officials as an exception appeared to be carrying equipment bags inside 
the building I'd assume to the storage area.  

As the players passed me by (I kept my distance) alone or in small groups, I said “Good luck 
in Manitoba”.  From an OSC employee, I heard they are leaving Saturday.  York will be playing 
their first eight games of the season with the other seven CPL teams in a bubble in Winnipeg.  
Head coach Jim Brennan said 'Hello'.  He confirmed the team had only been allowed to train 
since Monday.  I commented that it was so unfair that they are only starting now (one practice a day) 
while some non-Ontario teams have been training for two months.  Atletico Ottawa (Ontario) avoided 
provincial rules by training in Spain!    

A staffer of the skeleton crew maintaining the building said that League1 Ontario (another league 
I cover) were still only conducting business remotely although they have an office in the building.  


Ontario Soccer Centre building 

Driving home along Steeles Avenue West and I stopped this time at the Murray Ross Parkway, 
the western boundary of York University to read the players on the now outdated York 9 FC billboard.  
It is just as likely the school rather than the team put that one up as it says “York University 
is the proud home of York 9 FC” with a picture of five players 'York Lions Alumni' and in small 
details the names of Daniel Gogerty 2015-2018, Michael Cox 2015, Colm Vance 2011-2015, 
Emmanuel Zambazis 2018, and Ryan Telfer 2014-2016.   Now that finally makes sense as they were 
former students at the school.  Still since the team has been rebranded and none of these players 
remain on the roster, I'd say it's time to replace the billboard!  



I also felt better driving today now that I have installed a new car flag (Canada of course) 
to compete with the ones springing up now that the EUROs are on.  In this part of the city boundary, 
it's 3/4 Italy car flags.  Someone I saw today had a Russia and a Portugal flag on each side 
of their car.  I think its possible those countries may meet in the second or third round so that 
might be high stress for members of that family.  


Me with my new car flag.  I have seven old frayed ones in my trunk.  I get a new one each year.  


Kitty looks it over.  He was born in Forge FC colours!  

Bonus pictures:  

Here's some pictures of York University's Alumni Field which is undergoing maintenance (new field 
being laid etc).  Looks like they're going to need that extra time to have the field ready for 
a possible home game as the last few days of July or early August.  







Rocket Robin
robing@eol.ca
Twitter @RocketRobin01

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