Simcoe County Rovers FC

{{short description|Canadian soccer team in Barrie, Ontario}} {{Use Canadian English|date=April 2021}} {{Use mdy dates|date=April 2021}} {{Infobox football club | clubname = Simcoe County Rovers | image = Simcoe County Rovers.png | fullname = Simcoe County Rovers Football Club | nickname = Rovers | founded = 2021 | stadium = J.C. Massie Field at Georgian College | capacity = 675 seated. 1,200 including standing room | chrtitle = President | chairman = Will Devellis | owner = Barrie Soccer Club | mgrtitle = Head coach | manager = Randy Ribeiro (men)<br>Zack Wilson (women) | league = Ontario Premier League | season = 2025 | position = L1O-P, 4th (men)<br>L1O-P, 1st (women) | current = 2026 Ontario Premier League season | pattern_la1 = _skyblueborder | pattern_b1 = _thin_black_hoops | pattern_ra1 = _skyblueborder | pattern_sh1 = 008080 | pattern_so1 = _hoops_blue_2 | leftarm1 = 0000000 | body1 = _thin_black_hoops | rightarm1 = 0000000 | shorts1 = 008080 | socks1 = white | website = https://www.roversfc.ca/ }}

'''Simcoe County Rovers Football Club''' is a Canadian semi-professional soccer club based in Barrie, Ontario, that plays in the Ontario Premier League men's and women's divisions.

The club debuted in League1 Ontario in 2022 in both the men's and women's divisions. The men's team won the league title in 2023 and participated in the 2024 Canadian Championship. The women's team won their League1 Ontario Premier league title, as well as the League1 Canada National title at the Women's Inter-Provincial Championship in 2025.

==History== The club was founded in 2021, by former Canadian national team player Julian de Guzman and Peter Raco under the name '''FC Barrie''', who had initially been part of the group forming 1812 FC Barrie, before departing to form their own team.<ref name=changes>{{cite web|url=https://northerntribune.ca/1812-fc-front-office-change/|title=1812 FC Barrie Posts Front Office Changes|first=John|last=Jacques|date=January 23, 2021|work=Northern Tribune}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.barrietoday.com/local-news/league1-ontario-grants-soccer-franchise-to-barrie-but-big-names-missing-from-original-bid-3457936|title=League1 Ontario grants soccer franchise to Barrie, but big names missing from original bid|date=February 25, 2021|first=Shawn|last=Gibson|work=Barrie Today}}</ref>

On July 6, 2021, the club was officially unveiled under the name Simcoe County Rovers FC as a joint partnership between Raco and de Guzman.<ref name=founded/> In August 2021, it was announced that Canadian national team player Cyle Larin was joining the club as a co-owner;<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/2773102/2021/08/16/cyle-larin-simcoe-county-rovers/|title=Cyle Larin becomes part owner of new Canadian club, hopes to develop pathway for young players to reach highest levels|first=Joshua|last=Kloke|work=The Athletic|date=August 16, 2021}}</ref><ref name=larin>{{Cite web|url=https://www.simcoe.com/news-story/10461748-simcoe-county-rovers-announce-co-owner-cyle-larin/|title=Simcoe County Rovers announce co-owner Cyle Larin|date=August 22, 2021|work=Barrie Advance}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.barrietoday.com/local-sports/as-soccer-gains-momentum-in-canada-local-rovers-make-big-moves-4233682|title=As soccer gains momentum in Canada, local Rovers make big moves|date=August 19, 2021|work=Barrie Today|first=Shawn|last=Gibson}}</ref> in December 2021, fellow Canadian national team player Doneil Henry was announced as another co-owner.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.simcoe.com/community-story/10540053-simcoe-county-rovers-fc-add-canadian-international-player-doneil-henry-as-co-owner/|title=Simcoe County Rovers FC add Canadian international player Doneil Henry as co-owner|work=Barrie Advance|date=December 15, 2021}}</ref> In January 2022, Canadian women's team player Janine Beckie also joined the ownership group.<ref name=beckie>{{cite web|url=https://www.thestar.com/sports/soccer/2022/01/13/canadian-soccer-star-janine-beckie-buys-into-semi-pro-simcoe-countys-game-plan.html|date=January 13, 2022|title=Canadian soccer star Janine Beckie buys into semi-pro Simcoe County's game plan|first=Laura|last=Armstrong|work=Toronto Star}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.tsn.ca/meaghen-johnson-janine-beckie-sees-ownership-role-as-a-step-towards-something-bigger-1.1745645|title=Beckie sees ownership role as a step towards something bigger|first=Meaghen|last=Johnson|work=TSN|date=January 14, 2022}}</ref> In April 2022, Atiba Hutchinson also joined the ownership group.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.tsn.ca/canada-captain-atiba-hutchinson-joins-simcoe-county-fc-ownership-group-1.1784971|title=Canada captain Hutchinson joins Simcoe County FC ownership group|work=TSN|date=April 13, 2022}}</ref> Since its formation, the team has been affiliated with youth clubs Barrie SC and Aurora FC (who previously operated a team in League1 Ontario until 2020), and Orangeville-based school Athlete Institute.<ref name=founded>{{cite web|url=https://northerntribune.ca/simcoe-county-rovers-football-club/|title=BREAKING: Simcoe County Rovers Aim For League1 Ontario In 2022|date=July 6, 2021|work=Northern Tribune|first=John|last=Jacques}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.league1ontario.com/news_article/show/1221858|title=A Bluffer's Guide to Simcoe County Rovers|date=April 20, 2022|first=Matt|last=Bates|work=League1 Ontario}}</ref>

On October 21, 2021, it was announced that the club was officially joining both the male and female divisions of League1 Ontario for 2022, acquiring the license of Aurora FC, who did not play in 2021 and joined the Rovers as an affiliate club.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.league1ontario.com/news_article/show/1189846|title=Simcoe County Rovers FC to join L1O for 2022 season|date=October 21, 2021|work=League1 Ontario}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://northerntribune.ca/league1-ontario-simcoe-county-rovers/|title=League1 Ontario Adds Simcoe County Rovers|date=October 21, 2021|work=Northern Tribune|first=John|last=Jacques}}</ref> Both teams played their debut matches on April 24 against Blue Devils FC, with the women winning 3–0 and the men drawing 1–1.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.barrietoday.com/local-sports/rovers-fc-hopes-to-turn-barrie-area-into-soccer-mad-region-as-season-kicks-off-sunday-5279302|title=Rovers FC hopes to turn Barrie area into 'soccer-mad region' as season kicks off Sunday|date=April 19, 2022|first=Shawn|last=Gibson|work=Barrie Today}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.barrietoday.com/membership/features/column-get-on-board-with-the-beautiful-game-rovers-here-to-stay-5295601|title=Get on board with the beautiful game, Rovers here to stay|date=April 25, 2022|work=Barrie Today|first=Shawn|last=Gibson}}</ref>

In 2022, the men's reserve team won the League1 Ontario U21 Reserve Division.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.league1ontario.com/news_article/show/1235183|title=Unionville Milliken and Simcoe County Rovers win reserve titles|date=August 8, 2022|work=League1 Ontario}}</ref>

thumb|Rovers celebrate 2023 League1 Ontario title|right In 2023, the men finished the regular season in second place, earning their first home playoff game,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.barrietoday.com/local-sports/rovers-hosting-playoff-game-for-first-time-at-their-fortress-743788|title=Rovers hosting playoff game for first time at their 'fortress'|date=August 22, 2023|first=Shawn|last=Gibson|work=Barrie Today}}</ref> where they defeated Vaughan Azzurri in the semi-finals, in front of over 1,200 fans.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.collingwoodtoday.ca/local-news/letter-the-jobs-not-done-for-rovers-but-its-pretty-close-to-being-7465433|title='Job's not done' for Rovers, but it's pretty close|date=August 28, 2023|first=Shawn|last=Gibson|work=Barrie Today}}</ref> In the championship final, they defeated Scrosoppi FC to win the League1 Ontario title, thereby qualifying for the 2024 Canadian Championship.<ref>{{cite web|title=Simcoe County Rovers win their first Men's Premier Division title|url=https://www.league1ontario.com/news_article/show/1283249|date=September 3, 2023|work=League1 Ontario}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://northerntribune.ca/2023-league1-ontario-champions-simcoe-county-rovers/|title=Simcoe County Rovers Top Scrosoppi In L1O Men's Final|date=September 3, 2023|work=Northern Tribune|first=David|last=Parkes}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|date=September 3, 2023|work=13th Man Sports|url=https://13thmansports.ca/2023/09/03/simcoe-county-rovers-win-league1-ontario-set-an-example-for-other-clubs/|title=Simcoe County Rovers Win League1 Ontario, Set an Example for Other Clubs|first=Thomas|last=Hewitt}}</ref> Over 600 travelling supporters attended the League1 Ontario final, marking a League1 Canada traveling supporters record.

On April 24, 2024, the club made their Canadian Championship debut, where they were defeated 5-0 by Major League Soccer club Toronto FC, with over 2000 estimated Rovers fans having purchased tickets and attending the match.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.barrietoday.com/columns/playing-field/column-toronto-fc-runs-roughshod-over-upstart-rovers-8649363|title=Toronto FC runs roughshod over upstart Rovers|date=April 24, 2024|work=Barrie Today|first=Peter|last=Robinson}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.sportsnet.ca/mls/article/toronto-fc-crushes-simcoe-county-in-canadian-championship-play/|title=Toronto FC crushes Simcoe County in Canadian Championship play|date=April 24, 2024|work=Sportsnet}}</ref>

In 2025, the women's team won the Premier Division title,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://barrie360.com/scrfcw-win-first-league1-on-title/|title=Simcoe County Rovers women clinch first League1 ON title with 5-0 win over Vaughan Azzurri|date=August 3, 2025|first=Julius|last=Hern|work=Barrie 360}}</ref> qualifying for the League1 Canada Women's Inter-Provincial Championship, where they won the title to become the national champions and the only team from Ontario to have ever won League1 Canada’s national championship.{{cn|date=August 2025}}

In December 2025, Barrie Soccer Club purchased 100% ownership of the club.{{cn|date=December 2025}}

==Players, staff, and ownership== ===Coaching staff=== {{col-begin}} {{col-break|width=33%}} {| class="wikitable" |+Men's team<ref name=coach>{{cite web|url=https://barrie360.com/simcoe-county-rovers-2025-coaching-staff/|title=Simcoe County Rovers FC announce 2025 coaching staff|date=January 22, 2025|work=Barrie 360}}</ref> !Name !Position |- |Randy Ribeiro |Head coach & Sporting Director |- |Vacant |Assistant coach |- |Zack Wilson |Assistant coach |- |Jerry Pennant |Goalkeeper coach |- |Vacant |Team manager |- |} {{col-break|width=33%}} {| class="wikitable" |+Women's team<ref name=coach /> !Name !Position |- |Mike Russell |Sporting Director |- |Zack Wilson |Head coach |- |Randy Ribeiro |Assistant coach |- |Grace Tawil |Assistant coach |- |Jerry Pennant |Goalkeeper coach |- |} {{col-end}}

===Owners=== Rovers Sports and Entertainment Group (RSEG) served as the original owners. RSEG was made up of current and former Canadian National team players, as well as others. The ownership group includes Julian de Guzman, Peter Raco, Kosi Stobbs, Will Devellis, Jason Melbourne, David Zbar, Steve Mantzouranis, as well as Canadian national team players Atiba Hutchinson, Janine Beckie, Cyle Larin, and Doneil Henry.<ref name="management">{{cite web |title=Management & Leadership |url=https://www.roversfc.ca/leadership-team |work=Simcoe County Rovers FC}}</ref>

In December 2025, the Barrie Soccer Club acquired 100% of the Club from RSEG.

===Executives=== {| class="wikitable" !Name !Position !Tenure |- |Will Devellis |President |2026 |- |Andy Wilson |Director of Game Day Operations |2021-present |}

=== Past Executives === {| class="wikitable" !Name !Position !Tenure |- |Julian de Guzman |President & Sporting Director |2021–2023 |- |Peter Raco |President |2024, 2025 |- |Peter Raco |Chief Executive Officer |2021-2025 |- |David Zbar |Chief Marketing Officer |2023-2025 |- |Jamie Massie |Senior Executive Advisor |2021-2025 |}

== Seasons ==

===Men=== {| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;" !Season !League !Teams !{{tooltip|Record|Wins, draws, losses}} !Rank !Playoffs !League cup !Canadian Championship !Ref |- |2022 |rowspan="2"|League1 Ontario |22 |13–5–3 |5th |Semi-finals |– |''did not qualify'' | |- |2023 |21 |15–1–4 |2nd |bgcolor="FFEBAD"|Champions |– |''did not qualify'' | |- |2024 |rowspan=2|League1 Ontario Premier |12 |9–7–6 |5th |– |Finalists |Preliminary round |- |2025 |11 |8–6–6 |4th |– |Semi-finals | |- |}

===Women=== {| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;" !Season !League !Teams !{{tooltip|Record|Wins, draws, losses}} !Rank !Playoffs !League Cup !Inter-Provincial Championship !Ref |- |2022 |rowspan="2" |League1 Ontario |20 |12–5–2 |5th |Quarter-Finals |– |did not qualify | |- |2023 |19 |8–4–6 |7th |did not qualify |– |did not qualify | |- |2024 |rowspan="2" |League1 Ontario Premier |10 |5–6–7 |7th |– |Semi-finals |did not qualify | |- |2025 |10 |14–3–1 |bgcolor="FFEBAD"|Champions |– |Semi-finals |bgcolor="FFEBAD"|Champions | |- |}

== Honours == '''Senior''' *'''League1 Ontario''' **Men's Champions (1): 2023 **Women's Premier Division Champions (1): 2025 *'''League1 Canada''' **Inter-Provincial Cup Winners (1): 2025 *'''Trent Severn Cup''' **Winners (2): 2022, 2023

'''Reserves''' *'''League1 Ontario U-21 Reserve Division''' **Champions (1): 2022

==Notable players== The following players have either played at the professional or international level, either before or after playing for the League1 Ontario team: ===Men=== {{cmn|colwidth=18em| *{{flagicon|ENG}} Ethan Beckford *{{flagicon|CUB}} Orlendis Benítez *{{flagicon|CAN}} Gabriel Boakye *{{flagicon|GUY}}{{flagicon|CAN}} Jordan Dover *{{flagicon|CAN}} Trivine Esprit *{{flagicon|GUY}} Javier George *{{flagicon|CAN}} Ricky Gomes *{{flagicon|CAN}} Luke Green *{{flagicon|CAN}} Ijah Halley *{{flagicon|SVG}}{{flagicon|CAN}} Micah Joseph *{{flagicon|JAM}}{{flagicon|CAN}} Shawn-Claud Lawson *{{flagicon|CAN}} Jevontae Layne *{{flagicon|CAN}} Baj Maan *{{flagicon|CAN}} Reshon Phillip *{{flagicon|CAN}} Jarred Phillips *{{flagicon|CUB}} Alejandro Portal *{{flagicon|CAN}} C. J. Smith *{{flagicon|CAN}} Nathaniel St. Louis *{{flagicon|CAN}} Rahim Thorpe *{{flagicon|CAN}} Reshaun Walkes *{{flagicon|CAN}} Jalen Watson }}

===Women=== {{cmn|colwidth=18em| *{{flagicon|GUY}}{{flagicon|CAN}} Brianne Desa *{{flagicon|JAM}}{{flagicon|CAN}} Yazmeen Jamieson *{{flagicon|CAN}} Holly O'Neill *{{flagicon|GUY}}{{flagicon|CAN}} Rylee Traicoff *{{flagicon|SKN}}{{flagicon|CAN}} Carley Uddenberg *{{flagicon|SKN}}{{flagicon|CAN}} Cloey Uddenberg *{{flagicon|SKN}}{{flagicon|CAN}} Kayla Uddenberg }}

==Club records== Below are current record holders for the club. ===Men=== {| class="wikitable" !Record !Record holder !Date !Ref |- |Largest victory |9–1 vs. Unionville Milliken |June 17, 2023 |{{citation needed|date=February 2024}} |- |Most appearances<ref group=lower-alpha name=all>Includes all competitions</ref> |Shawn-Claud Lawson (76) |2022–present |{{citation needed|date=February 2024}} |- |Most career goals<ref group=lower-alpha name=all/> |Jevontae Layne(30) |2023-2024 |{{citation needed|date=February 2024}} |- |Home attendance |1,180 |August 27, 2023 |{{citation needed|date=February 2024}} |- |Away attendance |2,250 (BMO Field) |April 24, 2024 |{{citation needed|date=April 2024}} |}

===Women=== {| class="wikitable" !Record !Record holder !Date !Ref |- |Largest victory |7–0 vs. ProStars FC |July 12, 2023 |{{citation needed|date=April 2024}} |- |Most appearances<ref group=lower-alpha name=all/> |Adriane Devlin (65) |2022–Date |{{citation needed|date=April 2024}} |- |Most career goals<ref group=lower-alpha name=all/> |Ally Rowe (26) |2025 |{{citation needed|date=April 2024}} |- |} {{Reflist|group=lower-alpha}}

==References== {{reflist}}

{{Sport in Simcoe County}} {{League1 Ontario}} {{League1 Ontario (women)}} {{Ontario Sports}} {{Barrie}}

Category:Soccer clubs in Ontario Category:Ontario Premier League clubs Category:Association football clubs established in 2021 Category:Sports in Barrie Category:Sports clubs and teams in Simcoe County