Club Update
Summary
- Welcome to match week 11. On the road at UBC to face Nautsa’mawt FC.
- Game recaps from a match week vs Rivers FC in Kamloops.
- News Shorts: Juan de Fuca Plate Updates, Rovers Community Giving Fund, & Final Prideraiser totals
- More fun: TSS Youth Corner, Goals of the Week, Rovers Merch and just cool stuff
This Week’s Opponent
Match week 11: July 8, 2023
We returned from Kamloops last weekend with 3 points from the men’s team and a tough loss from the women’s team. With three weeks left in the season, the men’s team sits joint top of the league (first on goal difference) but we need results to stay there. Our final game against Highlanders on the last weekend is looking more and more like it will settle the league championship. The women’s team is in fifth place, 2 points out of a playoff spot.
The season is still far from over but there are games to play before then and this week, we are on the road, up at UBC, to keep our season rolling.
Saturday, July 8
- Nautsa’mawt FC Women (8-2-2, 1st ) v TSS Rovers Women (4-2-5, 5th ) 1:00 pm @ Thunderbird Stadium, UBC
- Nautsa’mawt FC Men (3-5-4, 5th ) v TSS Rovers Men (7-2-2, 1st ) 3:30 pm @ Thunderbird Stadium, UBC
Location: Thunderbird Stadium, UBC
TV: None
Tickets: Online or at the gate.
Our last match of the year in the Lower Mainland sees us renew our rivalry with Nautsa’mawt FC. On the women’s side, Nautsa’mawt started strong out of the gate, but they have not been in invincible form lately. They still lead the league and sit atop a pack of three teams, with the Whitecaps and Unity chipping away at them. On Saturday, the Whitecaps dispatched their local rival 2-1 to get within one point of first place and so Nautsa’mawt will be desperate for points to put some distance behind them and the ‘Caps. We currently sit 5th in the women’s division. A result this week will be crucial to our chances and could spoil the party for Nautsa’mawt.
Nautsa’mawt have two former TSS Rovers in their side: Jenna Baxter (2018) and Mia Pante (2022). They are a solid team, composed mostly of UBC Thunderbirds players.
On the men’s side, this was the team we beat in the Cup Final last year, although they are a very different side this season. The men’s division is the mirror image of the women’s and, while we retain top spot in the league, Nautsa’mawt sits 5th at the moment. A 1-1 Canada Day draw against Whitecaps did them no favours. Our form has been scintillating of late, and that will need to continue if we are to settle the league title before facing Highlanders in Victoria. There are no easy games in this league and every match counts. Our fate is in our hands.
Nautsa’mawt features former professional defender Joe Zupo, who was recently interviewed by Taya Shokkar for AFTN. Worth a read. And speaking of AFTN, Michael McColl has published a great set of articles detailing what the run-in looks like for both the men’s and women’s divisions going into our final four weeks.
Last Week’s Recap
Women’s Team
Rivers FC 2 Rovers 1
It was a stinking hot afternoon in Kamloops as our women’s team took on Rivers FC. Without a win on the season, it would be easy to take Rivers for granted, but they showed that in this league, anything can happen. Rivers opened the scoring at 23’ with their Albanian international Esi Lufo scoring on Kirsten Tynan. Nikki Virk, who had an absolutely incredible game on the wing, notched the equalizer at 40’, but another late goal in the 84’ sank us. It was another late heartbreaker under tough conditions. We look to regroup next weekend at UBC.
Men’s Team
Rivers FC 0 Rovers 3
The only thing hotter than the temperature in Kamloops was Niko Papakyriakopoulos, who netted his second goal in as many games to open the scoring at 29’ and then set up Massud Habibulah at 31’ for the second goal of the game. A Rivers straight red card at 38’ slowed the game down, and, without parking the bus, we held the ball and our lead for the rest of the game, to the delight of the handful of travelling Swanguardians, who chanted “ole!” at our multiple 10+ pass strings. Congrats to TSS product Brennan Slawter who got his first minutes as a Rover in added time at the end of the match. AFTN Photo Album
News Shorts
Rovers Community Giving Fund
Awasi Rovers in Kenya
The pitch space has been created and now we are in a rush to plant seeds before the monsoon season. The stuff we are learning about grass growing in Africa is something else! The new Awasi Rovers’ pitch sits right near a school and we hope this becomes a central reason to get young people to school so they can enhance their education. Football is a game changer!
Prideraiser 2023 – Final totals for JUNE
With last week’s four goals and a matching donation from the TSS Rovers Community Giving Fund, The Swanguardians finished their 2023 Prideraiser campaign in support of Rainbow Refugee at $4718.00. To put this in perspective, across all supporters’ groups in Canada, as the campaign draws to a close, approximately $15,000 has been raised, meaning that our little club has raised close to a third of that. Never has the slogan “Together One” meant more.
Game Recaps and More
Don’t be afraid to jump on the Swanguardians new website or the Spirit of the Rovers Supporter Trust site to get up to date info and game recaps from some of the greatest supporters on earth!
We Lied – Share Offering Going and Going and Going…
Okay so between Front Fundr and Rovers management we decided to keep open the offering until the very last minute. first because of some investor requests and secondly to see if anyone might want to jump on board as we go down to the wire in our quest for another Canadian Championship berth. We have topped 425 co-owners of this club and your friends and family could be next. Forward this newsletter to them and the link to buy in.
Investor link: https://www.frontfundr.com/tssrovers
League1 BC
For up to date standing and to watch past games head to the League1 BC website and the League1 BC youtube channel.
Forza Rovers! #WeAreRovers
#TogetherStandingStrong
#TogetherOne
TSS Rovers Youth Corner – Juan de Fuca Plate – Goals – Streetwear
Youth Corner – Rovers U17 Girls Win the BC Provincial A Cup!
Another milestone in TSS history as the mini pirates showed up for a first ever Provincial final at the U17 girls level. The young ladies played their hearts out and with about five minutes to spare sealed a historic victory. With half the lineup underaged the mini Rovers were crowed champions. Be sure to keep an eye out for some of these players as they push for League1 minutes next season. Congrats gang!
Rovers are back in the thick of the Juan de Fuca Plate race.
A really important part of Rovers Football club is literally supporting the supporters. You get what you give and that relationship is both ways. A big part of BC soccer history is the supporter shield known as the Juan de Fuca Plate. This historically has been awarded to the winner of home and home matches between teams at the semi-pro layer. Rovers have won it twice and last year due to League1 BC starting it became a combined points total between men and women for all the clubs at League1 level. Varsity, now known as Nautsa’maut FC were the well deserved winners. You can find out more about the Juan de Fuca Plate on their twitter account and also keep up to date on the standings.
Team of the Week – League1
Follow along on social media and at the League1 BC website to see all of the players of the week and Team of the Week nominations. Congrats to all the TSS Rovers who have been on the TOTW so far.
All the Goals of the Week – Owner and Spirit of the Rover’s OG, Paul Roche is always scouring to find the goals so keep an eye on his twitter handle to see if he can find this week’s goals! Here’s the link.
TSS Rovers Street Wear
Check out the t-shirts, ball caps and hoodies as Rovers begin to produce top quality gear to show you are cool and represent the best pirates on the planet.
See the whole lineup here.
