Toronto Football Club and the Windsor Stars announced a partnership today that will see the two organizations work closely together to build a model professional and amateur sport partnership. Toronto FC will support Windsor as a regional satellite club, providing professional technical player and coaching development at the youth level. The club will be called Windsor TFC.

“Toronto FC is proud to partner with Windsor Stars in a long term relationship that will be beneficial to both clubs,” said Kia Toronto FC Academy Director Laurent Guyot. “Providing a clear player pathway for the young athletes in Windsor and Ontario is imperative to the success of our club. This is an exciting time for our club and we are looking forward to the great accomplishments Windsor Stars and Toronto FC will achieve.”

Windsor Stars has a long history of representing the Essex County soccer community at the highest levels of amateur soccer in Ontario and are active in League 1 Ontario. With this partnership with TFC, Windsor Stars will receive technical and tactical direction, fitness guidance and other relevant assistance from members of the Toronto FC Academy staff. In addition, it provides a direct pathway for our high potential athletes who aspire to become professional players.

“Toronto FC is Ontario’s team, not only the GTA’s,” stated Vancho Cirovski, Windsor Stars President. “We in Windsor and Essex County are delighted to help stretch TFC’s support for developing soccer at the outskirts of Ontario as its first satellite program. The Windsor Stars have a proud history and with the technical direction of the TFC staff, we can reach new heights through a clear player development pathway for our region. TFC and the Stars have a long term perspective that will deliver development opportunity for players, coaches and excitement for our fans.”

The partnership between Toronto FC and Windsor Stars will include development programs for players, with TFC coaches making trips to Windsor to provide coaching instruction and technical training. Windsor coaches will also make a number of trips per year to Toronto FC’s Kia Training Ground to observe and learn best practices from TFC’s staff.