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TORONTO — The Toronto area is getting a new soccer team, with former Toronto FC trailblazer Jim Brennan leading the way.

Brennan, TFC’s first captain and player signing, is part-owner of the York 9 Football Club, which will help kick off the Canadian Premier League’s inaugural season in 2019.

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Brennan is part of a local ownership group that includes Carlo Baldassarra, chairman and CEO of Greenpark Group, and Preben Ganzhorn, president of York Sports and Entertainment.

Brennan, who also served in Toronto FC’s front office after retiring as a player, is executive vice-president and director of soccer for York Sports.

York 9 joins Hamilton, Winnipeg, Halifax, Calgary, and a group in B.C. — dubbed Port City, B.C., but yet to announce its location — as CPL clubs.

The new pro men’s league is expected to have 10 members by the end of the year with eight taking part in the 2019 season. Edmonton and Ottawa are widely expected to be among those joining the lineup.