April 11 2024
Forge FC to kick off season Saturday in Hamilton against Calvary FC
Nearly five months since Forge FC captured their fourth league championship in five seasons, the Hamilton-based club is ready to return to action as they prepare to host Cavalry FC on Saturday to help kick off the 2024 Canadian Premier League (CPL) season.
Despite being the most successful club in league history, head coach and sporting director Bobby Smyrniotis says it’s important for his team not to get complacent.
“Last year we didn’t have continental competition for the first year in all of our existence, and I think that’s something the players missed,” Smyrniotis says.
“We got that taste back this year with those two games against Chivas and I think that’s where you want to be.”
While there were some notable departures this off-season, including last year’s leading scorer Woobens Pacius and long-time goalkeeper Triston Henry, Forge FC captain Kyle Bekker is confident with the group.
“We’re ready to get going…I think we got a good group here,” Bekker says.
“We brought in some new faces the last couple of weeks to keep it competitive, which is very important and I think they’re going to add something different to our group.”
Off the field, business operations staff have also been working hard to ensure they deliver the best match day experience for their fans in the league.
“The town has come to recognize the caliber of the coaching and the players,” says Courtney Stephen, senior director of brand and consumer marketing.
“We want to reflect on the stadium experience. When they come to Tim Hortons Field, we want them to feel this is a first-class place.”
Forge FC has a planned theme night for every home game this season, including hosting a school day game for the first time in franchise history next month.
“We’re bringing kids from all over the Greater Hamilton Area to experience Forge FC first-hand because at the end of the day, it’s really all about the kids,” Stephen says.
Saturday’s Forge FC game is part of a season-opening triple-header for the CPL, with the season running until October.
WATCH MORE: Forge FC star Tristan Borges on his CPL championship winning goal
