Valour FC

On May 6, 2017, Winnipeg was one of two cities accepted by the Canadian Soccer Association for professional club membership when the Canadian Premier League was unanimously approved. It was confirmed that Canadian Football League clubs the Winnipeg Blue Bombers and the Hamilton Tiger-Cats were behind the ownership groups. Wade Miller, CEO of the Winnipeg Football Club, was named as the club's president. In May 2018, it was reported that the club would be called Valour FC. On June 6, 2018, the club was officially unveiled as the fourth team to join the Canadian Premier League. As well as confirming its place in the league for the 2019 launch season, the club also revealed its crest, colours and branding. On June 26, the club named Rob Gale as the first head coach and general manager. In the overall standings, Valour ranked 6th of 7 teams in the inaugural 2019 season, and then 6th of 8 teams in the pandemic-abridged 2020 season. In the 2021 season, Valour's home stadium IG Field hosted the league's centralized bubble where each team played their first eight games of the season behind closed doors. On September 23, 2021, while in 5th place, Valour FC sacked head coach Rob Gale and named Phillip Dos Santos as his replacement. Despite a late push, Valour remained in 5th place at the end of the season, missing the playoffs by one point. In 2022, Valour finished with 37 points (their highest-ever point total) but still finished 5th in the league and missed the playoffs by nine…