Vince Ursini | |
---|---|
Chairman/President of Canadian Soccer League | |
In office 2011–2016 | |
Preceded by | Domenic Di Gironimo (as CSL commissioner) |
Succeeded by | Dragan Bakoc |
Chairman/President of Canadian Professional Soccer League | |
In office 2000–2005 | |
Preceded by | Michael Di Biase |
Succeeded by | Cary Kaplan (as CSL commissioner) |
Personal details | |
Born | September 19,1960 |
Alma mater | Ivey Business School of University of Western Ontario |
Occupation | Accountant |
Vincent Ursini (born September 19,1960) is a Canadian accountant,former soccer executive,and stage actor.
Originally a soccer player Ursini drifted to the administrative duties of soccer. Initially serving at the regional association levels he ultimately was elected to the Ontario Soccer Association board of directors. During his tenure with the Ontario Soccer Association,he became involved with the Canadian Professional Soccer League (CPSL). In 2000,he was named the chairman/president of the CPSL and established the league within the Ontario soccer structure. In 2005,he was elected to the Canadian Soccer Association board of directors as the director of finance.
He returned to the CPSL in 2011 under the re-branded name Canadian Soccer League (CSL) under the same capacity of chairman/president. After his resignation from the CSL in 2017 he became involved with the Blackhorse Village Players Theater in Caledon,Ontario as a stage actor.
Ursini graduated from Ivey Business School at the University of Western Ontario in 1983 with a bachelor's in business administration. [1] [2] He found employment in financial services as an accountant and consultant. [2] He originally played soccer before transitioning to an administrative capacity in the North York and York Region soccer districts. [3] [1] He played at the college level with the Western Mustangs,where he received the Duncan A. McLarty Award in 1982. [4] He became involved with the Ontario Soccer Association (OSA) as the association's treasurer and served on the executive committee. [3] During his tenure with the OSA,he contributed to the planning and construction of the Ontario Soccer Centre in Vaughan,Ontario. [3] When the Canadian Professional Soccer League was sanctioned by the OSA in 1998 he served in the capacity of a league director,and later as the league's treasurer. [3]
In 2000,he was appointed the president/chairman of the CPSL. [5] Throughout his incumbency,he was able to acquire a television deal with Rogers TV,which enabled the launch of the CPSL Soccer Show which garnered the highest ratings of any other Sunday program shown on the channel. [6] [7] [8] [9] Sponsorship agreements were made with Primus Canada,and the Government of Canada. [10] [5] In 2001,the Canadian Soccer Association (CSA) initiated a task force named the Canadian United Soccer League (CUSL),which formed a working partnership with the CPSL and the Canadian franchises in the USL A-League to forge a unified professional structure in the hopes of forming a Canadian first and second division domestic league. [11] [12] [13] A player agreement was conducted with the Toronto Lynx of the USL A-League,which provided the Lynx access to any CPSL talent upon request. [14] [15] Another notable achievement was the opening of their domestic cup the Open Canada Cup in 2003 to all Canadian professional and amateur clubs to provide a potential candidate for the CONCACAF Champions' Cup. [16] [17]
In 2005 at the CPSL Annual General Meeting,he announced his resignation to fully delegate his time to his OSA obligations,and to seek election to the CSA board of directors. [18] In May 2005,he was elected to the CSA executive committee as director of finance. [19] [20] [21] He served as the head of delegation for the Canada men's national soccer team during the 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification (CONCACAF). [22] He was a member of the local organizing committee for the 2007 FIFA U-20 World Cup. [22] In 2009,he was awarded the Aubrey Sanford Meritorious Award and shortly after resigned from the committee. [23] [24] When he returned as chairman of the board to the CSL in 2011 he was granted a seat on the CSA Professional Soccer Committee as it was sanctioned by the CSA.
In 2011,he returned to his previous occupation as the chairman of the Canadian Soccer League (CSL) renamed from the CPSL in 2006. [25] The league's membership under Ursini's second administration expanded to a record amount of 28 teams in 2012 with 16 in the First division and 12 in the Second division. [26] Their media coverage was broadened with a television agreement with CogecoTV,and the reintroduction of their weekly television program was picked up by Rogers TV. [27] In 2013,the CSA unexpectedly de-sanctioned the CSL without due process. [28] The decision was made to implement the James Easton Report (Rethink Management Group Report) for the adoption of a new professional soccer structure. [29] [30] [31] [32] As a member in good standing,Ursini represented the CSL in their appeal to the Sport Dispute Resolution Centre of Canada (SDRCC). The sport arbitrator ruled that the CSA had the right to de-sanction the CSL,but ruled that the immediate decisions conducted by the CSA were unreasonable and coercive. [33] [34] [35] [36] The sports arbitrator forced them to reinstate sanctioning to the CSL until the next season for the CSA to fairly implement the Easton Report. [37] [38] [39]
In 2014,CSA expelled the CSL from its membership which forced the league to operate as a private league for the first time since the 1997 season in its predecessor league,and became a member of the Soccer Federation of Canada. [40] [41] Since the CSA de-certification of the CSL,several reforms and achievements were made under Ursini as the restrictions on import players were lifted,and a working relationship was formed with the American Soccer League (ASL). [42] [43] [44] A television agreement was made with Ethnic Channels Group,and beIN Sports to broadcast their television program,and revived their sponsorship deal with Givova in 2016. [45] [46] [47] [48] Affiliations were formed with the Ontario Youth Soccer Association to establish a YSA Division to house the CSL academy teams and with the Canadian Corporate Soccer League in developing a structure of competition for the city's corporate clubs in Toronto. [49]
Ursini is also involved with the Blackhorse Village Players as a stage actor,where he has appeared in plays such as A Red Plaid Shirt,The Psychic,Office Hours,and TheRed Velvet Cake War. [50] [51] [52] [53]
The Canadian Soccer League championship final or CSL Championship is the post-season match of the Canadian Soccer League (CSL) and is the successor to the CNSL Championship. The winner is crowned champion in the same manner as in other North American sports leagues. This differs from other top soccer leagues around the world which consider the club with the most points at the end of the season to be the sole champion. It is a Non-FIFA championship match that was previously sanctioned by the Canadian Soccer Association (CSA) but is now affiliated with the Soccer Federation of Canada (SFC).
C.N.S.C. Toronto Croatia is a Canadian soccer team based in Toronto,Ontario,that plays in the Supergroup Open Division in the Canadian Academy of Football. The team's colours are red,white and blue,similar to those of the Croatia national team.
London City Soccer Club is a Canadian soccer team founded in 1973. The team is currently a member of the Canadian Academy of Soccer League. The team plays their home games at the Milton Community Sports Park in the town of Milton,Ontario. The team's colours are red,black and white. Formed on Valentine's Day of 1973 by Markus Gauss in order to field a London entry for the National Soccer League after the departure of German Canadian FC. The Gauss family ran and provided the city of London a professional team for 38 years. Under their tutelage the club was most notable for providing an opportunity for young players to develop in a professional environment.
The North York Astros were a Canadian soccer team that was founded in 1990. The team initially played in the National Soccer League. The team played their home games at Esther Shiner Stadium in North York,a district of the city of Toronto,Canada. The team's colours were orange and black. The club was originally named North York Atletico Argentina Soccer Club,and witnessed instant success in its initial stages. After a merger with North York Talons,and a relocation to Scarborough the team was eventually renamed the North York Astros. The Astros were a founding member of the Canadian National Soccer League's successor league the Canadian Professional Soccer League in 1998.
St. Catharines Roma Wolves,are a Canadian soccer team,founded in 1967. The team currently plays in the semi-professional League1 Ontario in both the men's and women's divisions. The club is a former member of the Canadian Soccer League (CSL),where it fielded a professional team from 1998 to 2013,and now operates youth teams in the Peninsula Soccer League. Teams play out of Club Roma in St. Catharines,Ontario in the Niagara Peninsula. The team's colours are dark red and white,mimicking those of the famous Italian club A.S. Roma.
York Region Shooters is a Canadian soccer team,that plays in the Canadian Soccer League. The Shooters played their home games at the St. Joan of Arc Turf Field in the City of Vaughan,Ontario. The team's colours were blue and white,mirroring those of the Italy national team and reflecting the cultural heritage of the club. The club had also competed under various different names as Vaughan Sun Devils,Vaughan Shooters,Italia Shooters,and finally as York Region Shooters.
The 2006 Canadian Soccer League season was the 9th season for the Canadian Soccer League. The season began on May 19,2006,and concluded on October 15,2006,with Italia Shooters defeating Serbian White Eagles,1–0,at Esther Shiner Stadium to win their first CSL Championship. In the regular season Serbia clinched the International Division,and Oakville Blue Devils secured their first National Division title. The league was re-branded as the Canadian Soccer League,and renamed their two existing conferences into the International and National division. The changes brought about an increase in sponsorship,media coverage,and a 50% increase in attendance. The CSL also received greater autonomy from the Ontario Soccer Association. The league struck an agreement with the Toronto Community News which provided coverage for the league and its member clubs through their nine community newspapers.
The 2005 Canadian Professional Soccer League season was the 8th season for the Canadian Professional Soccer League. The season began on May 21,2005 and concluded on October 10,2005 with Oakville Blue Devils defeating Vaughan Shooters 2-1 to win their first CPSL Championship. The final was played at Esther Shiner Stadium,which gave North York Astros a playoff wildcard match. In the regular season the Vaughan Shooters won their first Eastern Conference title,while Hamilton Thunder secured their third Western Conference title. The league increased in membership with the return of the Laval Dynamites. For the first time in the league's history the CPSL introduced a Women's Canada Cup tournament,which included 6 district all-star teams from the existing men's soccer districts.
The 2003 Canadian Professional Soccer League season was the sixth season for the Canadian Professional Soccer League. The season began on May 24,2003 and concluded on October 5,2003 with the Brampton Hitmen defeating Vaughan Sun Devils 1-0 to capture the CPSL Championship. The victory marked Brampton's first championship title,and the final was played at Cove Road Stadium in London,Ontario. During the regular season the Ottawa Wizards and the Hamilton Thunder won their respective conferences. Ottawa became the second CPSL franchise to go undefeated throughout the regular season.
The 1999 Canadian Professional Soccer League season was the second season under the Canadian Professional Soccer League name. The season began on May 28,1999,and concluded on October 2,1999,with Toronto Olympians defeating Toronto Croatia 2-0 to claim their first CPSL Championship. The Olympians made history by becoming the first club in the league's history to achieve a treble. For the second straight season,they went undefeated for the entire season. The league also introduced their first All-Star match where the CPSL All-Stars faced the CSA Development team.
The Canadian Soccer League is a semi-professional league for Canadian soccer clubs primarily located in the province of Ontario,and claims the history of the Canadian National Soccer League (CNSL). It is a non-FIFA league previously sanctioned by the Canadian Soccer Association (CSA),but now affiliated with the Soccer Federation of Canada (SFC). As of 2024,it consists of six teams,all located in Ontario. The season usually runs from May to October,with most games played on the weekend followed by a playoff format to determine the overall champion.
Brantford Galaxy Soccer Club was a semi-professional Canadian soccer club based in Brantford,Ontario,Canada,with their home venue located in Hamilton,Ontario at the Heritage Field Turf. The club competes in the Canadian Soccer League,a league not sanctioned by a FIFA-recognized body. The Galaxy were formed in 2010 as an expansion franchise. In their first season Brantford recorded a milestone by becoming the first expansion franchise in CSL history to claim a CSL Championship in their debut season. After their championship season the club faced several problems ranging from change of ownership,to philosophical differences within team management,and to a lack of commitment from feeder clubs resulting in the team missing the postseason in two straight years.
The 2011 Canadian Soccer League season was the 14th since its establishment where a total of 28 teams from Ontario and Quebec took part in the league. The season began on Saturday 6 May 2011,and concluded on 29 October 2011. Toronto Croatia won their fourth championship in a 1–0 victory over Capital City F.C. in the CSL Championship final at Centennial Park Stadium in Toronto. The regular season saw SC Toronto claim their second regular season title,while Mississauga Eagles FC B won their first Second Division championship. The season saw an increase in membership to 14 teams the largest number since the 2002 season. The new entries saw the return of professional soccer to the communities of Windsor,Mississauga,and Ottawa.
Mississauga Eagles FC were a Canadian professional soccer team founded in 2010 that played in the Canadian Soccer League for two seasons. The Eagles were owned and operated by the Erin Mills Soccer Club and played at the Mississauga Hershey Field in the city of Mississauga,Ontario. In 2013,Erin Mills SC withdrew their franchise from the league after the CSA no longer decided to sanction the CSL.
The 2013 Canadian Soccer League season was the 16th since its establishment where a total of 21 teams from Ontario took part in the league. The season began on May 3,2013,and concluded on November 3,2013. SC Waterloo captured their first championship in a 3–1 victory over regular season champions Kingston FC in the CSL Championship final at Kalar Sports Park in Niagara Falls,Ontario. Waterloo became the first club to win both the First and Second Division championships in one season. While Toronto Croatia B won the second division regular season title.
The 2014 Canadian Soccer League season was the 17th since its establishment where a total of 20 teams from Ontario took part in the league. The season began on May 24,2014,and concluded on October 26,2014. York Region Shooters won their second championship in a 5–4 victory in a penalty shootout over Toronto Croatia in the CSL Championship final held at Esther Shiner Stadium in Toronto. York Region became the second club in the league's history to produce a perfect season,and championship after the Toronto Olympians in the 1999 season.
The Canadian Soccer League Awards is an annual awards ceremony for several individual performances at the end of the season. The event was established in 1998,when the Canadian National Soccer League merged with the stillborn Ontario Professional Soccer League to form the Canadian Professional Soccer League. The ceremony has been traditionally held at awards banquet at the end of the season with the exception in 2008,2009,and 2010 where they were given out before the CSL Championship final. In 2010,the league began distributing awards to the Second Division for the first time.
Joe Fletcher is a Canadian former soccer referee from Niagara Falls,Ontario. He is currently the manager of senior assistant referees for the Professional Referee Organization.
The 2013 season was York Region Shooters's 16th season in the Canadian Soccer League. The club returned to the top four by finishing second in the First Division,and finished in the top four with the best offensive,and defensive record. The organization qualified for the playoffs for the 11th consecutive season,but saw an early departure in the preliminary round. Their reserve side managed to also play in the postseason by finishing seventh in the Second Division. Their playoff journey began with victory in the opening round,but were eliminated in the following round. The club`s top goalscorer was Richard West with 19 goals who managed to end Kadian Lecky`s seven year streak.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)