York United FC Academy

Last updated

York United FC Academy
York United FC Academy.png
Full nameYork United Football Club Academy
Nickname(s)The Nine Stripes
Founded2024
Stadium York Lions Stadium
Owner York United FC
Head coachSilviu Butnaru
League League1 Ontario Championship
2025 L1O-C, 5th
Website https://yorkunitedfc.canpl.ca/
Soccerball current event.svg Current season

York United FC Academy is the youth academy and development system of Canadian Premier League club York United FC, which competes in the League1 Ontario Championship.

Contents

History

Inaugural roster of York United FC Academy in 2025 YUFC Academy 2025.jpg
Inaugural roster of York United FC Academy in 2025

Prior to founding

In September 2022, the club had announced a partnership with the United Football Academy (the relationship no longer exists as of 2023). [1] In 2023, the club announced a partnership with League1 Ontario club Alliance United FC, allowing York to send down players to Alliance to play in some matches with the club. [2]

Launch

In November 2024, it was announced that York United FC acquired a license to enter a club in the League1 Ontario Championship, the second tier of League1 Ontario, a Division 3 league in the Canadian soccer league system. [3] [4] The team's roster will consist of amateur U20 players, along with a maximum of three domestic U23 players, and per league rules the team will be allowed to have up to three first team players loaned to the team's roster for matches. [5] The team will played some of its home matches at York Lions Stadium, the same venue as the first team, with the matches occurring on the same day, resulting in double-headers of matches. [4] [6] They finished their first season in fifth place. [7]

In July 2025, they announced that for the 2026 teams, they would field a second team in League2 Ontario, the third tier of League1 Ontario, which would be a U19 squad, with the first squad becoming a U21 team (increased from U20). [8] [9]

Seasons

SeasonLeagueTeamsRecordRankPlayoffsLeague CupRef
2025 League1 Ontario Championship 1210–5–75thRound of 16

References

  1. "Introducing the United Football Academy, proudly powered and supported by York United FC". York United FC . September 27, 2022.
  2. "York United FC announces key partnership with League1 Ontario side Alliance United". York United FC . April 21, 2023.
  3. "York United FC Academy to debut in League1 Ontario Championship Division next year". Toronto Star . November 14, 2024.
  4. 1 2 "York United FC announce League1 Ontario team for 2025". York United FC . November 14, 2024.
  5. "League1 Ontario grants York United FC Men's Championship Division License". League1 Ontario . November 14, 2024.
  6. Parkes, David (November 14, 2024). "York United To Field Academy Team In League1 Ontario". Northern Tribune.
  7. "York United FC Academy completes inaugural League1 Championship season with strong foundation". York United FC . August 26, 2025.
  8. "York United FC unveils official U21 and U19 teams in academy expansion". League1 Ontario . July 28, 2025.
  9. Jacques, John (July 28, 2025). "York United Expands Academy, Will Field Two League1 Ontario Teams". Northern Tribune.