| Metro Lions Football Club
FOUNDATION
Metro Lions FC was formed in 2002 to participate in the Canadian Professional Soccer League (CPSL). When I joined the club in 2002, Arnold Milan was the Owner, and Anthony Ayo was the President with a vision of success that included importing players from his native country Ghana.
Bill Dixon was the club’s General Secretary and Treasurer and the pendulum by which the business evolved. Francois Glasman was part of the Administration in some capacity at the time. Although his involvement ran under the radar based on run-ins with the soccer establishments, he proved a valuable asset to Mr. Milan in the long run.
Metro Lions Head Office was at 3881 Chesswood Drive in North York, and the need for a home field was first and foremost. Anthony (Tony) La Ferrara was the Coach of the new franchise, and I was appointed as the Club’s Liaison person. My function was coordinating and improving relations with the Scarborough Soccer Association to accommodate plans for the club to play out of Birchmount Stadium in Scarborough.
My experience in soccer is vast, and I was familiar with the Scarborough Soccer Association (SSA) and the CSL (formerly CPSL) Board of Directors. Securing Birchmount Stadium was not a problem, but the challenge was to develop a relationship with SSA by tempering inflated egos.
It was a familiar setting for me since Birchmount Stadium was where Caribbean Stars previously played its home games in the Canadian International Soccer (Puma) League and held its Annual Sports and Family Day event. The logistics were in place, and all was going well. Metro Lions was approved
About Metro Lions 2002 Changes
Then came an unfortunate set of circumstances that changed how the club did business. Anthony Ayo was removed as the President, and Francois Glasman was no longer present in operation. I was hired as General Manager and was focused on providing a competitive team.
Metro Lions played away games until the natural grass surface of Birchmount was ready for use. The away games posed challenges to a new franchise, but La Ferrera surrounded different opponents.
it was at that time the incident surrounding the Caribbean Stars Annual Indoor Tournament at Mount Joy Stadium in Markham, Ontario, was
As the person who organized the Indoor Tournament, I was contacted to verify or collaborate accusations towards a member of the Metro Lions Executive that circulated at the facility. Unable to assist, I was informed that Anthony Ayo was removed as President.
In short order, Aldwyn McGill was appointed the President and General Manager of Metro Lions and was asked to inform that as the Owner and Anthony Ayo was the President with Metro Lions Football Club
FOUNDATION
Metro Lions FC was formed in 2002 to participate in the Canadian Professional Soccer League (CPSL). When I joined the club in 2002, Arnold Milan was the Owner, and Anthony Ayo was the President with a vision of success that included importing players from his native country Ghana.
Bill Dixon was the club’s General Secretary and Treasurer and the pendulum by which the business evolved. Francois Glasman was part of the Administration in some capacity at the time. Although his involvement ran under the radar based on run-ins with the soccer establishments, he proved a valuable asset to Mr. Milan in the long run.
Metro Lions Head Office was at 3881 Chesswood Drive in North York, and the need for a home field was first and foremost. Anthony (Tony) La Ferrara was the Coach of the new franchise, and I was appointed as the Club’s Liaison person. My function was coordinating and improving relations with the Scarborough Soccer Association to accommodate plans for the club to play out of Birchmount Stadium in Scarborough.
My experience in soccer is vast, and I was familiar with the Scarborough Soccer Association (SSA) and the CSL (formerly CPSL) Board of Directors. Securing Birchmount Stadium was not a problem, but the challenge was to develop a relationship with SSA by tempering inflated egos.
It was a familiar setting for me since Birchmount Stadium was where Caribbean Stars played its home games in the Canadian International Soccer (Puma) League and held its Annual Sports and Family Day event. The logistics were in place, and all was going well. Metro Lions was approved as a member of the SSA, and Birchmount Stadium was secured as the home field. The stage was set for a unified front as the club focused on player personal and promoting and marketing its brand. ….. Stay Tune
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