Ottawa Intrepid

National Capital Pioneers (1987)
Ottawa Intrepid (1988–90)

Founded	1987
Dissolved	1990
Stadium	Aydelu Park (Aylmer, QC) Terry Fox Stadium (Ottawa, ON)
Capacity	approx. 2,000
Owner	Ottawa Professional Soccer Society
League	Canadian Soccer League

Ottawa Intrepid was a professional soccer team based in Ottawa, Ontario that competed in the original Canadian Soccer League. They were founded as the National Capital Pioneers (also spelled National Capitals Pioneers) and played in Aylmer, Quebec in 1987, before being re-structured for 1988 as the Ottawa Intrepid and moving to Ottawa.^[1][2]

History

The club was an original member of the original Canadian Soccer League founded in 1987, under the ownership of local businessman Earl Himes.^[3][4] In their inaugural season they were known as the National Capital Pioneers.^[5]

The Pioneers played their home games in 1987 across the Ottawa river at Aydelu Park in Aylmer, Quebec.^[6][7] With the CSL adopting the playing rules of FIFA in which games must be played on natural grass, the Pioneers were forced to play in Alymer since Lansdowne Park, a much larger CFL football stadium in the city of Ottawa, had artificial surface which forced the club to seek a playing surface in Aylmer, QC for the 1987 season.^{[citation needed]} Aylmer offered the club 51% of the park plus concession rights for the ability to have a club in the national league play in the city.^[8]

The Pioneers hosted the league's inaugural match on June 7, 1987, in Aylmer, Quebec against the Hamilton Steelers in a 1–1 draw, in a steady drizzle, in front 2,500 spectators.^[9][10][11] That season they finished with a 7–9–4 record, placing second in the CSL's Eastern Division with 23 points.^[12] The Pioneers hosted the 3rd place Toronto Blizzard in the 1987 CSL Eastern Semi-Final and lost a 2–1 decision to the visitors at Aydelu Park.^[13]

The Pioneers were managed into bankruptcy in their inaugural season, but the club was re-structured and renamed as the Ottawa Intrepid.^[5][14] They moved into Terry Fox Stadium in Ottawa for the 1988 season, which seated approximately 2000 spectators.^[7][15] In 1988, the Intrepid finished the season with an 8–11–9 record, finishing 4th in the CSL Eastern Division, failing to qualify for the playoffs.^[14]

For the 1989 season, the club brought in national team player Paul James as the club's player-coach signed US national team forward Ted Eck who led the league in scoring with 21 goals. The club finished with a 7–11–8 record, once again finishing fourth in the Eastern Division and missing the playoffs.^[14][16]

In 1990, Drew Ferguson and Ted Morawski became the team's coaches.^[17] The club finished with a 2–15–9 record, finishing in sixth.^[18] The club ceased operations following the season,^[14] marking the end of professional soccer in the city until 2014 when Ottawa Fury FC was founded.^[19]

Notable players

• John Bain
• Iain Baird
• Lloyd Barker
• Patrick Diotte
• Ted Eck
• Don Ferguson
• Drew Ferguson
• Peter Gilfillan
• Gerry Gray
• Lyndon Hooper
• Paul James
• Joey Kirk
• John Limniatis
• Peter Mackie
• Mike McAnenay
• David McGill
• Ed McNally
• Tom Panhuyzen
• Mirosław Piękoś
• Tom Soehn
• Mark Watson

Seasons

as National Capital Pioneers

Season	League	Record	Rank	Playoffs	Ref
1987	Canadian Soccer League	7–9–4	2nd, East	Quarter-Finals	[20]

as Ottawa Intrepid

Season	League	Record	Rank	Playoffs	Ref
1988	Canadian Soccer League	8–9–11	4th, East	Did not qualify	[20]
1989		7–8–11	4th, East	Did not qualify
1990		2–9–15	6th, East	Did not qualify

References

1. "National Capital Pioneers Franchise History (1987)". Stats Crew.
2. "Ottawa Intrepid Franchise History (1988-1990)". Stats Crew.
3. "Pioneers to appear four times on TSN". The Ottawa Citizen. March 31, 1987.
4. Litterer, Dave. "The Year in American Soccer - 1987". Sover. Archived from the original on March 3, 2009.
5. "Intrepid Still Kicking". The Ottawa Citizen. July 13, 1989.
6. Bunke, Trevor (June 7, 1987). "Pioneers Primed for Kickoff". The Sunday Herald.
7. Deachman, Bruce (July 14, 2014). "Football and soccer 101: For all you non sports fans". Ottawa Citizen.
8. MacDonald, Archie (February 26, 1987). "Soccer rebirth". The Vancouver Sun. p. F3. Retrieved January 18, 2015.
9. Gomez, Boris (May 28, 1987). "Ravens become Ottawa pioneers". The Charlatan. p. 10.
10. Lovegrove, Don. "CSL '87 Preview - Toronto-Hamilton Rivalry Renewed on Soccer Pitch". CSL Memories. Hamilton Spectator.
11. "Histoire du Championnat et de la Coupe du Canada" [History of the Championship and the Canada Cup]. Impact Soccer (in French).
12. Holder, Gord (March 2, 2019). "Ottawa's Fury Road: Five years in, can pro soccer find its footing in the capital?". Ottawa Citizen.
13. "National Capital Pioneers". Canada Soccer History Archives.
14. "National Capital Pioneers/Ottawa Intrepid (1987-90)". CSL Memories.
15. Crossley, Andrew (August 29, 2015). "1988-1989 Ottawa Intrepid". Fun While it Lasted.
16. "1989 Ottawa Intrepid Statistics". Stats Crew.
17. "Ottawa Intrepid Rosters". NASL Jerseys.
18. "1990 Ottawa Intrepid Statistics". Stats Crew.
19. "Fury FC Home Opener". Ottawa Citizen. April 21, 2014.
20. "Canadian Soccer League Standings Archive". Canada Soccer History Archives.