Q3-Q1: Looking Back & Looking Forward

They did it once again, the FC Winnipeg Royal Lions repeat as World 90 Canadian League Champions! They closed off a wonderful season in exciting fashion as usual, winning their final game of the season 6-0 over the Saint Patricks to clinch the title in the final game of the season. If you think it could not have been closer than the previous year when the Royal Lions won the title by a 1-point margin over FC Leo July you would have been wrong. At the end of the season they finished tied with prestigious football club SSP with 91 points. The FCW Lions however won the tie-breaker which came down to +/-. They boasted the best +/- in the league of +114, easily beating that of SSP who had a +90.

In the process of capturing the title, the Royal Lions also set a club record scoring 151 goals this past season, many of them coming from Loic Eglisfield. At season's end, Eglisfield tied Davonte Bridge of the Boondock Saints for the Golden Boot award with 32 goals.

"To repeat as champions is special. I'm paid the big bucks to go out there and score, and I try to do that every opportunity I get. To be tied for the goal lead at the end of the season shows I've just been doing my job. The Golden Boot is a nice award to receive, however another Championship is really what is special here. It feels great, once again" said Eglisfield.

Eglisfield was also re-signed mid season despite fans being unsure whether or not manager Tuté Fruy would have the resources to resign him. It is clear now that he did have enough resources, as Eglisfield will be back for three more years.

The top three scorers at the end of the season were:
Loic Eglisfeld - 32
Curtis Gelbart - 17
James Walton - 17

Another high scorer to note was Trevion Collins who picked up 16 goals in just 18 matches. "I felt like my old self," said the 38 year old Collins. "I managed to be effective every time I stepped out on the pitch, and the second Championship feels just as good as the first". Collins was contemplating retirement after this season, but even after two Championships in a row Collins stated "there is still a job for me to do on this team. I still have a strong role to fill, and have shown I can do it effectively. With free agency, and funds at a stand still, I believe I am still needed, and would like to continue to provide leadership and captaincy to this team".

From players who played up to their great potential such as Martha, and Cabese, to players who had standout seasons such as James Walton, the mood was exuberant. "I think it is just as special (as the first time)," said young goalkeeper Martha. "We have the same group of guys here. Teams change a lot of the years, but we have finally come to a point where we want to maintain this same group of guys. We're a championship team, and everyone gets along. We want to be a part of this team, and a part of this group of guys. It's great".

Season 11 Results:

World 90 Canada - 29-4-5, +114, Champions

The team looks exactly the same as it prepares for season 12. No moves were made in the off-season, and no players were let go either. Perhaps this "same group of guys" can bring a third title in a row to Winnipeg. An important date to put on your calender is 9/19, the FC Winnipeg Royal Lions season opener against Barriaera F.C.C. The Royal Lion's home opener is a day later on 9/20 versus Yukon Yeti FC.

Q2: So Far, So Good

It is still early in the season, but after fourteen games, the FC Winnipeg Royal Lions have managed to be the team on top of the Canadian League once again. The standings this year however are much tighter. The top eight teams in the league are only separated by eight points, a very small margin. The FCW Lions (11-2-1) are the team atop that eight point gap, ahead of second place by four points.

"It really speaks to the importance of perfection, and consistency," said Martha who has backstopped the team to a league low of seven goals conceded. "You make one mistake, on one play, that may be the difference between a couple of rankings in the standings. Near perfection is needed."

The FCW Lions have not been perfect, but they have played well, boasting the best +/- in the league. With 53 goals for (tied for 1st), and only 7 goals against (1st), the team is a +46. The next best rating is +35 held by fourth place FC Bigfoot.

"Plus-minus is a tough statistic to grasp for some. A team could finish perfect at 38-0-0 and be a +38. It's nice to be ahead in that category, but the only category we care about finishing at the top of is points," said defender Dumets who has four goals this season.

The top three scorers at Q2 are:
Loïc Cabese - 8
Trevion Collins -8
Loic Eglisfeld - 7

Many thought this would be Captain Collins last year before retirement, however an all-star performance has the captain looking like his old self.

"We'll obviously see how the year goes, and I'll make a decision in the off-season. Retirement is the last thing on my mind, and I do still consider myself a goal scorer. I'm not seeing the field as much as in the past, but every time I step on I want to be a game changer. I want to set an example of how to play, I'm the leader of this team," stated Trevion Collins.

We hope to see you cheering on the Royal Lions for what could be another championship run at the MTS Centre for the FCW Lions next game on 8/11 Vs #14 Hamilton Hawks (2-6-6).

New Jerseys Unveiled

Yesterday, the FC Winnipeg Royal Lions released what will be their new set of jerseys for season 11. Both Eglisfield, and Cabese were there to sport the new look, and sign autographs for many eager fans. Here are how the new jerseys (left) compare to the old jerseys (right).
L-R (New-Old)

"I think it's exciting," said Eglisfield. "It is something to get the fans more involved. It's a sleek new look, maybe it will make me more aerodynamic! With that said, we still want to win another championship. We might look good on the field with these new kits, but we need to continue to play good".

"It's good for the fans I agree," Cabese added. "It is another reason to celebrate this team, and to get behind them for what should be another exciting season".

One excited fan who wished to remain anonymous commented on the jersey by saying "I am glad they didn't make any drastic changes to the jerseys. It keeps the same traditional look, the familiar look, and modernizes it slightly. It's a very nice upgrade. It keeps the look we all liked, and adds to it".

The auctions were also a success, raising large amounts of money for charity. The overall reception of the FCW Lion's new look seemed to be positive and only a day later, record numbers of jerseys are flying off the shelves. Be sure to pick up yours before the home opener!

Q1: Season 11 Preview; New Jerseys, Same Team

Coming off a Canadian Championship in season 10, the FC Winnipeg Royal Lions management have decided to keep the team more or less the same as last year. Only three free agent signings were made, all of who will strengthen the depth of a strong Lions roster.

Here is the list of free agent signings by the FCW Lions this off-season:

31 year old - Lassana Douillard (Canada) GK - $196,000 p/y 1-year
30 year old - Dossevi Leeds (Canada) D - $256,000 p/y 1-year
29 year old - Layton Pichot (Canada) D - $126,000 p/y 1-year

Both Leeds and Pichot will see playing time off the bench, and will help to strengthen the depth at the defense position. Douillard will be the backup goalkeeper to Martha, and although he knows he will not be acquiring a lot of playing time, he could not pass up the opportunity to play for a championship caliber squad.

"Martha is one of the most talented young keepers I have seen play the game. At 31 years old, I have opted to choose a substitute role in order to be a mentor to a fantastic talent. In reality, it might be him who teaches me a few things though" Douillard said with a laugh. "I know I will not receive much playing time, I knew that coming in, but I could not pass up the opportunity to play with such talent, and have a chance at a championship ring".

In other news, long time backup goalkeeper Phil Digby was released, and announced his retirement shortly after. He started 131 games making 419 saves over eight seasons with the FCW Lions. "It was a good run, I love the city of Winnipeg, and loved the team. I feel the talent of the league has outgrown me, and at age 33, am ready to move onto other things" said Digby.

Many players were available for comment, including James Walton, who has won a Canadian Championship two years in a row. First with Leo July, now with the Royal Lions.

"I think we have all had a good off season. Training has started up and everybody seems to be in shape. In this day and age, teams are ever changing. It is nice to see the same faces back again this year. It helps the chemistry, and I know from the past two years, teams do in fact need chemistry to bring home the title" - James Walton

Captain Trevion Collins who turned 37 years old last week agreed. "We all had fun celebrating the championship, but now it is back to work. It's nice to see familiar faces, this is a good team, there was no reason to make major changes. I can't wait for the season to begin, I feel we can challenge for another title. If the race is as tight as last season, it should be exciting" said Collins.

23 year old Boudewijn Martha now has both a league championship, and a world championship in just five years with the Lions. "I play football because it's fun, I enjoy it, and I love the sport. It is more fun when you win however. I challenge myself to play my best every game, and give my team a chance to win week in and week out. We all need to play our best. I need to make the saves, Eggy (Eglisfield) has to score, Cabby (Cabese) has to defend. Everyone else needs to do their job as well. Last year it was a whole team effort to win a championship. This year will be no different" Martha stated.

Rumors swirling around a new set of jerseys for the team were confirmed, and should add to the excitement of the new season. The new jerseys will be unveiled tomorrow in the press grounds of the MTS Centre. Fans are welcome to join the team in the announcement. Loic Eglisfield, and Loïc Cabese will be present to help unveil, and try on the new jerseys. They will be signing autographs, and we will be auctioning off two brand new FCW Lions jerseys signed by the two players. All funds will go to charity.

An important date to put on your calender is 7/27, the FC Winnipeg Royal Lions season opener against Fantasista Futbal Club. The Lions' home opener is on 7/28 against LJ Gang Green, the second place team that finished a single point behind the Royal Lions last year. It is highlighted to be one of the best games all year so get your tickets, the game is almost sold out!

Q2-Q4: The Championship Journey

The FC Winnipeg Royal Lions are Season 10 Canadian League Champions! They began the season 19-1-0 before finally losing, and showed the type of dominant play needed to win a championship all season long . They pumped out wins week after week, but despite posting a 33-2-3 record, with a +/- of +118, clinching the title was no easy feat. Leo July, former champions, forced the Royal Lions to play dominant football each and every day finishing second, only a single point behind. Third place Boondock Saints who finished only four points behind in the standings also fought hard to challenge for the title, beating the FCW Lions 3-2 in the second last game of the season to prevent the Royal Lions from clinching the title a week early.

The dominant season came down to a final game against ninth ranked AS Forza. After easily winning the first meeting 6-1, the Royal Lions may have felt the pressure. They were played close the whole game, and the lone strike by defender Cabese in the 69th minute managed to hold up for the game winner, and championship clincher.

"It is unreal," stated Cabese. "We had confidence going into the final game against AS Forza, but they played us really well. Martha had to make some good saves early on to keep us in it. About my goal, I just ran up to the top of the box and got the ball. I was on one foot so I had to swing my leg around to get a good shot, it managed just to curve by the keeper."

Some might forget however the 33rd game of the season where the FC Winnipeg Royal Lions faced off against Leo July after tying their first match 2-2 earlier in the season. After Searcy received a red card in the 30th minute, and LJ Green took a 1-0 lead five minutes later, the FCW Lions had a large hole to climb out of, against a great team. Gelbart scored in the 71st minute to tie the game, before Lorenco won it on a goal two minutes later. The stadium erupted as the team seemed to do the impossible, and win a game which in the end, won them a championship.

Young goalkeeper Martha, who won a world championship with the FCW Lions at age 18, now has his first league championship at only age 22. He was a big factor in the championship win, conceding only twenty goals all season long. His six save clean sheet in the final game of the season was needed to win 1-0.

"This is amazing. I do not think it has really set in yet. I felt confident all game long, all season long really. This is a great team. I don't know what else to say, it's awesome," said Martha.

The top three scorers at the end of the season are:
Loic Eglisfeld - 26
Curtis Gelbart - 22
Loïc Cabese - 15

The Royal Lions leading scorer Loic Eglisfield sat out the final game due to flu like symptoms, however was celebrating as much as he could after the game. "I still feel sick symptom wise. Yet I have the best feeling in the world at the same time. I knew I had the chance to be called in, but Cabby showed why he's one of the best offensive d-men in the world when he put in that ball."

Manager Tute Fruy thanked all the players individually after the game, and stated "there is nothing to say. The players did it, and earn it, congratulations to all of them. This is simply fantastic".

Although this championship means a lot to all players, perhaps none wanted it more than team captain Trevion Collins. Although Collins was considered to be playing 'off the bench', he still made 21 appearances scoring 8 goals, and started in the final match of the season. He's played in all of the Royal Lions' eight seasons and is finally rewarded.

"This is it. This is what we play for. I've been with this team since the start, and it feels sweet. It's still a little unbelievable. I'm the captain, I am supposed to be able to find words, but right now I can't. This and the Season 6 World Championship, there is nothing that compares. There is nothing quite like when hard work pays off. What a year, and what a team to play for".

The FC Winnipeg Royal Lions smashed club records for most goals for (142), least goals conceded (24), and +/- (+ 118), and earned a championship title in dominant, and exciting fashion.

Season 10 Results:

World 90 Canada - 33-2-3, +118, Champions

Stay tuned for a Q1 article which will deliver next season's preview for the team. In the meantime, celebrate the championship! Congrats to the FC Winnipeg Royal Lions for winning the Season 10 Canadian League Championship!

Q1: Season 10 Preview

Following a fantastic Season 9 where the FC Winnipeg Royal Lions finished with their best point total and +/- ever, the Lions made very few changes to the team roster. Four new faces will be seen on the pitch however, as french manager Tuté Fruy managed to sign four solid free agents.

Here is the list of free agent signings by the FCW Lions this off-season:

31 year old - James Walton (Canada) M - $233,000 p/y 2-year
29 year old - Dorsey Searcy (Canada) M - $126,000 p/y 2-year
28 year old - Fabrice Kellett (Canada) D - $126,000 p/y 2-year
32 year old - Charlie Hermach (Canada) M - $101,000 p/y 1-year

With the four free agent signings, the Royal Lions were able to add great depth at midfield, a midfield which should have the ability to both attack and defend with ease. Trevion Collins, who will remain the captain of the team for Season 10 commented on the team's outlook.

"We had a solid team last year, and with a lot of the same guys coming back, I see no reason why we cannot challenge for our first Canadian title again this year," said Collins. "We signed four new players which will have a positive impact on this squad, and enhance our chances of victory. I believe we have enough talent to do it, we just need to work hard every game, and limit mistakes".

Collins will once again be considered a substitute player this season despite remaining team captain. That has not however stopped his production. Last year he was third in scoring on the team with 12 goals, despite playing 'off the bench'.

The Royal Lion's fans and media have often referred to the 'Big Three' as being their biggest shot to win a title. Those three players are all-star defender Loïc Cabese, goal-scoring forward Loic Eglisfield, and young goalkeeping stud Boudewijin Martha. To win a title though, every piece of the puzzle will need to click.

"We need a full team of guys," Martha stated, "and that includes guys off the bench. Collins is a good example of that, everyone can make an impact whether they play thirty-eight games or one game. All three of us (Eglisfield, Cabese, Martha) know we have to lead the team, however we are the first to admit we need the rest of the team to win a championship. There are a lot of guys on this team who do not get the recognition they deserve. We have a lot of good players, not just three, that's why we have a good chance of winning".

James Walton, a free agent signing who won the championship with Leo July last year knows they will be the team to beat again this year. "They really are great. I treasure my four years there but it was time to move on. On the other side of that, I also know how good the FCW Lions are. Luckily I'll have the chance to play for the best once again, just this time it is for a different team".

For the third straight season, the FC Winnipeg Royal Lions will play their season opener @ lets go. The match takes place on 6/2. We expect to see you out at the home opener versus Vancouver Blast FC on 6/3! Few tickets remain!

Q4 Summary

The FC Winnipeg Royal Lions finished season nine with their best point total, and +/- since the club formed. They finished 28-4-6, and managed to finish third in the Canadian League. The owner and staff were pleased with the clubs accomplishments, and look forward to maintaining a strong team for the next season despite having a tight budget.

The top three scorers at the end of the season are:
Loic Eglisfeld - 23
Curtis Gelbart - 22
Trevion Collins - 12

Season 9 Results:

World 90 Canada - 28-4-6, +88, Third Place

World 90 Champions Tournament - 2-2-2, +2, 2nd Group D

Stay tuned for an introduction of the FCW Lion's off season signings, as well as a Q1 & Q2 deluxe article release!

Q2 & Q3: Double Bonus Article!

If you are one of those lucky enough to get your hands on the Q2 & Q3 Double Bonus Article, then you are probably reading this right now. As an update, the FC Winnipeg Royal Lions are having another competitive season, currently sitting in 3rd place with a record of 20-2-5 for a total of 62 points. They trail second place by only a point, and are nine points back of an undefeated Leo July. Captain Trevion Collins who has 11 goals in 21 games so far this season, was quite pleased with the team's work.

"Last year at this point in the season, things were looking ugly" stated Collins. "Mind you, we did turn around and finish with thirteen straight wins, but we are in a much better position now then we were then. We have to finish strong. Leo July is a great football squad, yet we are only nine points back. It is going to be tough, to top them, but it is still possible. Either way, we would love to fight for second to capture our third runner-up position for this club".

The FCW Lions are not having a bad World 90 Tournament at 2-2-2. Three years ago they won the tournament, however have failed to qualify for the playoffs since. They are currently in a very competitive pool that has a potential of a four way tie for first place with eight points. If the Boondock Saints beat Netherlands FC, chances are the FCW Lions will qualify due to +/-, if not, their hopes will be extinguished once again.

The top three scorers at Q3 are:
Loic Eglisfeld - 20
Curtis Gelbart - 11
Trevion Collins - 11

Eglisfeld leads the team with 20 goals, and will be around for at least three more years. He signed a contract extension, taking a pay cut to $1.75 mil in exchange for a hefty signing bonus.

"I was signed to a one year contract, so it was nice to get a deal done. When you see large contracts such as mine, those players often bounce to five teams in five years. While that is an adventure, it is nice to stay in one place. Winnipeg has been good to me, in return, I hope I will be able to use my offensive skill set to bring them home their first League Championship, or perhaps another World Championship. It is a great city, and a prestigious team." - Loic Eglisfeld

In other news, rumors have been swirling around that French manager Tuté Fruy may retire in the next few years. Perhaps an odd coincidence that it is set to be around the same time that future hall of fame forward Trevion Collins is set to retire. 35 year old Collins will have one year remaining on his contract at the end of the season.

Fruy commented "I would absolutely love to pick up a league championship before retirement, but so does every manager. Years are running thin, but my main focus is the team right now. Retirement plans will only be thought off in a year or two during the off-season". Fruy also added that he would likely buy in to the Dominicus Florinus Ownership Group, a group that owns four clubs internationally (FCW Lions, FCS Birds, FC Hiroshima, Halle), so that he can remain a part of the organization.

All in all, the FC Winnipeg Royal Lions are piecing together another successful season in which they hope will result in at least a second place finish.

"We will have to try hard" stated the young but talented goalkeeper Martha. "There have been a couple games this season where we don't finish, or we let the other team capitalize on few chances. If we fight hard the entire game, games like that won't happen, and only then will we be at the top".

We hope to see you at the MTS Centre for the FCW Lions next game on 5/8 Vs #10 Futbol Club De Montreal (14-6-7).

Q1: Season 9 Preview

The FC Winnipeg Royal Lions finished last season on a hot streak by winning twelve of their last thirteen games. Players, staff, and fans all hope that the team can ride that wave of momentum in order to start as strong as they finished in the last season. If the team is able to play well throughout the entire season, the FCW Lions' first Canadian championship in the club's seventh year may be within reach.

The signing process was not as hectic as the previous year when the Royal Lions struggled to field a team of eighteen, however big dollars were spent on some big name free agents. In order to make salary space, midfielder Pemton Florent had to be transferred out. The 29 year old Canadian scored 22 goals in 71 games for the FCW Lions over two years and was transferred to USA's ATX Austin Zuzeca Soccer Club for $875,000.

"I understand why I had to be moved," stated Pemton Florent. "They felt they were getting all-star players and needed to make room for their massive contracts. The two and a half years I've spent at this club has been stressful. Management really has changed the team drastically from what it looked like when I came in. Hopefully for them they can continue to eat these large salaries, and start to form a consistent and successful roster for the long term. I look forward to playing in the states".

The FC Winnipeg Royal Lions made a massive disturbance in the free agent market by acquiring two big name players, 25 year old forward Loic Eglisfeld, and 27 year old defender Loïc Cabese. Between the two players, the team shelled out close to $4-million dollars, the effect on the team's bank account will remain to be seen.

"I really wanted to ship in the star players these fans deserve to see," stated the owner of the team. "We had quite a bit of excess cash from lack of salary, and player transfers and used it to acquire two all-star caliber players. We actually still have a fair bit of cash left. We're going to expand the MTS Centre immediately in order to maximize revenue. One can expect to see the capacity to be at least 30,000 for the first home game."

Here is an entire list of free agent signings by the FCW Lions this off-season:

27 year old - Loïc Cabese (Canada) D - $1.76m p/y (+$300,000) 2-year
28 year old - Abidal Agnew (Canada) M - $601,000 p/y 1-year
27 year old - Curtis Gelbart (Canada) F - $101,573 p/y 1-year
30 year old - Parnell Klein (Canada) M - $112,000 p/y 1-year
25 year old - Loic Eglisfeld (Canada) F - $2.12m p/y 1-year

*Signing bonus amounts are in brackets

Goalkeeper Boudewijn Martha was the first who made comment on the signings by saying "It is nice to see the team go out and get some big names. Some of those salaries are crazy, but the inflation in the market nowadays is crazy too. Hopefully those whopping contracts are worth it. I already talked to Cabese over the phone, talking about his defensive style. If he is as good as they say, he should be able to make my job easier by locking down the other team's key forwards."

Brahim Dumets was a bit stand-offish about the large amounts of money being spent. "I have been here five years. Never have I seen a club, I don't know how to say it politely, appearing more desperate for fire power". When reached for further comment he added "What I said stands. I mean, I love playing on successful teams and all, but it is a management tactic. We'll see. I guess that's why I'm not in management".

Season 9 has a lot of promise for the FC Winnipeg Royal Lions, and an exciting atmosphere has been created through the anticipation of getting to see the free agent acquisitions. The arena expansion has also created a buzz among the town where soccer has never been so exciting. Thousands of fans are expected to flood the MTS Centre with the arrivals of Loïc Cabese and Loic Eglisfeld next week. Autograph signings, jersey sales, and special giveaways will be taking place at the day long FCW Lions Season 9 Prep Event.

"It's a nice change of pace. Last season was hectic, management kind of forgot about the fans," stated 35 year old captain Trevion Collins. "It is nice to see an electric atmosphere. I think they are sparked by the signings, the stadium, and of course our hot finish last season". When asked to comment on the large salary signings he stated "It's sport. When sport progresses and top athletes become rare, that stuff happens. Babe Ruth was once signed for about $3000. Price inflates. And over the past seven years we have seen just that".

For the second straight season, the FC Winnipeg Royal Lions will play their season opener @ lets go. The match takes place on 4/9. We expect to see you out at the home opener versus Vancouver Blast FC on 4/10! Few tickets remain!

Lambeth FC Admits To Cheating

Just a week after the World 90 Canadian League came to an end crowning Lambeth FC league champions, owner Alanasdad admitted to cheating by using multiple teams in the same league to transfer both players and funds to benefit Lambeth FC. The farm team, Forest City, was removed from the league. LJ Gang Green who finished second place will be named "People's Champion", and the true winners of last season. The FCW Lions would have finished 5th. A discussion on the reasons for cheating, and semi-apology can be seen here: Lambeth FC "I Cheated"

Q4: Season 8 Year in Review

A team with a sub-par record of 13-2-11 sat in 11th place after two thirds of the season. The fans and media alike were already making excuses that it was a rebuilding year and that there was nothing left to salvage. Big name acquisitions from the off-season were sold in hopes that the team could bring in new talent next year. Then it happened.

The team began to click, as if it were magic. The Lions got their roars back and became a force to reckon with in Q4. They finished with a Q4 record just 2 points (1 draw) shy of being absolutely perfect. They went 11-1-0, acquiring 34 points out of a possible 36, and cruised up the standings to finish 24-3-11 in sixth place, the same position as last year.

Jamison Bault who is set to be an unrestricted free agent in the off-season commented on his year in Winnipeg by saying "It was great. We had a fantastic run at the end of the season and sort of proved to everyone we still were a good team despite our troubles. I am going to be a free agent yes, but I will definitely consider coming back to the Royal Lions if they put in an offer".

"This is a team, that went through another whirlwind this season", said young all-star goalkeeper Martha. "It makes it hard on the players. But really, by the end of the season, the pressure was off, we just wanted to prove we knew how to play despite the distractions. We did just that". 20 year old Boudewijn Martha played in 34 games for the FCW Lions this season, and will be back next year. He signed a five-year contract extension for $230,000 p/y.

The top three scorers at the end of the season are:
Trevion Collins - 17
Jamison Bault - 10
Pemton Florent - 9

Despite only playing in 26 games this year, Collins led the team once again with 17 goals. He started as a backup/assistant coach, however was needed after the team parted ways with Barry and Klein.

"I was overjoyed to be back on the field as a starter", said 34 year-old Collins, "I'm getting older but I still love to play. I thought coaching off the bench would satisfy me but it was a rough start, and I felt more in control when I played. This team did something fantastic in the last third of the season, and I am grateful I was a part of it".

The FC Winnipeg Royal Lions managed to find a great amount of heart to play with and led to a positive relationship with the fans.

"It is pretty passionate out there now. There has been a lot of emotion and drama flying around which turns off some fans, but how the team united through the distractions is amazing. Everyone hopes the stadium expands. Everyone wants a ticket" - quote from "Ted", FCW Lions fanatic

Season 8 Results:

World 90 Canada - 24-3-11, +43, Sixth Place

World 90 Champions Tournament - 2-4-0, -1, 3rd Group B

On a side note, the FCW Lions would like to offer their congratulations to Dominicus Florinus Ownership Group member FCS Birds on their World 90 Championship Title!

Stay tuned for the following upcoming articles:
Cheating Champions: Lambeth FC Abuses the System
An Interview With Trevion Collins
Q1 Article: Season 9 Preview, which will list the FCW Lion's off-season acquisitions.

Q3: Looking to the Future

With only twelve games remaining in the regular season, the FCW Lions have begun looking to the future. Over the past week the Royal Lions transferred out Barry, Klein, and most recently, Giovanny Church. 31 year old Giovanny Church played in 95 games for the FCW Lions as a midfielder and picked up 11 goals. He was transferred to Great Plains FC for approximately $140,000. The FC Winnipeg Royal Lions had a Q2 record of 6-1-6, and are now 13-2-11 falling to 11th place.

Captain Trevion Collins who has regained his full-time starting position stated "We have accepted that we will finish as a middle of the pack team. The management have set up well for next off-season, and hope to try once again to build up what I would consider as a successful franchise".

The top three scorers at Q3 are:
Trevion Collins - 7
Pemton Florent - 6
Gerald King - 4

Midfielder Gerald King who is third on the team in scoring said "It's tough to take a season like this. We have been a very competitive team the last few years, to have a rebuilding year, it's weird". The rest of the team seemed to agree with this statement

The owner of the FC Winnipeg Royal Lions said that he was "happy off-loading three heavy contracts, and getting the bonus of a transfer fee for players that he probably would not have had the funds to re-sign". He expects to be a big threat in the free agency market next year, and hopes he can build his team up the right way this time.

We hope to see you at the MTS Centre for the FCW Lions next game on 3/14 Vs #6 SSP (16-2-8).

Don't forget to set your clocks ahead one hour!

FCW Lions Transfer Window Sellers; Barry, Klein Shipped Out

Just three weeks into the transfer window, the FC Winnipeg Royal Lions decided not to salvage the season, and look forward to next year. The Royal Lions transferred out their two top forwards. Elijah Barry who scored 2 goals in 14 games for the Lions was bought by Flying Goat FC of the USA for $660,000. The Royal Lions will also be reimbursed the $200,000 remaining on Barry's salary. The other top forward shipped out who will be missed for his production was Christian Klein. Klein who has 12 goals in 19 games for the Lions was bought by MaltonHG of the Netherlands for $325,000. The Royal Lions also will be reimbursed the $317,460 remaining on Klein's salary.

Boudewijn Martha who just came off a 16 save performance in a 2-2 draw commented on the matter. "We'll miss those guys. It's always rough to see good players go, but management figured we could not afford them for where we are in the standings and stuff like that happens". When asked on whether or not he was close to coming to a contract extension that needs to be signed in the next 5 weeks he stated "There is no doubt in my mind I will re-sign here. Money will not be an issue as we have off-loaded some high salaries. I won a world championship as an 18-year old here, I love the city and want to stay".

Only Klein was available to reach about leaving the city. "It was a nice short stint", he said. "Unfortunately I came in at a time where the team was in a rough patch. Transfers are a part of the sport. I look forward to competing with MaltonHG".

Jannigjen Bujis was transferred to the Royal Lions from MaltonHG in order to make space for Klein. The abysmal goalkeeper will polish shoes for the team before his contract expires in the off-season. The FCW Lions also acquired Yacine Daniel from free agency to be a back-up forward. They signed him for $24,651 for the remainder of the season.

Q2: Signs of Off-Season Disaster Showing

Just thirteen games into the season it is clearly evident that this will be a rebuilding year as the FCW Lions owner had originally said. The Royal Lions have a 7-1-5 record, and are currently sitting in 9th. They have outscored their opponents 23-14 and are a plus 9. The FC Winnipeg Royal Lions are on pace for their worst season since their first year in the league.

Trevion Collins who is acting as an assisting coach and back-up forward said "It is frustrating. There have been multiple games this season where we out-opportune, and out-play opponents in every aspect of the game and still end up losing. Unfortunately, it might take us a year or two to get back to where we were and begin clicking. With that said, we are still in the top half of the league".

The top three scorers on the team at Q2 are:
Christian Klein - 6
Pemton Florent - 3
Gerald King - 3

The top goalkeeper is Martha who has made 40 saves in 11 games. He has 6 wins on the season. "Like Collins said, it's frustrating. I haven't been playing my best. To have the ball down field all game and not score, and then have the other team get a couple rushes and put the ball in the net so easily, it just isn't right".

The FC Winnipeg Royal Lion's team owner made it clear that no one's position was concrete with another transfer window approaching. Rumors have it he is currently looking to offload one or two of his top forwards in order to get out of some money trouble.

We hope to see you at the MTS Centre for the FCW Lions next game on 2/28 Vs #17 Kahnawake starz (2-2-9).

Royal Lions Eliminated From World 90 Tournament

After dropping their first four World 90 Tournament games, the FCW Lions have been eliminated from the tournament. They will finish the tournament 2/19 @ Red Land Fusion. It was a disappointment, although no surprise after the team struggled to field a full roster for the start of the season.

In other news 30 year old Phil Digby was re-signed to a two year $52,465 p/y contract. He has played in 120 games for the FCW Lions as goalkeeper, and will be the backup to Martha. 29 year old Branddun Mendy was signed to a two year $68,444 p/y contract as a depth midfielder. Last year he scored 7 goals in 36 games for Kingston.

The FCW Lions are 3-0-2 so far this season ranked 10th.

Q1: Season 8 Preview

With season 8 approaching, the FC Winnipeg Royal Lions have managed to avoid complete disaster, and have the minimum 18 players required on the roster. They do hope to be strong competitors like every other year, and will not use the past season's confusion as an excuse.

Pemton Florent commented "It was my first year here this past season and there was great confusion. I was released to free agency but decided to come back. I did so because I know we have a competitive team, and city here, and it gives us a shot at winning".

There is a positive aura going around the dressing room, even though seven of the returning players were released to the market at the end of last season.

"It's tough for all players, those released, those not" stated Trevion Collins. "It's tough for the staff too. But the players cannot give up. If the players give up the team is lost. Kudos to the staff to get some key names resigned. All that is left is to sign some depth over the length of the season. We went from a state of panic to 'everything will be alright'. We have confidence in ourselves."

Despite the "state of panic" the team had some crucial resignings, as well as the signing of three big name scorers. The team managed to resign the following players this off-season:

27 year old - Vibert Caravallo (USA) M - $128,000 p/y 1-year

31 year old - Giovanny Church (Canada) M - $200,000 p/y (+$72,000) 1-year

31 year old - Dirk-Heijndrikse Dierckx (Netherlands) D - $150,000 p/y (+$50,000) 1-year

28 year old - Pemton Florent (Canada) M - $500,000 p/y (+$272,000) 1-year

28 year old - Herbert Hamner (Canada) D - $200,000 p/y (+$50,000) 1-year

28 year old - Gerald King (Canada) M - $165,000 p/y (+$50,000) 1-year

22 year old - Bartleah Kays (Canada) D - $75,000 p/y 1-year

The three new acquisitions the FCW Lions made were all forwards. Expect to see goals coming from:

26 year old - Elijah Barry (Canada) F - $400,000 p/y (+$167,237) 1-year

32 year old - Jamison Bault (Canada) F - $150,000 p/y (+$50,000) 1-year

25 year old - Christian Klein (Canada) F - $666,666 p/y (+$100,000) 1-year

*Signing bonus amounts are in brackets

Players let go included Kelan Corsie, Phil Digby, Ardolph Evans, Brennen Gaskins, Charlie Henry, Jeremain Kolk, Bryan Price, Sallsbury Routledge, Alex Stewart, and Silvestre Trelawney.

34 year old Charlie Henry announced his retirement shortly after and commented on his time with the Royal Lions:

"It has been great. I love soccer and I will miss playing, but most of all I will miss this great organization and town. I have no regrets and thank them for the opportunity late in my career."

Henry scored 58 goals in 119 games for the FCW Lions, and captured a league scoring title in season 3 with 25 goals.

Season 8 has a lot of questions that the Royal Lions will need to answer. No one is sure where the team will end up in the standings. There has been no mention of when the World 90 Tournament is slated to start, however the Royal Lions will be participating again this year hoping for redemption. The team will need to sign depth throughout the season and is expected to sign first and foremost a backup goalkeeper. Martha is the only goalkeeper they have currently.

"I'm fine with it" stated Martha jokingly. "I'll play all 38 games, I'd love to. However I know it is a tough sport, fatigue and injuries do occur, I'm not blind to the reasoning".

The team hopes to start off on the right foot, and answer some of the questions about their ability on 2/14 @ lets go.

Season 7: Year in Review

Coming off a World 90 Championship, and a Canadian second place finish in season 6, expectations were through the roof for the Royal Lions heading into season 7. Unfortunately, the FCW Lions crumbled under pressure, and got ousted in the second annual World 90 Tournament in a tough round robin pool. On top of that, controversy began to settle in among the staff, reporters, and players. As you know, the writers of the FCW Lions Weekly went on strike, but that was only the beginning. Many of the staff who worked for the Royal Lions also went on strike, and owner tute_fruy fired two head coaches before coaching the team himself for the remainder of the season. With an extreme lack of organization, re-negotiating expiring contracts was impossible during the season, and left the Royal Lions with only eight players under contract at season's end.

But more about that later. What we are really here to talk about is the results of season 7. The Lions finished 22-7-9 with 73 points and a +/- of 44. Although it was not their worst season statistically, it was their worst placement since the team's inaugural season. They finished sixth place, only 7 points out of second, but 25 points back of first place LJ Gang Green. Trevion Collins, one of the eight players still under contract, was named Team MVP for the second year in a row finishing in the top 5 for scoring in Canada with 23 goals. He also broke a milestone scoring his 100th career goal, currently having a total of 112 in his career. Hot prospect and starting goalkeeper Martha was also under contract at season's end. At age 20, he started in 34 out of the 38 season games and continues to develop.

The messy situation within the FCW Lions organization is under a clean-up process assures owner tute_fruy. He would not let any player comment on the matter, but did release some facts himself:

"We are taking this as a sort of rebuilding year. That is not to say we do not want to be competitive. Currently we have re-signed, and signed new players in free-agency, and are one below the roster minimum. As the season goes on, we will likely use game revenue to purchase depth players for the team. I feel we may even have a stronger starting line-up than last season, and just need to fill out the bench. I will announce the signings once we have assured an 18 player roster for the upcoming season."

Season 7 Results:

World 90 Canada - 22-7-9, +44, Sixth Place

World 90 Champions Tournament - 2-4-0, -2, 4th Group D

Stay tuned for the Q1 article: Season 8 Preview, which will list the FCW Lion's off-season acquisitions.

Strike over, article becomes quarterly

After a season long strike of the FC Winnipeg Royal Lions Weekly, it has returned in form of a Quarterly article. Articles will be posted at the pre-season mark, the thirteen game mark, the twenty-six game mark, and the post-season mark. Also, articles may be posted around important events, even if it is not the quarterly mark yet. The FCWRLQ will submit a season 7 review sometime in the near future before submitting the first quarterly article, a season 8 preview. We apologize for the inconvenience.

January-04-10 Lions Update

After a sub par first week to the season, the FCW Lions managed to shape up, and have begun to produce amazing results. They are once again looking like the strong team they were at the end of last year. They have caught fire, and have not lost in eleven league games, nine of which were wins, two of which were draws. The expectations for a great season are enlightened, and the unlimited potential this team has is in plain sight. They are in second place, currently seven points behind a strong Leo July team.

The past week the Royal Lions went 6-1-0. Here are the results:

12/28: W 4-2 Renegades #5
12/29: W 2-0 Vs Ontario FC #11
12/30: W 2-0 @ Lambeth FC #2
12/31: W 5-2 Vs Futbol Club De Montreal #12
1/1: W 3-1 @ FC Bigfoot #4
1/2: W 3-0 Vs Cardinal FC #13
1/3: D 2-2 @ Warriors #18

Winnipeg goal scorers for the week:

Brahim Dumets - 4

Pemton Florent - 4

Trevion Collins - 3
Jeremain Kolk - 3
Vibert Caravallo - 3
Charlie Henry - 2
Sébastien Bruce - 1
Dirk-Heijndrikse Dierckx - 1

The coaching staff was pleased with the way the team worked together the past week, as five different players scored three or more goals. Among the weekly scorers, was Charlie Henry who scored two goals as backup forward. Henry won the scoring title in the Royal Lion's inaugural season, but over the years has become a mentor, and a backup.

"It's nice to know I can still come in and contribute to the team. I have accepted the role as a mentor to the younger players and forwards, however it helps prove a point if you can still go out and score." commented Charlie Henry.

"He's the guy you want on the field, whether as a backup or a starter," said Martha. "You can rely on him to be an offensive threat."

In other news, Trevion Collins has almost hit his major milestone of 100 goals in his career, all with the FCW Lions. He currently has 10 this season, for a toal of 99 goals. Here is what Collins had to say about the matter.

"It's big. For me, it is a nice marker, because it shows how I have helped the team, and that I still am helping the team. You try not to think about it because you still have to play your game, but it will certainly feel special when I score my next goal."

Here is the FCW Lions schedule for the week of Jan 4th:

1/4: Bye

1/5: Vs Lets go #5

1/6: @ Leo July #1

1/7: @ Eagles from up North #4

1/8: Vs Stewie's Sexy Party #13

1/9: @ Forest City # 11

1/10: Vs Football Club Vancouver #18

The Royal Lions will face three of the league's top five teams, including a #1 vs #2 matchup, the Canadian game of the week.