Cavalry FC

On May 5, 2018, Calgary was one of four cities accepted by the Canadian Soccer Association for professional club membership. Cavalry FC was announced on May 17, 2018, as the second team to officially join the Canadian Premier League. Spruce Meadows Sports & Entertainment Group CEO Linda Southern-Heathcott and COO Ian Allison were joined by league commissioner David Clanachan and league president Paul Beirne to unveil the team. The club's name, crest and colours were all revealed at the event at Spruce Meadows, while Tommy Wheeldon Jr. was announced as head coach and general manager. Plans to renovate existing facilities at Spruce Meadows, resulting in a soccer-specific stadium with a capacity of at least 5,000 seats, were also revealed. On June 26, 2019, Cavalry FC qualified for the 2019 Canadian Premier League finals by winning the inaugural CPL Spring season. The following month the Cavs became the first CPL club to defeat a Major League Soccer club in the Canadian Championship by upsetting Vancouver Whitecaps FC in 2019 over two-legs. In 2019, Cavalry FC goalkeeper Marco Carducci became the first CPL player called up to the Canada men's national soccer team. In the 2019 CPL final, Cavalry lost 2–0 to Forge FC of Hamilton, Ontario in a two-legged tie. On November 9, 2024, Cavalry won its first ever Canadian Premier League championship by defeating four-time winners Forge FC 2–1 at ATCO Field. The team earned a 2025 CONCACAF Champions Cup berth in the process. In February 2025, Cavalry became the first Canadian Premier League team to win a match in CONCACAF Champions Cup, defeating Pumas 2–1 during the first leg of the first round matchup. == Colours and crest ==

The team's crest was designed by Jon Rogers. The crest features a chevron in homage to the Lord Strathcona's Horse armoured regiment, Alberta Foothills and Rocky Mountains, and a football to represent the past and future of Calgary as a sporting city. The official mascot is a red horse named Sarge. Kit suppliers and sponsors ==Stadium==

from section 203. The field is used by Cavalry FC for home games. during the CPL's inaugural season in 2019. Cavalry FC play at ATCO Field, a 6,000-seat stadium located at Spruce Meadows, at the 'Meadows on the Green' equestrian ring. The stadium is modular to allow for future growth and uses natural grass. In September 2019, Spruce Meadows presented a new area plan to Foothills County, that includes a 12,000 seat soccer-specific stadium on the grounds that would replace ATCO Field over the next 30 years. The record attendance for a game at ATCO Field is 7,052, during the 2024 Canadian Premier League final. Because ATCO Field is not suited to hosting matches in Canadian winter, Cavalry have played their February home games in the CONCACAF Champions Cup at Starlight Stadium, a 6,000-seat multi-purpose stadium in Langford, British Columbia and home to fellow CPL club Pacific FC. ==Club culture==

Supporters The Foot Soldiers are a supporters' group originally formed in 2015 to support USL League Two club Calgary Foothills and the Calgary Foothills UWS team. The group began supporting Cavalry in the lead-up to the first match, with the group's numbers swelling. Fans sitting in sections 108 and 109 have created a group called the Mighty 109 / 108 who sit on the other side of the entrance arch. The Frontline Ultras stand in section 200 and have supported the team since 2019. Rivalries Al Classico The Al Classico existed with FC Edmonton as a geographical rivalry between the two Alberta-based clubs in the Canadian Premier League. The rivalry is part of a larger sporting rivalry between teams based in Calgary and Edmonton; the two largest cities in the province. The Wildrose Cup was awarded annually to the team that wins the most points from the series in league play (excluding 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic), which Cavalry won each year until FC Edmonton ceased operations in 2022. Cavalry FC–Forge FC rivalry The Cavalry FC–Forge FC rivalry developed during the 2019 spring season as the two top clubs in the league. The rivalry bled into the 2019 Canadian Championship in which Cavalry defeated Forge 3–2 over two legs on aggregate. The first leg, which resulted in a 1–1 draw, ended with heated altercations between both sides on the pitch, leading to a disciplinary review by the Canadian Soccer Association. ==Honours==

Roster Staff Head coaches Club captains ==Record==

Year-by-year 1. Average attendance include statistics from league matches only. 2. Top goalscorer(s) includes all goals scored in league season, league playoffs, Canadian Championship, CONCACAF League, and other competitive continental matches. International competition : ''Scores and results list Cavalry FC's goal tally first.'' ==Reserve team==

Cavalry operates a reserve team, Cavalry FC U21, in the semi-professional Alberta Premier League. == References ==