Windsor Stars

History

On December 23, 2003 the Canadian Professional Soccer League granted a franchise to Windsor under the joint ownership of former soccer player Jeff Hodgson, John Dowhan, and Gary Maccagnone. Windsor received territorial rights to the Detroit–Windsor area, and Windsor Stadium as their home venue. These marked a return of professional soccer to the Windsor area since the 1980s when the Windsor Wheels competed in the Canadian National Soccer League. On January 24, 2004 the Windsor Border Stars were revealed to the public, and former Blackburn Rovers player Pat Hilton was announced the club's first head coach. The original roster was a mixture of former National Professional Soccer League, and Windsor Croatia players. Notable acquisitions were Alan Placek, Jeremy Harkins, Tati Errecalde, Tino Scicluna, Filip Rocca, Chris King, and Scott Patriquin.

The club debuted on June 5, 2004 in a match against Toronto Croatia, and won the match by a score of 1-0 with the goal from Errecalde. Windsor finished third in the Western Conference, and clinched a postseason berth in its debut season. Their opponents in the first round of the playoffs were Toronto Croatia, but they were eliminated from the playoffs by a score of 5-0.

Windsor's biggest achievement came in capturing the Open Canada Cup, where they faced Ottawa St. Anthony Italia. Errecalde scored the lone goal for Windsor, but Ottawa equalized and the match went into penalties where Windsor prevailed by winning the shootout. At the CPSL awards banquet Justin Marshall was awarded the CPSL Defender of the Year, while Hilton received the CPSL Coach of the Year.

During the winter of 2004/2005 Windsor competed in the American Indoor Soccer League for the indoor season. In their debut season in the AISL the club won the AISL Championship by defeating Cincinnati Excite by a score of 4-1. In preparation for the 2005 CPSL season, Hilton strengthen the squad with the signings of Jaman Tripoli, and Radek Papiez. The Border Stars managed to defend their Open Canada title by defeating London City 3-0. In the regular season the team finished third in the Western Conference, and faced Oakville Blue Devils in the postseason. The result of the match concluded in a 3-1 defeat to Windsor. At the conclusion of the season Aaron Byrd won the CPSL Golden Boot as the league's highest goalscorer, and while Filip Rocca won the CPSL Defender of the Year.

For the 2006 season, the CPSL renamed itself the Canadian Soccer League (CSL), and the International and National divisions were created to replace the Western, and Eastern Conferences. Windsor transferred from the Western Conference to the National Division. In preparation for the 2006 CSL season, Windsor acquired the services of former NPSL players Worteh Sampson, Dominic Scicluna, and Will Kletzien. The season marked an end to Windsor's run as Open Canada Cup champions as the Border Stars suffered a quarterfinal loss to Ottawa St. Anthony Italia. In the regular season Windsor managed to secure the final playoff berth in the National Division. In the first round of the postseason Windsor faced Oakville and avenged their previous quarterfinal loss with a 2-1 victory with goals from Sampson, and Kletzien. In the next round the Border Stars faced division champions the Serbian White Eagles, but suffered a 6-1 defeat. For the second year in a row Rocca was awarded the CSL Defender of the Year.

In 2007 season, Windsor experienced roadblocks as team sometimes failed to assemble enough substitutes for their away matches. The team persevered and managed to clinch the final playoff berth. The club faced the White Eagles and failed to advance after a 2-1 defeat. The following season the Border Stars experienced the same problem of having a shortage of reserves for away matches. As a result, the season was a battle between St. Catharines Wolves, and Windsor for the final postseason berth. St. Catharine's clinched the final berth by conceding fewer goals than Windsor, thus marking the first time in Windsor's history that it did not make the playoffs. On April 25, 2009, the CSL revoked the Windsor franchise after they failed on their financial obligations.

In early 2011, the league announced that former Border Star defender, Filip Rocca, was awarded a franchise and would resurrect the club in Windsor. The Border Stars were renamed the Windsor Stars Pro Soccer and returned to the CSL for the 2011 season. Rocca pledged to build strong connections with the local soccer community and district association, Essex County Soccer Association, in order to avoid the failure that led to the Border Stars folding. The club owes its history and its name to the Windsor Stars of the 1970s and the Windsor Wheels of the 1980s from the Canadian National Soccer League, the predecessor of the CSL.

The team was re-launched with two head coaches, Steve Vagnini and Jeff Hodgson, who were announced on February 2011. Windsor brought back veterans Byrd, Anthony Santilli, Gino Berardi, and signed Canadian international Stephen Ademolu. The club finished the regular season second to last in the league with a record of 3-19-4, and missed out on the playoffs. In the 2012 season, the team began with a slow start, but later managed an eight-game undefeated streak and finished fourth in the overall standings qualifying for the postseason since the 2007 CSL season. However, Windsor did not make it out of the first round after a 1-0 defeat to York Region Shooters. Steve Vagnini was awarded the CSL Coach of the Year on November 25, 2012.

Windsor managed to secure another playoff berth in 2012 after finishing sixth in the overall standings. Again their playoff run was short-lived after they lost 2-0 to Toronto Croatia. Following the de-sanctioning of the CSL by the Canadian Soccer Association in 2013, the Windsor Stars Pro Soccer Club was announced as one of the 10 teams participating in the inaugural season of League1 Ontario, a newly formed competition in the third division of Canadian soccer, on April 8, 2014. With home games being played at McHugh Park in Windsor, the club has sought funding to turn the current field into a stadium with proper seating and scoreboard to boost interest in the area.

In June 2016, it was announced that Windsor would be enter a partnership with Toronto FC of Major League Soccer. The partnership make Windsor a satellite club to Toronto and change its name to "Windsor TFC".

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