Valour FC scores a brace

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This article was published 10/01/2020 (2396 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Last season, Valour FC struggled to score and lacked leadership.

On Friday, the Canadian Premier League club revealed a signing that can help in both areas.

The newest member of Winnipeg’s pro soccer team is 33-year-old forward Daryl Fordyce.

The Belfast, Northern Ireland, native spent the 2019 campaign with the Sligo Rovers of the Premier Division of the League of Ireland. Fordyce has already made a name for himself on Canadian soil, as he played for FC Edmonton for five seasons between 2013-17 when they were in the North American Soccer League. He scored 32 times, making him the club’s all-time leading goal scorer.

“I just wanted to be back in Canada,” said Fordyce in a media conference call. “After speaking to Rob (Gale, coach) and Damian (Rocke), I got off the phone and I had a great vibe. I said to my wife, ‘Out of the teams I’ve spoken to, this is the best feeling that I’ve got out of everybody.’ I always go on sort of the feeling of where I feel I’m going to bring positive energy to. The CPL, it just started last year and it’s going into the second season. I just can’t wait to get going.”

While playing in Ireland, Fordyce kept tabs on the new Canadian league.

“I’ve seen a lot of highlights. During the season, I watched a couple of games,” said Fordyce, who played with Valour goalie and Winnipeg native Tyson Farago in Edmonton.

“You know, with a lot of friends I still have there, playing with different teams around the league, I always kept an eye on it. With me being a permanent resident along with my wife — and my son was born in Canada — it’s a country that we always wanted to go back to. Thankfully, I’ve got this opportunity to come back to Canada and play for Valour.”

Valour scored 30 goals in 28 games in Year 1, the third-lowest total in the seven-team league. Their 8-4-16 record put them in a tie with HFX Wanderers FC for last place. Fordyce said those lows are in the past and it didn’t make him hesitate to sign.

“It doesn’t concern me one bit. Every team has their struggles. Every team also has their triumphs,” said Fordyce, who has 250 career appearances between Glentoran and Linfield of the Irish league.

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“I love a challenge. I don’t care what the challenge is. But in the end, anything can happen in soccer. There are always favourites. Who would’ve thought Leicester City would win the Premier League (in 2016)? Not one person would’ve thought that. I’ve seen a couple of things on Twitter, that a lot of people have written Valour off already. It doesn’t concern me one bit. I’ve been in soccer for a long, long time. As long as there’s professionalism and everybody sticks together, you’ve always got a chance.”

Fordyce has also played at the international level for Northern Ireland in U-19 and U-21 competitions but applied for permanent Canadian residency during his five years with FC Edmonton. While Fordyce had some of the best moments of his career in Edmonton, he’s not entering 2020 looking for revenge against his old club. He’s never been to Winnipeg, but he’s eager to arrive and continue his scoring ways.

“I’ll treat Edmonton like how I treat Cavalry, Forge, Pacific and all the other teams. No matter if it’s training or if it’s a game, I always prepare myself well. I love challenges and in soccer, that’s what makes me thrive. The challenge of winning a game, getting three points, or just getting better and better. That’s what I’ve always thrived on.”

taylor.allen@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @TaylorAllen31

Taylor Allen
Reporter

Taylor Allen is a sports reporter for the Winnipeg Free Press. Taylor was the Vince Leah intern in the Free Press newsroom twice while earning his joint communications degree/diploma at the University of Winnipeg and Red River College Polytechnic. He signed on full-time in 2019 and mainly covers the Blue Bombers, curling, and basketball. Read more about Taylor.

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