Winnipeg entry in CPL to be called Valour FC

WINNIPEG — Honouring its history, the Winnipeg entry in the new Canadian Premier League will be called Valour FC.

The name is a homage to three Winnipeg men — Frederick William Hall, Leo Clarke and Robert Shankland — who lived on the same street and were each awarded the Victoria Cross, the Commonwealth’s premier military decoration for gallantry, in the First World War. Their street, Pine Street, was later renamed Valour Road.

The CPL franchise — which will be known simply as Valour FC rather than Winnipeg Valour FC — falls under the umbrella of the Winnipeg not-for-profit community organization that owns the CFL Blue Bombers.

Valour FC will join Halifax’s HFX Wanderers, suburban Toronto’s York 9 FC, Calgary’s Cavalry FC and other founding clubs including Hamilton and Victoria when the men’s pro soccer league debuts in the spring of 2019.

The CPL is expected to have 10 members by the end of the year with eight taking part in the 2019 season. Edmonton and Ottawa are widely expected to be among those joining the lineup. The new Winnipeg franchise will play on artificial turf at Investors Group Field, one of the stadiums used at the 2015 Women’s World Cup.

The club colours are “Valour Maroon,” “Wheat Gold” and “Earth Black.”

The team says the Valour FC crest draws its inspiration from the Victoria Cross medal. The centre of the “V” represents the meeting point of the Red Assiniboine Rivers. The right side of the “V” also creates a “W” for Winnipeg. The arc of wheat at the top of the crest “symbolizes the thriving agriculture industry that has been a mainstay in the province and has grown into an iconic Manitoban symbol.”