Our only fan-owned club
TSS Rovers have been an institution in Richmond, BC since 1997. The women’s program was formed in 2018, competing in the American-based WPSL and now switching over to the newly formed League1 BC. The Rovers have seen some top players in their programs including players like Julia Grosso and Jordyn Huitema and other Collegiate standouts like Mia Pante, Ashley Cathro, Joanna Verzosa-Dolezal.
TSS prides themselves on being Canada’s first fan-owned club. They sold shares to their supporters, to people who care about the club and believe in their mission to create more opportunities for players from BC. They believe supporters are the lifeblood of football culture and that the opportunity to belong to something will make a lasting difference.
1 on 1 with Chelsey
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The TSS Rovers have always had a strong identity in their style of play and overall philosophy of the game. What makes the club unique is the fact that from our youngest members in the TSS FC program and all the way in to our TSS Rovers programming, we hold true to that identity.
Younger players who will be watching the role models on the TSS Rovers League 1 team will be able to relate and emulate the highest level of players right in their own backyard.
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The recruiting process has been a positive and particular process for the staff. We have a number of players who have grown and been part of the TSS youth club and are looking for that next step in their careers right at home, then we have a number of players from NCAA and U-Sport environments that I have had the pleasure of coaching in the past. The common denominator being that each of the players have a very similar mindset when it comes to growing and competing not to mention each player on this 2022 roster are top notch people. We are really fortunate to have a group of women that are talented and also just awesome humans!
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L1BC is a step forward toward a pathway that caters to and showcases our most talented local athletes. This league will provide an environment right here in BC that will be consistently competitive, professionally developed and ultimately for the purpose of continuing to grow these players within the game.
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Come out and see what the hype is all about by coming out to one of the most iconic stadiums in BC, sitting next to the best supporters in BC Soccer out there and cheer on some of the top players in the country. Swangard Stadium will be the place to be with the Swanguardians in the stands and incredibly talented players on the pitch – Players like U20 Canada National Team player, Mia Pante and NCAA Div 1 Big Ten All – Freshman player, Joanna Verzosa-Dolezal and so many more from U-Sport, NCAA, and a number of others who have made appearances with our Canada youth national teams.
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The biggest challenge girls and women still face in Canadian soccer is the fact that we don’t have a professional league in our backyard…. yet. By adding a league like this on the western side of Canada, it is a step in the right direction but not the full answer to solving the broken pathway for female soccer players between post-secondary and professional environments.
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I would hope so! TSS Rovers FC has always been a club that pushes boundaries with the purpose of creating better opportunities for the players. If the opportunity for our club to be part of the inaugural professional women’s soccer league in Canada came up, it would be another milestone in the right direction for TSS Rovers FC.
About Chelsey
Chelsey Hannesson will lead the women’s team in their first L1BC season, having previously worked alongside Whitecaps REX coaches on staff where she learned from some of the top Canadian women coaches including Rhian Wilkinson.
Hannesson is a BC Soccer legend and has impacted many players including many girls from River City SC and Surrey United. Currently she serves as the Assistant Technical Director with the Langley United Soccer Association. She has previously been a staff coach with BC Soccer and is currently working with Canada Soccer as a Coach Developer for the Youth Licence and A Licence courses.
As a player, Hannesson spent four years playing at Eastern Washington University.
