Kings In The North
Les Jones, Canada
Les Jones is a football photographer, a long-suffering Newcastle United fan for over 50 years, and retired market researcher living in Toronto. Throughout his life he has planned holidays around major sporting events. Les told us about his series of photos profiling the fans of Toronto FC.
Who is in the photos?
Fans of Toronto FC - young and old, raucous and restrained. Many are immigrants bringing their love of the game with them. The photos were taken at Toronto's soccer-specific, 30,000-seater home and national stadium, BMO Field, which is usually sold out for games.
What did you try to show with the photos? Was there any wider meaning with the photos?
I was trying to show a) the genuine enthusiasm for soccer as, in Europe, Canada is not thought of as a football nation, and b) the diversity of the fans, a reflection of the diversity in Canada.
Are there any good stories connected with the people or teams you photographed?
The first Toronto FC, then known as The Torontos, was formed as far back as 1884. Toronto FC, known as TFC, were North American champions in 2017 winning the MLS (Major League Soccer) championship. Founded in 2007, they failed to score in their first 4 games.
In the 24th minute of every game fans sing a song as a tribute to former player Danny Dichio (ex Sunderland, WBA) who scored the first goal in franchise history in the 24th minute - and which led to thousands of seat cushions being thrown onto the pitch in celebration. Seat cushions were quickly banned.
Canadian Paul Peschisolido was transferred from Birmingham to WBA by…his wife Karren Brady! She sold her husband for one million dollars! Every wife’s dream. His first team was Toronto Blizzard and he turns up to watch games at BMO Field during the summer.
Why is football so important for Canada and its people?
It is popular as much as important, although it is increasingly important as a beneficial activity for kids. Soccer does have a surprisingly long history in Canada, beginning in 1876. In the 19th century it was the unofficial ‘national sport’ and Canada won Olympic Gold in football in 1904. In 1905 Canada was declared joint World Champions after drawing with the All Star English team, The Pilgrims.
With Canada being a cosmopolitan country, soccer is also important to millions of South American, Asian and European immigrants who grew up with the sport. Major roads, for example, were closed for celebrations when Italy won the 1990 World Cup.
What role does football play in Canadian society?
It is now the main sport for kids, both boys and girls. There are even leagues for 3 year olds and up! (Ice) hockey and (Canadian) football are seen as too dangerous and high cost (equipment & training) and baseball is pretty boring (!). Soccer is played throughout the country and there is even a professional indoor team - MetroStars - who play in the North American Arena Football League.
What does football mean to you?
Apart from getting up for 7.30am to watch live televised games from England it means camaraderie, exercise, tension, excitement and, as a Newcastle supporter, despair.
What is the future for Canadian football?
The future is very positive - it has momentum. Soccer is the biggest sport, in terms of participation, in the country and crowds for the national teams and pro teams are excellent. ONE DIFFERENCE: Because of the size of the country/continent, there are very few visiting fans at games.
The men’s national team expects to be in the 2026 World Cup as a host nation and is determined to qualify (for the second time) for the 2022 World Cup.
Toronto won the MLS in 2017 and usually sells out their custom-built stadium for 30,000 fans. There are other Canadian MLS teams in Montreal and Vancouver. 2019 saw the start of the first coast to coast pro soccer league in the country with 7 teams, which, with the opening of more and more European Soccer Academies here, will further the development of home-grown talent e.g. 17 year old Canadian, Alphonso Davies, transferred this year to Bayern Munich for £16million.
The Canadian women’s team has appeared in the last 7 World Cups and won Olympic bronze in 2012 & 2016. As of today, Canadian striker Christine Sinclair is 2 goals short of becoming the top female international goal-scorer of all time.
Our live TV coverage of soccer exceeds that of England with virtually ALL English Premier League games shown together with Champions League, Europa League and the top games from Germany, Italy and Spain.
The Canadian MNT has appeared in only one (men’s) World Cup in 1986, but currently have a relatively strong squad aiming for 2022 in Qatar - Junior Hoilett (Cardiff), Atiba Hutchinson (Besiktas), Scott Arfield (Glasgow Rangers) and Jonathan David (Gent) are following in the footsteps of such as Craig Forrest, Paul Stalteri, Jason de Vos, Frank Yallop, Julian de Guzman, Jim Brennan, and Owen Hargreaves.
Going back to the 19th century, Torontonian Edward Parry played in the 1879 English Cup Final (and went on to represent England internationally!) and Ontario-born Walter Bowman was the first player from outside the UK to play in the English League (in 1892).
