Edmonton Scottish To Pause Alberta Premier League Team

When the Alberta Premier League season kicks off this year, Edmonton Scottish United won’t be part of the festivities – or the season at large, for that matter.

The Edmonton, Alberta-based soccer club has formally paused its Alberta Premier League (formerly League1 Alberta) activities, announcing through a press release that the move comes after careful consideration of how semi-pro soccer clubs in Alberta typically bankroll their senior semi-professional sides.

“Currently, most League1 [Albert Premier League] funding models rely heavily on youth registration fees,” reads a statement from Edmonton Scottish. “We do not believe senior teams should be funded solely on the backs of children and we are choosing to stand firmly behind that principle. We believe that registration dollars should support the program it comes from.”

Edmonton Scottish – who fielded both men’s and women’s team in the Alberta Premier League and even featured in the last year’s Canadian Championship by way of finishing as the men’s 2024 League1 Alberta champions – stated that while the APL has been a meaningful part of the club’s history, the club felt it best best to redirect staff and funding towards resources which allow the club to strengthen training for players of all ages.

Edmonton Journal’s Steven Sandor reported last year that the club faced dire financial circumstances with liabilities in excess of $1 million, though the club did not touch on whether the shift away from Alberta Premier League participation is specifically related to its ongoing debts versus how the APL teams’ funding was allocated.

“While League1 remains part of our long-term vision, pausing our participation allows us to build a more sustainable model that does not solely rely on youth fees while continuing to enhance a senior program we can be proud of and our players can aspire to reach,” adds the club, who describes the pause to the Edmonton Scottish APL teams as a strategic step forward in terms of a sustainable future.

The club says it sought feedback from club membership, stating that the results showed a clear preference in prioritizing varied youth programming options, stronger technical programming, and enhanced investment in coach education as top priorities.

Sandor reported last year that there were 44 different boys and girls teams within the club and seven elite-level teenage teams in addition to the club’s now-paused APL sides.

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For the moment, it’s unclear what funding plan could lead to Edmonton Scottish once again fielding teams in future seasons of the Alberta Premier League, particularly as the club tries to resolve its longstanding debts and faces some litigation matters, too.

Last season saw the Calgary Blizzard finish top of the men’s ranks, drawing CF Montreal as their round one opponent.

The 2026 Alberta Premier League season will now kick off with eight teams on May 1, 2026, with the season running through to late June.