York United Preseason Camp To Feature Seven Matches

We already knew that York United’s preseason camp would see the club face competition in both Pennsylvania and Houston, with the CPL side now formally unveiling all seven of its planned preseason matches.

With Martin Nash’s camp already many sessions in, the club is set to take on the CF Montreal U-23 squad tomorrow.

Following that, the Nine Stripes will make two trips stateside: the first will come away to Penn State University – somewhat mimicking an away bus trip to Ottawa – with a flight to Texas to take on MLS Next Pro’s Houston Dynamo 2 following shortly after.

The club will then wrap the latter half of its preseason up in Ontario, with a match against Toronto FC II being followed by the Simcoe County Rovers, who proved a good test for Halifax during their preseason tour last year.

In April, the club will face league rivals Forge FC before finishing camp with a tilt against Alliance United.

York United’s roster is nearly full, with 21 out of a maximal 23 players on the books counting Werder Bremen loanee Ronan Kratt. The team has added no less than eight new players, with several fresh faces like Jonathan Grant still on trial with the club.

The expectation for 2023 is clear: Martin Nash is leaning more heavily on experience than high-ceiling prospects, and anything short of reaching playoffs will be seen as a failure.

While the club has seen key players like Isaiah Johnston, Chrisnovic N’sa, and Dominick Zator depart, the team has also retained key athletes like Osaze De Rosario and Molham Babouli, with intriguing new additions like Clement Bayiha, Jeremy Gagnon-Lapare, and Brem Soumaoro set to aid the club’s push for playoffs.

Today’s announcement makes York United the first team to fully release its preseason match plans. We know that Atletico Ottawa will embark on its annual trip to Madrid, whilst Cavalry had hinted that a trip Portland was on the menu. Vancouver FC, meanwhile, will hope to face a similar number of opponents as the Nine Stripes.

York United’s fifth season will begin with a home match against Valour FC on April 16.