Toronto, ON (November 19, 2020) – York9 FC is thrilled to confirm defender Roger Thompson has signed a multi-year contract extension through 2022, with an option for a further twelve months.
The 28-year-old centre-half has been with the club from the very start and though injury curtailed his involvement in the inaugural Canadian Premier League season, he enjoyed a particularly impressive 2020 and was a standout performer at The Island Games in PEI earlier this year, playing every single minute of the team’s seven games.
Prior to arriving at York9, Thompson spent a number of years in Europe, beginning with Finnish side IFK Mariehamn in 2013, with whom he tasted Europa League action. Following a brief spell in Germany, he moved to Sweden and played for Trelleborgs FF before a two-year stint with Ljungskile.
“Signing an extension and staying at home was very important to me,” Thompson says.
“I left Sweden two years ago to come to York and play in front of my family and that’s what’s most important to me right now. Last season was very disappointing for the team, considering the amount of quality we had on paper. We lost some good players like Luca (Gasparotto), who I’ll especially miss playing with, but I know next season is a new chapter for the club. I’m at the point in my career where I’m ready to take on the challenge and I’m here to help lead the team and do the best I can to win every game. I’m looking forward to next season and playing with some of the exciting players we’ve brought in, like Jordan Wilson, Nicholas Hamilton and Chrisnovic N’sa.”
From day one, the Brampton-raised Thompson has been a strong leader within the group: one of many reasons that the club’s Managing Consultant, Angus McNab, moved quickly to secure his services for the years ahead.
“Rog is a great presence on and off the field and brings a great deal of experience to this group,” McNab says.
“His performances were excellent this year and I’m delighted he has committed to the club on a multi-year deal. He believes in what we are trying to do here and has told me how excited he is to play with some of the young talent we are assembling. I look at someone like Chrisno (N’sa) and see how great it will be for his development to have a mentor like Rog alongside him within the squad.”