TORONTO IRISH FC HISTORY & HALL OF FAME
Clubs Inception
Toronto Irish Football Club was founded in 2008 by two recently settled Irishmen, David Robinson and Daithi Hosford.
TIFC joined the Canadian Multicultural Soccer League for the 2009 season, finishing top of the league on goal difference but were not crowned champions on account of the league’s head-to-head ruling.
Early Years
The club’s inaugural season saw them win the QEW Cup at BMO Field (home to the MLS’ Toronto FC) with a 5-3 win over the Hamilton League Champions, Glasgow United. With the club.
TIFC entered the Toronto Service Soccer League (TSSL) in 2010 and won the media division at the first time of asking.
TIFC expanded to have 2 squads in 2011 and entered the TSSL Division 1 & 2 with the club taking a clean sweep.
The first team winning the TSSL division 1 league and the TSSL cup, while the second team won the TSSL division 2 and division 2 cup.
After both squads gaining promotion the success continued.
2012 saw the first team taking home the TSSL premier division and TSSL cup, while the second team won the TSSL division 1 cup and gaining promotion to the TSSL premier division.
Entry to OSL
With both squads now in the Tssl Premier division the club made the choice to enter the first team into the Ontario Soccer League (OSL).
Again the trophies didn’t stop, with both squads winning winning cups. The OSL team winning the George Finney Cup & The TSSL team winning the TSSL Cup & Charity Classic.
Success Continues
2015 brought yet more success back to TIFC, The OSL team won the MJW League and gained promotion, going unbeaten in the process. Their was also individual success with Sean Beck winning MJW player of the year and top goal scorer. Ben Umpleby & James Romain also picked up the manager of the season award.
The 2015 TSSL Premier team once again lifted the charity class.
2016 The newly promoted OSL squad made it back to back league titles by winning the Regional Central Division at the first time of asking. Again more individual honors resulted, as Mikey McDermott won the Regional player of the season and top goal scorer. Ben & James again named manager of the season for the second year running.
third team introduced
Recent History
With the 2020 season canceled due to the pandemic, TIFC came back in 2021 with 1 squad who played in the Tssl Premier division in another shorted pandemic season.
2022 Came with a rebuild. TIFC now back up to 2 squads both in the TSSL Premier and TSSL Division 2. Both team highly competitive but no trophies to show.
2023 Still in the rebuilding stage TIFC was back up to 3 squads once again, with our first team returning to the OSL in the MJW Division.
The OSL team finished running up in the MJW and gained promotion, They made club history by reaching the Semi final of the Ontario Open Cup only to lose on penalties to eventual champs Vaughan Azzurri. This was the longest cup run in club history.
The Second team enter the TSSL Division 1, winning the league and gaining promotion on the first time of asking, They just missed out on the Divisional Cup losing in the final
The TIFC Rovers entered into the TSSL Division 2, Runners up in both the league and cup but they gained promotion to Division 1.
Club Honors
- 2023 TSSL Div 1 League Champions
- 2023 TSSL Div 2 League Promotion
- 2023 OSL MJW League Promotion
- 2016 OSL Regional Central Champions
- 2015 OSL MJC League Champions
- 2015 TSSL Charity Classic Winners
- 2013 OSL George Finny Cup Winners
- 2013 TSSL Cup Winners
- 2013 Charity Classic Winners
- 2012 TSSL Premier League Champions
- 2012 TSSL Premier Cup winners
- 2012 TSSL Div 1 Cup Winners
- 2011 TSSL Cup Winners
- 2011 TSSL Div 1 League Champions
- 2011 TSSL Div 2 League Champions
- 2011 TSSL Div Cup Winners
- 2010 TSSL Media Div Champions
- 2009 QEW Cup Winners
Hall of fame
Toronto Irish FC introduced a hall of fame in 2023 to honor past members of the club that had a great impact both on & off the field that has helped take the club to where it is today.
Daithi Hosford
2023 Inductee
Originally from Cork Daithi moved to Toronto in 2008
A Co-Founder of the club in 2008 Daithi was instrumental in the early year of Toronto Irish FC.
Daithi spent 4 years at the TIFC, A bruising center forward with a touch of class and an eye for goal. Daithi was club caption for 4 season and scored many a goal while leading the club to numerus trophies.
Daithi returned to Ireland in the summer of 2011 but still keeps a close eye on the club to this day. He takes great pride in the progress the club has made since his departure.
We would like to thank Daithi for his tired less work laying the foundation of the club.
A very worth first inductee into the TIFC Hall of Fame and a no brainer.
Keith Murphy
2023 Inductee
Originally from Dublin Keith moved to Toronto in 2010
Keith Joined Toronto Irish Fc in 2010
As TIFC longest serving member Keith has done it all in his 14 years with the club
Keith has had the roll of chairman, treasure, committee member, player, caption, to now player manager for the TIFC Rover.
Keith a crafty no nonsense center back has pulled on the green jersey more than anyone in the clubs history, he is one of only a hand full to have play on all 3 TIFC squads and winning multiple trophies along the way.
Instrumental in making sure the club was financial stable for years, clocking in a lot of unseen work in the background before hand over the treasure reigns in 2021.
Without Keith’s unsung work both on and off the pitch the club would not be here today. A unanimous vote on all counts a well earned spot in TIFC Hall of Fame.
Congrats Keitho AKA Chicha on a truly well deserved spot in TIFC Hall of Fame
Tom Chitty
2023 Inductee
Originally from Surrey England, Tom moved to Toronto in 2009
Tom joined Toronto Irish Fc in 2009
Tom’s impact was felt right away both on and off the pitch.
A very talented center back who would stick his head where it hurts and a real leader on & off the pitch, Tom played for the the TSSL side from 2009 to 2013 and then took up the reigns as Tssl manager in 2014-2016, helping the club to trophies along the way.
Tom also a very talented artist was the creator of the clubs original crest used up until 2024 and the original club website.
A dedicated club and committee member Tom ran the social media in the early years making all the event and fundraiser graphics.
Congrats Tom on a well deserved spot in the TIFC Hall of Fame.
