The Halifax Wanderers have announced an expanded format for the Development Team’s season in 2024. The spring schedule begins this Friday, April 26, with a matchup against West Ottawa.

Kickoff for this Friday’s match is 9 p.m. at Harbour East Field in Dartmouth and is free for the public to attend. This is the first of six matches scheduled from April to June against senior men’s opposition from Ontario, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island. The Wanderers will also participate in the annual International Summer Series, with opposition to be announced in the coming weeks.

The Wanderers Development Team focuses on providing development pathways for local athletes and expanding the growth of the sport within Atlantic Canada. The goal is to produce local players for the Wanderers’ first team in the CPL.

“Our priority this year has been to build on the success of the last couple of summers with more regular games for our development players,” sporting director Matt Fegan said. “It’s imperative these players get valuable competitive minutes in our environment. We remain hopeful this series can evolve to the League1 model we have seen benefit our CPL competitors with retaining and developing top professional prospects in their region each summer.”

Led by the club’s head of youth development, Jed Davies, the Wanderers Development Team roster is comprised of Atlantic Canadians from youth clubs, athletes playing in AUS and ACAA programs, and players on first-team contracts with the Wanderers. 

“The squad has evolved to be a mix of U18-U21s (born 2003-2008) and supplemented by a few local “over-agers” who bring leadership reflecting our principles and standards, as we work together to nurture the next generation of the region’s top talent. These efforts continue our aspiration to have several players make the step to the Wanderers first team each season. A core of these players also attend regular training with the first team to continue their development in a professional environment,” Fegan said.

In 2023, The Wanderers Development Team played several matches, including the three-match International Summer Series contested in Moncton, NB, Charlottetown, PEI, and Halifax against German club Holstein Kiel.  Players that featured in those matches include current Wanderers players Kareem Sow, Aiden Rushenas, Yorgos Gavas and Camilo Vasconcelos. Ethan Schilte-Brown (Kilmarnock, Scotland) and Kimani Stewart Baynes (Colorado Rapids, MLS), who also played for the team in 2023, went on to sign professional contracts in 2024. 

Wanderers Development Team Spring Schedule (All matches will be played in HRM): 

Friday, April 26 vs. West Ottawa, Harbour East Field, 9 p.m.  

Friday, May 3 vs. Halifax County

Sunday, May 19 vs. Winsloe Charlottetown Royals

Friday, May 31 vs. Suburban FC

Friday, June 7 vs. Fredericton Picaroons

Friday, June 14 vs. Codiac Soccer Club