In a footballer’s career, there comes a time when regardless of which club, or how high a level they are playing at, professional minutes are needed. This “coming of age period” between about 20 and 24 is when a footballer can make their greatest strides in terms of development.
So when it was announced in early July that Toronto FC II would not be playing in USL League One this season, there was legitimate reason for concern. The team of Toronto FC’s most seasoned prospects, most of them in and around that age range, would suddenly be stripped of an entire season of games.