Pathway To Pro

For men and women with the interest, determination, and talent, Foothills provides a pathway to reach their full potential. Our alum play or have played for colleges and universities, and many have obtained scholarships. Others have represented Canada on the international stage and played for professional clubs, including Cavalry FC, the Calgary Wild, Vancouver Whitecaps, Galatasaray, CF Montreal, Manchester City, Ross County, and many more.

Calgary Foothills Soccer Club Pathway to Pro showing youth players developing skills and progressing toward high-performance soccer.

If your goal is to play past U17, ask yourself, "Can my club take me there?" If you are with Foothills, the answer is "YES."

Foothills has Calgary’s most successful curriculum for supporting players and coaches throughout their Alberta and Canada soccer journeys. We continually refine and add to these programs to enhance our athletes’ success rates.

With the launch of the Northern Super League, Foothills officially became the reserve team of the Calgary Wild FC. Our programs allow both men and women to reach their soccer aspirations, however far they desire. We inspire the next generation of soccer stars by setting a strong example and promoting the importance of hard work and dedication.

Player pathway pyramid showing how Calgary Foothills Soccer Club supports progression from youth soccer to university, professional, and national team levels.
Elijah Adekugbe, Calgary Foothills Soccer Club alumnus, featured in a Pathway to Pro testimonial highlighting his journey to professional soccer.

Why Choose Foothills?

Because Foothills has changed the landscape of Canadian Soccer for Pro-Am players. 

Foothills is a trailblazer in the Canadian Pro-Am soccer world for both men and women. 

  • We are innovators, incorporating mental as well as physical health elements into our programs. 
  • We are champions of the “women in soccer” movement in Canada.  
  • Prior to the establishment of the Northern Super League, our former UWS team, the highest level of women’s pro-am soccer in Canada, and we were three-time conference champions. 
  • Our club is a founding member of the Northern Super League (NSL.)
  • With the launch of the NSL, Foothills became the reserve team of the Calgary Wild FC
  • We are a driving force behind League1 Alberta and were the Men’s League Champion in 2023. 
  • Our world-class training staff has the highest level of European certification.

What Makes Our PATHWAY TO PRO different?

  • Foothills has a clear vision for the future of soccer in Canada. We have a seat at the table at the highest level in the country and are working closely with governing bodies to lead Canada’s success in soccer on the world stage.
  • We are Canada’s most successful club based on national results, having brought home eight national gold medals.
  • Our club is a founding member of Canada’s professional women’s soccer league, the Northern Super League (NSL.)
  • With the launch of the NSL, Foothills became the reserve team of the Calgary WILD FC
  • In 2022, we led the establishment of League1 Alberta and Foothills FC won the 2023 League1 Alberta Championship. 
  • Prior to the establishment of the NSL, Foothills WFC played in the United Women’s Soccer League. We were the only Canadian team participating in the UWS West Conference. Since 2017, we won three Conference Championships and two National Silver Medals. In 2023, we tied for first in our Conference, missing out on a trip to National finals on goal difference. Multiple team members were named to UWS All-Star teams. The Club won the LIVE Game Day Experience Award, and ranked in the Top Four Teams for Social Media Coverage. In 2022, Lee Tucker was named West Conference Coach of the Year. In 2019, we were named the UWS Franchise of the Year.
  • In 2018, FC won the PDL Championship. In 2018, we won the West Conference. In 2017, after an 8-2-4 season, we made it to the NW division final. In 2016, we were winners of the Western Conference and National Runners-Up. In 2015 we played our inaugural game in the PDL against Puget Sound.
Mya Jones of Calgary Foothills Soccer Club dribbling the ball during a competitive match, demonstrating high-level player development.
Generation Phase and Post-Secondary pathway graphic showing how Calgary Foothills Soccer Club supports players progressing to college and university soccer.
  • Our post-secondary accomplishments are impressive. In the 2022 soccer season, Foothills had 107 athletes participate for their university and college teams. In 2023, that number increased to 116, which is more than any other youth club in Canada.
  • We provide exceptional resources for male and female players, including world-class training centres, and top-rated technical staff and coaches.
  • Our technical staff includes professionally qualified (Canadian and European licensed) managers for every age group. These experts bring extensive player experience, having participated in university and professional environments.
  • We have two world-class training facilities:
  • Foothills is the only club in Alberta to offer full-time video analysis and sports science capabilities.
  • Many Foothills FC players and Foothills Academy alums have moved on to professional clubs. These include Victor Loturi and Aribim Pepple, who both moved from Cavalry FC to Ross County and Luton Town, respectively.
  • The 2022 Canada World Cup squad included two Foothills alum (Joel Waterman and Sam Adekugbe), and the 2023 Gold Cup roster included two Foothills alum (Victor Loturi and Dominick Zator.)
Former Calgary Foothills Soccer Club players selected for the 2022 FIFA World Cup, including Victor Loturi, Aribim Pepple, Joel Waterman, Sam Adekugbe, and Dominick Zator.
Fans supporting Cavalry FC during a professional match, highlighting the pathway from Calgary Foothills Soccer Club to the pro level.

Foothills Founded Cavalry FC of the CPL

  • Calgary Foothills Soccer Club forged the investor relationship to advance the Cavalry FC franchise.
  • The Cavalry FC team trains at our Performance Centre.

To say we are closely aligned would be an understatement. 

… and we have repeated that success with our involvement establishing the Northern Super League and Calgary Wild FC.

Founding Partner Northern Super League

At the end of May 2024, it was announced that the Northern Super League (NSL) would begin in April 2025. The League will consist of teams from six cities… Halifax, Montreal, Ottawa, Toronto, Vancouver, and Calgary!

Calgary Wild FC will represent players and soccer fans from across the province and is the first and only pro women’s team between Vancouver and Toronto. We hope to see that stat change soon!

For our players and their families, this means that those with the ambition and skill to play professionally will now have an opportunity to do it in Canada and even here in front of their home-province supporters!

For the Club, it’s another important part of our PATHWAY TO PRO. As champions of the “women in soccer” movement in Canada, Foothills had the foresight to secure the rights for pro women’s soccer in Calgary, supporting the original organizers Diana Matheson (shown here with Foothills members) and her team at Project 8 from the very beginning. Those rights have now transitioned but the Club remains an avid supporter of women’s soccer. It’s a proud moment for the Club to see our involvement play a part in establishing the new League and the Calgary Wild FC.

HERstory initiative at Calgary Foothills Soccer Club celebrating female players, coaches, trainers, and managers who are vital to the club’s success.
"Much work has gone on behind the scenes to get to today and we want to extend our thanks to our founding partners, CIBC and Air Canada, and Vancouver Whitecaps FC and Calgary Foothills, who have shown leadership in creating equal opportunity and recognizing the importance of bringing professional women's soccer to Canada."
Diana Matheson
Project 8 CEO, former Canadian Women's National Team player and Olympian

PATHWAY TO PRO News & Updates

Player Spotlight – Payton Reed

Alberta Player Development League (APDL) player Payton Reed is chasing big goals and putting in the work to make them happen. “My soccer dream is to compete against the best players in

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If your goal is to play past U17, ask yourself, "Can my club take me there?" If you are with Foothills, the answer is "YES".

We’re excited to announce our Foothills Winter Soccer Camps this holiday season. These camps are a great way for players to stay active, have fun, and continue developing their skills over the winter break.

Indoor Registration
Now Open!

Registration for our highly anticipated indoor program is now open. Whether you’re a seasoned player looking to showcase your skills or a newcomer eager to experience soccer for the first time, this is the perfect opportunity to become a part of the Foothills Family!