The Nova Scotia Clippers were a professional soccer team based in the original Canadian Soccer League. They were based in

Halifax, Nova Scotia Halifax is the capital and most populous municipality of the Provinces and territories of Canada, Canadian province of Nova Scotia, and the most populous municipality in Atlantic Canada. As of 2024, it is estimated that the population of the H ...

, but played their matches in

Dartmouth, Nova Scotia Dartmouth ( ) (Scottish Gaelic, Scottish-Gaelic: Baile nan Loch) is a Urban area, built-up community of Halifax, Nova Scotia, Halifax Regional Municipality, Nova Scotia, Canada. Located on the eastern shore of Halifax Harbour, Dartmouth has 101 ...

at Beazley Field. They played only a single season in 1991.

History

In 1989, an expansion franchise for the Canadian Soccer League was awarded to the Nova Scotia Professional Soccer Society, which would debut two years later in 1991. They were the first professional soccer team in the Halifax area. The club played their home matches at Beazley Field in

, after the city of Halifax was not interested in hosting the team at

Wanderers Grounds Wanderers Grounds is a sporting complex in Halifax, Nova Scotia, and home to Canadian Premier League professional soccer club HFX Wanderers FC. The grounds are part of the Halifax Commons. The land was used in the 1880s by the Halifax Wanderer ...

. Dartmouth spent $25,000 in improvements to the field, in anticipation of the Clippers arrival. Their head coach and general manager was Gordon Hill. They played their first home match on May 26, 1991, against the Vancouver 86ers, in front of a crowd of 1,891 spectators, finishing in a 0–0 draw. In September 1991, the club played two exhibition matches against the Bermuda national team. The club finished their debut season with a record of 7 wins, 7 ties, and 14 losses, finishing sixth in the eight team league. The team advanced to the playoffs, losing in the first round to the

North York Rockets The North York Rockets were a professional soccer team based in North York, Toronto, Ontario that competed in the original Canadian Soccer League (1987–1992), Canadian Soccer League. They were one of four teams to participate in every season of ...

. The club averaged around 1,500 fans per game, although many tickets were handed out for free. There were discussions about moving the team's home field to

in Halifax for 1992, however the team folded after the 1991 season due to lack of interest. After the team folded, the Halifax region was without professional soccer for 27 years, until

HFX Wanderers FC Halifax Wanderers FC, also written as HFX Wanderers FC, is a Canadian professional Association football, soccer club in Halifax, Nova Scotia. The club competes in the Canadian Premier League (CPL) at the top of the Canadian soccer league syste ...

joined the new

Canadian Premier League The Canadian Premier League (CPL or CanPL; ) is a professional Association football, soccer league in Canada and the highest level of the Canadian soccer league system. The league comprises eight teams, from five of provinces and territories of ...

Season

Players

References

{{Canadian Soccer League (1987–1992) Canadian Soccer League (1987–1992) teams Defunct soccer clubs in Canada Soccer clubs in Halifax, Nova Scotia Association football clubs established in 1991 Association football clubs disestablished in 1991 1991 establishments in Nova Scotia 1991 disestablishments in Nova Scotia