News release - Simcoe County Rovers
After winning the League 1 championship in 2023, the Simcoe County Rovers announced that head coach Jason Beckford and the club are parting ways as the team begin preparations for the 2024 League 1 season and Canadian championships.
“All of us at the Simcoe County Rovers thank Jason for his dedication to our men’s program over the past two years,” President Julian De Guzman said.
“Jason has been a strong and positive leader for our men’s program. We’re grateful for everything he has contributed over the last two seasons. He guided the team to the semi-finals in our inaugural season and was instrumental in bringing the League 1 championship home to Barrie. We wish Jason the best in his future endeavours,” De Guzman added.
Beckford began his playing career as a forward with Manchester City where he played 12 times in the 1988–89 Second Division promotion winning campaign. He then had brief spells at Blackburn Rovers and Port Vale Birmingham City in the 1991–92. He ended the 1994–95 season at Millwall, before announcing his retirement after spending the 1995–96 season with Northampton Town.
The search for Beckford's replacement is underway and the club hopes to fill the roll in the near future. Beckford leaves with a record of 31 wins, 6 draws and 8 losses over his two years as coach. The club scored 103 goals, conceded 52 and kept 13 clean sheets over the course of his two seasons in charge.
Without a doubt his biggest achievement is winning the League 1 Ontario championship and beating the defending champions on two occasions during the 2023 season. He was also instrumental in helping land professional contracts in the CPL for former Rovers Khalil John and Ethan Beckford in addition to helping Allen Blegay a national u17 call-up this past September.
Banner image via The Simcoe County Rovers
