Looking ahead to 2024: where we stand now
We’re about halfway through the 2023 season, and, on top of the playoff fights everyone is aware of, there is something else at stake for these remaining games.
As per the announcement before this season, League1 Ontario will be switching to a tiered format with promotion and relegation starting in 2024. Teams will be split into three divisions, based on their results in 2022 (weighted at 75%), and 2023 (weighted at 100%).
The top 12 teams (for men) and 10 (for women) will form the first-tier “League1 Premier”, the remaining teams will play in the second-tier “League1 Championship”, while all new expansion teams and reserve squads will play in a third-tier branded “League2 Ontario”. Every year, the best team in a division promotes to the superior one, while the worst team relegates to the inferior one, thus insuring the Premier division is always formed of the top teams in the province.
Let’s take a quick look at where we are at this point in the season.
The men’s team is in great shape, after a solid 2022 campaign, and an even better 2023 in which we are among the best teams in the league.
With a staggering 20 points above the line, it’s only a matter of days before Guelph United officially clinches their spot in the top division for 2024.
Vaughan and Blue Devils already clinched.
From the 2022 teams, Pickering FC has withdrawn for the 2023 season, so their status for 2024 and going forward is currently uncertain.
It’s a bit more complicated on the women’s side, where an underwhelming 2023 campaign sees Guelph Union about 4 points below the line.
With 7 games to go, however, those 4 points can be made up, so the remainder of the season is even more important for our ladies team.
Vaughan and NDC Ontario already clinched, and a few other teams are very close to doing so. But the fight for that final 10th spot in the Premier division is shaping up to be very intriguing.
Guelph Union meets Tecumseh SC tomorrow evening at the Centennial Bowl - that is exactly the team that is currently 10th, so the game tomorrow will be a big one.
Join us by getting your tickets in the shop.