Hamilton Forge FC's championship pedigree a model other franchises can only dream of

Most professional sports franchises can only aspire to the run Hamilton's Forge FC has enjoyed over six Canadian Premier League seasons.

In that time, the franchise has claimed two regular-season titles and four championships — six of a possible 10 trophies over the course of the league's history. In each of the four losing instances, Forge placed second.

On Sunday, the dynastic soccer squad will begin its run to a fifth championship when it welcomes Calgary's Cavalry FC to Tim Hortons Field in the semifinals. The winner will host the title game on Nov. 9, while the loser will get one more do-or-die match to reach the final.

Watch live coverage of the CPL championship Nov. 9 at 3 p.m. ET on CBC-TV, CBCSports.ca and CBC Gem.

For Forge, a return to the title match would represent the latest reassurance that the program — built, fostered and tended to by head coach and sporting director Bobby Smyrniotis — works.

"I think the biggest thing for a club in any sport is the organization, the DNA and the culture that you build within, so that you're able to have continuity over the seasons," Smyrniotis said. 

"When you walk into the locker room here at Forge, I don't need to really tell you what the expectation is, but you see that expectation. You live it."

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Smyrniotis, the 45-year-old from Scarborough, Ont., joined Forge for the league's inaugural season in 2019 after a career in the amateur ranks. He said his first game on the Forge sideline was also the first time in his life there was any pressure to win.

But even though the CPL is Canada's top domestic soccer league, it remains a building block in the professional careers of many Canadian men.

Smyrniotis described three kinds of players in the league: the lifers; those who have come down from more competitive leagues; and those hoping to use the CPL as a stepping stone.

Creating space for those three player types to build cohesiveness and thrive alongside each other is one of the main reasons for Forge's sustained run, the coach said.

"We try and provide an environment here on the pitch which not only allows the team to succeed but allows a player individually to develop. And if you can marry those two things together, I think you've got a recipe for success," Smyrniotis said.

There are two lifers on whom Smyrniotis has leaned on this season. Captain Kyle Bekker has been with the team since the beginning, as well as fellow midfielder Tristan Borges, save for a one-season break to try his hand in Belgium's pro ranks.