BARRIE - Simcoe County Rovers FC would like to announce the departures of Centre Forward Ethan Beckford and Left Back Kahlil John Wentworth. Both players have signed professional contracts with Canadian Premier League sides Cavalry FC (Ethan) and Vancouver FC (Kahlil).
Ethan appeared in 17 regular season matches for the Simcoe County Rovers scoring 15 goals. The prolific striker scored two more goals during the playoff run increasing his total tally to an incredible 17 goals in 19 matches.
“Simcoe had by far the most professional environment. I wouldn’t have wanted to be anywhere else. I want to thank everyone at the club and of course the fans that came to watch us. I wish the best for Simcoe County Rovers for the upcoming season in League1”.
The hunger to score goals runs deep the Beckford family. Ethan is the son of Simcoe County Rovers FC Men’s Head Coach Jason Beckford, who himself was a professional Centre Forward.
Jason came through the Manchester City youth system and played in the top flight of English Football. Ethan’s uncle, Jason’s older brother, Darren was also a professional footballer scoring 96 goals throughout his career in the UK.
Kahlil adopted the Left Back position for the first time in his career upon Head Coach Jason Beckford’s advice in preseason. He ended up representing the Rovers in 19 regular season matches as well as the two playoff matches. He scored his lone goal of the season of a direct free kick and was an instrumental part of the Rovers’ 2022 campaign.
“This was the best environment I’ve ever been a part of,” said Kahlil in a goodbye video to the Rovers community. “Standards in training were just as high as they would be on game day, week in and week out, and that really pushed us to get better. The accountability here was if every game was our last. My experience was unreal with the Rovers . Thank you from the bottom of my heart. I wish the club all the best in the future. Come on you Rovers!”
“A massive congratulations to Ethan and Kahlil for signing deals with Cavalry FC and Vancouver FC of the CPL. For us, it’s important to identify and develop local talent,” said Rovers’ Sporting Director Julian de Guzman “Congratulations to our 2022 Coaching Staff, Zack Wilson (Women’s Head Coach) and Jason Beckford (Men’s Head Coach) in this regard.”
“Going into 2023 Rovers FC will continue to provide a professional environment for players and coaches to develop while providing a pathway to higher levels of the game. Thank you to League1 for the wonderful platform built over the last decade. The league has grown substantially, and it continues to head in the right direction.”
Kahlil and Ethan are the fifth and sixth Rovers player that has made the jump to professional football in the club’s inaugural season. Other players include:
Yazmeen Jamieson | GPSO 92 ISSY (France)
Leaford Allen | Napier City Rovers (New Zealand)
Aodhan O’Hara | Manchester (Gibraltar)
Trivine Esprit | York United Draftee (CPL)
Kahlil John | Vancouver FC (CPL)
Ethan Beckford | Cavalry FC (CPL)
The Rovers start pre-season on February 14th and will kick off the 2023 League1 season in early April. For more information, please contact media@roversfc.ca
