Gathering at the Wanderers Grounds

Excitement builds as Vancouver FC arrive for Halifax's home opener

You can feel it in the spring air.

The excitement, the anticipation of tomorrow's songs and half-priced pints and football shimmers above Halifax on the eve of the new-look Wanderers' home opener against Vancouver FC.

And make no mistake, this is a special gathering for Nova Scotia's football faithful.

Head coach Patrice Gheisar and his squad have given the city something to be excited about after what can only be described as a failed campaign last season. If you've only just tuned back into the club, you'll not find Stephen Hart or João Morelli or Pierre Lamothe in Wanderers colours.

Instead, you'll find a squad of unfamiliar faces who will quickly make your acquaintance; their likeness, their voices have been on television and radio and on paper in anticipation of tomorrow's match.

Because tomorrow is also a special day for Halifax Wanderers FC.

It'll be their first regular season match to show you what they've become, the fruits of their recruitment and training across a long off-season.

It'll also be a chance for Gheisar to earn his first career CPL win after a strong opening week which saw the Wanderers earn two league draws versus Forge FC and Atlético Ottawa in entertaining style.

A big part of this squad's appeal is their philosophy of play; aggressive, possession-based attacking football is Gheisar's ethos and he's already imparted it on his players.

In a word — compared to last year's numbing strategy — Halifax is exciting to watch. Their games to date have been fun and fluid and a real treat for a fanbase that sat through a lot of drummings.

Players who only recently made their professional debuts for the club will have the masses at the Wanderers Grounds on their feet this season, starting tomorrow. Be it a beautiful free-kick from Massimo Ferrin or an adroit through ball from Lorenzo Callegari, there's talent in this year's collection of footballers and memories to be made.

I can already picture the fans filing in, the pre-game ceremony for captain Andre Rampersad and the first strike of the ball.

But all of that is still to come.

So enjoy it, Halifax; this is the calm before the football storm.

We'll see you at the Wanderers Grounds tomorrow.

Cheers,

-WN