OUR HISTORY
Based in Milton, Halton Hawks FC has deep roots in player development that trace back over two decades. The journey began in 2002 when Toni Marin and Vasco Nunes founded the Soccer Development Model Academy (SDMA) an organization focused on coach education. The academy was built around the world-renowned youth development framework pioneered by the late Professor Horst Wein.
At Horst’s encouragement, the founders set out to demonstrate the effectiveness of his model in a real-world setting. In 2005, SDMA opened its doors to the public, offering its first summer camps and setting the foundation for what would eventually become Halton Hawks FC.
While based in Milton, gaining official sanction as a soccer club in those early years proved difficult. To continue developing players, Vasco collaborated with clubs across Ontario. In 2007 a formal partnership was formed with the club in another club
In 2007, the two organizations launched an alliance to combine players and participate in competitive tournaments. This partnership saw teams entering 4–5 tournaments each year. However, due to a complaint from another club, the alliance was forced to end.
Undeterred, the academy adapted once again. In 2012, we joined the Soccer Academy Alliance Canada (SAAC), allowing our players to compete in a structured league environment until 2017.
When the Ontario Soccer Association (OSA) officially recognized private academies in 2018, we seized the opportunity to enter teams into district-level competition.
In April 2018, Halton Hawks FC was officially registered. A new logo was unveiled, marking the start of a bold new chapter. The rebranding signified our evolution from a development initiative into a fully sanctioned and competitive club.
Fast forward to the present time and Halton Hawks FC continues to grow. With seven teams competing across different levels, a new logo and branding launched, and a commitment to excellence both on and off the pitch, we are proud of how far we've come. From our humble beginnings to 20 years of resilience and progress, we're here to stay—and just getting started.
