Wikipedia

Tommy Wheeldon Jr.

Thomas Wheeldon Jr.(born 3 May 1979) is an English former professionalfootballerand current head coach ofCavalry FCin theCanadian Premier League.

Tommy Wheeldon Jr.
Wheeldon in 2022
Personal information
Full name Thomas Wheeldon Jr.
Date of birth (1979-05-03)3 May 1979(age 45)
Place of birth Liverpool,England
Position(s) Defender
Team information
Current team
 Cavalry FC(head coach)
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
Swindon Town
Torquay United
Yeovil Town
2002–2004 Calgary Storm 28 (0)
Managerial career
2014–2016 Canada U17(assistant)
2015–2018 Calgary Foothills
2018– Cavalry FC
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Playing career

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Wheeldon began his playing career in England withSwindon Townbefore moving toTorquay United.[1]

In May 2002, Wheeldon joined theCalgary Stormof theA-Leagueto play under the management of his father, Tommy Wheeldon Sr.[2]He went on to make 28 appearances for the club across two seasons.[3]During his time as a player, he also worked as a full-time academy coach and soccer camp director for the club.[4]

Coaching career

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Calgary Foothills

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After theCalgary Stormfolded, Wheeldon decided to remain inCanadaand help develop grassroots football. After four years as a director for a local soccer academy, he joined theCalgary Foothillsas assistant technical director in 2007 and was promoted to technical director a year later. In 2015, Wheeldon was named as head coach as the club joined thePremier Development League.In his second season as head coach, Wheeldon guided the team to an appearance in thePDL Championship Finalbefore losing to theMichigan Bucks.[5]In 2016, Wheeldon received the Jack Buckler Award for outstanding contribution to the sport of soccer within Calgary and area.[6]

After having accepted the role as head coach and general manager of Cavalry FC, Wheeldon led Calgary Foothills to the 2018 PDL Championship, defeatingReading United AC4-2.[7]

Canada Soccer

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In April 2014, Wheeldon began a two-year spell as assistant coach for theCanada U17 men's national team.[8]

Cavalry FC

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On 18 May 2018, Wheeldon was announced as the first head coach and general manager ofCanadian Premier LeagueclubCavalry FC.[9]Wheeldon signed 12 players from the Foothills to Cavalry, including captainNik Ledgerwoodand goalkeeperMarco Carducci.[10]Under Wheeldon's coaching, Cavalry won both the spring and fall seasons in the2019 Canadian Premier League season.[11]Cavalry also made it to the semifinals of the2019 Canadian Championship,where they lost to theMajor League SoccerteamMontreal Impact.[12]Along the way, Cavalry had defeated fellow Canadian Premier League sidesPacific FCandForge FCas well as theVancouver Whitecapsin the quarterfinals, becoming the only CPL team to win against an MLS team.[13]Wheeldon would win the CPL coach of the year for the 2019 season.[14]

During the2023 CPL campaign,Wheeldon led Cavalry to the victory of the regular season, and won his second Coach of the Year Award as a result.[15][16]

Personal life

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Wheeldon was born inLiverpool,England.[17]His father, Tommy Wheeldon Sr, was a professional footballer who representedEvertonandEngland Under-18s.[18]

He attended theUniversity of Surreyto study sports science and coaching.[4]

Wheeldon is a lifelongEvertonsupporter.[19]

Career statistics

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Player

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Club Season League Cup Continental Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Calgary Storm 2002[3] A-League 7 0 0 0 0 0 7 0
2003[3] 21 0 0 0 0 0 21 0
Total 28 0 0 0 0 0 28 0
Career total 28 0 0 0 0 0 28 0

Manager

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As of 29 October 2023
Managerial record by club and tenure
Team From To Record
M W D L GF GA GD Win %
Calgary Foothills 17 May 2015 4 August 2018 64 38 16 10 106 60 +46 059.38
Cavalry FC 17 May 2018 present 143 75 29 39 207 143 +64 052.45
Total 207 113 45 49 313 203 +110 054.59

Honours

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Calgary Foothills

  • USL League Two
    • Champions: 2018
    • Western Conference Champions: 2016, 2018
    • Northwest Division Champions: 2016, 2018

Cavalry

Individual

References

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  1. ^"Tommy Wheeldon Jr. – Technical Director".www.calgaryfoothillssoccer.com.Calgary Foothills FC.Retrieved18 May2018.
  2. ^Wilson, Jock (19 May 2018)."Cavalry head coach and GM Tommy Wheeldon Jr".omny.fm.Global News Radio.Retrieved27 June2018.
  3. ^abc"Thomas Wheeldon".soccerstats.us.Soccer Stats.Retrieved26 June2018.
  4. ^abWheeldon Jr, Tommy."Tommy Wheeldon Jr on LinkedIn".www.linkedin.com.LinkedIn.Retrieved26 June2018.
  5. ^Kostanuick, Adam (13 April 2018)."Tommy Wheeldon Jr. leads Calgary Foothills FC into 2018 PDL season".Northern Starting XI.Retrieved26 June2018.
  6. ^2017 Annual Report(PDF).Calgary United Soccer Association. 2017. p. 12.
  7. ^"Calgary Foothills FC win 2018 PDL championship".Total Soccer Project.4 August 2018.
  8. ^"Tommy Wheeldon".canadasoccer.com.Canada Soccer. 2 May 2018.Retrieved26 June2018.
  9. ^Austin, Daniel (18 May 2018)."'Cavalry FC' the Canadian Premier League team in Calgary ".Calgary Sun.Retrieved26 June2018.
  10. ^"Cavalry FC's success stems from Foothills FC's band of brothers".Calgary Sun.23 October 2019.Retrieved25 October2019.
  11. ^"'Today, we celebrate': Cavalry clinches Fall title with Al Classico win ".Canadian Premier League.19 October 2019.Retrieved25 October2019.
  12. ^"Impact down Cavalry to advance to Canadian Championship final - Sportsnet.ca".www.sportsnet.ca.Retrieved25 October2019.
  13. ^"Cavalry bounce Whitecaps from Canadian Championship - Sportsnet.ca".www.sportsnet.ca.Retrieved25 October2019.
  14. ^John Molinaro (26 November 2019)."Cavalry FC's Tommy Wheeldon Jr. named CPL's Coach of the Year".
  15. ^"Cavalry FC's Tommy Wheeldon Jr. wins 2023 CPL Coach of the Year Award".Canadian Premier League.26 October 2023.Retrieved27 October2023.
  16. ^Jacques, John (27 October 2023)."2023 CPL Awards Round Up: Cavalry Dominates The Show".Northern Tribune.Retrieved27 October2023.
  17. ^Jeffrey, Andrew (30 October 2017)."Tommy Wheeldon, Jr. – Top 40 Under 40".www.avenuecalgary.com.Avenue Calgary.Retrieved18 May2018.
  18. ^"Tommy Wheeldon".www.kitsoncoaching.co.uk.Kits On Coaching.Retrieved26 June2018.
  19. ^"Owner Profile".cavalryfc.canpl.ca.Cavalry Football Club. 17 May 2018.Retrieved26 June2018.
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