Futebol Clube do Porto of Toronto

Delegation Number 5

Founding Date:September 21, 1987
Address:545 Rogers Road
Toronto, Ontario
M6M 1B5
Telephone:416-901-6993

Brief History

Audio Version:

After FC Porto beat Bayern Munich to become European Champion for the first time in its history, in 1987, a group of supporters felt the urge to create a delegation of the Portuguese giant in Toronto. The idea moved a large number of supporters which led to the foundation of Futebol Clube do Porto de Toronto. Albino Santos became the first ever President. On September 21 of that same year, the association received an official note from FC Porto presenting it with the designation of Official Delegation, the fifth in the world.

The club’s first headquarters was on Dundas Street – just above Caldense Bakery – but then it moved to an office near Lamport Stadium. It later relocated to Sporting de Toronto’s former home, on Augusta Avenue, but it was on Symington Avenue (just north of Dupont) that the association began to take on bigger challenges. The purchase of its own building was one of the objectives. It was achieved about 20 years after the organization’s foundation when it purchased a building on Rogers Road, in the heart of Toronto’s Portuguese community. 

FC Porto de Toronto at the Portuguese Day Parade, in Toronto

Cesario Bras, the longest standing President in the history of the delegation, was one of the major proponents of the purchase of a building. In a 2008 interview to Luso-Ontario Magazine, he told of the initial struggles and the dreams for the future. “Soccer was the first group we implemented, a few years after the foundation of the club. For ten years we competed in the TSA (Toronto Soccer Association) and won many trophies until 1995. We also had a youth team competing in the TSA”, he recalled. That Junior team was TSA Champion in 1999. 

Folklore is a major component of most Portuguese associations in Canada. FC Porto de Toronto did not defy logic and also once had its own folklore dance group. “The folklore dance group was formed in 1995 by members who wanted to bring a cultural element to the club”, Bras explained. “The founding members were from Minho and the dances and costumes were also from Minho”, he continued. 

In the aforementioned interview, Cesario Bras spoke of the difficulties he experienced to maintain the association active but also confessed tremendous pride when Pinto da Costa visited Toronto under his leadership. In the same interview, Bras spoke of the objective to have soccer return to the list of the club’s activities. 

The clubhouse on Rogers Road continues to serve FC Porto’s fan base in the Greater Toronto Area, particularly on game days where supporters can watch the game while savouring varied petiscos and drinks. 

With files from Luso-Ontario Magazine, 2008
If you notice errors or misrepresentations in the article, please e-mail contact@lusocanada.com
Help us write History. Contribute your story, memory or experience related to this organization by sending an email to contact@lusocanada.com.