At York Lions Stadium, you don't just watch the game. You feel it.

You hear the chants from the stands. You see the celebrations after a goal. You feel the energy build when AFC Toronto needs a push. And from the pitch, the players feel it all too.

For AFC Toronto's players and Head Coach Marko Milanovic, that's what makes YLS so special. It's a place they describe as ‘home’, where they can hear the supporters throughout all 90 minutes, see their families in the stands and feel the energy from the crowd.

As AFC Toronto heads into its third season, we asked the team what makes playing in Toronto so special, what they love about playing in front of the Collective and what they would say to someone thinking about joining for 2027.

This Is Home
When asked to describe AFC Toronto in one word, ‘home’ came up more than once.

For Sabrina D’andelo, returning to Canada and playing close to where she was born and raised makes AFC Toronto particularly meaningful. For Shelina Zadorsky, Toronto has become home after building her career in different places around the world.

And one of the things that makes YLS feel like home is how close the supporters are. "How close the fans are to you and the energy that they bring on game days is amazing," said Sabrina. 

That proximity is something the players consistently notice.

At YLS, the supporters are close enough to be heard, felt and seen throughout the match.

Nikki Small loves seeing the stands filled with supporters, including the Vermilion Vanguard, while Shelina says the atmosphere comes from the constant singing, chanting and genuine support from the crowd.

And according to Colby Barnett, "The supporters are everything to the team."

You Feel It From the Pitch
The YLS experience is different when you're on the field.

The players can hear the supporters throughout the full 90 minutes. They can see the crowd celebrating alongside them. And when the game gets difficult, they know they're not facing those moments alone.

Marko describes the supporters as the team's "12th player" at home, elaborating that "we feel their presence, they get us through tough moments."

For the players, that support can help push the team through a match. For supporters, it creates the chance to be closer to the action and feel connected to the team they're cheering for.

The supporters aren't just watching the match. They're part of it. And we want you to be a part of it all next season. 

Building Something Together
AFC Toronto is entering its third season, but the players see a club that is still just getting started.

Colby points to the continued growth of the club and its fan base. Nikki is excited to see how the club continues to grow in the city. Shelina sees the growth of the team, the quality of football and the potential for that to continue.

For Marko, the future is about potential, "crazy potential. I think we're just getting started here."

And supporters are an important part of that future.

Every chant. Every celebration. Every person who walks through the gates at YLS adds to the atmosphere and helps create the home that the players talk about.

The Memories Are Better Together
Some of the players' favourite memories from their time at AFC Toronto have one thing in common: the fans were there.

Sabrina remembers her first game at YLS, with her family in the stands.

Nikki's favourite YLS memory is celebrating the inaugural Supporters' Shield with her teammates and the fans.

Shelina remembers her first win at home and experiencing the excitement and passion of the supporters.

These are the moments that shape and define a season. And the promise of more moments like this to come in 2027 is what makes us all so excited for what’s next. 

The Players Have One Message for You
So, what would the players say to someone thinking about becoming an AFC Toronto Collective member for 2027?

Do it.

Sabrina's answer was immediate: "Do it... you definitely won't be disappointed."

Colby agreed: "Yeah, do it. I mean our games are awesome."

Nikki kept it just as simple: "Do it. It is a great investment and you'll get your money's worth."

And Shelina sees becoming a member as a way to help build something bigger: "I would say absolutely do it. I think having the visibility of female professional footballers in this city is so important."

For Marko, it's about becoming part of something: “It's a great opportunity to become part of the club, become part of our family, our community."

Come Find Your Place at YLS
Maybe you've been coming to AFC Toronto matches since the beginning. Maybe you've been thinking about coming to your first.

Either way, the Collective is growing, and there's a place for you in it.

Come for the football. Stay for the atmosphere. Get closer to the players. Find your people. And help create the kind of home pitch advantage that the players can feel from the pitch.

The players said it best: “Do it”. 

Join the action and become a 2027 AFC Toronto Collective member today.

See full campaign here.