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Always the bridesmaid, never the bride. That
would most definately describe the recent
history of the Markham/Toronto Raiders. The team,
originally began as the Toronto Eagles of the
Central Ontario Football League but along with
fellow COFL franchise, the Scarborough Crimson
Tide, joined in 1992. It wasn't until 1998, after
Toronto went 7-3, 2nd place, won their semi over
North Bay and lost the final to Oakville, that
they moved to Markham's Centennial Fields. There
they became the Raiders, the jewel of the
commissioner's eye. The President/G.M. Jim Canale
and longtime coach Bill Ptolemy didn't miss a
step, taking the Silver, Black and White to a
second place 5-2-1 record but yet again, after a
brilliant smash of the Packers, they lost to the
Longhorns, again. Not known to all NFC fans, 1999
would be the season for Markham to either go
long or go home because after a 5-3 record and yet
another second place and and fast sweep of the
Spartans in the semis, Oakville gave the Raiders
what would be its final blow, a loss it wouldn't
recover from. Fed up with the losses and seeing
hope for a championship in greener pastures, the
Raiders picked up home and move to the New York
Football League during the 2000 off season, to
join with former NFC Packers.
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