Cavalry FC midfielder Charlie Trafford has officially announced his retirement from professional football ahead of the 2025 Canadian Premier League (CPL) season, bringing an end to a 11-year playing career that spanned multiple countries and leagues.
The 32-year-old Calgary native leaves the game after a journey that saw him compete in Finland, Poland, Scotland, and Wales before returning home to join Cavalry FC in 2022. Trafford also earned three caps for the Canadian men’s national team.
“It’s hard to put this emotion into words,” said Trafford via a club statement Tuesday. “I’m sad, scared, proud, and excited all at once. Soccer has been one of the greatest gifts of my life. It gave me unforgettable joy and equally tough pain.
“I’d like to thank my parents, the entire Spruce Meadows organization, Tommy (Wheeldon Jr., Cavalry FC coach), every teammate and brother I’ve shared the locker room with, my family; wife; friends; coaches; and mentors, and Cavalry’s incredible fans. I’m stepping away from playing, but the game will always be a part of me.”
Trafford key to Cavalry FC’s 2024 North Star Cup win
Trafford finds himself at number six on the all-time games played list for Cavalry FC – a feat that saw him make 84 appearances for the club across all competitions. He was also a key cog in the wheel for the Cavs during their 2023 CPL regular season title run and was instrumental in helping them lift the North Star Cup in 2024.
One of his last appearances for the club will also go down in history as one of the most defining moments in his career because it helped Cavalry FC stage an inspiring comeback against Liga MX side Pumas UNAM in a 2025 Concacaf Champions Cup first leg match.
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The veteran midfielder – or the ‘midfield general’ as the CPL calls him – volleyed a powerful shot in from the six-yard box to help the Canadian outfit equalize, before Tobias Warschewski scored a stunner to give the club an unprecedented victory.
In the CPL, Trafford’s last appearance was in the 2-1 win over Forge FC in the 2024 tournament final, when he came on as a late second-half substitute replacing Jay Herdman.
Cavalry FC coach praises Trafford’s ‘competitive edge’
“It has been an honour being part of Charlie’s playing journey,” said Cavalry FC head coach and general manager Tommy Wheeldon Jr. ,via the club statement. “I got to work with him as a young player at Calgary Foothills, then watched him embark on his professional journey overseas with admiration, until I was finally able to convince him to return home and help us grow the game here and win some trophies together.
“He has made a huge impact on my life as a coach and as a human being. As a truly exceptional character with an incredible competitive edge, he passes on the number six jersey to the next generation with a huge sense of pride.”
Trafford has also had a stint with Wrexham AFC – the club that gained global recognition following its purchase by actors Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney. He was only the second ever Canadian to play for the Welsh club after goalkeeper Don Ferguson in 1986.
As Trafford hangs his boots, he will now aim to dedicate himself full-time to Trafford Farms – an urban farming venture that he and his sister Sya launched in 2023.
