Matt Anthony Field
Constructed in 2001, Matt Anthony Field is located outside of the Minto Sports Complex at the south end of uOttawa's main campus. Its field surface is Field Turf and the bleachers along the sideline have a seating capacity of 675.
Matt Anthony Field was renovated in 2011, with the field surface being updated to FieldTurf Revolution, which was the first of its kind in Canada and only the second field with the artificial turf in North America.
The facility holds a FIFA-recommended 2-Star designation, the highest synthetic turf rating possible. It is one of only approximately 20 FIFA 2-star fields in Canada.
Home of:
Gee-Gees women's soccer team, women's rugby team, and men's varsity club rugby team.
Matt Anthony Field is also used as an occasional practice facility for the Gee-Gees football team.
Championships:
The Women's Soccer team has captured the Ontario conference banner a record 9 times (2018, 2014, 2012, 2006, 2003, 2000, 1999, 1997, 1996), with the 2012 banner being won on home turf at the Matt Anthony Field in 2012.
The Women's Rugby team won five consecutive RSEQ conference championships at home on Matt Anthony Field (2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014). The team also won the 2019 conference championship on the road.
Matt Anthony Field was the the host field for the 2019 U SPORTS Women's Rugby National Championship.
About Matt Anthony:
The facility is named in honour of Matt Anthony, a prominent figure in the Ottawa football community.
Born in St. Catherines, Ontario, Matt Anthony played Offensive End and was a member of the inaugural 1946 Montreal Alouettes team. Anthony moved to Ottawa for 1947 and was named an East All-Star at End in that year. He remained with Ottawa for 1948 before going West to play for the Regina Roughriders (the name change to Saskatchewan came a few years later). Anthony won a West All-Star in his first season with Regina. He returned to Ottawa in 1951 and helped the Eastern Rough Riders to beat his previous team (Saskatchewan) in the 1951 Grey Cup. It was Anthony's second Grey Cup appearance, having been with Ottawa when they lost to Calgary in 1948. He played two more years with Ottawa (1952-53) before retiring. Anthony was described by former teammates as tough, hardworking and fair.
After retiring from playing, Anthony became involved in coaching, first at the university level with the Ottawa Gee-Gees for 15 years from 1954 to 1969 and later at the junior level with the Ottawa Sooners (1971). His straightforward coaching style and analytical football mind propelled the Gee-Gees to seven league (OSLAA) and conference (CCIFC and OIFC) Championships and three undefeated seasons along with 11 of 14 Panda game wins.
In fifteen seasons Anthony is the most successful coach in the Gee-Gees history with 76 winning games and tied No.1 for most post-season wins with 7. Matt Anthony passed away on July 13, 2000.
For facility rental information, please visit our Gee-Gees recreation site.