The fourth week of May will be monumental for York9 FC.

While the rest of the Canadian Premier League’s founding club will have already played host at their respective home grounds, York Region’s own outfit will finally be returning from a four-game road trip to host a pair of important home matches at York University.

First up for head coach Jimmy Brennan? A Canadian Championship second-leg bout with AS Blainville on May 22; three days later, York9 hosts Forge FC in its league home opener. It’s a reverse fixture of the 905 Derby, which kicks off on April 27 in Hamilton.

“It’s great that both clubs are opening against each other, our rivals,” Brennan told CanPL.ca. “It’ll be great for the fans, the players, it really is. And we’ll want to win both (games), too.

“It’s always special winning a derby game,” he continued. “In Europe, I played in a lot of derby matches, where the opposition was in the same town, so I love the rivalry here, since Hamilton is not far from where we are. It’s a great rivalry. These are the big games that you want to be involved in, the passionate games.”

Patience will be the name of the game for York9 supporters, but this double-header week of action on both May 22 and May 25 promises to turn into a week-long festival of soccer in York Region.

It’s enough motivation, Brennan says, to keep his new group going along through the early obstacles of away-game travel.

“We’re very excited to play at home in front of our own fans,” Brennan affirmed. “We understand that, for the first few games, we’re on the road – that’s not a problem. It keeps us motivated and looking forward to back-to-back home games

“We’re excited, firstly, to welcome Blainville – we have a great deal of respect for Blainville,” Brennan continued. “They’re a good club, well-run, with some good players on their books. We’re looking forward to the challenge and playing against them.”

Spirits at York University should be quite high as well, as Y9 rounds off the inaugural wave of home openers against Forge FC.

The club encompasses nine municipalities in York Region, bringing fans from different parts of the northern parts of the Greater Toronto Area together under one united banner.

Already, York9 FC has reached out to fans and players of each of the youth clubs within the York Region boundaries, and expects plenty of local pride to permeate throughout the stand.

For Brennan, this sight is one he’s most looking forward to soaking in.

“We’re looking for the fans to become the 12th man,” Brennan said. “We want a sea of green in the stands and we want them to be excited for their home openers. More importantly, we need them backing the team and supporting York9. Our players are looking for that.

“It’s going to be a pair of great days for everyone in York Region.”

York9 FC season ticket memberships are available now.