Former Wanderer Scott Firth commits to Saint Mary’s Huskies

The Saint Mary's Huskies men's soccer team have announced the first recruit of the 2022 class, and it is a name that will be familiar to many local soccer fans.

Scott Firth, a 6'1 midfielder from Windsor Junction, N.S., will join the Huskies after playing the last three seasons with HFX Wanderers FC in the Canadian Premier League.

"I'm really excited to get started. I can't wait to join the guys for training, and I'm also excited to get back into the classroom and start my degree," says Firth. "I wanted to stay close to home and take engineering, and I know Saint Mary's is a great team and school to get me started on that goal."

Over three seasons with the Wanderers, Firth appeared in 20 Canadian Premier League games and two Canadian Championship games.

"He's one of those players that could play anywhere that he wants to, but having him commit to our program is massive, especially with the experience he brings with his professional background," says Huskies head coach Mesut Mert. "It's great to see local talent like Scott stay close to home, and I think he'll really help elevate our program."

Firth, 20, describes his play style as 'a general in the midfield', and considers his passing ability to be his top skill.

"I'm a composed player," says Firth. "I like to help the team stay in control and keep things simple."

"He's a quiet leader, very strong technically and will make everyone around him better," says Mert.

A 2019 graduate of Lockview High School, Firth has been attracting attention from professional clubs since he was 14-years-old.

In 2015 and 2016, he had trials with Portuguese giants Sporting CP and Benfica. He was invited to train with Toronto FC's U-20 team in 2017, and was involved in the Vancouver Whitecaps Atlantic Canada Development Academy.

As a 16-year-old, Firth represented Nova Scotia at the 2017 Canada Games in Winnipeg, where he teamed up with current Huskies Cameron Zinn, Sumit Malik, Jensen Brown and Cian Tousignant-Osiadhail. He was named the 2018 Youth Performance Player of the Year by Soccer Nova Scotia.

"I know quite a few of the players on the Huskies, they are all great guys and fun to play with," said Firth. "I was cheering for the team during their Nationals run last year and I can only imagine what they can do in the future."

Huskies men's soccer commit Scott Firth spent the past three seasons playing for HFX Wanderers FC in the Canadian Premier League. (Photo credit: Trevor MacMillan, HFX Wanderers FC)

Long history with Coach Mert

When Firth joins the Huskies, he'll have the benefit of having previously played with several Huskies players, including Brown, Zinn, Malik, Tousignant-Osiadhail and Kaveh Wornell.

But his longest standing relationship on the team is with Huskies Head Coach Mesut Mert.

"Mesut has really been around for my whole soccer journey, and it feels like it's coming around full circle," says Firth. "I started working with him at a really young age at Suburban FC- somewhere around 10 or 11 years old. Whether he was my coach, or the technical director, he was always around and influenced me a lot growing up, and then we reunited with the Wanderers and now I can't wait to play with him at Saint Mary's."

"From the moment I met him, he always loved the game and was very passionate about learning," says Mert. "He always had a ball with him, and is one of those players that had the attitude and discipline to want to get better at a young age. He's soaked in every bit of information that I was able to offer him, but he made it where he is because of his work ethic."

Mert, who has also worked as an assistant coach for the Wanderers the past two seasons, says he has seen Firth continue to develop his on-field skills and a maturity beyond his years.

"What he's learned with the Wanderers will definitely help at our level. He'll bring that professional attitude and mentality to our program, and hopefully our players will be able to see what he's gone through and learn some things," says Mert.

The Huskies finished the 2021 AUS season with a 6-3-3 record, and finished as runner-up at the AUS Championship, making their first appearance at U SPORTS Nationals since 2011.

Firth has a long history with Huskies head coach Mesut Mert, dating back to his time playing club at Suburban FC. (Photo contributed by Andy Firth)