Star defender Mason Trafford trades cleats for business adventure with Cavalry
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Mason Trafford has gone from leading Cavalry FC on the field to leading Calgary’s professional soccer club off the field.
On Friday, that long-decided move was announced by the Canadian Premier League club, as the veteran defender — and last year’s captain — retired from the game he so dearly loves.
But the 36-year-old globetrotter is trading in his cleats willingly for a new adventure as the team’s commercial director.
“I’m definitely going to miss it,” said Trafford, a pro footy talent for 14 years. “I’m going to miss the atmosphere in the locker room. I’m going to miss the thrill of walking out with the guys onto the field for a match in front of our fans. This is been my life for 20 years and more — I started when I was four and have been in it professionally since 2009.
“Do I think it was time? In a sense, I do think it was time. Moreso of the opportunity in front of me with my role on the business side. It’s one that’s really exciting to shape this club from a leadership position off the field.”
He’s actually already been doing that for a few years now.
From the pitch to the front office
When Trafford joined as an original member of the Cavs back in 2018, it was with the understanding that he would eventually evolve into a key cog off the pitch, given his education as a business accounting graduate — with honours — from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.
Mid-COVID, he took on the title of commercial director, with responsibilities of retail, marketing, partnerships, sponsorships, ticket sales and community engagement.
Now, with a growing family at hand — including four-year-old Luna and seven-month-old twins Estelle and Theodore — he’ll stay closer to home and dive deeper into that business role on a full-time basis, doing anything that’s revenue generating for the club and making sure the business is on the right track and making money.
“I think we’re at a great point where Cavalry is considered to be one of the best brands in the CPL,” Trafford said. “So there’s a lot for me to be excited about — and I am. I feel grateful and very lucky for this opportunity.”
Born to Calgarian parents in Boynton Beach, Fla., the dual citizen feels fortunate for all his years he competed on the pitch, as well.
While many players in the sport make major moves overseas and into foreign lands, Trafford did it to the extreme.
He was an adventurer.
Mason Trafford: World traveller
“I’ve literally played soccer on almost every continent on the planet,” said Trafford, who jumped from a four-year tour of NCAA duty with the UNLV Rebels into a pro career — first — with the Vancouver Whitecaps before moving on to the USL Premier Development League’s Real Maryland Monarchs, Finnish Premier Division’s IFK Mariehamn, China League Two’s Guizhou FC, the North American Soccer League’s Ottawa Fury and the NASL’s Miami FC before signing in Calgary. “I’ve lived in a lot of different places and seen a lot of different cultures and how they work soccer from both on-field and off-field. I’ve lived my life as a soccer player very much in the present moment — when opportunities came, I said, ‘Let’s go and do it.’
“It was, ‘Let’s go have an adventure.’ Lucky for me, I landed in some really interesting places with some really interesting people. I got to work with coaches and players that I’ll remember for the rest of my life, and they were all influential for me to become the man I am today.”
And he did it all with the strong backing of his longtime partner.
“Claudia and I have spent the past 15 years on different continents — every two or three years, we’d move to a different country on a different continent and have a life there,” continued Trafford. “We lived in China for a year, and what a challenge that was trying to navigate that world. We lived on a small island (as part of Finland’s Aland Islands) in the middle of the Baltic Sea for two-and-half years. We lived in Miami for three years. I lived in Vegas for university. I lived in Washington D.C. for a bit. We lived in Ottawa for a bit.
“And in the moment, Claudia and I were like, ‘What the heck are we doing? Like, this is madness.”
But, he added, “It’s been cool.”
‘The sun is rising on the next chapter’
Among the most cool of his memories was his call to Canada’s national squad in 2013, with whom he made one appearance — against Denmark in a loss in Arizona.
“I wish I could have done that more,” Trafford said. “But obviously, one is more than a lot of people get, so I’m very grateful for that.”
And his coaches, including current Cavs gaffer Tommy Wheeldon Jr., were forever appreciative of what he brought to the pitch, with his game solidly built on consistency and reliability.
“I think that’s why I’ve had the career I’ve had, because coaches see that, clubs see that and my teammates see that,” Trafford said. “What I’ve really loved about it is the day-to-day application to try to do something in a great, extraordinary way. And I think looking back on my career, I’ve amassed a lot of points and a lot of wins on a lot of league tables, and a lot of those teams have won leagues.”
“Mason is a fantastic human being that has been a key fabric of our club identity from Day 1,” Wheeldon said. “What teammates, management and supporters will have seen on the pitch is his commitment, intelligence and leadership. It’s these traits that will serve him and our club well as he steps into a new and exciting chapter as he helps us grow further as a club.”
He leaves after more than 320 pro games, including the last 62 with the Cavs.
“Do I think I could still play?” added Trafford, whose goal total is a half-dozen from his role as a staunch defender. “I don’t think I’m retiring because I’m past it and I’m just not good any more. I was leading the team on the field against Forge in the semi-final three months ago. But the time is right for me both professionally and for my family.
“What we say is, ‘The sun has set on my career, and the sun is rising on this next chapter of my life.’”
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