In the late 1990s and into the 2000s, more and more of Hamilton’s youth became involved in leading the Club to great heights.
In 2001 a youth committee was formed and immediately began hosting fundraisers to facilitate the Men's A-Team’s travel costs for the CNSF Tournament hosted in Milwaukee that September. A few months later the youth committee was encouraged by then-President Zvonko Zubrinić to join the Club’s Board of Directors at the 2002 Annual General Meeting.
It was not for a lack of effort by the previous committees, but the new generation of young men proved that they had the support and the willingness to get the Club to prosper once again. Skeptics were initially reluctant to allow the youth to take the reigns. However, after a full year on the job, their hard work had surpassed all members’ expectations. At the 2003 AGM former board members came to a realization that the Club was in it’s best financial and physical standing in many years.
Most of the early work was done to gain financially for the Club. On June 22, 2001, Croatia Hamilton hosted their first summer outdoor dance in Grimsby, Ontario. It became known as “BASH @ the BEACH” and entertained people from across the globe while serving as a major fundraiser.
Other social gatherings such as an annual banquet, pub nights, stag parties, concerts by performers from Croatia, and televising Croatian national soccer games including friendlies, World Cups, European Cups, and qualifiying matches demonstrate Croatia Hamilton's leadership in promoting tradition and community.
In 2005 Croatia Hamilton hosted the CNSF Youth Tournament. Hajduk Split’s Under-12 youth team attended that day and put on a great display of skill, and it was noted by the Federation as one of the finest junior tournaments to be held in a long time.
Also that summer, the Croatian National Under-21 team played in a friendly at Ivor Wynne Stadium, followed by a post-game meal at 200 Kenilworth Avenue. In attendance was team star Luka Modrić, head coach Slaven Bilić and his fellow 1998 FIFA World Cup third-place winner, Aljoša Asanović.
