by David Falk
The Evergreen Premier League. That’s the name to rally around if you would like to see a statewide men’s adult outdoor semi-pro soccer league in Washington. A Facebook page is now up at: http://www.facebook.com/EvergreenPremierLeague.
I have talked with several soccer club owners and owner hopefuls over recent years about how we can grow clubs and football culture in our state. I have heard from some of them that sending money to out-of-state league front offices is not something they see as valuable. They’d rather keep their funds at home to grow their clubs. The expansion fees for leagues such as the PDL and NPSL can be a bit daunting. In the meantime, we aren’t growing our club culture as fast as we could. Or, as locally as we might.
The idea behind the Evergreen Premier League is to form a league of ten clubs around the state that would play 18 matches from May through July. The league would not be specifically ‘developmental’ in terms of players. There would be no age limits or restrictions. It would be a higher, statewide level of what some of the current adult leagues in various cities are doing. It would value soccer culture and club culture, putting importance on crests, colors, scarves, pubs, community connections, as well as the soccer.
Steps would of course include getting together with the Washington Adult Soccer Association and getting sanctioned by them as well as US Adult Soccer. Owner / Founder / Operators would need to be recruited and screened. Places to play found, etc.
Right now we are firmly in the “idea” stage. All ideas are welcome. You can contact me at any time at goalWA@gmail.com.
I got into another one of my passionate arguments about having a league like this just a few days ago. The person listening was in total agreement. “Why don’t you get it started, soccer people trust you,” the person said. Coming from them it was quite a compliment. I thought for a minute and couldn’t think of a reason not to at least try.
I looked back across the table and said, “whether or not it ever gets going won’t be up to me…it will be up to the soccer communities in Washington.”
I say we should go for it.
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NOTES: EvergreenPremierLeague.com and EPLWA.com have been purchased in anticipation of using them at some point. Wouldn’t it be cool to have a multicultural league with perhaps clubs like Seattle Stars FC going up against, say, WestSound FC, etc. Wouldn’t it be sweet if people came forward from the east side, too? Think we could get an “anchor” franchise to join from one of the current national / regional leagues?
About the Evergreen Premier League
The Evergreen Premier League (EPLWA) is a statewide adult semi-pro men’s premier soccer league that will host amateur players on serious and professionally-run clubs. Target kick off is set for May 2014. The EPLWA will be similar in structure and mission to the Pacific Coast Soccer League (PCSL) but will serve Washington state clubs. Your club can apply to join the Evergreen Premier League here. Questions about the EPLWA can be directed to David Falk at goalWA@gmail.com.
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Up here in BC there are rumours of a league to connect with those already in Ontario and Quebec to create a national, but regionally based, 3rd Division. This may have some effect on you guys if the BC-based PDL teams leave for this new league. I think teams like Kitsap are less likely to stay if Victoria and Vancouver are out so your venture might look more inviting.
Thanks for that update. Right now the Kitsap Pumas are looking up, not sideways or down. They don’t currently have any interest in the EPLWA. However, other state clubs do…