NPSL Welcome FC Arizona for 2017 Season
Soccer continues to grow in America — with the expansion of the NPSL teams. Here is the latest news: FC Arizona joins the NPSL as the league’s latest expansion side with kickoff set for the upcoming 2017 season. The Red Lions will be a member of the West Region’s Southwest Conference with home matches played at John Riggs Stadium on Mesa Community College campus.
NPSL Soccer News: The National Premier Soccer League (NPSL) announced on Thursday that FC Arizona will join the league as the latest expansion club with kickoff set for the 2017 season. Based out of Mesa, Arizona, the club will compete in the West Region’s Southwest Conference.
“We are very excited to have FC Arizona as the newest member of the NPSL,” NPSL Chairman Joe Barone commented. “This announcement shows our continued commitment to growing the game in the West. It also allows us to build a presence in the state of Arizona. This is an exciting day for everyone involved in the NPSL.”
FC Arizona will be led by Owner/General Manager Scott Taylor, Head Coach Aidan Davison and Director of Soccer Operations Tim Barmettler.
During his 15-year career as an insurance agency owner, Taylor has built the largest MetLifa Auto and Home agency in Arizona. Taylor has remain dedicated to serving the community, having served on the Economic Development Advisory Board for the City of Chandler and as past president of the Chandler Rotary Club. He has also been an active member with the Mesa and Chandler Chamber of Commerce groups.
Davison brings 20 years of professional playing experience to FC Arizona, including time in the English Premier League with Bolton Wanderers and Bradford City. He also represented Northern Ireland in European Championship and World Cup qualifying, retiring with over 400 appearances at all levels. During his coaching career, Davison served as Reserve Team Manager at Hull City and head coach at Jax Destroyer.
Bartmettler brings 27 years of coaching experience on both the men’s and women’s side, having served as the first men’s and women’s soccer coach at Benedictine University in Illinois. He most recently served at Mesa Community College, where he began coaching in 2012. Bartmettler also manages the Arizona Arsenal Soccer Club in Gilbert, AZ, one of the largest and most successful youth soccer clubs in the state.
“We chose the NPSL for several reasons,” Taylor added. “The level of play is very high and I was impressed with teams like NY Cosmos B, Chattanooga FC, and Detroit City FC and having the NASL reserve teams involved. We believe this pushes the league to get better as a whole. We also liked the structure of the league schedule and feel that the league is very organized and well-run.”
The Red Lions’ home matches will be played at John Riggs Stadium on the campus of Mesa Community College.
“We want to show the country that the talent that Arizona produces can compete with any market in the country,” Taylor concluded. “We feel like the league has raised the bar so we will be pushing ourselves to get better. We are excited to have the NPSL’s Southwest Conference competing in Arizona with quality California teams like Albion SC Pros and North County Battalion. We think the fans will be very happy with the product on the field.”
FC Arizona hosted their official launch party on August 5th, welcoming several hundred to show support for the latest NPSL club in the region.
Photo Credit: FC Arizona
