SoccerToday NPSL Spotlight Series
Soccer News: The soccer scene has been exploding and the sport’s popularity increasing substantially. The National Premier Soccer League – NPSL for short – is the country’s largest amateur soccer league with 80 teams competing in 2016. SoccerToday’s special coverage on the this 4th Division of the U.S. Soccer pyramid, gives soccer fans a glimpse into the life of the teams. Just so you know, NPSL teams are eligible to participate in the U.S. Soccer Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup and some NPSL teams have performed very well. NPSL is affiliated with both the U.S. Soccer Federation (USSF) and the United States Adult Soccer Association (USASA).
Learn more about Nashville FC, the first community owned and operated club in North America, from Board President and Director of Business Development, Chris Jones.
Diane Scavuzzo: When did you become involved with the Nashville FC men’s soccer team and the NPSL?
Chris Jones: Since day one. Nashville FC was born from nothing; a few people meeting in a bar thought about what could be. It made the most sense to pick the NPSL because financially, it is a lower entry fee with smaller travel costs and closer opponents allow fans to travel.
Diane Scavuzzo: Do you feel that NPSL is doing a good job with the challenges of amateur/pro men’s soccer?
Chris Jones: Yes, it’s a very difficult thing to fit a high level season/league in such a small time frame during the summer months, while making sure you are doing what is best for these college athletes.
Diane Scavuzzo: Is your conference in need of more NPSL competition? How would you like to see the NPSL expand?
Chris Jones: I’ve always been a believer that competition pushes everyone to be better. Otherwise you become complacent.
Diane Scavuzzo: Who is your head coach and why did you select him?
Chris Jones: Nashville FC’s Head Coach is Kyle Roelke. Kyle has great experience playing overseas, is well connected in the college ranks being a volunteer assistant coach at Vanderbilt University and is a student of the game through and through.
Diane Scavuzzo: How would you describe your team’s style of play?
Chris Jones: Our teams style of play is open and entertaining.
Diane Scavuzzo: Would you like to see European style promotion and relegation exist in the USA?
Chris Jones: 100% in theory, however, to be honest, the size of the United States causes pause. Without controls in place to ensure travel costs could be kept down, it could be very dangerous. For example, the farthest away match in the UK could be Portsmouth to Newcastle (5.50 hrs) which is about the same as Nashville, Tennessee to Columbus, Ohio. It would need to be kept regional to work.
Diane Scavuzzo: What team do you believe does the best at promoting the game?
Chris Jones: In the NPSL, I honestly feel we do a great job of promoting the spirit of the game and the communal spirit of soccer.
Diane Scavuzzo: Who do you believe is your biggest rival?
Chris Jones: Chattanooga FC. Both of us being Tennessee clubs, we are only separated by 135 miles.
Diane Scavuzzo: What is your favorite memory since becoming involved with Nashville FC?
Chris Jones: It would have to be our first home match. We were expecting maybe 500 people to show up and to look up at the stands and see a nearly full stadium, just shy of 2,000 people, was amazing.
Diane Scavuzzo: What are your goals for 2016?
Chris Jones: To win the conference, everything else is icing on the cake.
Interested in becoming a member of the team and being a part of club decisions? Memberships are available until May 2016.
