The NPSL Continues to Expand with the Addition of North County Battalion and Grand Rapids FC
A clear sign that the sport of soccer is flourishing in America, the NPSL continues to grow the sport and adds two more expansion teams.
Soccer News: The National Premier Soccer League (NPSL) announced North County Battalion (Carlsbad, CA) and Grand Rapids Football Club (Grand Rapids, MI) have joined the league as expansions team.
North County Battalion will compete in the West Region’s Southwest Conference and Grand Rapids Football Club will compete in the Midwest Region.
North County Battalion
“We are excited to add another team in the state of California, which has been a stronghold of our league for many years,” NPSL Chairman Joe Barone commented. “North San Diego County is an important market for soccer and we believe that this owner and club will be very successful there. We wish them the very best for the 2016 NPSL season.”
The club is led by owner Jason Barbato and manager/coach Giovanni Vlahos. Barbato, a lifetime Southern California resident and successful realtor, believes that by leveraging his passion to see the game grow in North County that he can help propel the game nationally. His desire to partner and promote the youth clubs and academies in the county has drawn quick attention and support for North County Battalion.
“The NPSL provided an attractive business model that could bring high level soccer to my community,” Barbato added. “I have wanted and waited for a higher level club to present itself within a shorter driving span than what is currently available and decided that if I felt this way then scores of other soccer fans in my community felt the same way too. Turns out I was right and we are so excited to be a part of the NPSL and bring a team to our area.”
Vlahos is the current head coach of men’s soccer at Saint Katherine College. A coach with impressive credentials, Vlahos possesses a USSF “A” license, a NSCAA Goalkeeping Level III Diploma, and a USSF National Youth license. He is also on the staff of the Del Mar – Carmel Valley Sharks.
“We anticipate a great response from our community and local youth clubs to come out and support their local team,” Barbato concluded. “We have already begun to connect with many of the youth clubs and programs in the community and they are excited to partner up with us. We aim to field an exciting product on the field and a brand that our supporters can be proud of and rally around.
NC Battalion has secured adidas as the club’s kit partner and Fan & Fuel as their brand identity and marketing firm.
Follow the club on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
Grand Rapids Football Club
“We are thrilled to add yet another team in Michigan,” said Barone. “This move will help make the Midwest Region even more competitive. There is sure to be more rivalries, which is a major plus for our fans and supporters.”
The home venue for GRFC is Houseman Field, an 8,000-seat multipurpose facility in Grand Rapids. It was built in 1923 and renovated in 2009.
The club is led by President Matt Roberts, Vice President Chris Deiss, and Head Coach George Moni.
Roberts, the founder of GRFC, is the Youth Academy Coordinator at Midwest United FC, having worked for the club for the past eight years. He currently holds his NSCAA Regional, NSCAA Advanced Regional, and NSCAA National Diplomas. In addition to coaching at the club and high school level, Roberts also served as an assistant coach with Aquinas College from 2006-2008.
Deiss, a CPA at Lettinga and Associates, is also a coach with Midwest United. He holds his USSF “D” License, NSCAA Advanced National Diploma, and his NSCAA National Diploma. He also has coaching experience with Georgetown Rangers and Grand Rapids Crew Juniors.
Moni is an accomplished coach with a USSF “A” license, UEFA “B” License, and the NSCAA Premier Diploma. He is the current Director of Coach and Player Development at Midwest United.
“We chose to join the NPSL for a chance to win a national championship and create rivalries with other Michigan teams,” Roberts added. “We bring another competitive team to an already competitive region. We hope to compete for a playoff spot in our first season.”
GRFC began as a crowdfunding project in March 2014. The club would finish second in the Great Lakes Premier League (GLPL) in 2015, averaging 4,500 fans per home game.
