Kalamazoo, MI – (Saturday, December 16, 2006) - Kingdom Soccer has ceased operations of its franchise in United Soccer Leagues Premier Development League to focus on its rapidly growing youth clubs.
Kingdom Owner Chris Keenan said the organization’s 11-season run of fielding a PDL team, which hosts collegiate-aged players, has come to an end as the organization transitions its focus and energies on the more than 400 Southwest Michigan youth playing on the Kingdom’s Super-Y League, Reserves, and Select teams.
Currently, Kingdom Soccer is hoping to form a men’s team to compete in USL’s recently launched Super-20 League that is designed as a graduating youth league for elite players from 17 to 20 years old. “Stephanie, my wife, and I founded Kingdom Soccer with a PDL team in 1996 and have built our organization from that base,” Keenan said. “With more than 400 youth now involved in our Kingdom Youth Soccer Club, our plan is to refocus our efforts on the youth in our community and club. It is our desire to field a Under 20 men’s team in USL’s new Super-20 League to expand opportunities for Southwest Michigan’s most talented players to play on a national stage.”
USL’s Super-20 League is a North American league with teams representing clubs from all levels of United States and Canadian soccer from elite youth clubs to first division professional teams in the U.S. and Canada. Teams such as DC United, New York Red Bulls and the Washington Freedom fielded USL Super-20 League teams in 2006.
“We are disappointed at the loss of an established PDL club such as the Kingdom,” said Tim Holt, USL Vice President. “We hope the Kingdom see growth and strength in their youth programs to the point that a return to the PDL in the near future becomes a natural move for the organization.”
Kingdom Soccer founded its Reserves and Super-Y League teams in fall 2002, which have grown to include 250 male and female players. “As a club, Kingdom Reserves are rated No. 20 in the Super Y-League’s First 11 rankings,” Keenan said. “For a third year in a row we have had teams win the Midwest Division and qualify for the SYL North American Finals in Tampa. The current U-13 Girls Reserves team made it to the semifinals and fell short of making the championship game by one goal.”
“Stephanie and I also hold out hope of launching a PDL team again in the future, but have made the hard decision to cease PDL operations currently to increase our ability to serve our youth clubs,” he said. “United Soccer Leagues is a great organization and we look forward to continuing our relationship in the Super-Y League. We are very grateful to all our fans and sponsors who continue to support our organization as we continue to grow and evolve.”
Tryouts for Kingdom’s Super Y-League team will be announced in early 2007. For more information about the team and the organization, contact Chris Keenan at (269) 370-8220 or at Kingdom Indoor Center (269) 226-2000.
