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Tag Archives: Michael Hitchcock

Gate City FC Joins the NPSL

The National Premier Soccer League (NPSL) is proud to announce that Gate City FC of Greensboro, NC has joined the league as an expansion team. Gate City will begin play in the Mid-Atlantic Conference of the South Region in 2014.

“Our NPSL presence continues to grow in the Carolinas with the welcomed addition of Gate City FC,” NPSL Commissioner Michael Hitchcock stated.  “Gate City is going to successfully bring NPSL soccer to Greensboro which has proven to be a strong soccer market on all levels.  We’re confident that Greensboro will embrace the NPSL model of our community-based clubs who are committed to grassroots soccer while growing the game.”

The Mid-Atlantic Conference already includes Virginia Legacy SC, CASL Elite, Chesterfield United FC, D.C. United, Myrtle Beach Mutiny, and 2013 NPSL National Champion RVA FC.

Gate City FC is led by Chairman/President Justin Cox, Executive Vice-President Hayley Dunn, and Vice-President/Head Coach Brian Japp.

Cox has been repeatedly honored for his work on and off the pitch.  A former MLS Project 40 player and member of the U-17 Men’s National Team player pool, Cox holds a USSF “C” coaching license. He received America’s Top Young Entrepreneurs Award from Inc. Magazine in addition to The Business Journal’s “40 Leaders Under 40” Award after building the leading environmental remediation company QAS Inc. from the ground up.

Japp is one of the most respected coaches in the region.  A former All-American and two-time NCAA National Champion at UNC Greensboro, Japp went on to a decorated playing career that included time with the Memphis Storm, Miami Freedom, Miami Sharks, and the Carolina Dynamo. He holds the NSCAA Advanced National Badge and has been a coach at Greensboro College, the Carolina Dynamo, and Greensboro United.

“With the help of the NPSL and after many years of research and hard work, my dream of bringing world-class soccer back to the great city of Greensboro has come to fruition,” Cox added. “I am excited at the prospect of leading this team to much success here in my hometown. This expansion team represents a new chapter for Greensboro, which has a long, rich history of enthusiastic support for professional soccer. I hope this enthusiasm will provide us with a strong fan base and loyal supporters.”

Photo Credit: Gate City FC

Gate City FC will play its home games at Jamieson Stadium, which is located on the campus of Grimsley High School in Greensboro,NC. The 10,000-seat stadium features a Bermuda-style natural grass playing surface, press box, video message center, and elevated projection lighting.

“The mission is simple: create a nationally recognized, winning soccer brand along with an affordable family-friendly entertainment experience, and a unique marketing platform that will become the flagship franchise of a growing American soccer market,” Cox concluded.

They can be found at www.gatecityfc.com, on Twitter @GateCityFC, on Facebook at facebook.com/GateCityFC, or on Youtube at youtube.com/gatecityfc.

Lansing, MI Joins the NPSL

Two more new teams expected in the next two days

The National Premier Soccer League (NPSL) is proud to announce that Lansing, Michigan will field an expansion team in the Great Lakes Conference in 2014.

“As the sport of soccer continues to grow in the Midwest; the Great Lakes Conference in our Midwest Region continues to expand with the addition of Lansing,” NPSL Commissioner Michael Hitchcock stated.  “The NPSL is proud to welcome a quality ownership group who will successfully engage the local community as they launch the club for the 2014 NPSL season.  Lansing will be a great addition to an impressive conference.”

The Great Lakes Conference already includes AFC Cleveland, Zanesville Athletic, Cincinnati Saints, Detroit City FC, FC Sparta Michigan, Erie Admirals, and FC Buffalo.

The Lansing team is led by owner Jeremy Sampson. He is a former sports reporter for WLNS-TV and weekend sports anchor for WILX-TV. Sampson also brings experience from the Michigan State Athletic Department.

The head coach, who will also serve as the player personnel director, will be announced at a later date.

“We want to build on the success of what the NPSL has accomplished over the years,” Sampson commented. “The sport of soccer continues to grow in Mid-Michigan and we believe that the people of this community will band together to support their team.”

The soccer community has a unique opportunity to support this new team in a big way.

Beginning today and running through October 10th, fans will be able to submit their own team name. They can do so in several different ways:

  • By visiting  the team website at www.soccerinlansing.com
  • By visiting the team on their Facebook fan page at www.facebook.com/soccerinlansing
  • By visiting the team’s Twitter page @soccerinlansing

Those that submit a team name and leave an email address will be invited to the logo and team name launch party.  The overall winner will receive 2 tickets to each home game for the 2014 season. They will also receive an autographed jersey and ball, signed by all the members of the inaugural 2014 squad.

“We are excited to be apart of the fastest growing soccer league in the country,” Sampson added.  “The NPSL has a tremendous track record of growing the game of soccer in the United States and we are honored to be a part of that tradition.”

The Lansing team has already done their part in growing the game.  They have formed a partnership with Michigan’s Capital Area Soccer League (CASL), an organization that serves 23 local communities with youth soccer programs. The goal is to have these communities come together to support the team in Lansing.

The NPSL is a national league that operates in the 4th Division of the U.S. Soccer pyramid. NPSL teams are eligible to participate in the U.S. Open Cup through their affiliation with the U.S. Soccer Federation (USSF) and the United States Adult Soccer Association (USASA). The NPSL is the fastest-growing national soccer league in the U.S., operating in 60+ markets across the country.  Two Major League Soccer (MLS) clubs, D.C. United and the New York Red Bulls, operate U-23 squads in the NPSL.

Cincinnati Joins the NPSL

The National Premier Soccer League (NPSL) is proud to announce that the Cincinnati Saints have joined the league as an expansion team. The Saints will begin play in the Great Lakes Conference in 2014.

The Great Lakes Conference already includes AFC Cleveland, Zanesville Athletic, Detroit City FC, FC Sparta Michigan, Erie Admirals, and FC Buffalo.

“Part of the NPSL expansion strategy is to strengthen existing conferences and regions with the right owners in the right markets,” NPSL Commissioner Michael Hitchcock said. “The Cincy Saints have a great ownership group in a terrific market and will be a great new member in our Great Lakes Conference in the Midwest Region where we have a strong foundation of teams. We would like to welcome Cincinnati to the NPSL family.”

The Cincinnati Saints Soccer Club was founded in 2009. The club consists of men’s and women’s semi-professional teams. The men’s team is referred to as the Cincy Saints, while the women’s team is called the Lady Saints. The Cincy Saints currently play year-round participating in the Premier Arena Soccer League and the Midwest Soccer League with the Lady Saints playing in the WLS (Womens League Soccer).The Cincinnati Saints Soccer Club has developed partnerships with three local soccer clubs: Northern Kentucky Soccer Academy, Star Soccer Club, and Thunder United FC. These partnerships bring 1,600 players under the Cincinnati Saints youth development umbrella.

The Saints are led by Owner David Satterwhite, General Manager Mackenzie Long, and Head Coach Gavin MacLeod.

“Our club is extremely excited to be taking this next step in our mission to bring professional soccer to Cincinnati,” Satterwhite stated. “We have spent the last four years building our infrastructure to make this jump to the NPSL. We are also very excited to play in a competitive and enthusiastic conference like the Great Lakes.”

They will play at Withrow High School, an 8,000 seat stadium that was renovated with a FieldTurf surface in 2007.

“This is an important step for Cincinnati’s talented, dedicated, and growing soccer community,” Long commented. “Joining the NPSL creates an expectation of excellence not only for the level of competition, but for our quality of players, coaches, fans, front office, youth development programs, and community involvement.”

The Cincinnati Saints are the second expansion team to be announced for the 2014 season, joining Virginia Legacy as new teams in the NPSL.

“We are not coming into the NPSL just to make up the numbers,” MacLeod concluded. “We are coming to win from day one and I know we have enough talent in Cincinnati and the surrounding area to make this a realistic goal. My challenge to elite players is to stop talking the talk and start to walk the walk. If you believe you have what it takes to play at this level then come out, prove it, and represent your city as we look to showcase the best of Cincinnati soccer.”

The NPSL is a national league that operates in the 4th Division of the U.S. Soccer pyramid. NPSL teams are eligible to participate in the U.S. Open Cup through their affiliation with the U.S. Soccer Federation (USSF) and the United States Adult Soccer Association (USASA). The NPSL operates in 60+ markets from across the country and is cur rently one of the fastest-growing soccer leagues in the U.S. Two Major League Soccer (MLS) clubs, D.C. United and the New York Red Bulls, operate U-23 squads in the NPSL.

Virginia Legacy Joins the NPSL

The National Premier Soccer League (NPSL) is proud to announce that the Virginia Legacy Soccer Club has joined the league as an expansion team.  Virginia Legacy will start play in the Mid-Atlantic Conference in 2014.

The Mid-Atlantic Conference already includes CASL Elite (Raleigh, NC), Chesterfield United FC (Chesterfield, VA), D.C. United U-23s, Myrtle Beach Mutiny, and RVA Football Club (Richmond, VA).

“On behalf of the NPSL, I’d like to welcome Virginia Legacy to the NPSL to start play in the 2014 season,” NPSL Commissioner Michael Hitchcock stated.  “I’m very impressed by the club’s leadership, vision, business plan, and commitment to growing the sport of soccer in their market. Williamsburg, Virginia is a strong soccer market and will be a great addition to the Mid-Atlantic Conference and the NPSL.”

Founded in 1976, the Virginia Legacy Soccer Club is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization proudly serving the communities in Eastern Virginia including Williamsburg, James City County, York County, Gloucester, Poquoson, Newport News, Hampton, and other communities in and around the Virginia Peninsula. Virginia Legacy is a full-service soccer club that is home to recreational, developmental and travel soccer teams providing opportunities for youth soccer players of all ages and abilities.

“I look forward to providing a top level of soccer for our community that has been absent for several years,” Virginia Legacy President Stu Spirn commented. “Competition in the NPSL will provide an opportunity in soccer for the youth of this area to be excited about.”

The NPSL team will operate under the guidance of the Virginia Legacy Soccer Club Board of Directors.  With almost 40 years of soccer operations experience in this area as administrators, coaches and leaders, the board provides the knowledge, experience, and relationships necessary to guide the club into the future, a future that now includes the NPSL.

Board members include Al Albert and Chris Norris.  Albert served as the head men’s soccer coach at The College of William & Mary for 33 seasons, was elected to serve as the NSCAA President in 2006, and was awarded the prestigious NSCAA Honor Award in 2011. Norris is the current William & Mary men’s soccer head coach.

“The NPSL is a great a fit for our club.  It is a league full of great owners, teams and players committed to growing the game,” Virginia Legacy Executive Director Bobby O’Brien added. “This team will provide members of our club, past and present, as well as players throughout Hampton Roads with the opportunity to continue their soccer careers. Virginia Legacy is excited to bring the professional soccer experience to the thousands of players, parents, fans and soccer supporters in this region.”

The team aims to provide an inspiring, passionate, and soccer-enthused culture for youth soccer players, parents, fans, supporters and visitors to the Williamsburg community.  They also hope to be competitive immediately, building a championship caliber NPSL team of players, coaches, staff and volunteers that define the ideals and values of the Virginia Legacy Soccer Club.

Virginia Legacy’s NPSL team will provide exciting, affordable soccer entertainment while competing in the highest-level environment possible.  Games will be family-friendly and cost-efficient, with significant discounts and giveaways for youth players and sponsors, and will provide a quality, professional soccer experience including entertainment, concessions, and merchandising.

The NPSL is a national league that operates in the 4th Division of the U.S. Soccer pyramid. NPSL teams are eligible to participate in the U.S. Open Cup through their affiliation with the U.S. Soccer Federation (USSF) and the United States Adult Soccer Association (USASA).  The NPSL operates in 60+ markets from across the country and is currently one of the fastest-growing soccer leagues in theU.S. Two Major League Soccer (MLS) clubs, D.C. United and the New York Red Bulls, operate U-23 squads in the NPSL.   

Hitchcock to Lead NPSL

The National Premier Soccer League (NPSL) announced today that it has entered into a management agreement with Playbook Management International (PMI). As part of the agreement, former Major League Soccer (MLS) club executive and PMI Founding Partner Michael Hitchcock will serve as the league’s new commissioner.

“We are very excited to announce that Michael Hitchcock will serve as the new NPSL Commissioner and feel that with the addition of Michael and his company, the NPSL is on the verge of great times ahead,” NPSL Chairman Andy Zorovich commented.

Hitchcock is a MLS success story, starting as an entry-level sales representative and finishing his 12+ year career in the league as a club president and general manager. His time includes work with D.C. United, the Colorado Rapids, the LA Galaxy, FC Dallas, and the San Antonio Scorpions (NASL).

Hitchcock claimed several accolades in his time with the league, including the MLS Sales Director of the Year, MLS Sales Team of the Year, and the Commissioner’s New Business Leadership Award.

Photo Courtesy of Michael Hitchcock

“Michael Hitchcock is well respected inside soccer circles,” NPSL Secretary and Brooklyn Italians Vice President Joe Barone stated. “Michael will work with the existing teams to further stabilize them and create a model to further understand their unique markets. The growth of the NPSL will be very strategic. Michael will play a critical part in the future of the NPSL.”

PMI, based in Frisco (TX), is one of North America’s most respected sports management companies. They boast a worldwide client list and their executives have a combined 75 years of professional sports management experience. They also maintain offices in Gaithersburg (MD), Atlanta (GA), and Ft. Lauderdale (FL).

“On behalf of PMI, I’m looking forward to working with the leadership of NPSL and the passionate, committed owners in developing a model of sustainability, strategically building the league and growing the beautiful game in every NPSL market,” Hitchcock continued. “I believe in the incredible potential of the NPSL and know that it plays a critical role in the continued growth of the sport of soccer in the United States.”

The NPSL is a national league that operates in the 4 th Division of the U.S. Soccer pyramid, which also includes the Premier Development League (PDL) operated by the United Soccer Leagues (USL). NPSL teams are eligible to participate in the U.S. Open Cup through their affiliation with the U.S. Soccer Federation (USSF) and the United States Adult Soccer Association (USASA). The NPSL operates in 60+ markets from across the country and is currently one of the fastest- growing soccer leagues in the U.S. Two MLS clubs, D.C. United and the New York Red Bulls, operate U-23 squads in the NPSL.