The Premier League of America (PLA) was an American soccer league consisting of teams in cities in the Great Lakes region of the United States. The league was a part of the United States Adult Soccer Association. It began its first season of play in 2015 as the Great Lakes Premier League, and at the end of the 2017 season its member clubs moved to form the Midwest Conference of the United Premier Soccer League.
History
Grand Rapids FC and AFC Ann Arbor both applied to become members of the National Premier Soccer League for the start of the 2015 season and they were both denied admission to the league. Instead of waiting a year or finding another league, the teams decided to start a league of their own. AFC Ann Arbor owner Jamey Amrine and Grand Rapids FC president Matt Roberts began discussions with other teams to gauge interest in forming a new league. Their work led to the formation of the Great Lakes Premier League. The new league held its inaugural league meeting on January 17, 2015, in Grand Rapids, MI.
The two clubs were joined as charter members by Oakland United - later Oakland County FC - based in Rochester, Michigan, and two decades-old Croatian American clubs, Croatian Eagles SC of Milwaukee and RWB Adria of Chicago.
Before the inaugural season began, Milwaukee Bavarians was announced as the first expansion franchise, to begin play in 2016. A second expansion team, Toledo United FC, joined in July 2015.
In September 2015, AFC Ann Arbor and Grand Rapids FC left the GLPL for the NPSL. The following November, the Madison 56ers left the NPSL after eleven seasons to join the Great Lakes Premier League.
The league announced on December 8, 2015, that they would be rebranding as Premier League of America, to more accurately reflect the potential growth of the league away from the Great Lakes area.
Two days later, Carpathia FC of Sterling Heights, Michigan in the Detroit suburbs was added as team number eight. The same month, Aris SC of La Crosse, Wisconsin and Aurora Borealis SC from Aurora, Illinois were added. Aris has since been removed from PLA announcements.
A tenth team was added on January 11, 2016, as Minnesota United FC Reserves moved over from the NPSL. An eleventh team for 2016 was added on January 13, 2016, as Stegman's Soccer Club joined as Minneapolis City SC. After their single season in the PLA, Minneapolis City announced their move to the NPSL.
On August 1, 2016, it was announced that Muskegon Risers SC would join the Premier League of America for the 2017 season after a unanimous 12–0 vote by current team owners.
On September 6, 2017, the United Premier Soccer League announced that eleven of the twelve PLA clubs (all save Grand Rapids Ole SC) had joined its league and would comprise the UPSL's new Midwest Conference.
Competition format In 2015 the league had a schedule that featured round robin play, where each team played every other team home and away. The league did not host a post-season tournament in 2015 and determined its champion based on the final season standings.
As part of the re-branding announcement for 2016, it was announced there would be a two-division geographical split, with an end-of-season championship playoff. The league will host a championship tournament at a neutral site with the top two teams from each division qualifying.
Teams Team City Stadium Founded Inaugural Season Final Season AFC Ann Arbor Ann Arbor, Michigan Hollway Field 2014 2015 2015 Aurora Borealis SC Aurora, Illinois Mooseheart School 2016 2016 2017 Carpathia FC Sterling Heights, Michigan Carpathia Club 1952 2016 2017 Cedar Rapids Rampage United Cedar Rapids, Iowa Clark Field, Coe College (2016)Kingston Stadium (2017) 2015 2016 2017 Croatian Eagles SC Franklin, Wisconsin Croatian Park 1922 2015 2017 Elgin Pumas SC Elgin, Illinois Judson University 1991 2017 2017 Grand Rapids FC Grand Rapids, Michigan Houseman Field 2014 2015 2015 Madison 56ers Madison, Wisconsin Breese Stevens Field 1956 2016 2017 Milwaukee Bavarian SC Glendale, Wisconsin Heartland Value Fund Stadium 1929 2016 2017 Minneapolis City SC Minneapolis, Minnesota Edor Nelson Field 2016 2016 2016 Minnesota United FC Reserves Woodbury, Minnesota East Ridge High School 2013 2016 2016 Muskegon Risers SC Muskegon, Michigan Kehren Stadium 2014 2017 2017 Oakland County FC Royal Oak, Michigan Royal Oak High School 20141 2015 2017 Ole SC East Grand Rapids, Michigan Mehney Field 2006 2016 2017 RWB Adria River Grove, Illinois Triton College 1959 2015 2017 Toledo Villa FC Sylvania, Ohio Sylvania Northview High School 2017 2017 2017 Toledo United FC Maumee, Ohio Springfield High School 2016 2016 2016
1 as Oakland United
Expansion Year # of Teams Teams Added Teams Departed 2015 5 5 0 2016 12 9 2 2017 12 3 3
Champions Season Champion Score Runner-up 2015RWB Adria Grand Rapids FC 2016Milwaukee Bavarians 4 – 2 RWB Adria 2017Milwaukee Bavarians (2) 5 – 3 Carpathia FC
2015 standings
2016 standings and playoffs East Division
West Division
Playoffs
The semifinals were played on July 30. The final and third place matches were played on July 31. Bold = winner* = after extra time, ( ) = penalty shootout score
2017 standings and playoffs East Division
West Division
Playoffs
Played at Heartland Value Fund Stadium in Glendale, Wisconsin.
Bold = winner* = after extra time, ( ) = penalty shootout score
References
External links Premier League of America