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MLS Rumors is pleased to welcome another New York based correspondent to our ranks: Harmit Singh Kamboe who writes the following piece on the USL.
MLS Soccer fans have a lot to thank the United Soccer Leagues For
And so it had to happen.
The better TV deal, some star players and the backing of larger corporate interests that the MLS has, has forced the USL into an unwanted restructuring. Since 1986, the two USL divisions, age based leagues spread across the US, Canada and the Caribbean have nurtured talent and passion for soccer. But as of today, with the two top USL teams leaving for the MLS, other teams seriously thinking of floating a parallel league, the old USL seems to be an entity of the past.
As a soccer fan, it was perhaps too much to ask for a merger or alliance between the two leagues although at one point that did seem like a possibility.
MLS and it’s fans would be wise to look at the positive things that the USL did specifically with the following:
1. Geographical reach
Collectively across all the First and Second division teams, youth and developmental teams and the W-League, the USL provides over 120 teams across the US, Canada and the Caribbean.
2. Proper grooming of young talent
The Premier Development League, targeted at young talent comprises 66 teams across four conferences.
3. Addressing the needs of a Womens soccer league
The W-League comprises 35 teams across three conferences.
The MLS has time on its hands and has an understandable reluctance to go too far too soon as a business venture. It wishes to pace itself rather than burn out in a flash of glory. Some sort of an alliance with the remainder of USL could probably work itself out as a league like MLS will always need fresh, affordable talent and newer geographies to conquer. And nothing beats home-grown talent or cities that have a developed a proven passion for soccer.
Depending on how the new USL ends up restructuring itself, it is hoped that no soccer community finds itself abandoned. It has taken years for the game to reach a critical mass across North America and it would be a shame to suddenly have the game altogether vanish from many locations that may never have a realistic chance of having a MLS team of their own.
MLS is now the only way for big time soccer talent and entertainment in North America. True MLS fans will know that they have to thank the USL in part for keeping soccer alive in hearts and communities such as Seattle, Portland, Vancouver, and Montreal.
Take a bow USL. Your efforts were not in vain and thank you for putting in the work when the going was tough for the sport across our land.
Written by: Harmit Singh Kamboe for MLSR
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totally agree, i actually was a avid USL fan before swtiching to MLS. thats cuz i live in florida. USL is doing MLS a favor by reaching in places budget and market wise MLS cant. it brings out homegrown players and these clubs are grassroots teams rather than buisness franchises. it would be a shame for USL to go but hopefully the USL will either continue or come to an agreement with MLS to create MLS Second Division to keep the remaining USL teams alive. pro/reg would be nice but thats another story
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kudos…well said. the USL also has better structure teams. why else would Everton choose to leave it’s two newest youth players in the hands of Vancouvers Youth Academy not, Toronto, not LA, not even New York. These teams are better run and managed.
I hope a coach like that of the PR Islanders can get a run in the league — We could use him here in DC
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USL is soccer for more of the U.S. than MLS, if you figure going to matches is more important than staring at a glass panel bolted to a wall showing images of people running around. I was at the Fire’s first home game ever and I regularly drive six hours round trip to go to matches now. I’m Fire ’til I die, but had one of the best match experiences of my life at a USL-2 Harrisburg City Islanders game. The U.S. is one hell of a lot bigger than fifteen, or twenty, metropolitan areas, and the USL is how Americans across a wide swath of this country get to chant and cheer and scream themselves horse over “their” team.
Check how many, what percentage, of players in MLS came up through the PDL. It’s like a who’s who of the league.
Here’s to hoping the USL survives and thrives long term…for the good of MLS.
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“has, has”?!?
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Totally agree with the article, but it kinda sounds like an obituary. The USL will still exist and in fact their lower leagues are more important to US Soccer than USL1. I hope the new league succeeds either way, since they are all potential MLS markets.
Btw, the “has, has” makes sense. The “the MLS” doesnt.
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“I hope a coach like that of the PR Islanders can get a run in the league — We could use him here in DC”
Ummm… He has Nightmare. Colin Clarke was shit canned by Dallas FC in 2006. I’m not saying he wasn’t a good coach but well… perhaps he was a victim of circumstances. Coaches are often the scapegoat of a crappy FO. What the DCU FO SHOULD have done was held on to Peter Nowak. DC has never played as attractive soccer as they did when he was the coach. And ditching Gomez for Gallardo? Are you kidding me? Sorry bro, but you lot deserve a stint in soccer purgatory for those decisions. Something, something, sins of the father….
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