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Midwest Premier League
Soccer league From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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The Midwest Premier League (MWPL) is an American amateur and semi-professional soccer league. The league spans primarily the eastern and central portions of the Midwestern United States.
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History
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The league was founded by four clubs which were all previously members of the United Premier Soccer League Midwest Conference.[1] Following the 2019 UPSL season, the clubs decided that they could create a stable league that would focus on sustainability of the member clubs by sharing ideas, keeping league costs to a minimum, and maximizing the opportunities for all clubs to compete by limiting end-of-season playoffs that often shorten the season for many teams.[2]
The league announced Union Dubuque F.C. as its first member on September 18, 2019, with the other three founding members being announced in the subsequent weeks.[3] RWB Adria joins the MPWL on September 25, 2019.[4] DeKalb County United joins the MWPL on October 2, 2019.[5] Cedar Rapids Inferno join the MWPL on October 9, 2019 making it the fourth member team.[6] And concludes the joining of the founders.
Cliff Conrad has been elected as the league's first president. Conrad is the co-founder and president of Union Dubuque F.C., one of the league's charter members.[7]
After a period with no expansion news, FC Diablos of Normal, Illinois, was announced on January 10, 2020, and an expansion continues into March. With expansion side Rockford FC being unveiled shortly thereafter on January 30, 2020.[8][9] Livonia City FC joins the MWPL on Feb. 29th 2020.[10] Lake St.Clair joins the MWPL on March 2, 2020.[11] BiH Grand Rapids joins the MWPL on March 6, 2020.[12]
The league was set to kick off in spring 2020; however, the season was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States.[13][14]
The Midwest Premier League appoints Andy Hayes as the league's first commissioner.[15]
On July 27, 2020, the league announced Lansing Common FC from Lansing, Michigan, as a new member club.[16][17]
On September 3, 2020, the MWPL entered a partnership agreement with the National Independent Soccer Association, a USSF Division 3 professional league, which includes pathways for both players and clubs to go fully pro.[18][19]
November 2020 kicked off another round of expansions for the league. Starting with Edgewater Castle FC on Nov. 27th 2020.[20]
In the spring of 2021 MWPL launched its inaugural season with 20 teams in two divisions. 12 teams in the West Division and 8 teams in the East Division. [21]
It was announced on March 21, 2022 that the MWPL would have 3 Divisions within it.[22]
The schedule for the second season of the league was announced on April 6, 2022, nearly a month ahead of the first game. With Detroit City U23 gone, there would be a new champion in the East Division. And with a finalized Southern Division, 3 champions were to be crowned at the end of the 2022 season.[23]
A new conference alignment was announced by the league on February 6, 2023. The MWPL confirmed that for the 2023 season, the South Conference would now be known as the Gateway Conference, the West Conference would now be the Heartland Conference and the East Conference would be the Great Lakes Conference, with an East and West Division.[24]
On October 27, 2023 MWPL announced plans to implement promotion and regulation within the league starting with the Heartland Conference. [25]
MWPL announced a strategic partnership with The League for Clubs (TLFC) on May 19, 2025. The partnership is intended to create a new TLFC Midwest conference that will sit on top of the MWPL to facilitate promotion and relegation between the leagues.[26]
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Teams
Location map
Green Bay Glory
Third Coast
Cedar Rapids
Fox Valley
1927 SC
Goshen City
Grand Rapids
Midwest United
Midwest United
Tulip City United
Holland Rovers
Holland Rovers
Lansing Common
Columbia
Atletico STL
BOHFS
Ehtar
STL Stars
STL DA
BOHFS
Ehtar
STL Stars
STL DA
SESA
Pearl City
Warrior FC
AFC Omaha
Linoma FC
CB Captains
Linoma FC
CB Captains
Current team locations:
Heartland Conference
Great Lakes Conference
Gateway Conference
Former teams
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Seasons
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2021 Fall Season
The first season for the MWPL ended on August 1, 2021[29]
The Eastern division contained 8 teams for the 2021 season. [30]
This Western division contained 12 teams for the 2021 season.
Rules for classification: P) points; (GP) games played; (GD) goal differential;
(C) Champion
2022 season
The first season with 3 divisions in it.
The Eastern division contained 11 teams for the 2022 season.
The Western division contained 12 teams for the 2022 season
The Southern division contained 4 teams for the 2022 season.
Rules for classification: P) points; (GP) games played; (GD) goal differential;
(C) Champion
2023 Season
The first season with 4 divisions.
Rules for classification: P) points; (GP) games played; (GD) goal differential;
(C) Champion
2024 Season
The first season with 5 divisions in it.
The Gateway division contained 8 teams for the 2024 season.
The Great Lakes East division contained 10 teams for the 2024 season
The Great Lakes West division contained 6 teams for the 2024 season.
The Heartland Division was split up into two division for the 2024 season. Withe promotion and relegation between the two.
The Heartland division 1 contained 6 teams for the 2024 season.
The Heartland division 2 contained 7 teams for the 2024 season.
Rules for classification: P) points; (GP) games played; (GD) goal differential;
(C) Champion (P) Promoted (R) Regulated
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Division Winners
Great Lakes Conference Winner
Note: Formerly the East Division
Heartland Conference Winner
Note: Formerly the West Division
Heartland Conference Division 2 Winner
Gateway Conference Winner
Note: Formerly the South Division
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Golden Boot winner
The golden boot winners were announced on September 15, 2021.[33][34]
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Notable players
The following players have either played at the professional or international level, either before or after playing for a Midwest Premier League team:
Shady Omar, Lansing Common FC - 2021, played professionally at Ittihad El-Shorta (Egypt) 2015-2017 and Al Hilal Matruah (Egypt) in 2022
- Damon Almazan, Steel City FC - 2020, played professionally at Chicago House AC for a season (2021).
- Derek Huffman, RWB Adria - 2020, played professionally at Chicago House AC for a season (2021). Currently at Milwaukee Wave of the Major Arena Soccer League
- Stefan Mijatovic, RWB Adria - 2020, played professionally at Chicago House AC for a season (2021). Currently at Utica City FC of the Major Arena Soccer League
George Chomakov, Liquid Football - 2023, played professionally at Detroit City FC for three seasons (2019–2021)[35]
Benedek Tanyi, Liquid Football - 2023, played professionally at Detroit City FC for two seasons (2021–2022).[36]
Albaraa Alsoufi, Liquid Football - 2023, played professionally at Gold Star FC for a season (2023).[37]
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References
External links
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