ECNL GIRLS EXPANDS NORTH TEXAS REGIONAL LEAGUE WITH FIVE NEW TEAMS FOR 2021-22 SEASON

RICHMOND, VA (March 8, 2021) – The Elite Clubs National League Girls is excited to announce the addition of five new clubs to the ECNL Girls Regional League – North Texas for the upcoming 2021-22 season: Fever United Soccer Club, Kernow Storm City FC, North Texas Celtic Soccer Club, Renegades Soccer Club and West Side Alliance.

“It’s extremely exciting to announce these new additions to the ECNL Girls Regional League - North Texas,” said ECNL Girls Commissioner Jen Winnagle. “All five clubs will elevate competition levels in the league and expand the depth of the player pool in this region. Through additional resources and increasing standards, the ECNL Regional League - North Texas will further nurture the league's mission to Raise the Game for every club.”

“The addition of these clubs to the ECNL Girls Regional League – North Texas membership represents the extraordinary depth of talent in our region,” added Aaron Gordon, ECNL Regional League - North Texas League Director. “All of these teams now have the opportunity to continue their journey and to work for the potential to compete for a place in the ECNL post-season pathway.”

West Side Alliance Tulsa, OK

West Side Alliance was founded in 1992 with the purpose to promote goodwill, foster personal development and nurture children through the sport of soccer. West Side Alliance offers programming for children ages 2-19 from the highest level of competitive soccer to an experience-rich recreational soccer program and since its inception, the club has produced elite level youth competitive soccer teams, numerous club and state championships and hundreds of collegiate athletes.

“West Side Alliance is very excited to accept membership into the ECNL Regional League - North Texas,” said Kerry Shubert, Director of Coaching. “Our acceptance in this league, along with our acceptance in the ECNL Regional League - Texas, gives us the platforms we need to further our commitment to our future in the ECNL. The ECNL Regional League - North Texas provides an opportunity to offer great stability and strong competition to a broader base of our players. This will help us continue to enhance their long-term growth and development. We could not be more excited for the 2021-22 year!”

WSA GIRLS PROGRAM - EVOLVING PATHWAYS & PLATFORMS

WSA Soccer recently was invited and accepted an invitation to participate in the ECNL-RL TEXAS Conference. This competition platform will span the geography of North Texas, South Texas, and Oklahoma.  The ECNL-RL TEXAS platform is a regional league platform consisting of clubs in the ECNL.  

In addition to the ECNL RL-TEXAS Conference, WSA will also participate teams in the ECNL RL-NTX conference which spans North Texas and Oklahoma.  This slightly more localized competition platform includes the top clubs within a slightly smaller geographic footprint than the ECRL.  WSA is the only Oklahoma club invited to this league platform. 

The multiple league platforms provides opportunities for WSA girls programs at a myriad of levels of competition, helping serve the clubs depth of player pool and teams.  In 2021 WSA has 14 teams across the 17U-19U girls programming.  As the club considers the future and the opportunities at localized leagues, such as OPC, and regional leagues such as NPL, as well as the ECNL-RL-TEXAS and ECNL-RL-NTX platform, these platforms will expand and maximize opportunity, exposure, and most importantly a great experience for girls players at WSA.  

WSA Senior Technical Director:  "WSA soccer is currently able to offer a complete, wholistic, competitiion and training program for the female player. The addition of competition platforms with ECNL has enhanced opportunity and exposure, maximized geography, and been sensitive to budgets and travel.  The club's technical directors will work to synnergize the connections between competition and development, as well as vertical transitions.  From a flourishing youth academy program to the upper arm of Side FC in the UWS, and the multitude of league platforms at our various youth levels, the girls program at WSA has taken significant steps in serving an evolving game for females for in the U.S." 

More information will soon be provided to current WSA team leadership on the structures for league play in the coming year.  And the club will soon be announcing coaching staffs, team formation, and open sessions for any players interested in participating.  

THE OTHER CLUBS JOINING ECRL-NTX

Fever United SC Colleyville, TX

Fever United Soccer Club was founded in 2007 and is dedicated to developing the entire player both on and off the field. The club was founded by our Club Director, Constance Smith, on the premise of teaching life lessons through the game of soccer. Since its inception, the club has expanded from four teams into 50-plus currently serving the soccer community in North Texas and West Texas.

“Our goal as a club is to ensure that our players are provided with challenging platforms whereby, they can receive exposure on a national stage,” said Kenneth Penn, Fever United SC Executive Director. “We feel competing in the ECNL Regional League - North Texas will provide

the player development pathway that will serve our players well in the future. We are excited about the upcoming opportunity!”

Kernow Storm City FC Waxahachie, TX

Kernow Storm City FC was founded in 2004 with a mission to improve the coaching and player opportunities in the southern area of the Dallas - Ft. Worth Metroplex. Based out of Waxahachie, Texas, Storm City FC has expanded to multiple training locations, continuously striving to compete and provide a pathway for its players and families. Storm City FC constantly evolves and improves to provide the best player pathways available and the best development and competition platforms to the communities they support.

“Storm City FC is super excited and honored to become a new member of the ECNL Regional League - North Texas,” said Antony Pena, Director of Coaching. “Having the ECNL Regional League - North Texas platform for our elite teams and players to compete in demonstrates our commitment to player development and the ECNL’s support in helping us raise the standard in our communities through the Regional League platform.”

North Texas Celtic SC Lewisville, TX

Founded 2005, North Texas Celtic is a soccer club established by a highly respected North Texas-based coaching staff. As a Celtic Soccer Academy International Partner with more than 600 boys and girls playing on 60-plus teams from the U5 to U19 age groups, Celtic is committed to the development of the youth soccer player in all facets.

“With teams located in Sherman, Corinth, Flower Mound, Mansfield and Arlington, our players and coaches have worked hard over the years to enhance our culture and strengthen our teams so when opportunities arise, we can meet the challenge,” said Carrie Langford, North Texas Celtic Founder. “Competing in the ECNL Regional League – North Texas provides this opportunity and we are very excited and anxious to get started!”

Renegades SC Dallas, TX

Founded by parents and coaches, Renegades Soccer Club is one of the fastest-growing clubs in Texas. Starting with one team in the summer of 2018, Renegades SC is proud to say today that 70 teams, more than 1,000 families, and 40 coaches choose to call Renegades Soccer Club their home. Renegades Soccer measures true success not just by wins and losses but through the growth and development of the people throughout the organization.

“Renegades Soccer Club is both honored and excited to be invited to join the ECNL Regional League - North Texas,” said Rick Parker, Director of Coaching. “From sitting at a table just two-plus years ago and deciding to start Renegades Soccer Club, to being invited to join this incredible Regional League platform ECNL has built is beyond what we imagined for our club at this time. It is a testimony to the commitment to our culture and core values which we believe are in line with the ECNL’s goal of raising the standards of quality and experience for all involved.”

About the ECNL:

The ECNL is the nation’s leading youth soccer development platform. The ECNL respects and celebrates the unique individuality of every youth soccer player and club, supporting and enabling them to unleash their unfettered passion and fierce tenacity in striving to achieve their potential.

The ECNL mission to Raise the Game is a total commitment to create the best possible environment for players, coaches, referees and administrators, with a determination to constantly question convention and challenge the status quo in youth sports.

The ECNL Commitment:

We will lead, set our eyes on new horizons, and pursue them relentlessly. Born out of the belief in a better way. Continued in the ever-evolving pursuit of excellence.