In a move that bolsters its organization, USL Memphis has acquired Memphis City FC and will operate it as a Premier Development League (PDL) team in 2018.
Memphis City FC will compete in the upcoming PDL season, starting with the first match on May 12. More information about the 2018 Memphis City FC PDL season, including its head coach and home field, will be available in the coming weeks.
“We applaud all of the work that Doug Kranz and Dan Collins did to establish Memphis City, and we look forward to building upon their success,” USL Memphis President Craig Unger said. “This is an exciting first step in unifying professional soccer in Memphis.”
“We are thrilled to be able to operate a team in the PDL in 2018 as we continue our preparations for the launch of USL Memphis next March,” USL Memphis Sporting Director Andrew Bell said. “This is an important part of our player development program, and we are looking to start that process with the upcoming 2018 PDL season.
“Operating Memphis City FC in the PDL will allow us to work closely with the local college soccer programs and also take a look at some elite local high school players as we help support the existing Memphis soccer community.”
The PDL features 74 franchises in four conferences throughout the United States and Canada, including 18 clubs that are owned and operated by a professional club, or that hold a partnership with a professional club.
The PDL has proven to be an important stepping-stone for top professionals now playing throughout the world, with more than 70 percent of all Major League Soccer selections since 2010 having PDL experience, including 66 selections in the 2018 MLS SuperDraft. The PDL season consists of 14 regular season matches for each team, seven home and seven away, and provides elite collegiate players the opportunity to taste a higher level of competition while maintaining their eligibility. In addition to league play, PDL teams compete in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup as well as various exhibitions.
Memphis City FC competed the previous two seasons in the National Premier Soccer League (NPSL). USL Memphis will launch next spring, playing home matches at AutoZone Park in downtown Memphis.
Rendering courtesy USL.
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