METUCHEN, NJ – UWS League Two has announced the formation of the Great Lakes Conference, in preparation for the 2021 season. All six teams hail from the state of Michigan: AFC Plymouth, Corktown AFC, Legends FC, Livonia City FC, North Oakland SC, and Rebels FC.
AFC Plymouth is the newest squad of the bunch, founded in 2020. The Plymouth, Michigan-based team is seeking to become immediately competitive across league and tournament fixtures. Tryouts for the club will be held on December 29th from 8:00-9:30pm ET at Total Sports Wixom as they prepare for their inaugural season in UWS League Two.
“AFC Plymouth is excited to compete in United Women’s Soccer League Two for the 2021 season,” stated Daniel Fick, Owner and Head Coach. “Our Club believes this League meets not only our Club’s competitive expectations, but also our shared desire to promote Women’s soccer in southeast Michigan. To players and supporters alike, come be part of something special.”
For more information on AFC Plymouth, follow them on Twitter.
Corktown AFC will field a reserve team in UWS League Two in addition to having their first team compete in the UWS national pro-am league. The women-specific soccer club in Detroit attracts top-level players through their invitation-only recruiting process.
“We look forward to the possibility of a safe summer of UWS women’s soccer,” said Corktown AFC head coach Aaron Roy. “Our concern for the safety of our players will always be priority #1. That being said, we will be ready to play with an elite arsenal of players who are excited to get after it.”
For more information on Corktown AFC, connect with them on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.
Legends FC re-joins the league after a rebrand from Michigan Legends FC. The club initially spent three seasons at the UWS level, qualifying for the conference playoffs in 2017 and 2018. Based out of Brighton, MI, the club offers a youth to pro-am enterprise as their UWS2 team is composed of players that graduated from their youth club.
“Our organization joined the UWS Midwest Conference in year one because we believed in the league ethos to develop players, promote the game, and expand opportunity,” said Legends FC General Manager Kevin Oakley. “To that end, we are excited to be fielding a team in UWS League Two this summer, made up entirely of current and former Legends FC alumnae and college soccer players. The Legends ladies will have a strong connection to the community as the group is truly homegrown. Our new direction has purpose and will develop the culture of soccer in this market. We’re thankful to the UWS for providing this platform. It’s the best and most forward-thinking pro-am league in the country.”
For more information, check out Legends FC’s official website and Twitter.
Livonia City FC is the lone team in UWS2 to compete in the 2020 UWS Keystone Showcase hosted by Detroit City FC this past July. Founded in 2015, the club is part of the MPSL women’s division where they keep their reserve side, and field a more competitive team in UWS League Two. The organization also fields a men’s side in the Midwest Premier League (MWPL).
“We are very excited to join UWS and want to thank the league for accepting us into the inaugural League 2 season,” said President of Livonia City FC Craig Beebe. “Our club continues to grow but always remembers how it started as a grassroots effort to allow more opportunity to play soccer in the city. Our UWS-2 side will play its home matches within the city limits of Livonia and is still discussing with several venues for what fits the needs of the club and will allow us to continue to grow and prosper.”
More information about Livonia City FC can be found on their website, Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.
North Oakland Soccer Company (NOSC) is the oldest club in the group, founded in 1987 in Rochester, MI. The women’s side came about a bit later in 2017, and quickly became a top club in Michigan. NOSC picked up a 2018 MPSL Championship and Michigan State Cup Championship in only their second year of existence.
“I’m excited to take NOSC to the next level of competition,” said Head Coach Doug Steinard. “Joining UWS League Two is an honor for a club. We are proud of the hard work and growth of everyone involved.”
Find out more about North Oakland SC by visiting their website. You can also follow them on Twitter and Instagram.
Rebels FC also holds dual membership between UWS League Two and MPSL. Founded in 2016, the club picked up a MPSL League Cup crown just three years later in 2019. The Macomb County, MI-based team also fields a men’s team in the UPSL and MPSL.
“Rebels FC was started to prepare players for the next level of their soccer careers,” said Owner/Coach Robert Brinkman. “We have had 4 players offered scholarships. Our players are made up of Club, High School, College and former College players. We as an organization are excited to be a part of something new in the Midwest, to showcase the talent and strength of players in the State of Michigan and around the country.”
Find out more about Rebels FC by visiting their website. You can also follow them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Stay tuned for more conference announcements for UWS League Two. New team applications are still being accepted for 2021. Prospective teams can fill out an inquiry form and contact info@uwssoccer.com for more details.
