The National Premier Soccer League (NPSL) is proud to announce that Grand Rapids Football Club (Grand Rapids, MI) has joined the league as an expansion team. The club will compete in the Midwest Region.
“We are thrilled to add yet another team in Michigan,” NPSL Chairman Joe Barone commented. “This move will help make the Midwest Region even more competitive. There is sure to be more rivalries, which is a major plus for our fans and supporters.”
The home venue for GRFC is Houseman Field, an 8,000-seat multipurpose facility in Grand Rapids. It was built in 1923 and renovated in 2009.
The club is led by President Matt Roberts, Vice President Chris Deiss, and Head Coach George Moni.
Roberts, the founder of GRFC, is the Youth Academy Coordinator at Midwest United FC, having worked for the club for the past eight years. He currently holds his NSCAA Regional, NSCAA Advanced Regional, and NSCAA National Diplomas. In addition to coaching at the club and high school level, Roberts also served as an assistant coach with Aquinas College from 2006-2008.
Deiss, a CPA at Lettinga and Associates, is also a coach with Midwest United. He holds his USSF “D” License, NSCAA Advanced National Diploma, and his NSCAA National Diploma. He also has coaching experience with Georgetown Rangers and Grand Rapids Crew Juniors.
Moni is an accomplished coach with a USSF “A” license, UEFA “B” License, and the NSCAA Premier Diploma. He is the current Director of Coach and Player Development at Midwest United.
“We chose to join the NPSL for a chance to win a national championship and create rivalries with other Michigan teams,” Roberts added. “We bring another competitive team to an already competitive region. We hope to compete for a playoff spot in our first season.”
GRFC began as a crowdfunding project in March 2014. The club would finish second in the Great Lakes Premier League (GLPL) in 2015, averaging 4,500 fans per home game.
ABOUT THE NPSL
The NPSL is a national league that operates in the 4th Division of the U.S. Soccer pyramid. NPSL teams are eligible to participate in the U.S. Open Cup through their affiliation with the U.S. Soccer Federation (USSF) and the United States Adult Soccer Association (USASA). The NPSL remains one of the largest national leagues in North America.
