THE WPSL ADDS OLDEST OPERATING YOUTH SOCCER CLUB TO ITS 2022 ROSTER OF TEAMS

BRIDGEVILLE, Pa. (February 11, 2022) – The Women’s Premier Soccer League announced today, Beadling Soccer Club has joined the league for the 2022 season. The announcement comes after the league unveiled its 2022 Roster of Teams and Alignment. For its inaugural season, Beadling Soccer Club will compete in the Eastern Division of the Ohio Valley Conference of the league's East Region.

“We are delighted to be part of the Women’s Premier Soccer League [and] we are committed to providing an environment in which players receive the highest levels of competition, training and development,” Joenal Castma, Beadling Soccer Club executive director, said. “Furthermore, we support the WPSL’s mission to provide an opportunity for elite female soccer players to play at the highest level and be roles models to inspire the next generation.”

Beadling Soccer Club, founded in 1898, is the United States’ oldest continuously operating youth soccer club in the country. The club was built from a Sunday tradition where the residents of Beadling would gather next to the field located by the Beadling mine and watch the immigrant mineworkers play.

From tradition came history. Beadling won its first league championship in 1911 and the West Penn Cup championship in 1918. By 1954 the club became the smallest community ever to win a major national championship after it became champions of the National Amateur Cup.

To date, Beadling has won over 220 PA West State championships, 16 USYS Region 1 championships, and three bronze medals at the National Youth Championship. The club has also produced 50 professional players, 25 All-Americans, and more NCAA Division 1 committed, scholarship players than any other club in Western Pennsylvania.

“As active members in the soccer community since 1898, Beadling’s leadership and coaches continue to push players to play at the highest level,” Castma said. “We believe in providing the best player-development experience for our athletes.”

For its inaugural season, Beadling has named Matt Fonagy, Missy Dalbon, and Robert Heuler as its WPSL coaching staff. The club has also named Arne Thomas and JR Little as general managers. Ticket information and season schedule will be announced soon.

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More information about Beadling Soccer Club can be found on its official website or on its social media platforms including Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.

For additional information on the WPSL visit wpslsoccer.com.

About the Women’s Premier Soccer League
 

In its 24th season, the WPSL is the longest active women’s soccer league with more than 135 clubs from coast to coast in 35 states – making it the largest women’s soccer league in the world. WPSL rosters feature elite collegiate, post-collegiate, international, and standout prep student-athletes. Many of the United States’ most accomplished women’s players have played in the WPSL, including household names such as Alex Morgan, Abby Wambach, Megan Rapinoe, Julie Foudy, and Brandi Chastain.