New Orleans (January 12th) — The Gulf Coast Premier League (GCPL) will be celebrating its 5th season operating as the Gulf Coast Premier League in 2021. Founded in 2016 by Jeremy Poklemba (President), Jonathan Rednour (VPO) and Chris Stewart (Treasurer), the GCPL has served the gulf coast region as the premier competition for men’s amateur soccer, offering a platform for players and coaches to continue their competitive careers and allowing clubs to organically grow in their communities.
“This project was started to simply add another layer to competitive soccer in our region” said league President, Jeremy Poklemba. “Growing from a state league to across an entire region within a few years speaks volumes for the necessity and desire to find a sustainable model for this level, which the GCPL has and will continue to provide.”
THE EARLY YEARS
The GCPL was birthed from the success of the Louisiana Premier League (LPL), which operated from 2014-2016 under the Louisiana Soccer Association (LSA) and was founded by current league VPO, Jonathan Rednour, and current LSA Vice President, Chad Vidrine.
“The early days (circa 2013) were a bit challenging, pitching the idea of creating a statewide men’s premier league” said league VPO, Jonathan Rednour. “There were plenty of naysayers that said something like this wouldn’t survive, so I’m very grateful for Chad Vidrine and LSA for their participation in creating the spark needed to get this vision off the ground.”
First LPL game between Nicholls University and Motagua NO
The LPL had two successful seasons that operated in the fall and winter months, with both seasons being won by Motagua New Orleans, who became the first amateur club from Louisiana to qualify for the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup (2016). Shortly after the 2015-2016 season, the LPL were granted Elite Amateur Premier League status by the United States Adult Soccer Association (USASA). Making them the first and only men’s state or regional amateur league from the gulf coast to earn the accolade.
THE BIRTH OF THE GCPL
In the summer of 2016, the interest from clubs outside of Louisiana began to increase, demanding a larger footprint along the gulf coast. The Louisiana Premier League would make way for the Gulf Coast Premier League, which was formed as it’s own entity as a non-profit 501c3, but still sanctioned under the Louisiana Soccer Association. The inaugural season consisted of seven clubs, spanning from Shreveport, LA to Biloxi, MS, operating during the fall and winter months in 2016-2017 and was the only season to not have a playoff format declare it’s champion.
The league announced its partnership with Danish sports equipment manufacturer, Select Sport, as the official ball sponsor for the GCPL just before the start of the season. Motagua New Orleans, who were two time Louisiana Premier League winners, would be the first club to hoist a GCPL trophy. Reece Wilson of Motagua New Orleans set the bar for most goals scored in a season (18), which is a record that still stands today.
2016-2017 GCPL champions, Motagua New Orleans
The 2017 season would see the league expand into Alabama and Florida, increasing to 11 teams across the gulf coast region. The league’s format changed from a one table double round robin, to two conferences with playoffs declaring the champion. The league also shifted to the summer months to allow for the inclusion of college players returning home. Newcomers, AFC Mobile set the bar for the league attendance record (1,040) versus Motagua New Orleans, shattering the previous record of 287. Gaffa FC, the new boys from Jackson, MS, would become the first club from Mississippi to win a GCPL title, defeating Cajun Soccer Club in the final, 1-0.
In 2018, the league expanded into Texas and grew to 15 clubs across the region. The competition format would grow to three conferences, with the top two teams in the final standings from each conference advancing to the playoffs. With the inclusion of new clubs, such as Gulf Coast Rangers and Northshore United, who catered mostly to college players and top youth prospects from their area, the league saw an influx of its local young talent beginning to participate. Port City FC, formerly Biloxi City FC, was a team who benefited from their squad’s improvement from top local college and youth players, as they went on to defeat Cajun Soccer Club, 4-0, for the league title. November of 2018, the GCPL announced it’s partnership with the Great Plains Premier League (GPPL) in attempts to help replicate it’s model in the midwest.
AFC Mobile vs Gulf Coast Texans, May 14, 2017 at Lipscomb Athletic Complex in Mobile, Ala.
GCPL 2.0
2019 would prove to be GCPL’s most exciting year with the inclusion of many new clubs and new faces. Jonathan Collura, owner of Bugeaters FC out of Omaha, NE, was introduced as a new board of director and assisted in spearheading the GPPL project.
“My interest in the GCPL spurred from wanting to see this successful regional model replicated” said GCPL Director, Jonathan Collura. “The idea of an organization that caters to club’s needs and allows for their growth and sustainability to come organically, should be the narrative in lower league soccer across the country.”
In April of 2019, the GCPL announced its direct affiliation with the United States Adult Soccer Association (USASA) as a Multi-State league, ending its 3 seasons sanctioned by the Louisiana Soccer Association. The inclusion of new clubs like Tallahassee SC, Louisiana Krewe and Bugeaters FC put the spotlight on the GCPL as the league expanded to 19 clubs, spanning from Austin, TX to Tallahassee, FL in the gulf coast region and Omaha, NE in the great plains region. Bugeaters FC competed in an exhibition season for the summer of 2019, representing the GCPL.
Gulf Coast Rangers take on Tallahassee SC in Tallahassee.
“2019 was the most exciting season for me” said league Treasurer, Chris Stewart. “The level of play on the field, the atmosphere at games, the chatter online, all of it was fun to be a part of. We’re excited to get back out on the field and build off of that momentum.”
The season saw a spike of quality of play all across the league, with a plethora of former pro and high level college players gracing the pitches. Season golden boot winner, Roger Llergo of FC New Orleans, had stints with both Club America and Monterrey of Liga MX before moving to the states. Other players benefited from their experiences with their clubs in 2019, having signed pro contracts or receiving international invites after their season. Oscar Castellano of Louisiana Krewe, went on to sign for FK Poprad of 2. Liga in Slovakia and the young Honduran International, Erick Gunera of FC New Orleans, went on to feature for the Honduran U19 national team.
The successful season, which saw a number of entertaining matches and an increase in fan engagement all across the league, concluded with a thrilling final in Covington, LA between Northshore United and FC New Orleans, with the New Orleans club coming out on top, 1-0.
FC New Orleans versus Northshore United in the 2019 GCPL Cup
2020: GREAT PLAINS PREMIER LEAGUE, NISA AFFILIATION AND FALL TOURNAMENT SHOWCASE
The league would announce the hiring of current Louisiana Soccer Association President, Sean Esker, as the leagues Executive Director. The efforts to grow the league in early 2020 saw the inclusions of newly formed New Orleans club, Crescent City FC, and Mobile United. The Great Plains Premier League was set to be announced with 6 clubs confirmed, but the GPPL, along with the GCPL would cancel their seasons due to the COVID pandemic.
On August 13th, the league announced its partnership with the National Independent Soccer Assocation (NISA), a professional soccer league that operates in the third division of American soccer. The strategic partnership will see both leagues working together to connect the professional and amateur ranks in the American soccer landscape. (read more)
President, Jeremy Poklemba, with NISA President and VP, John and Josh Prutch
The GCPL would announce their attempt to offer some of its member clubs and other local clubs a chance to get back out on the pitch before the 2020 year concluded. The GCPL Fall Tournament Showcase was announced in October and featured five clubs. The emphasis on the season was to focus on the inclusion of youth players and offering them a platform to prepare for the next stage in their playing careers. The season concluded with the Louisiana Krewe topping the table over Crescent City FC.
The GCPL will celebrate its fifth season in the summer of 2021, COVID restrictions permitting. The league will be announcing its returning and expansion clubs during the coming months, along with news on league format, schedule and all other important league news.
“There’s a lot of exciting things we’d like to announce as soon as we can” said Jeremy Poklemba. “We’re looking forward to making this our best season yet.”
“The Gulf Coast Premier League (GCPL) serves as the leader in amateur soccer along the gulf coast region of the United States, offering a pathway for players pursuing their competitive careers further and assisting our member clubs to organically grow in their communities. The GCPL is sanctioned by the United States Adult Soccer Association (USASA); a member of the United States Soccer Federation (USSF).
The GCPL is a 501(c)(3) non-profit charitable organization organized and operated with the ultimate goal of growing soccer and soccer culture in the gulf coast.”
