A Decade of Dedication

May 10, 2024 by Dan Vaughn

Year four of the Common’s existence is a sentimental one for the small, but the loudest, part of the fanbase, marking ten years of soccer since Lansing United’s 2014 debut in NPSL. The 2014 Great Lakes West Champions would eventually fall in the National Semi-Finals to the New York Red Bulls U-23s, the eventual NPSL National Champions. Five different leagues and three different clubs have been serenaded by this core group of diehards through the decade. Although the colors and the names have changed, this group has continued to be, Lansing First.

by Rich Schneck

MWPL Origins: Liquid Football

May 02, 2024 by Dan Vaughn

Rich Schenck continues his Midwest Premier League Origins series with a club that sprung from the mighty Detroit City. Liquid Football was a project brought to life by two products of DCFC and now is showing success in the MWPL.

by Rich Schenck

The Art of Running a Lower League Twitter Account

April 24, 2024 by Dan Vaughn

In lower league soccer, the smallest aspects of a club can pay big dividends in exposure and fan recognition. Dekalb County United has made social media a big pathway to connect with fans and insult their opponents. The Midwest Premier League club is leaning in on walking a fine line.

by Adnan Bašić

Under the Lights: Chicago Ghost FC (MWPL)

March 25, 2024 by Joshua Duder

“About four or five of us play college currently, so we’re like “What are we going to do with no adult/amateur clubs around us?”. From that moment on, five of us began to work on something that will not only help us but help other players and the community around us because we probably aren’t the only ones looking for it.”

Welcome to Edgewater

March 08, 2024 by Dan Vaughn

Edgewater Castle continues to push its limits. This week it announced the hiring of Duygu Erdoğan to coach its women’s team. The new head coach sat down with Protagonist to talk about the move.

by Adnan Bašić

The Shirts Off Our Backs

December 06, 2023 by Dan Vaughn

Midwest Premier League clubs in seasons previous have taken on the challenge of limited budgets and lack of notoriety to alter their signature looks to be a force for change. Edgewater Castle FC, DeKalb County United, Lansing Common FC, and Chicago House AC are a few MWPL clubs in 2023 that gave the shirts off their backs to make it more than a game.

by Rich Schenck

MWPL 2030: A Path to Pro/Rel

November 01, 2023 by Dan Vaughn

The Midwest Premier League announced that it would work towards Promotion/Relegation for its league. This plan has been tabbed by the league as a “vision that will restructure the competition model” which will include a tiered system within each conference that will feature promotion and relegation, but with an amateur league twist.

by Rich Schenck

Women’s Club Partnership

October 27, 2023 by Dan Vaughn

This month, Midwester Premier League club AFC Columbia announced a partnership with newly unveiled Women’s Premier Soccer League participant, the Missouri Reign, with the intention to “foster growth, passion and community involvement” to further solidify a soccer culture in the Mid-Missouri area.

by Rich Schenck

Planting the Seeds

October 18, 2023 by Dan Vaughn

Being a fan in soccer is more than just the drums, the chants, and the smoke. It’s about connecting to a club at a personal level and making it a part of who you are as a person. For Dan “Wheaties” Garrett that club is Livonia City FC of the Midwest Premier League. And though he may be a one person supporter group for now, he’s in it for the long haul.

by Rich Schenck

MWPL Origins: Dekalb County United

October 11, 2023 by Dan Vaughn

The Midwest Premier League is full of clubs dedicated to growing roots within their communities. Dekalb County United is one such club. From their founding to the present, DKU has always focused on connecting to the people in its local community and growing sustainably.

by Rich Schenck