Imagine a world where Illinois becomes its own nation (ignore the how or why that's not why we are here.) Most would be concerned with the Logistics, Military, Self Governing, GDP whatever that means. All of those trivial “Important” factors to a newly formed nation are honestly uninteresting. Let's get to the good stuff, What would an Illinois Premier League look like?

A new nation has an opportunity to establish itself on the world's stage of sports. The importance of the Olympics and World Cup can bring attention and therefore income and respect to a small nation. Consider Iceland, a nation often overlooked, made waves on the international stage with its National team, I imagine our newly formed “Illinois” would have an opportunity to do the same. Let's be honest, as much as I want the USMNT to be successful, “The Worlds Game'' is dominated by the US Women, let's give Illinois a slice of that pie.

First off, the top of the Table. Easy decision overall as they are the most decorated side in current Illinois Women's Soccer. In a Pro-Rel situation in our new nation, they are the Power house, the “Al Ahly” of the new league (an Egyptian club that was, is, and most likely will be dominating the league forever and always. Never to be relegated in the history of their existence.) The Red Stars pull from some of the Nations best (Davidson, Ertz, Naeher and Short) among others, As well as pulling talent directly from the home town suburbs. Seven roster spots filled by talent developed by local high schools and some even continuing their college careers here in the state. Naperville, Illinois is responsible for 5 players alone. With nine of their 12 years as a team among the Top Five NWSL clubs in the nation and a 2011 1st place finish, an Open Cup Championship, a Midwest Championship, and a National Championship, they are seated firmly at the top.

Second is the other 4 Stars Darby™ member Chicago City SC. The reason for the Rivalry is the similarities in the clubs styling and market. Like a St Pauli vs HSV style David vs Goliath, both teams may claim the same city as home, but one has truly taken the city's name to success, while the other is a cult classic. In no way should you count them out though. While both teams may utilize their large markets for talent. Chicago City’s GM, Heather Bickerton, leads the club as one of the premier youth development teams in the state, I'm sure given a Pro-Rel style system, and the level of training from the ground up, This team could field a top Tier level club given the hypothetical circumstances. That being said, regardless of the rivalry I just made up, Chicago City FC finds itself chasing the Red Stars for the top spot.

Many teams will grace this list with their presence that are hard to judge, so this is where I believe the debates will begin. Do we rely on past success? Do we look at development or the local talent pool? Ignoring all of that I offer Elgin City FC. Looking at the surrounding area though, you find a few very impressive markets that most likely would feed into Elgin City FC in our new League. St Charles has fielded some of the best girl soccer teams in the history of the IHSA. Just a glance at the Illinois high school record books and you'll find the names pre and post-split (into North HS, and East HS) listed in every category. Elgin City plays just 20 minutes from both high school programs, and given the proximity, I believe they could field a young but talented team. Outside of the storyline and back to the real world, Eglin FC takes to the pitch for the first time officially in 2021, no leagues affiliated yet as of the time of writing, but if I take an educated guess, most likely Midwest Premier League for the Men’s, and the WSPL for Women’s, I think the logic above could actually be used to find success in both of those leagues.

Fire and Ice Soccer Academy out of Belleville, Illinois fields everything from a U4 youth development to a WPSL team. Starting fundamentals young and within the club could lead to a very talented team. This club has some names on its training staff roster that carry some weight. Lori Chalupny (World Cup Champion, NCAA Champion, and Olympic Gold Medalist), Andrea Fernandez Gorton (NSCAA Advanced National Diploma, USSF “B” License), and Head Coach Lindsey Eversmeyer who grabbed a Big 12 Athlete of the week while at Kansas as well as a few Scoring Records in the NAIA. The Team has leadership that knows how to win, with an inter-development backbone to keep it up. They have a WPSL Championship in 2017 to prove it. Since they're more established then Elgin City, I move them into 3rd.

The plucky underdogs coming way out of left field, FC Hammerschlagen. Who? Exactly, consider them the SD Eibar of our new hypothetical league. On paper SD Eibar is a joke, they shouldn't even be pro, let alone vying for a spot in La Liga. A tiny town in the mountains of Spain, overlooked and underfunded, but they kept winning, so they got promoted, and they kept winning, so they got promoted again. Whoops that tiny formerly amateur team is now ahead of FC Barcelona in the top flight as of now. FC Hammerschlagen fits this bill well. The best adult rec soccer team in the Chicago-land area they boasted a 2016 record of 61-3-3 from the program, that's not a typo it's 61 wins. With a 2019 Women's Sports Chicago Championship and countless local indoor and outdoor cups, I'm taking all of this as a club that deserves their promotion to our Top Illinois League. With the SD Eibar mentality and the unproven Elgin City and teams to be mentioned later, I’m seeing hypothetical upsets here.

The quality of your opponents can either make or break a team's respect in a league. Although we haven't seen Ladies Steel City just yet, you have to admit they must be something, If they must compete with the likes of Independent powerhouse programs like Detroit City FC and Lansing United when they get the all clear to start in the UWS in 2021. Ladies Steel is another team with an academy approach, getting players on pitch young, add a very passionate and dedicated coaching staff, you've got a program that could build from the group up. Hard to call this one, but I think they may find the competition to be difficult at first, but in our new euro style league, the established academies will be rewarded eventually if it's not now.

Copy and paste the previous argument into this one. Same league even, same division. The difference here is how well can Central Illinois produce the athletic talent to field for MSC Peoria. Well I'll bring back up many previous arguments. One, the high schools in the area are producing top level talent, and even though It's not exactly next door, Normal and Bloomington Illinois find themselves in a few record lists for IHSA Soccer, but no women’s side (as of now.) The Men can go to FC Diablos in BloNo (local slang for the two cities,) But the Women will need a higher tier to play in our new league, well welcome MSC Peoria just 45 minutes down the road. With 30 years of combined coaching experience they could be a force in a few years’ time. This not so small town already fields some minor league but pro teams in other sports, it can easily maintain a top club. New to the UWS for the 2021 season it's hard to call now but I think it'll be a rough road for MSC Peoria, though if I'm proven wrong, I'd be delighted.

To round out our newly formed league, I've had to get creative. I combed through some development teams and academies in areas that could support a pro club. I've landed on the city of Rockford and Rockford Raptors FC. 300 alum playing or played at the college level. 3 players in the MLS, and they were named a PUMA Premier Club. Although they don't have a full-fledged Pro/Am side. They have a successful U23 team that could easily be converted into a team ready for our new league. The issue is for a program very good at training players to play at the next level elsewhere, I'll have to give them the lowest mark in the league for now. Rockford Raptors FC will truly be a power house, it will just take a few years.

There are so many elements to a successful club that I couldn't address here. There are also so many clubs that even with all the research I just couldn't find info for. The problem is as you go down the ladder here in the US you find less and less information about clubs, even though they provide fans with the best view of play. Which is a huge problem if the country ever goes for the European model. I hope while you read you realize though, that all the hypotheticals here are very possible. That even the tiny town team could find itself on the national stage. Find your club, spread the word, help with that lack of info, regardless of league or size or strength. If you already do and you disagree with any of the above statements, please reach out @A_Very_Wise_Man, because I want nothing more from writing this, then to open a dialog about soccer at low levels, just like we talk about Baseball or whatever else.