The National Premier Soccer League (NPSL), the only league designated by USASA as a Tier 1 national league, is proud to announce that Greenville United Football Club (Greenville, NC) has joined the league as an expansion team. The club will begin play in 2023.
“We are proud to welcome Greenville United to the NPSL,” NPSL Managing Director Cindy Spera said. “This region of the country has been an incredible growth area for the NPSL. We have found high-quality business-minded investors in this area, and the management team from Greenville United is no exception.”
The club will be led by President Michael McCarren, Director of Football Aaron Okwei, Vice President of Marketing Luke Staats, and Vice President of Operations Fernando Zuniga.
“Greenville United is committed to bringing professionalism, passion, and sportsmanship to our conference and league as a whole,” Zuniga said. “We plan to provide a positive professional experience for all of our fans, players, staff, and opponents on matchday. We hope to also contribute to raising the level of competition in our conference.”
McCarren is a business leader with 24 years of cross-functional experience in areas of business development, engineering, supply management, program management, marketing, and manufacturing. Okwei has been a strong advocate for the game of soccer in communities for over 10 years. Both Staats and Zuniga have over 10 years of soccer experience at the collegiate level, and both have been an integral part of teams ranging from youth to semi-professional.
The vision of bringing a football club to the Greenville, NC community began in early 2018 after recognizing the need for a semi-professional sports team in the city. With the city’s diverse population and the four founders’ passion for football, the vision was solidified. In the spring of 2020, that vision became a reality when Greenville United FC was established. The club was founded by four local friends with a passion for football and a vision of bringing the community together through the beautiful game. The goal is to provide a competitive platform for local players to showcase their talent on a regional and national level. Since its inception, Greenville United has not only established itself as a competitive team in the region but has also proved to be a valuable addition to the youth in the community.
“We chose to join the NPSL because of its competitive level of play and leadership structure,” Zuniga said. “The level of play is much higher than the league we currently compete in and would make for more entertaining matches for fans to enjoy as well as attract players from all over the country.”
Greenville United’s NPSL team will be the primary channel for the community to support and help local players advance and showcase their talents. Young men will have a channel within the city to play at a high level, while the brand has an opportunity to establish a strong fanbase for the City of Greenville. With the World Cup coming to the U.S. and the fact that soccer is one of the fastest growing sports in the country, the opportunity to utilize the game is endless for the city of Greenville.
Home matches will be played at John Paul II Catholic High School Athletic Campus in Greenville, NC. The facility has a total capacity of 1,090.
Supporters can visit www.greenvilleutd.com or follow the club on Facebook (@greenvilleutd), Instagram (@greenvilleunited), and Twitter (@greenvilleutd).
“We are thrilled to welcome Greenville United to the NPSL,” NPSL Director of Membership Development Dina Case said. “The team’s ownership group has done a tremendous amount of work in preparation so they are successful from the start. We are confident they will provide a great experience for their players and fans while positively impacting the Greenville community. We look forward to seeing what this club will accomplish.”
More information about expansion opportunities in the NPSL can be found at npsl.com/expansion.
