GM blog: Old Bhoys’ UPSL schedule complete

INDIANAPOLIS — 2019 enters its second month, and the staff at Old Bhoys HQ are plugging away with a ton of off-the-pitch work. Some recent accomplishments worth sharing on this space include finalizing the Bhoys’ 2019 UPSL schedule, as well as detailing the plans for competitions in this upcoming soccer year. Additionally, we’ve begun our player-signing process; we’ll make those announcements in the next blog post and continue to detail them here — as well as making the initial announcements on our Twitter and other social media feeds. With our goal of having our roster near completion by early March, the signings completed so far are a good start for the club.

Our plan for tryouts in February has been slightly modified, due to our projected schedule and roster needs. The club has opened up tryouts and they will be held Feb. 23. We’re excited to see the talent show out for this, as well as some players who have been invited following our December tryouts. The roster, with current offers made and projected numbers, is coming together. This will be a fun squad to watch in 2019!

As mentioned above, the club’s 2019 UPSL Spring Season is set. For the Midwest, UPSL will be implementing pro/rel, which will take full effect in 2020 — with teams being relegated to the Championship level based on results in 2019 league play. While 2020 is quite a ways off, there will be plenty of reasons every match matters for every club in our division. The UPSL slate kicks off May 4 with an away match to RWB Adria. Always talented, this match should pose a significant challenge to your Bhoys. The following weekend, May 11, the Old Bhoys play host to Joliet Soccer Club. The club’s home venue is still pending further finalization, and we’ll make that announcement here and on the club’s social media feeds. Kickoff times are also, for many of the matches, pending final confirmation with the venue(s). After Joliet visits, St. Louis Maritsa comes to the Circle City for their first trip and match against the Old Bhoys. Maritsa is still vying for one of eight spots in the U.S. Open Cup, with its fourth-round qualifying match scheduled for early April. Obviously a very talented side. Old Bhoys close the month of May with two away matches: May 25 sees travel to new-to-UPSL Springfield FC and May 29 has the Old Bhoys heading on the road for the shortest trip of the league season — an away match against FC Diablos of Bloomington-Normal, Ill.

After a break in league action, the Bhoys return June 8 to host Springfield FC in the return leg, followed by a back-to-back weekend. A Friday night trip to Joliet on June 14 results in a quick turnaround for hosting RWB Adria on June 15. The final home match of the season will be June 22, as FC Diablos treks east. The regular-season finale will see the Old Bhoys travel west along Interstate 70 to take on St. Louis Maritsa. With what’s at stake this season for 2020, as well as future planning for the club, each match is going to be a challenge, and highly contested. Should make for an exciting season! See the full schedule below for an easier “read.” Note that while the league-play schedule is set, we’re still exploring the opportunity to add some key local clubs for friendlies, and possibly exploring options to “swing for the fences” with some potential July-based friendlies. As we confirm friendly dates, we’ll quickly announce them.

While there will be quite the focus with the UPSL league season, this won’t be the only competition the Old Bhoys pursue in 2019. We aren’t accused of being ambitious without merit!

Although some of the particulars of each competition are being worked out and finalized, Old Bhoys looks to build on year one and its growing relationship with the Indiana Soccer Association, city’s soccer community and other partners. Growing the game centrally — and providing the continued amateur platform to develop players and the love of the game beyond youth club soccer — is a core mission of the club. In order to do just that, Old Bhoys HQ is keen on pursuing these competitions to advance the mission and to grow the interest in non-league soccer. Here is a snapshot of what we’re targeting (including the UPSL) from a competition standpoint in 2019:

1. United Premier Soccer League (UPSL): An original member of the UPSL’s Midwest Conference, Old Bhoys returns for a second season in a new division, with closer away matches. With Pro/Rel being implemented this season, and league postseason opportunities, this will be a fun season for the Bhoys!
2. Central Indiana Adult Soccer Association (CIASA): This league provides the opportunity for Old Bhoys to further develop local ties to the Indy soccer community. Additionally, this league is a platform and step for the Old Bhoys to pursue Amateur Cup competition as well as potentially the Tournament of Champions.  
3. Amateur Cup: This cup has been contested every year since 1924, making it the second-oldest soccer competition in the country. It takes teams from across the nation and matches them up head to head in a single-elimination tournament to crown an amateur national champion. Teams participating come from leagues of all amateur levels. Old Bhoys looks to jump off the CIASA platform to actively pursue this cup. Look for more info here as we explore this competition in greater detail through our ongoing relationship with the CIASA and Indiana Soccer Association.
4. US Open Cup local qualifying rounds: The Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup is the oldest continuous athletic competition in the USA and the third oldest of its kind in the world. Every year, amateur teams are able to enter the qualifying rounds for the following year’s tournament, where teams from all levels of the U.S. Soccer system — including professional MLS and USL teams — compete for the ultimate prize. With the recent increase in the number of professional teams in the country, the USOC has become more difficult to qualify for. This competition has been, and is, a priority for Old Bhoys — and a means of shining a light on soccer in Indy. While the road to qualify is longer and more uncertain, the club will make every effort to ensure that this cup remains a goal. Sustainability is paramount; however, participating in the tournament remains an objective of the club. The qualifying rounds begin in mid-September and continue through the fall until the proper tournament the following year.

To close this post, and as always, Old Bhoys HQ is still welcoming any and all organizations, businesses and individuals to come on as sponsors and partners for the 2019 season (and beyond!).  We are continuing to work on developing the club’s sponsorship base and looking for ways to actively engage with local organizations to help grow the community through sport. Soccer at this level depends on this relationship. If you want your company logo on our gear or believe in what we’re trying to accomplish at Old Bhoys, drop us a line. We’d love to be able to give back in a relevant and meaningful way that raises interest in your organization as it does ours. The benefit of working at this level is that we can frankly customize any approach. If you have an idea for getting your organization’s name out in the community, let’s talk! I bet we can collaboratively find a way.

Like what you’re reading? Let the good folks at Soc Takes know, or drop me a line at andyhayes1980@gmail.com. Look forward to hearing from you!

As always, COYOB!

Follow Andy on Twitter: @Andy_H_1980.

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