Empire FC brings West Virginia soccer to OVPL Women's Division!
The second new club to commit to playing in the 2021 season of the Ohio Valley Premier League (OVPL) women’s division is Empire FC. Formed in 2018, Empire FC is based in Bridgeport, West Virginia and is the first OVPL women’s team from the Mountain State. The club’s mission is to further soccer development in north central West Virginia and adding a first team for their young females to aspire to play for is a step in highlighting the talent from the area.
Empire FC evolved from the original Mountain State Soccer Club (est. 2011) and is now the umbrella organization for several local soccer groups. Empire FC combines great coaches, talent, and leadership in uniting the region to make the next level of soccer more accessible for the kids and their families. The player pool for Empire FC involves seven universities within 70 minutes from Bridgeport, while also having six college head coaches and numerous college assistant coaches on staff that help emphasize player development in the club.
“We are excited to be accepted by the Ohio Valley Premier League and look forward to fielding a team that our younger players can look up to and the local community can support”, commented Shawn Wilson, founder of Empire Football Club. “This is another step forward in the growth of this sport in north central WV. We look forward to the community coming out and supporting their local team competing at this level.”
For more information on Empire FC, you can follow them on Facebook, Twitter, or visit their website.
About Empire FC
Established in 2018 the Empire FC is the pinnacle soccer club in North Central WV. The club’s home base is the new $50 million indoor/outdoor facilities at the Bridgeport Recreational Complex. The club focuses on youth development through its recreational and junior academy programs and competes at higher levels with its elite teams.
About the OVPL
The Ohio Valley Premier League (OVPL) was created to operate a competitive soccer circuit offering the only adult amateur competition throughout the Ohio Valley (Indiana, Kentucky, Ohio, Pennsylvania, West Virginia) region. Player development is a central focus of the League, as the League strives to promote the region at a national level.
The OVPL seeks to grow the game of soccer in the region by providing a highly competitive soccer league for men, women, boys, and girls of all ages. The League is sanctioned through US Club Soccer and provides access to competing in the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup, the nation’s longest running tournament.
About US Club Soccer
US Club Soccer will foster the growth and development of soccer clubs throughout the United States to create the best possible development environment for players of all ages in every club.