1) 89 teams in 2024, only 67 announced for 2025 for NPSL
2) I'm happy that you are bringing up Jesters specifically. Because A) they're the closest NPSL team to me, B) Using England as a reference, Sunderland to Plymouth, the farthest possible away day in the 92 team EFL, is over 7 hours away. That would be the second smallest trip for the Jests as of now only being beaten by CF10 in Houston and just losing to Arkansas Wolves in Benton.
3) With TLFC/APSL and USOC, I really hope they can do it. TLFC is, afaik, only missing the 50 club minimum and then $200 payment per club to USOC for auto qualification (the latter is why UPSL doesn't have spots). So if TLFC can get to 50 in 2025, sustain in 2026, then 2027 they'll start to have USOC qualification spots. APSL has the 50 teams, it's just the 3 time zone requirement I believe they're missing.
The number of NPSL is almost certainly going to continue to fall, with Hitchcock moving his empire of clubs over to the USL. Appalachian FC seems the most prominent of those about to head over... With fewer and fewer clubs in NPSL, the travel burden increases for the remaining clubs, thus accelerating the collapse.
I'm looking forward to the interview. Would the question "Will the Jesters be competing in 2025?" fall into fair game territory for discussion with him? There are still a handful of GCPL teams that haven't been formally announced by TLfC, even as some of the NPSL clubs have been lured away.
Couple things,
1) 89 teams in 2024, only 67 announced for 2025 for NPSL
2) I'm happy that you are bringing up Jesters specifically. Because A) they're the closest NPSL team to me, B) Using England as a reference, Sunderland to Plymouth, the farthest possible away day in the 92 team EFL, is over 7 hours away. That would be the second smallest trip for the Jests as of now only being beaten by CF10 in Houston and just losing to Arkansas Wolves in Benton.
3) With TLFC/APSL and USOC, I really hope they can do it. TLFC is, afaik, only missing the 50 club minimum and then $200 payment per club to USOC for auto qualification (the latter is why UPSL doesn't have spots). So if TLFC can get to 50 in 2025, sustain in 2026, then 2027 they'll start to have USOC qualification spots. APSL has the 50 teams, it's just the 3 time zone requirement I believe they're missing.
The number of NPSL is almost certainly going to continue to fall, with Hitchcock moving his empire of clubs over to the USL. Appalachian FC seems the most prominent of those about to head over... With fewer and fewer clubs in NPSL, the travel burden increases for the remaining clubs, thus accelerating the collapse.
I actually don’t believe he’ll move Appalachian so easily. The clubs in the Carolinas are still really strong in the NPSL.
I'm looking forward to the interview. Would the question "Will the Jesters be competing in 2025?" fall into fair game territory for discussion with him? There are still a handful of GCPL teams that haven't been formally announced by TLfC, even as some of the NPSL clubs have been lured away.
It will, I mentioned it at the end of the video.
Looking forward to the interview, Calum! Two questions for now:
1. Is there a story beyond the proliferation of ACT study books on the bookshelf behind you?
2. Can Kartik buy a USL-based soccer kit for you to wear on the interviews??
1. Filmed it in a back room of my school library!
2. I’d be happy if he did 😂 but I have a NCFC kit I can wear too.