Eastern Premier Soccer League
The Eastern Premier Soccer League (EPSL) is a United States Adult Soccer Association affiliated Amateur Elite League that includes teams from the Eastern United States. Currently the league has members from Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, and Virginia.
 | |
| Founded | July 23, 2020 |
|---|---|
| First season | 2020–21 |
| Country |  United States |
| Confederation | CONCACAF (North American Football Union) |
| Number of teams | 16 |
| Relegation to | Cosmopolitan Soccer League Maryland Major Soccer League |
| Domestic cup(s) | U.S. Open Cup (via qualifying tournament & NAC) National Amateur Cup (via USASA Region I) |
| International cup(s) | CONCACAF Champions League (via U.S. Open Cup) |
| Current champions | None |
| Website | epslsoccer |
The league is a partnership between the New York City based Cosmopolitan Soccer League and the Maryland Major Soccer League. It is also an affiliate of the National Independent Soccer Association, a professionally sanctioned third division soccer association.
History
The league was announced on July 23, 2020 in a joint effort between the Cosmopolitan Soccer League and Maryland Major Soccer League to create a regional based multi-league promotion and relegation system in the United States.[1][2] The league's goal is to have merit-based promotion from local amateur leagues, including champions, with the possibility of being relegated back into the local feeder leagues at the end of the season. The initial slate of members included many of the clubs that participated in the first division of the CSL the previous season.[3]
In the following months, the EPSL added teams from additional leagues such as the Woodbridge Soccer League and United Premier Soccer League.[4] On September 8, 2020, the league announced that the New Jersey based Garden State Soccer League would become a feeder league for the EPSL.[5] A future promotion spot in the Metropolitan Conference of the EPSL will be determined in a playoff between the champion of the GSSL and the champion of the Cosmopolitan Soccer League.
On September 4, 2020, the National Independent Soccer Association announced its latest amateur league affiliation with the EPSL.[6][7] It joined the previously announced Gulf Coast Premier League and Midwest Premier League in having in having an affiliation with the third division association. The affiliation includes at least two merit-based spots in the NISA Independent Cup tournament and participation on the NISA Alliance Board.
Current Teams
References
- Mwamba, Jay (2 September 2020). "Lansdowne go semi-pro, join EPSL". Irish Echo. Retrieved 8 September 2020.
- Lewis, Michael. "REGIONALLY SPEAKING: CSL, Maryland Majors join Eastern Premier Soccer League". www.frontrowsoccer.com. Retrieved 5 September 2020.
- Mwamba, Jay (27 August 2020). "Lansdowne keep active during crisis". Irish Echo. Retrieved 5 September 2020.
- "EPSL Welcomes Northern Virginia FC". Eastern Premier Soccer League. 26 August 2020. Retrieved 5 September 2020.
- "EPSL Announces Feeder League Agreement with New Jersey's Garden State Soccer League". Eastern Premier Soccer League. 8 September 2020. Retrieved 8 September 2020.
- "NISA Expands Amateur Affiliations With the Eastern Premier Soccer League Agreement". nisaofficial.com. Retrieved 5 September 2020.
- Lewis, Michael. "ANOTHER PARTNERSHIP: Between NISA, Eastern Premier Soccer League". www.frontrowsoccer.com. Retrieved 5 September 2020.