South Atlantic Premier League expands club membership

CHARLESTON, S.C. – The South Atlantic Premier League will head into its tenth year in the National Premier Leagues with an expanded membership.

The league is welcoming two clubs: Barça Academy Charlotte and Charlotte Soccer Academy, which will field U-13 through U-19 boys teams, beginning with the 2021-22 season.

South Atlantic Premier League boys member clubs span Alabama, Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina:

• AFC Lightning (GA)
• Barça Academy Charlotte (NC)
• Charleston SC (SC)
• Charlotte Soccer Academy (NC)
• Hoover Vestavia (AL)
• SC Surf (SC)
• SSA (GA)
• Tormenta FC (GA)
• Triangle United (NC)
• UFA (GA)
• Wake FC (NC)
• Wake FC North (NC)

The league has found success in US Club Soccer postseason competitions, and four clubs have been accepted as Players First-licensed clubs: Barça Academy Charlotte, SSA, Triangle United and UFA.“The South Atlantic Premier League has continued to expand its membership year after year,” said Leo Garcia, US Club Soccer’s VP of Competitions and NPL General Manager. “The quality of competition provided by the member clubs is impressive and we look forward to continuing our support of the league through the programs, resources and competitions US Club Soccer provides.”

Quotes from new member clubs:

• Jordi Lluch, Barça Academy Charlotte Executive Director: “Being a part of the South Atlantic Premier League has been our goal for many years. Having the opportunity to join and prove ourselves in a highly competitive environment made up of some of the best clubs in the region is very exciting and we are thankful. The NPL platform provides unique opportunities for players to further their development and we are delighted by this next step for our boys teams. We are looking forward to the 2021-22 season.”
• Ralph Latchana, Charlotte Soccer Academy, NPL Director: “We are thrilled to be accepted into the National Premier Leagues. The NPL platform is an exciting competitive program that has been a past success in the community. This will provide a great level for our South Carolina players wishing to play competitively with clubs around high school soccer. The clubs already involved in this league are well established and we all share the same holistic approach to the game and player development. We look forward to offering a premier competitive program that is affordable, South Carolina high school-friendly and a springboard to college soccer to our members.”