Semi-pro soccer league announces expansion to Palmer

PALMER — During his time at Southwest Oregon Community College, Josh Banks saw the success of semi-professional soccer in the area. Following his time on the men’s soccer field with the Coos Bay, Oregon, school, Banks, a former Palmer High standout returned to the Valley and is working to rebuild the Moose boys’ program as the team’s head coach.

But Banks also has another mission.

Bring semi-pro men’s soccer to Alaska.

And now a league is expanding to Alaska.

Earlier this month, the United Premier Soccer League announced its expansion to Alaska, with the addition of the Alaska City Football Club, a Palmer-based team slated to join the league for the 2019 season.

“I saw the atmosphere in Oregon, how huge of a fan base,” Banks said Monday afternoon. “I thought, why not Alaska?”

Banks helped put a group together, which includes his father, Barrett. Alaska City FC has a board of directors, which includes Josh Banks as a team player representative. Barrett Banks is working on the business side, as the team administrator and the club will operate as a nonprofit. Josh Banks said a comparison, at least on the business side, can be made to the Mat-Su Miners of the Alaska Baseball League, another local sports organization that also operates as a nonprofit.

Alaska City FC has also hired its first head coach, Jeremy Johnson, a longtime coach at Colony High School.

When the group submitted its application to join the UPSL, Banks said there was a great response.

“They were super excited,” Banks said of the league.

The addition of Alaska City FC to the league could be just the start to major development in semi-pro soccer in Alaska.

“We’ve received numerous inquiries from Alaska-based clubs and Alaska City FC is the first to step forward and become a member of the UPSL,” UPSL commissioner Yan Skwara said in a press release. “Alaska City FC is embracing the opportunity to drive the game forward in its home state, while at the same time achieving their goal of participating in a national league. We really like what we see so far and are targeting (six to 12) teams in the new UPSL Alaska Division set to kick off in the spring of 2019.”

The UPSL was formed in 2011, according to the release, and currently includes more than 180 across the United States. Banks said it’s key to note that players in the UPSL retain their amateur status. Banks said he sees a lot of potential for the club to lure a high level of players. The team’s board of directors has discussed the potential makeup of the team, Banks said. Ideally, Banks said the board would like to see about 60 percent of the players hail from the Valley, another 20 percent from other areas of Alaska, and about 20 percent from outside of Alaska. The will be a first team and a reserve team, Banks said.

The club is hosting its first tryout Thursday at 7 p.m. at Palmer High School’s Machetanz Field. Players must be at least 18 by the start of the 2019 season to try out. Players under 18 can be eligible for the reserve team. There is a cost of $30 to try out.

Banks said Machetanz will also be the home field for Alaska City FC. The team will have a full schedule in 2019, but Banks said the team also hopes to host exhibition matches prior to the official start of the 2019 season.

Banks said he’s excited that Johnson agreed to become the team’s first head coach.

“I thought he would be perfect face for soccer in the Valley,” Banks said.

Johnson, head coach of the Colony High School boys’ program since 1995, is ranked second all-time in state history on the boys’ soccer wins list. He also recently completed his second season as head coach of the Colony High girls program.

“It wasn’t something I was seeking, but an opportunity that presented itself,” Johnson said.

Johnson will continue as head coach of both Colony programs. Johnson said he’s happy to be a part of the new program.

“It’s a really exciting opportunity for Alaska, especially the players up here,” Johnson said.

Like Banks, Johnson said players’ retaining their amateur status is key. Johnson said a player could spend a summer in the league between a high school and college season.

Johnson, a former Palmer High School star who group up on Alaska soccer fields, said the sport has made great gains in recent years.

“Since the advent of all the turf fields, indoor and outdoor, you’ve seen a rise in skill,” Johnson said.

Johnson said players have the chance to play year-round if they want to. Johnson said he’s also seen tremendous growth in the overall interest of the sport.

Contact Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman sports editor Jeremiah Bartz at sports@frontiersman.com.