Lower Tier Soccer | Top Tier Coverage
Protagonist soccer is a media organization dedicated to lower-tier soccer; UPSL, NPSL, BSSL
“Fowles made South Florida home and when the franchise did in 1984 what all NASL franchises eventually did and moved to Minneapolis to become the Minnesota Strikers, he stayed in town to join up with expansion side Fort Lauderdale Sun of the fledgling United Soccer League.”
by Joshua Duder
Read More“The club wants to make it to the playoffs and work hard to earn a spot on the NISA Independent Cup and represent Modesto, California.”
Read MoreSometimes things are complex enough that the average fan is simply unaware of the reality on their favorite club. For most international soccer players, playing in a professional league like NISA is requiring them to play as an amateur. Living on the room and board provided by their club, these players are risking their health for exposure rather than a paycheck.
by Dan Vaughn
Read MoreJust two weeks ago, Foro 360 Pro won the UPSL national championship. Before the match, Bob Pienado, owner of the club, spoke with us about the success of his club, his goals for the future, and the explosive growth of soccer in the state of Texas.
By Dan Vaughn
Read More“What does community mean to you?
It means a lot. I’ve seen how IE has always been underrated as a soccer community. I believe the IE deserves more than that. We want to put the IE in the history books. A light in the darkness.”
With the Girard suit against NISA finally public, Dan Creel looks over the heavily redacted document to try and understand the basis for the filing and the goals of the action.
by Dan Creel
Read More“We are still serving our community, our mission has evolved "to strengthen community connections by curating a joyful, authentic soccer experience in Richmond VA.” Our fanbase has grown and many of our originals are still cheering us on, but we have done a nice job of bringing new families, millennials, and community partners”
Read MoreAs we’ve diligently investigated the claims around Laurence Girard’s clubs, we’ve uncovered more serious legal issues. In late 2021, the Workers’ Compensation Board filed a claim against New Amsterdam FC PBC, asserting that the club was out of compliance with New York requirements. The fine levied by the state went unpaid and the club was ruled to have defaulted on the payment. The issues continue to mount for the club’s ownership.
by Dan Creel
Read MoreWhile much of the lower league soccer world is waiting for news on legal action being taken against NISA by recently ousted NAFC-club owner Laurence Girard, research has discovered another suit involving Girard’s business, Fruit Street Health. The suit contains some eye-opening numbers regarding borrowed money and the company’s finances. In this article, Dan Creel lays out the details of the suit from publicly-available information and pairs it with a NISA-connected timeline.
by Dan Creel
Read More