The New MMSL Division One

Fall 2019 is setting up to be a huge season for Maryland’s elite soccer league, Maryland Major Soccer League. In the off season, MMSL (Maryland Major Soccer League) announced that they would be expanding the first division from 6 teams to 8 teams. This is not a huge difference in size but in principle this is big news. It’s a sure indicator that the MMSL is healthy and looking to grow, which is great news for Maryland soccer. The league also followed up the expansion news with an increase in the cash prize for the winners of Division One. The eight teams will be competing for a prize of $2,500.00 and the crown of Maryland. For all the league teams, this is something legit to play for.

Since the league announced the change and update to Division One, the teams have also been confirmed. In the fall 2019 season, the following teams will compete: Academy FC, All Star United, Columbia FC, Christos FC, Izee Autobody FC, Maryland International FC, Steel Pulse FC, and World Class Premier. What a season this will be! For those of you who don’t know who these teams are, this is a great chance for you to get to know them.

Academy FC: Joined the MSSL back in the spring of 2015. Since then, they have had solid runs and never been relegated to Division Two. Back in 2017, the Academy took in a good number of players from the now dissolved Catonsville FC, which only helped to improve their level of play. Having finished in the middle of the table for most of their seasons, will the fall of 2019 be the season they win it all? Have they done enough for them to be the next kings of Maryland?

All Star United: The team is mostly made up of Super Delegate players and coaching staff. The spilt of Super Delegate lead to the birth of All Star Untied. A season after their MMSL debut, they have found themselves competing in Division One of Maryland Majors. All Star ended their debut season with a regular season record of 8 wins, 1 loss, 1 tie, and earning their spot in the promotion playoffs as the top seed in the South Division Two. Their season would end with a pk shoot out against Columbia FC. But due to their stellar performance, they earned their promotion ticket when MMSL expanded their top division.

Columbia FC: The Howard County power house - Columbia FC (CFCMD)’s home is the city of Columbia. They are truly proud of this, they make sure to be involved with the community in their city and work with business in their city to grow the awareness and soccer of Columbia. They joined MMSL back in the spring of 2018, making the playoffs each season but coming just a bit short of their promotion. However, with the expansion of Division One, CFCMD was one of two clubs to earn this promotion. We will see CFCMD fight for the crown of MMSL.

Christos FC: The empire of Maryland. The Cinderella run of Maryland. They are returning to the MMSL after losing the spring 2019 championship to Steel Pulse FC. They will be returning hungry for a title, having won the MMSL title 8 times since joining the league. We saw their first team, FC Baltimore Christos, lose to the NY Cosmos in the NPSL regional semifinals, just weeks after losing to Steel Pulse FC in the MMSL finals. Christos FC have taken serious steps to prepare for their season after the latest heartbreak. From adding new talent to the team to having a close scrimmage with one of Europe’s elite club, SL Benfica. You can expect Christos to be one of the main challengers for the crown.

Izee Autobody FC: Also known as Baltimore United, Izee Autobody FC is the reserve side for the UPSL side, Baltimore United, who made their debut in the UPSL this past spring season. They joined the league back in 2015 and won the league in spring 2017. Since then they have been chasing that same feeling. Now focused on winning the title and developing talent for their first team, will this season be different for Izee Autobody FC?

Maryland International FC: The new kids on the block. Having no links to any previous clubs in the MMSL and joining the league this spring 2019. Still in their full freshman year, they look to take on the big names in the Division One. Good luck to the 2019 spring Division Two champions.

Steel Pulse FC: Returning to fall 2019 as the spring 2019 Division One champions, Steel Pulse will defend their title, with the hopes of claiming back to back titles. Having joined MMSL in the start of 2018, Steele Pulse has already been Division Two champions before winning Division One the following season. Steel Pulse has quickly become a force in the MMSL. Will they become the first ever spring and fall champions?

World Class Premier (2): 2019 was a big year for WCP, winning the UPSL Mid-Atlantic division on their debut season. They are used to setting a high bar. Winning the MMSL title in the Spring of 2018, then joining the UPSL before becoming champs yet again. In the same 2019 spring season, WCP entered their reserve side. Now we will see WCP 2 play their second full season in the MMSL. They have spent a busy summer adding talent to both side of the club. However, WCP is not your typical side. They are a huge community team, they are holding their first ever invitational World Class Premier Cup Community Shield. They put this tournament together to help support the up and coming teams of the MMSL, it is their way of giving back to the community they are thankful for.

This fall will be an extremely tight race for the crown of the MMSL. Did you pick your side? Hope you are ready for the league to return in September 2019!

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- Hector Monterroso

Maryland Majors: Christos Qualify for Championship Match and the D2 Playoffs Continue

Division One

Last week, we saw Christos FC handed their first loss of the season by Academy FC. However, with another win yesterday, Christos takes the top seed. They will be heading to the Championship game for the title.

Steel Pulse FC claim second place and Academy FC are safe at the middle of the table. These two teams take seed 2 and 3 respectively. They will face off to see who takes on Christos in the title game.

Super Delegates are out of the bottom two spots of the table. The World Class Premier, the reserve side of the almighty UPSL side, came close to earning “auto-relegation” to D2. But WCP are not safe yet, we will see them face off in a playoff to keep their spot in the top division next season. They will play against the finalist who doesn’t win the final round of the D2 playoffs.

Izee Auto FC, with a 3-0 Loss against Christos FC, have sealed their fate. They are now set to return next season to D2. Despite a hard fought performance against Super Delegates FC last week, they only walked away with one point. Though as well as they played, a win was not too far from reality. They followed up that game with a loss to Christos FC. We will see them try to earn their way back to division one next season.

Full Table Standings:

Christos FC 8-1-0 (Championship Final)

Steel Pulse 6-2-1 (Playoffs to Championship)

Academy FC 3-4-3 (Playoffs to Championship)

Super Delegates FC 3-5-2

World Class Premier 3-6-1 (Playoff match)

Izee Auto FC 2-7-1 (Auto Relegated)

Division 2

Last Sunday was a magically day for Maryland Soccer. We saw some upsets, a PK shootout, and some dominate performances. It was something you had to see with your own eyes. Here are the break downs of the games:

FC NIM 3 vs 4 Maryland International

The match of the new comers - FC NIM were the favorites to win the match but would go down to Maryland International. The winning team pulled a magical result out of their “futbol-hat.” This was a boxing match! Both teams would answer a goal with another goal. We would see counter-attacking soccer vs transitional soccer. A 4-3 victory would see MD International advance to the next round.

Sure Sport 0 vs 3 AFC 16

This match would see a former ASL side vs the MD Majors New Comers face off. The second upset of the playoffs, just days after AFC 16 earned their playoff spot on a 4-2 victory over FC NIM. AFC 16’s high seemed to continue, which would lead them to win 3-0 against the former ASL side, Sure Sports.

La Dolce Vita 0 (PK4) vs (PK5) 0 Columbia FC

The historical side vs the Howard county powerhouse. This was the match to watch. With two high attacking teams facing off, the game went the way that we expected. Both teams fought for possession, they attacked, and the ball movement was there. However, they could not find the back of the net. The game would end nil-nil. Then came the penalty shootout. La Dolce Vita would start off on the wrong foot, missing the first PK. Columbia FC would take advantage of that, making two back to back before missing their third PK. La Dolce Vita would make four consecutively and would miss their sixth PK. Columbia FC would not - they made 5 out of 6 - earning the win to move on to the next round.

All Stars Utd 6 vs 1 Blue Side FC

The match between the former delegates vs the Mason-Dixon SL champs. The All Stars put on a dominant performance, putting away six goals on the former champs. It is not to say that Blue Side did not fight, because they did. They put on a show with a few chances but only took advantage of one goal. Aside from that is was a United show. They showed everyone that they are All Stars and no longer delegates. United advances to the next round.

Image courtesy of Blue Side FC.

Here is what the semifinals of the playoffs will look like:

AFC 16 Dobes vs Maryland International Athletics FC

Columbia FC vs All Stars United

- Hector Monterroso

A Preview of the 2019 Maryland Majors Playoff Picture

Maryland Major Soccer League is back at it again. Division one is close to crowning a champion. This weekend will set the stage for the crowning.

Christos look to continue their season-long undefeated run. This has been a great accomplishment given their cup runs that ended as Rowland Cup finalist, Stewart Cup Champions, and Amateur Cup Region 1 Semifinalist. They head into the weekend with two points clear of the second seed and two games in hand, a victory would all but ensure they take the title on their first season back in the Majors.

In Second place, newly promoted Steel Pulse FC ended their season with 9 points ahead of third place. This was their breakout season, they handled it very well, showing everyone they are here to compete.

Izee Auto FC is looking to fight their way out of auto relegation. They are set to take on Super Delegates FC this Sunday and then we’ll see them take on Christos FC. Two wins will give them a fighting chance.

Match day: 6/16/19

Christos FC vs Academy FC

Super Delegates FC vs Izee Auto FC

2nd Division:

South: The regular season has come to an end and the top four seats are set to start their playoff runs. The South table is set with #1 All Stars Utd (8W-1L-1T), #2 Sure Sport (8W-2L-0T), #3 Columbia FC (6W-3L-1T), and #4 Maryland International (5W-2L-3T). All Stars Utd, who is mostly made up of former Super Delegates FC players and staff, sitting at the top of the lead with 25 points and 8 wins and 1 tie. They look to earn their promotion for the chance to face off with some familiar faces. Sure Sport, the former ASL sides looks to keep the good form going into their first ever season in the Majors. With 24 point and 8 wins, the only thing keeping them from first is a 1-point difference from the top of the summit. The Howard County power house, Columbia FC, find themselves in a familiar position. Their third season in the Majors and their third promotional playoff run, let’s see if this season’s story ends differently. The newcomers, Maryland International, their first ever season and an impressive run. Good luck to the new MMSL side.

North: With one match left to play in the regular season, AFC 16 vs FC NIM, the result of this match will have huge affect on the table. As it sits right now: #1 FC NIM, #2 La Dolce Vita, #3 Blue Side FC, and #4 Hearts of Steel FC. A win for AFC 16 would see them move into third place and Blue Side FC into fourth, kicking Hearts of Steel FC out of the race for promotion. A win for FC NIM would keep the table as is.

The playoff North representors who have already qualified, the new Majors side, FC NIM, put on an impressive freshman run, earning them a chance of promotion on their very first crack at the most elite league in Maryland. A historical side, with four Maryland Major Champion crowns already under their belt. They made a return this season, after an extended absence from the league since 2014. We will be watching to see how this historical side fight to earn their way back to division one play for the next season. “Music, Food, Football.” The famous words Blue Side FC live by. This team is all about having a good time and the Fall 2018 Mason Dixon Soccer League Champs surely did just that this season. They made the switch from the Mason Dixon Soccer League to the Majors this season and they showed us what Frederick football looks like.

Now as for the fourth and final North team is yet to be set for the playoffs, one thing is for sure: the promotion playoffs is going to be something special.

Regular Season 6/13/19:

AFC 16 vs FC NIM

Promotion playoff matches 6/16/19:

FC NIM vs Maryland International:

La Dolce Vita vs Columbia FC

Sure Sport vs Blue Side FC

All Stars Utd vs (Heart of Steel or AFC 16)

- Hector Monterroso

The Rise and Fall of Fortitude FC

The Dream

The story of Fortitude FC started like most other soccer clubs in this country. It was a team I put together with a bunch of guys who just wanted to get back into playing. We chose to play in the Howard County Soccer League, as a lot of us had played in the league when we were younger. We spent a year in that league. Our first season as Fortitude FC was rough, like really rough - we lost every game. We improved dramatically in our second season, qualifying for and eventually losing in the playoffs. After signing some new talented players, a move to a bigger and more competitive league was decided as the best step for the club.

At first, Fortitude FC started off as just a soccer team, but as time went on it became so much more. Dreaming of having a team that could help open doors for soccer players who are trying to get to the next step of their career - maybe they were overlooked or hadn’t had a real opportunity to showcase their talent. It wasn’t just about playing soccer with my buddies. It was for the “up and coming” and the vets of the soccer who had more to give. It was about building a team our community could stand by and enjoy their ride. And hopefully, eventually, fall in love with the badge, until they bleed Fortitude. At least that was my dream.

In October of 2018, I applied for the Maryland Majors Soccer League, never I thinking we would get accepted. A few weeks later, after we lost our playoff match in the Howard County Soccer League, I received the notice of acceptance to the league. Knowing I had to start planning, the first step was getting help to run Fortitude, it was too much for a single person. After reaching out to all my buddies, only one was excited about the idea. He quickly jumped onboard. We formed a partnership and began to plan our first season in the Maryland Majors.

Maryland Majors

In the beginning of 2019, we were set to start. We had held our tryouts and selected the players to put together the team. All signs were good, and we felt ready for our first game. It was a Morton Cup group stage match and we knew the first game was going to be rough. By the end of the Cup run we knew we needed some personnel changes. A few players were added, and some left the club.

We started our season in the Maryland Majors with 18 rostered players. We thought this was a very solid squad and it was. Our first few games were great, the future looked promising, but, as the old cliché goes, “all good things must come to an end.” Fortitude was no different. Three weeks into the season, my partner reached out to me to let me know he would be leaving the club. Now, there are no hard feelings felt or any malintent, I understand why he left. He wasn’t going to be able to put in the time a project like this requires and life handed him a great opportunity. It happens, but nonetheless it was going to have profound effects on the club.

The weeks following my partner’s exits, our team captain followed, and then, little by little, my players left. Not going into the reasons why, we had a hard time finding new players. Eventually we would end up with 13 players, though we eventually added back three more. However, with these challenging circumstances anyone with any talent level was accepted and that would come with a price. We struggled on the field and those struggles led to more player disengagement.

Week after week it seemed harder to field a full team at the start of kick off. For many games, we started or played the first half with just 7 players. While this was a valuable lesson for me, it was a hard realization too. A very good friend said to me, “some players just don’t realize the opportunity you are giving them, to play in a league like this one, for no charge, man what I would have done with this if someone gave us this opportunity back in our day.” Honestly, I can’t think of a better way to describe how I felt. There was no way to wrap my head around the fact that players were choosing not to show up. It was such an opportunity for them - not only were they getting highlights made for them, they were playing in the Maryland Majors. I just couldn’t understand it.

But then it arrived - doomsday. We had our first forfeit, due to only having six players there at kick off. The next two weeks weren’t different. What proceeded was probably the hardest thing I had to do, feeling like I failed. Throughout our first season in MMSL, the team saw a partner walk away, lost its team captain, lost its media team, and suffered from uncommitted players. Maintaining Fortitude was becoming a financial strain on me and there was only one direction to go. The sad reality was knocking on the door - that it was time to pull Fortitude out of the Maryland Majors and fold. It was the right thing to do, out of respect of the clubs, the players, the league, and, most importantly, for myself.

The Aftermath

After a week of silence, it was time to let the world know. I reached out to my fellow Majors’ clubs to see if they wanted to pick up some of my players that deserved to join a new team. Then the club announcement was sent via Twitter. It was a tough decision, but the outcome shocked me. Many clubs and soccer fans had nothing but support for me. Some even sent messages of hope, asking for us to rebrand and return. However, I knew I wanted to do something else for Soccer in the United States. I wanted to keep fighting in a different way.

Shining light on issues and finding ways of helping clubs will be my next adventure. Everything we do is for the love of the game. Soccer has a way of grabbing someone’s heart and never letting go. We do everything we can to stay in this world we love, from being a supporter, playing to till you can’t, being a soccer activist, or even starting a club. However, at the end of the day taking care of lower league soccer is crucial - this is the foundation for soccer to survive here in the states. So, you can look for me on or off the field, in a shirt or reading my reports, you know I am here to do my part for the love of the game.

- Hector Monterroso

Christos FC: Next Man Up

Despite a change at the top, it was more of the same for Christos FC last fall. Chris Wilson, a former player for the club, took over managerial duties from Larry Sancomb, who has moved on to coach FC Baltimore Christos of the National Premier Soccer League, prior to the Maryland Major Soccer League’s Fall 1st Division season.

Despite losing two games early, Christos closed with seven straight wins, including a 2-1 victory over World Class Premier Elite FC in the championship game. The fall title is the fourth in a row and seventh overall for Christos FC.

“The change from Larry to Chris was not a huge one for us, but a positive one,” said Mamadou Kansaye, a holding midfielder who scored on a penalty kick in the final. “Larry was great with us, but it was a seamless transition.”

Jacob Bender scored on an assist from Pete Caringi, III for Christos FC’s other goal in the final. Brad Benzing made five saves with Joe Glos, Mike Scott, Mike Swiercz, Malcom Harris and Alex Bullington strong on defense in front of him. Bullington missed much of the regular season with an injury, and defense in particular was a position where Wilson had to be creative.

“We were missing our outside backs at times due to injuries or just being short players,” Wilson said. “I moved Danny Baxter from outside mid to outside back and he played 90 there in our 3-1 win over World Class Premier Elite FC in the regular season. This fall had some obstacles no doubt, and we knew we would struggle at times for numbers, so this made winning very satisfying.”

Josh Patterson won the league’s Golden Boot, contributing six goals and four assists for Christos FC. Wilson, who joined the club after graduating from Johns Hopkins in 2011, even played three times to cover spots this fall. The club’s depth was tested, but ultimately held up.

“We battled a lot of injuries throughout the season, and we also have a lot of guys coaching in the fall, but our depth speaks for itself and this is a team that is built on camaraderie and chemistry,” said Benzing, a mainstay in goal for Christos, along with veteran Phil Saunders, since graduating Millersville University (Pa.) in 2014. “Sure, we dropped a couple of games early, but we made sure we bonded together. Chris was one of our brothers from the beginning and we knew he was the right choice.”

Kansaye, who moved with his family to Maryland from Mali in 2002, reached the College Cup with UMBC in 2014. Several of his teammates then are also teammates with Christos FC now. He gained notoriety for his free kick goal against DC United in the fourth round of the 2017 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup. The club was successful then and he sees no reason for that to change moving forward under Wilson.

“This is a group of guys who enjoy each other’s company and love playing,” Kansaye said. “We put pressure on ourselves to win, but there really is no pressure. We understand that we are not 20 years old anymore but many of us have also played at high levels as recently as the past couple of years. We know how to compete.”

The club has been around since 1997, and many of the founding players are still heavily involved with the club, even playing on Christos FC’s over-30 or over-40 sides. When players speak about the club’s brotherhood and why it helped prove that Wilson was the right choice to take over, it’s not in throwaway terms.

“Chris knows all the players and has relationships with each of the guys; the transition went fine,” said Jody Haislip, co-founder and General Manager of Christos FC. “There are certainly different personalities, but many of the current guys have been part of the team for 4-5 years, know Chris, played with him and respect him. He has been with us for eight years and with the success we have had, nobody wants to lose Maryland Majors or Rowland or Stewart.”

Players continue to joke that Christos FC is referred to as the team that never practices or trains together, but that is the case. Wilson sends out a call for players on Monday and gives his squad until Thursday to respond. The success here is a mixture of discipline (guys do train by themselves or in smaller groups during the week), a comprehensive organizational knowledge of the roster, and the club’s historical ability to pick out the right guys.

“We might not practice and train, but we love to compete and we know how to win,” Benzing said. “Physically, people do their own weight training and running. I work 50 hours a week, so I hit the gym every morning, and a lot of us play during the week as well. We never expect to lose. It’s awesome to be part of the things we do now.”

Benzing points to the club’s history, including the support the younger guys get from the veterans, as keys to sustained success.

“We are able to mesh with the older group of guys, which is special as well. We have Christos Weekend, where as many of us who can head down to Ocean City. It is a great time to bond, as are the road trips when we go out of state. They put in the hard work to put Christos FC on the map. They put in a lot of time, and it is weird how they seemingly hand pick talent and find the right type of guy for our brotherhood. I swear, Larry and Jody never held a tryout. You can’t just be good at soccer and join our team.”

It is now on to the spring cup season for the club. Although Christos FC is out of US Open Cup play – the club lost on the road at Virginia United in the third round of local amateur qualifying in November – for the first time in three years, Wilson has his squad primed and ready for the Rowland Cup and Stewart Cup.

“It’s tough. And we have to put best foot forward every week,” Wilson said. “Teams are looking to beat us and get past us, but I think we may have the best Christos team we have ever had. We have to put it together and get some more giant championship trophies for the store.”

Wilson is referring to Christos Discount Liquors, the club’s original supporter and its namesake. Walk in and you see several of the club’s hardware on the left, behind the cash register. That includes the Rowland and Stewart Cups. Christos FC has won each tournament each of the past three years and has byes in both through sometime in February.

The Rowland Cup, established in 1914, is Maryland’s Open Cup Competition. The winner represents Maryland at the USASA Region I qualifiers of the Werner Fricker Cup. A total of 14 teams are expected to compete, including eight from Maryland Majors, one (Blue Side FC) from the Mason-Dixon Soccer League and five from the Washington Premier League. All three Maryland State Soccer Association Leagues are represented. Christos FC has won this cup seven times.

Christos FC is also one of 11 teams expected to compete for the Stewart Cup, which it has won six times. The winner of this tournament moves on to compete for the Amateur Cup and the Fritz Marth Trophy. Christos won this trophy in 2016 after scoring twice in extra time to defeat the Milwaukee Bavarians, who are the current trophy holders.

“We are the hunted and we know that we have to prepare ourselves, even apart from each other, because everyone wants to kick the crap out of us,” Haislip said.

Kansaye, who also played for the Baltimore Bohemians in the Premier Development League and briefly with the United Soccer League’s Charlotte Independence, loves cup season.

“Quality teams come out with the best they have and the pressure builds,” Kansaye said. “The great feeling of winning never goes away. It never gets old. We take a lot of pride in representing the Baltimore area. That blue-collar mentality plays a huge role for us. I am playing for pride and trophies.”

Wilson has that first Maryland Majors trophy under his belt as manager. He wants more.

“It’s one-and-done and I love it; every game matters,” Wilson said. “The ability to win a national championship has always meant the world to us. I want to have the best 18 available to make another amateur cup run. It is a big deal for us. I wear my Christos FC gear and a lot of people know we are from Baltimore now. It is a huge soccer market, from the youth on up, and we love playing for the area all over the country.”

- Brian Burden

Maryland Majors: A History of Development

Every fan’s story starts with a single moment when everything clicked and the connections fell into place: that moment when a fan is born. Lower league soccer wasn’t for me even two years ago. I was the host of a small soccer podcast that focused on Major League Soccer, followed the English Premiership on the side, played FIFA on Playstation, and that was the extent of my soccer fandom. I was barely aware that soccer existed at the regional and local levels, and certainly didn’t follow clubs or leagues from them. But then there was the match that most non-fans remember when asked about amateur soccer: Christos vs. DC United in the 2017 U.S. Open Cup.

Christos fans celebrating with the club after scoring against DC United. (Courtesy of SI)

When that story broke, I remember talking about it on the podcast. I followed DC United and, while I wasn’t steeped in the history of the Open Cup, wanted to see them advance. The video of the free kick in the 23rd minute, holding onto the lead ‘til the 80th minute, even the final score, 4-1 - it all inspired me to dig into amateur soccer. In some ways, it led to this site. That club, Christos FC plays in the Maryland Major Soccer League, a regional league in Maryland, and while its storied USOC run ended that day in June, the story of the league goes way back into the past and extends far into a bright future.

The Past and the Present

The Maryland Majors was organized as an entity in 1965, so, in its current form, the league has existed for 53 or so years. But 1965 is only the year when the Maryland Majors title was given to the league. MMSL was a direct descendent of the Baltimore Major League and Baltimore Unlimited League, which date back to the early 1920's. During this early era of American soccer, Baltimore was home to “more than 100 teams in 14 leagues at its peak in the early 1930s.” Those clubs and leagues were contemporaries of the old American Soccer League, which dominated the northeastern United States with clubs like Fall River and Bethlehem. From those early roots, Maryland Majors has grown to one of the best-run regional leagues in the country.

Action from a 1926 game between Canton and Newark. (Baltimore Sun)

Currently the league is home to 21 teams, adding two this offseason (Fortitude FC and Meade United). While the name might suggest that the clubs are only from Maryland, this fall, the league expanded outside the state with, according to Commissioner Bill George, “The goal of offering USASA elite competition to clubs around the DC beltway. In doing so we brought in our first team based out of Virginia - Motorik FC ALX.” But that expansion may signal more to come outside the league’s base in Maryland. “We are open to other clubs from the mid-Atlantic joining whether it is Delaware, Pennsylvania (particularly the central York area which is only an hour from Baltimore), West Virginia, or Virginia.”

The MMSL is set up with two divisions. The 1st Division has six clubs, a small number of teams, but the commissioner actually touts this as an asset - “The top six teams in Div. 1 are all quality and there is not much drop off like we used to have years ago when we had a nine to twelve team 1st Division.” Those six teams are fighting for the right to remain in the 1st Division as the league uses a promotion and relegation system between its divisions. The 2nd Division has two conferences and a total of thirteen teams (though that number may have changed with the expansion clubs). Through a system of playoff matches, each season sees a club (or two) rise to the 1st Division to battle with big boys. A 3rd Division may be in the future of the league, if expansion continues.

If you read down the list of league winners, you’ll see an unbroken history of soccer excellence, a regional league that keeps true to its roots while pressing for new ground in the future. There’s a future story about a club named “Max Blobs,” back to back champions in ‘64 and ‘65, but that story hasn’t been written yet. But that connection to history and legacy makes even more sense when you consider that the league commissioner is a product of his league.

A Product of the League

Bill George, MMSL Commissioner

Bill George, commissioner of Maryland Majors since 2013, played in the league in the early 2000’s before moving into coaching with Pipeline SC. But much like his league, his history in the sport goes much further back. After a successful youth soccer career (club, ODP, and HS) growing up in central New Jersey, George went on to play four years of college soccer at Emory University in Atlanta, GA. After finishing his college career, he continued as a college coach at both Emory and at Ferrum College in Virginia and earned his USSF "C" license. He developed his understanding of the business side of the game, focusing on marketing - first working for the Atlanta Silverbacks in the old A-League and later with the San Jose Earthquakes of MLS.

Off the field, Bill George has been a practicing attorney since 2006 and has additional sports management and soccer experience working at IMG (sports management firm) and the Maryland Stadium Authority. Since 2008, George has been involved with the Maryland State Soccer Association (currently holding the position of Secretary) and United States Adult Soccer Association (Delegate).

For George, the goals of his league lie in focusing on product on the field: “first class administration, great fields, officials and the highest level of competition possible.” Beyond that base, the leagues will “aim to promote the clubs and players to help them meet their individual goals whatever they may be. Most importantly, George envisions the league as a “good citizen in our community and contributing members of the Maryland soccer community.” With a history so deep-rooted in the state, it’s no surprise that MMSL values the community that gives the league life.

Looking Back, Looking Forward

I asked the commissioner about that match that caught so many peoples’ eyes in 2017 and what effect it had on Maryland Majors. “The amount of coverage that Christos rightfully garnered benefitted the League as well in terms of exposure. Christos has proudly played in the Maryland Majors for twenty years and we are proud of their accomplishments and proud of any of our clubs that do well in national tournaments. The League worked closely with Christos and the Maryland State Soccer Association to organize many of the busloads of Baltimore supporters that travelled down to the SoccerPlex for that memorable game vs. DC United.”

There’s something exciting about a regional league backing  one of its clubs in a competition unrelated to league play. George and the rest of Maryland Majors leadership take this part of their job serious- their clubs and players have the backing and support of the league. That model has made MMSL one of the finest regional leagues in the country. Trace the line back through modern clubs like Christos, through the mid-century clubs like Max Blobs, back to even older leagues, it’s a timeline that’s more than table results and league winners, it’s thousands of players that have come through this league. It’s a history of player development and mentoring that defines Bill George and Maryland Majors Soccer League.

For more information on the league visit their site or their social media.

Protagonist Soccer and Maryland Major Soccer League Announce Media Partnership

Protagonist Soccer is pleased to announce that our organization and Maryland Major Soccer League have entered into a media partnership. The goals of this relationship are to bring more attention to this vital league and to expand the coverage provided by Protagonist Soccer to MMSL, its member clubs, and players.

Now almost four months in, Protagonist Soccer has continued to blossom into a primary provider of coverage in lower tier soccer media. The goal of the organization has always been to grow the game - across the country, in every city and neighborhood - through superior coverage. Without a doubt, Protagonist Soccer believes that regional soccer leagues are the primary means to sustain this growth. These leagues underpin the entire the national soccer pyramid and should be given the same level of media attention as national and professional leagues. Protagonist Soccer is seeking to expand the coverage of regional soccer and, in turn, spark more interest among local soccer fans across this country.

Maryland Major Soccer League has existed since 1965, descended from several Baltimore-based local leagues dating back to the 1920s. Led by commissioner Bill George, the league has grown into a model for other regional leagues. With 2 divisions, 19 teams, over 600 players, extending across the state of Maryland and beyond, Maryland Majors is the gold standard for regional soccer excellence. With some of the best known clubs in amateur soccer, MMSL has proven that “amateur” does not mean boring or bland soccer.

Protagonist Soccer looks forward to developing the relationship between our organization and Maryland Majors. We aim to give the best coverage possible, delving into the stories that make regional soccer great. The goal of this agreement will always be to grow the game, by highlighting the excellence of a powerful regional league.

For more information on Maryland Majors, go to their site or their twitter account.