We're excited to announce that Summit Valley United will compete in the American Premier Soccer League (APSL) this season as part of the Old Dominion Conference.
This represents another important step forward for the club and for what we are continuing to build in our region. From the beginning, our goal has been about more than simply putting a team on the field. We want to create a sustainable competitive soccer environment that gives players opportunities to train regularly, compete at a high level, earn their place, and continue playing the game beyond high school, college, and traditional youth soccer.
Finding the right competitive environment is an important part of making that vision work. We want to compete, but we also have to make decisions that allow the club to grow responsibly and sustainably. That means finding opportunities that make sense for our players, coaches, supporters, and the long-term direction of Summit Valley United.
The APSL's approach to competitive soccer, with its focus on clubs and players while maintaining a sustainable league environment, fits well with what we are trying to accomplish. It gives us another opportunity to compete against quality teams from across the region while continuing to develop the structure and identity of our adult men's program.
For our players, this is also something to work toward. Simply being part of Summit Valley United does not guarantee a place on the field. Training, commitment, attitude, availability, and performance all matter. We want players competing for positions, pushing one another at practice, and understanding that opportunities to represent the club in league competition have to be earned.
The Old Dominion Conference also gives us the opportunity to build new relationships with clubs throughout the region. As Summit Valley United continues to grow across Winchester, Northern Virginia, the Eastern Panhandle, DC, Maryland, and surrounding communities, those relationships are an important part of establishing the club and creating additional opportunities for our players.
This move is also part of a much bigger picture for Summit Valley United. Alongside the men's program, we are continuing to build our Youth Academy in Virginia and West Virginia, while working toward establishing a competitive women's team. The long-term vision is a complete club structure where players have somewhere to develop, somewhere to compete, and somewhere to continue playing as they progress through the game.
We are still building. There will be challenges, changes, successes, and setbacks along the way, but every season gives us another opportunity to strengthen the foundation and move the club forward.
As Liam Cleary, Owner of Summit Valley United and Summit Valley United Academy, said when discussing the move:
"We're excited for Summit Valley United to compete in the American Premier Soccer League this season. As we continue building the club, we wanted an environment that aligns with our vision of sustainable, competitive soccer and gives our players something meaningful to work toward and earn on the field. The APSL's focus on the clubs and players, while keeping the league competitive and sustainable, really fits with what we are trying to build at Summit Valley United. We're looking forward to competing in the Old Dominion Conference, building new relationships with clubs across the region, and seeing where this next step takes us."
Now the work begins. We have a league, we have an opportunity, and we have something to compete for. It is up to us as players, coaches, and a club to make the most of it.
Work Hard. Play Loud. Build Together.