June 5, 2018 – Los Angeles – The United Premier Soccer League (UPSL) is excited to announce Alaska City Football Club as a new league member starting with the 2019 Summer Season.

Based in Matanuska Valley (Alaska), Alaska City FC is the first club in the UPSL's Pacific Northwest Conference Alaska Division. The team will host its UPSL home games at Palmer (Alaska) High School (1170 E. Palmer Moose Dr., Palmer AK 99645) or Kincaid Park (9401 Raspberry Rd., Anchorage, AK 99502), in compliance with UPSL Minimum Standards.

United Premier Soccer League Commissioner Yan Skwara said, "We've received numerous inquiries from Alaska-based clubs, and Alaska City FC is the first club to step forward and become a member of the UPSL. 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've seen so far and are targeting 6-to-12 teams in the new UPSL Alaska Division set to kick off in Spring 2019. We wish Alaska City FC the best of success as it embarks on its journey with the UPSL."

Barrett Banks is Club Administrator for Alaska City FC, a youth and amateur club based in Anchorage (Alaska) and two-time participant in the Alaska Adult State Cup. Retired from the U.S. Army, Banks, 45, is a Program Manager with an Alaska-based non-profit.

Alaska City FC Club Administrator Barrett Banks said, "We started the club here and have aims for elevating the opportunities here (and) we're really looking forward to taking that next step. There is a wealth of soccer talent in Alaska but there's no college soccer and there isn't anything beyond competitive recreation, so this is a real and true Alaskan grass roots effort to showcase local players and get local businesses supporting. We have a fan base that's just waiting for the homegrown champion to coalesce around, and the idea of an Alaska Division at the UPSL level is something that local players and supporters have been waiting for, for years."

Josh Banks, 22, is a Team Representative for Alaska City FC. A former player at Coos Bay (Ore.) Southwest College, Banks returned after graduation to Matanuska Valley and now is a driving force for the club's move to the UPSL.

Alaska City FC Team Representative Josh Banks said, "Soccer is a lot bigger and a lot more important here than given credit for, and we're excited to be a part of bringing the UPSL to Alaska and changing the way young players see their path here. We want those players, who have for years gone away to play in college, to have a league to come back to and play for clubs representing their home towns. This is an important step in the history of soccer in Alaska."

The club soon will announce its upcoming tryout and game schedule.

About Alaska City Football Club

Alaska City FC is an American Soccer club currently based in Anchorage, Alaska, and a new member of the United Premier Soccer League. Alaska City FC plays in the UPSL Pro Premier.

Founded in 2011, Alaska City FC can participate in the qualifying rounds for the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup through their affiliation and membership with the UPSL, the U.S. Soccer Federation (USSF) and the United States Adult Soccer Association (USASA).

Contact:
Direct: 907-631-1365
Email: akcityfc@gmail.com

United Premier Soccer League

The UPSL was formed in 2011 and currently includes more than 180 teams in Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Texas, Utah, Virginia and Wisconsin. UPSL is the fastest growing Pro Development League in the USA, with 200-plus teams targeted for 2018 Spring Season. Each UPSL team is individually owned and operated, and is responsible for maintaining either UPSL Pro Premier Division or Championship Division minimum standards.

UPSL teams are all eligible to participate in the U.S. Open Cup Qualifying Rounds through the leagues affiliation with the U.S. Soccer Federation (USSF) and the United States Adult Soccer Association (USASA).

More information about UPSL can be found at www.upslsoccer.com or by following the league on Facebook (www.facebook.com/upslsoccer) and Twitter (@upslsoccer).

Contact UPSL:
info@upslsoccer.com
Direct: 310-415-5691

Media Relations:
Dennis Pope
dennis@upslsoccer.com
upslcommunications@gmail.com
Direct: 951-675-3963
www.upslsoccer.com
www.facebook.com/unitedpremiersoccerleague
www.twitter.com/unitedpremiersoccerleague