Gulf Coast Premier League
| Country |
 United States |
|---|---|
| Confederation | CONCACAF |
| Founded | 2014 |
| Number of teams | 7 |
| Level on pyramid | 5 |
| Domestic cup(s) | Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup |
| Current champions |
Motagua New Orleans (2016) |
| Most championships | Motagua New Orleans (2) |
| Website |
gcplsoccer |
The Gulf Coast Premier League (GCPL) is an United States Adult Soccer Association affiliated Amateur Elite League that includes teams from Louisiana and Mississippi. The regular season of the GCPL runs from November to March and consist of 8 teams from around the gulf coast region. The top two in the table after each season of the GCPL receive a bid in to the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Open Division qualifying track.
History
The LPL was formed in 2014 by the Louisiana Soccer Association's Adult Committee with the assistance of Pool Boys FC manager, Jeremy Poklemba. The recent success of a similar formatted competition,[1] administered by the LSA, in the spring of 2014 and the emergence of newly formed clubs, Pool Boys FC and Cajun Soccer Club, along with the interest from Motagua New Orleans from the ISLANO league, offered an opportunity to create a statewide elite amateur league. On March 8, 2016 the Louisiana Premier League was granted Elite Amateur Premier League status by the United States Adult Soccer Association.[2]
As of August 1, 2016 the Louisiana Premier League, sanctioned and operated by the Louisiana Soccer Association, has folded to make way for the newly formed Gulf Coast Premier League. The league will now operate as its own entity as a non-profit organization while expanding itself to clubs outside of Louisiana along the gulf coast.[3]
Motagua New Orleans won the inaugural season, defeating Cajun Soccer Club in the finals, 4-2.
Motagua New Orleans claimed the 2015-2016 title topping the table with 17 points.[4]
Teams
| Team | City | Stadium | Founded | Inaugural Season | Head Coach |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cajun Soccer Club | Lafayette, Louisiana | Clark Field | 2013 | 2014 | Dave Lapeyrouse |
| Pool Boys FC | Alexandria, Louisiana | Johnny Downs Sports Complex | 2014 | 2014 | Arick Lassiter |
| Motagua New Orleans | New Orleans, Louisiana | Pan American Stadium | 1984 | 2014 | Tony Martinez |
| Boca Knights FC | Shreveport, Louisiana | Cargill Park | 2015 | 2015 |  Francois Browne |
| Louisiana Fire SC | Kenner, Louisiana | Lions Field | 2016 | 2016 | Jonathan Rednour |
| Biloxi City FC | Biloxi, Mississippi | Yankie Stadium | 2016 | 2016 |  Sinisa Vukadin |
| Shreveport Rafters | Shreveport, Louisiana | LSUS Soccer Fields | 2016 | 2016 | Brett Barker |
Former Teams
| Team | City | Joined | Left |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nicholls State Club | Thibodaux, Louisiana | 2014 | 2015 |
| Lake City Gamblers | Lake Charles, Louisiana | 2014 | 2016 |
Seasons
- As of April 1, 2016[5]
| Season | Winner | Runner-up | Highest goalscorer | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014-2015 | Motagua New Orleans | Cajun Soccer Club | Steven Morris (Motagua New Orleans) | 12 |
| 2015-2016 | Motagua New Orleans | Boca Knights FC | Joel Amos (Lake City Gambers)
Leonardo Ferriera de Barros (Motagua New Orleans) |
6 |
References
- ↑ http://thecup.us/2014/04/03/2015-us-open-cup-qualifying-louisiana-kicks-off-state-tournament-with-two-ncaa-club-teams/
- ↑ http://www.lplsoccer.com/louisiana-premier-league-granted-elite-amateur-league-status-by-usasa/
- ↑ http://www.gcplsoccer.com/gulf-coast-premier-league/
- ↑ http://www.lplsoccer.com/early-red-card-sets-boca-fc-back-in-the-last-game-of-the-season-motagua-wins-second-league-title/
- ↑ "2014 Standings". Louisiana Premier League. Retrieved October 27, 2015.