4th MFA League Season | 18th IFCF | 42nd National Cup of Myrtle Beach
MFA Gold League | Previews
All players are Myrtle Beachian unless otherwise noted.
ADAMSVILLE SC
Adamsville, National District
Home colors: Blue-green
Away colors: Green-blue
Stadium: Forest Pitch Stadium (cap. 35,750)
3rd Season Finish: 6th, 27 points
Head Coach: Jeremy Barker [MYR]
Starting XI: 4-4-2
GK Nolan Dawson, age 29, CB Ethan Carey, age 23, CB Kenneth Hester, age 24, LB Marcus Charles, age 22, RB Liam Bradford, age 24, CM Anthony Mullen, age 25, CM Blake Campbell, age 23, LM Spencer Bridges, age 22, RM Grant Wright, age 21, CF Brandon Meyers, age 24, CF Paul Stewart, age 24
A small slip in the rankings between the second and third seasons for Adamsville SC led to some turmoil within the club, however not much changed. The most notable change was the removal of striker Justin Thompson, who was predicted to be amazing last season but ended up with extremely disappointing results at the end. He has been replaced by former Wilmington United center-forward Brandon Meyers, who was canned during the transfer window by Wilmington. Despite slipping in the rankings a bit, they still ended the season with a positive goal difference, joining an exclusive club with four other teams to be one of five with a positive goal differential last season. Most are once again looking towards a positive outlook for Adamsville, with a top four finish in the cards.
CRAVEN COUNTY FC
New Bern, Craven County
Home colors: Blue-white
Away colors: White-blue
Stadium: North Bern Race-field (cap. 20,500)
3rd Season Finish: MFA Silver League 3rd, playoff victory
Head Coach: Christian Matthieu [FER]
Starting XI: 5-3-2
GK Brent Price, age 25, CB Terrence Savage, age 23, CB Carson Bullock, age 24, CB Keith Peck, age 22, LB Dwayne King, age 25, RB Jerry Finch, age 20, CM Brandon Mann, age 22, CM Edgar Hendricks, age 23, CM Richard Garner, age 19, CF Jesse Park, age 25
Craven County FC came flying out of the gate last season, stepping on every team in the Silver League. Despite their amazing performance, they struggled towards the end of the season against high-table teams and were condemned to the dreaded promotion playoffs. As third place, they earned a quarterfinals bye and went directly to the semifinals, which they won easily against Fernia Beach FC, and then they trampled all over second place Kitty Hawk FC and earned their promotion spot. During the off-season, they acquired center-forward Jesse Park after Riverboro FC kicked him out for a foreign forward. They're expected to rest easy in the middle of the table this season, and many believe that over the next five seasons, this club could become a champion contender.
FC NORTHDALE
Northdale, National District
Home colors: Light blue - red - white
Away colors: White - light blue
Stadium: Northdale Field (cap. 23,000)
3rd Season Finish: 2nd, 45 points, IFCF Challengers Cup, National Cup winner
Head Coach: Stuart Hanson [MYR]
Starting XI: 5-3-2
GK Kevin Boyer, age 21, RB Isaac Robbins, age 19, CB Kevin Waller, age 20, CB Maxwell Nelson, age 22, CB Bryson Burch, age 21, LB Garrett Nixon, age 23, CM Dakota Nelson, age 22, CM Jonathan Hoover, age 21, CM Jeremy Fulton, age 25, CF Douglas Simon, age 22, CF Wesley Cain, age 23
FC Northdale landed the 2nd place spot last season, giving themselves a spot in the IFCF Challengers Cup, the (second) most prestigious championship in club football. In addition to their excellent finish, they were the winners of the National Cup, beating out reigning champions Wilmington City in what was likely the closest match in Myrtle Beach football last season. FC Northdale's ambition doesn't end in second place though- they are confident they will cruise into the top spot this season and complete the fastest rise from the lowest amateur league to the champions of the highest professional league in Myrtle Beach football, and perhaps in all football.
HATTERAS FC
Manteo, Dare County
Home colors: Blue - gold
Away colors: Green - gold
Stadium: Dare County Field (cap. 14,500)
3rd Season Finish: MFA Silver League 1st
Head Coach: Jeffrey Gibson [MYR]
Starting XI: 3-6-1
GK Isaac Webster, age 21, CB Keith Graves, age 23, CB Logan Becker, age 20, CB Brady Leonard, age 20, LM Brody Jordan, age 22, DM Caden Cain, age 19, DM Edward White, age 20, AM Drew Becker, age 22, AM Trevor Simmons, age 25, RM Brendan Woods, age 22, CF Blake Hatfield, age 20
The quaint island town of Manteo finally did something notable for the first time in a century: its local club made it into the most prestigious league in the world, at least by the opinion of this writer. Hatteras FC defied expectations last season, setting all of the Silver League records, including most points in a season, scoring 108 points while having the worst formation ever in the entire world. Seriously, 3-6-1? I would tell the owner to get head coach Jeffery Gibson checked out, or maybe sent to a farm, but it seems that parking the bus in the midfield worked for the Silver League. Only time will tell if it works in the far more competitive and competent Gold League, however. It is the belief of the people that this club will end up getting relegated back to its natural habitat in the second tier, but only time will tell. Our next club doesn't want time to tell, however...
KINGSLAND ATHLETIC
Kingsland, Kingsland County
Home colors: Blue - white
Away colors: White - blue
Stadium: Cumberland Field (cap. 23,000)
3rd Season Finish: 10th, 22 points; avoided relegation by three points
Head Coach: Patrick Kennedy [MYR]
Starting XI: 3-5-2
GK Sean Hebert, age 24, CB Jake Michael, age 23, CB Aaron Evans, age 22, CB Harry Kent, age 25, LM George Curtis, age 24, CM Caleb Melton, age 23, CM Douglas Branch, age 24, RM Michael Norris, age 26, AM Hector Avery, age 25, CF Dennis Hart, age 24, CF Luke Shaffer, age 18
Well... it looks like the whole country was proved wrong with this one. Douglas Tanner broke his leg and tore all the ligaments vs Riverboro FC last season, ending his career early. Unfortunately, the team never recovered and they just narrowly missed relegation. They picked up Luke Shaffer out of Myrtle Beach FC's youth academy, and they're praying that Dennis Hart, an excellent forward by himself, teaches Shaffer to be a Gold League standard. Unfortunately, this season is likely to be an uphill battle out of relegation for the team. They will likely end up somewhere in the bottom of the table, however there is a vocal minority that says this club is going to come out of the darkness of relegation and burst into the light of the top half of the table. I don't buy it, but even if I wanted to, I don't get paid enough.
MYRTLE BEACH FC
Myrtle Beach, National District
Home colors: Gold - red - white
Away colors: White - gold - white
Stadium: Grand Strand Field (cap. 69,000)
3rd Season Finish: 1st, 50 points, IFCF Champions League
Head Coach: James Witt [MYR]
Starting XI: 3-4-2-1
GK Bradley Page, age 24, CB Donovan Hayes, age 23, CB Brett Byers, age 26, CB Derrick Powell, age 24, LM Timothy Haynes, age 20, CM Peyton Petersen, age 21, CM Meletiy Tirdesen [KAN], age 24, RM Alexis Hopkins, age 22, LW Ryan Edwards, age 23, RW William Fox, age 22, CF Brian Farmer, age 26
Myrtle Beach FC, for the second time, popped the champagne on the pitch last season, finishing first. However, their first-place position was challenged multiple times throughout the season by upper table clubs, especially FC Northdale, the most generic club in the Gold League. They picked up an international player, center-midfielder Meletiy Tirdesen of Kanmer from the list of free agents looking for new adventures, likely in a worse league. The club hopes this new addition will strengthen their midfield and keep them afloat against tough competition throughout the league. It's not like it matters, because they are expected to once again take home the W and a huge trophy to boot.
MYRTLE BEACH UNION
North Myrtle Beach, National District
Home colors: Gold - black - silver
Away colors: Silver - white - gold
Stadium: Atlantic Pitch (cap. 33,000)
3rd Season Finish: 4th, 43 points, IFCF Challengers Cup
Head Coach: Aaron Haynes [MYR]
Starting XI: 4-2-3-1
GK James Gilmore, age 25, RB John Henry, age 21, CB Joseph Ferrell, age 23, CB Martin Doyle, age 24, LB Samuel Hyde, age 22, RM Robert Butler, age 21, DM Josiah Todd, age 26, DM Tyler Summers, age 20, LM Austin Potts, age 25, AM Braden Finch, age 23, CF Caleb Brennan, age 24
They finally did it. The Union finally made it into the top four! After a mid-table finish in season 2, and a less-than-adequate finish in season 1, and years of hell in the FFL while the MFA learned how football worked again, and existing in a state of perpetual promotion-relegation cycles in the National League before then, they have finally made it out of mediocrity and into slightly-above-averageness. They landed a spot in the IFCF Challengers Cup, which they immediately lost 1-5 on aggregate in the first qualifying round because they're a joke of a club. They're mid-table, does it even need saying?
RIVERBORO FC
Riverboro, Riverboro County
Home colors: Blue - white - blue
Away colors: White - blue - white
Stadium: Lake Pitch (cap. 23,000)
3rd Season Finish: 9th, 22 points; avoided relegation by 3 points and 8 goals
Head Coach: Jordan David [MYR]
Starting XI: 4-2-3-1
GK Damian Moss, age 20, RB Hunter Fisher, age 21, CB Edgar Newman, age 24, CB Brody Miller, age 21, LB Wyatt Scott, age 23, DM Devin Wyatt, age 23, DM Jason Buckner, age 22, LM Cory Fisher, age 21, CM Casey Hickman, age 24, RM Aaron Lane, age 23, CF Zane Shalik [STR], age 21
Imagine waking up one day. You've just been cut from your club. You get a phone call from your agent; he says someone is willing to sign you. It's some club you've never heard of; Riverboro FC. Probably some low tier club... then he says the country. Personally, I would break down crying.
"No! No, not Myrtle Beach! No! No, please! Anything but that! No!" Unfortunately, this is reality for one man: center-forward Zane Shalik of StrayaRoos, who had to leave what appears to be a relatively normal country to go to the worst nation in the multiverse to play for a shit low-mid-table club. Oh well, that *is* the price of being a free agent, after all.
Oh, you wanted to hear about the club? They'll probably finish, like, 6th or something. An international signing on center-forward is kind of a big deal, especially someone almost at his prime, but there's a reason he was on the free agent list to begin with.
SOUTHPORT CITY
Southport, Brunswick County
Home colors: Red - white - red
Away colors: White - red - white
Stadium: St. John’s Field (cap. 56,000)
3rd Season Finish: 3rd, 43 points, IFCF Challengers Cup
Head Coach: Jeffery Brennan [MYR]
Starting XI: 4-2-3-1
GK Samuel Beach, age 28, RB Max Byers, age 19, CB Ashton Hatfield, age 21, CB Kiji Des Ekij [FFD], age 17, LB Antonio Gamble, age 24, DM Cooper Lawson, age 25, DM Matthew Carlson, age 26, LM Eli Morris, age 25, AM Richard Anderson, age 23, RM Nathan William, age 26, CF Justin Stevens, age 25
Southport finished well last season, landing a bronze medal for their team. They are expected to finish similarly this season, likely in 3rd or 4th. A notable transfer window addition is young center-back Kiji Des Ekij hailing from Farfadillis, who was taken from the free agents list towards his inevitable doom of death in Myrtle Beach. The choice to put him on the starters list has ruffled some feathers among more diehard fans, but overall the decision is seen as acceptable; Farfadillis is a very good association, after all. However, the rest of the team is about to disintegrate as half of them are basically seniors at this point. Keeper Samuel Beach is a likely trade away during the mid-season transfer window, as Southport has been searching for new talent in that position according to insiders at the club.
WEST FLORENCE AFC
Florence, Florence County
Home colors: Yellow - light green - white
Away colors: White - light green - yellow
Stadium: National Stadium (cap. 50,500)
3rd Season Finish: 7th, 25 points
Head Coach: Ricky Wyatt [MYR]
Starting XI: 3-5-2
GK Colin Wade, age 24, CB Oscar Harris, age 22, CB Gary Patrick, age 23, CB Colin Noble, age 21, LM Craig Wade, age 24, CM Derek Meyer, age 23, CM Edwin Morris, age 25, RM Logan Stewart, age 23, AM Tanner Koch, age 22, CF Jayden Walton, age 24, CF Randy Bolton, age 23
West Florence subverted the expectations of everyone this season by landing right in the middle of the table instead of right in last place. Despite this monumental success for the club, they still sacked head coach Stephen Flynn and opted for more unconventional training in the form of Ricky Wyatt, who led Fernia Beach FC from the Union Football League to the MFA Silver League in just three seasons. Really, everyone hopes the little guy wins here- they want this club to go into the top four and subvert conventional football in a way that is unprecedented in a modern world. Of course, that won't happen, and they'll land right in the middle of the pack once again. Most likely.
WILMINGTON CITY
Wilmington, New Hanover County
Home colors: Dark purple - white
Away colors: White - dark purple
Stadium: Patriot Stadium (cap. 34,000)
3rd Season Finish: 5th, 28 points; missed IFCF qualification by 15 points
Head Coach: Tristan Ford [MYR]
Starting XI: 4-3-3
GK Cole Christian, age 24, RB George Bright, age 23, CB Grant Matthews, age 23, CB Nolan Ellis, age 21, LB Keith Tanner, age 22, DM Adrian McConnell, age 25, CM Matthew Reid, age 21, CM Connor Rodgers, age 23, LW Bryan Short, age 23, RW Donald Burt, age 24, CF Marcus Robbins, age 20
Wilmington City finished 5th last season... but it doesn't mean much. There was a 15 point gap between 5th and 4th place. It's unprecedented in Myrtle Beach football, which is why I expect within the next five years, the MFA is going to open an investigation into Myrtle Beach Union for match fixing, it's going to prove something through complex mental gymnastics, and they're going to be banned from the MFA for the rest of eternity, until the end of time. Wilmington City will likely once again place high-mid-table, maybe 5th again.
WILMINGTON UNITED
Wilmington, New Hanover County
Home colors: Light blue - red - blue
Away colors: Red - white
Stadium: New River Stadium (cap. 69,000)
3rd Season Finish: 8th, 23 points
Head Coach: Chris Bright [MYR]
Starting XI: 4-4-2 diamond
GK Amina Şeyma [STR], age 26, RB Nathaniel Herring, age 23, CB Edgar Casey, age 27, CB Kyle Robertson, age 26, LB Cameron Mathis, age 24, RM Mason Wilson, age 25, DM Isaac Curtis, age 26, AM Mason Hicks, age 21, LM Nathan Shepard, age 22, CF Jacob Adkins, age 23, CF Brandon Meyers, age 24
Other notable players: CF Gunnar MacLane [XAN], age 21
This team finished 8th, still somehow narrowly avoiding relegation despite seeming so far away. Honestly, the entire mid-table could have been relegated this season. The gap between 5th and 4th is so great, and the gaps between mid-table teams are so small. It's like the result was decided long before the season was over. Once again, more evidence to the Myrtle Beach Union match fixing case. This is definitely going to happen. During the transfer window, United decided to nab free agents keeper Amina Şeyma of StrayaRoos and center-forward Gunnar MacLane of Xanneria. These are interesting picks, but they're likely to give United a leg up over the mid-table competition. They may do well, and could even break the top 4. But, like everything else here, only time will tell.
MFA Silver League | Club ListAFC Florence
AFC Mullins
Conway Explorers
Dillon County FC
FC New Bern
Fernia Beach FC
Elizabethtown United
Georgetown South FC
Jacksonville FC
Jonesboro AFC
Kingstree SC
Kitty Hawk FC
Lumberton Rangers
Plymouth FC
Swansboro City
Wheaton SC