North County Battalion joins National Premier Soccer League
The National Premier Soccer League (NPSL) has announced that North County Battalion (Carlsbad, CA) has joined the league as an expansion team. The club will compete in the West Region’s Southwest Conference.
“We are excited to add another team in the state of California, which has been a stronghold of our league for many years,” NPSL Chairman Joe Barone commented. “North San Diego County is an important market for soccer and we believe that this owner and club will be very successful there. We wish them the very best for the 2016 NPSL season.”
The club is led by owner Jason Barbato and manager/coach Giovanni Vlahos. Barbato, a lifetime Southern California resident and successful realtor, believes that by leveraging his passion to see the game grow in North County that he can help propel the game nationally. His desire to partner and promote the youth clubs and academies in the county has drawn quick attention and support for North County Battalion.
“The NPSL provided an attractive business model that could bring high level soccer to my community,” Barbato added. “I have wanted and waited for a higher level club to present itself within a shorter driving span than what is currently available and decided that if I felt this way then scores of other soccer fans in my community felt the same way too. Turns out I was right and we are so excited to be a part of the NPSL and bring a team to our area.”
Vlahos is the current head coach of men’s soccer at Saint Katherine College. A coach with impressive credentials, Vlahos possesses a USSF “A” license, a NSCAA Goalkeeping Level III Diploma, and a USSF National Youth license. He is also on the staff of the Del Mar – Carmel Valley Sharks.
“We anticipate a great response from our community and local youth clubs to come out and support their local team,” Barbato concluded. “We have already begun to connect with many of the youth clubs and programs in the community and they are excited to partner up with us. We aim to field an exciting product on the field and a brand that our supporters can be proud of and rally around.
NC Battalion has secured Adidas as the club’s kit partner and Fan & Fuel as their brand identity and marketing firm.
