The Premier Development League (PDL), an unofficial US Soccer Pyramid 4th Division soccer league that is owned and managed by the 2nd Division USL, begins play this weekend. The first Texas match will take place on Friday, May 11 when Houston FC hosts Corpus Christi FC. A few key points about the league:
- The PDL, under a different name, was founded in 1995 and is now beginning its 24th season. Only one Texas team, Austin Lone Stars, played in that first campaign. Six Texas teams will compete as part of the Mid South Division of the Southern Conference in 2018.
- In 2018 the PDL will field 74 teams in 11 Divisions across the U.S. and Canada. 12 expansion teams join the league. Two of these clubs are from Texas, Corpus Christi FC and Houston-based AHFC Royals.
- Unique Rules: The league generally plays by standard International Laws of the Game, but there are a few unique considerations.
- The rosters primarily consist of College or High School players who will be entering college. No players are paid and strict enforcement of policies are taken to ensure college eligibility will not be compromised.
- Each team can have no more than 10 foreign (non-US and Canadian citizens or Green Card holders) on Master Rosters or Game Day Lineup Sheets.
- Most players are under 23 years old, but teams are allowed up to 8 overage players (anyone born before January 1, 1995).
- Up to 6 substitutes per match are allowed.
- The League regular season schedule runs from this weekend to July 14 and each team will play a 14 game schedule. All Texas-based teams will play home and away against the six other Division teams and two other games against Texas opponents, assigned by league schedulers based on a number of factors. The only non-Texas Mid South team, OKC Energy U23, will play its two games against a team from the neighboring Heartland Division.
- Mid South defending champion OKC Energy U23 begins the season as the only Mid South team in the Southern Conference PDL Power Rankings (Ranked 1st)
- The playoff format has not been established, but last year the top two teams, OKC Energy U23 and Mississippi Brilla (now in a different Division), in the Mid South Division advanced to the PDL Playoffs. Because the season needs to finish in early August to allow players to return to their colleges, the playoffs are fast and furious. Charlotte Eagles were the 2017 PDL Champions.
Mid South Division
AHFC Royals
Head Coach: Josh Gardner
Years in PDL: First
2017 Standings: N/A
Home Field: Tully Stadium-Houston, TX
Roster:
http://www.ahfcroyals.com/Default.aspx?tabid=942976
Background:
Brazos Valley Cavalry FC
Head Coach: James Clarkson
Years in PDL: Second
2017 Standings: 6-7-1-19 points (Third)
Home Field: Nutrabolt Stadium-Bryan, TX
Roster:
http://bvcavalryfc.com/team/roster/
Background:
Corpus Christi FC Sharks
Head Coach: Sammy Giraldo
Years in PDL: First
2017 Standings: N/A
Home Field: Dugan Soccer and Track Stadium, TAMCC University-Corpus Christi, TX
Roster:
Background:
https://txsoccerjournal.com/2018/02/08/corpus-christi-soccer-embarks-upon-a-new-journey/
FC Cleburne
Head Coach: Paul Davenport
Years in PDL: Second
2017 Standings: 4-9-1-13 points (Fifth)
Home Field: The Depot at Cleburne Stadium-Cleburne, TX
Roster: Not published at this time
Houston FC
Head Coach: Bruce Talbot
Years in PDL: Second
2017 Standings: 2-10-2 (Sixth)
Home Field: Houston Baptist University-Houston, TX
Roster:
https://www.hfcpdl.com/roster/show/3915502?mirror_id=3923489&subseason=482928
Background:
OKC Energy U23
Head Coach: John Pearlman
Years in PDL: Third
2017 Standings: 12-1-1-37 points (First)
Home Field: Stars Field, Oklahoma City University-Oklahoma City, OK
Roster: Not published at this time
Texas United FC
Head Coach: Arez Ardalani
Years in PDL: Second
2017 Standings: 5-8-1-16 points (Fourth)
Home Field: AirHogs Stadium-Grand Prairie, TX
Roster: Not published at this time
2018 PDL Mid South Conference Schedule (Non-Texas home games)
Friday, May 11:
Houston FC vs. Corpus Christi FC
Saturday, May 12:
AHFC Royals vs. Corpus Christi
Thursday, May 17:
AHFC vs. Houston
Texas United FC vs. FC Cleburne
Saturday, May 19:
Corpus Christi vs. Cleburne
Sunday, May 20:
OKC Energy U23 vs. Texas
Tuesday, May 22:
Brazos Valley Cavalry FC vs. Houston
Thursday, May 24:
OKC vs. AHFC
Friday, May 25:
Corpus Christi vs. Texas
Sunday, May 27:
Cleburne vs. Brazos Valley
Tuesday, May 29:
Cleburne vs. AHFC
Wednesday, May 30:
Houston vs. Corpus Christi
Friday, June 1:
Houston vs. Texas
Saturday, June 2:
Brazos Valley vs. AHFC
Sunday, June 3:
OKC vs. Cleburne
Monday, June 4:
Texas vs. Corpus Christi
Tuesday, June 5:
Houston vs. AHFC
Friday, June 8:
Houston vs. Cleburne
Saturday, June 9:
Brazos Valley vs. Corpus Christi
Sunday, June 10:
AHFC vs. Cleburne
Wednesday, June 13:
Houston vs. Brazos Valley
Friday, June 15:
AHFC vs. Texas
Saturday, June 16:
Brazos Valley vs. OKC
Monday, June 18:
AHFC vs. Brazos Valley
Cleburne vs. Corpus Christi
Wednesday, June 20:
Houston vs. OKC
Friday, June 22:
AHFC vs. OKC
Corpus Christi vs. Houston
Saturday, June 23:
Texas vs. Cleburne
Sunday, June 24:
Corpus Christi vs. Brazos Valley
Monday, June 25:
Cleburne vs. Texas
Wednesday, June 27:
Brazos Valley vs. AHFC
Texas vs. Houston
Friday, June 29:
Brazos Valley vs. Cleburne
Saturday, June 30:
Corpus Christi vs. OKC
Monday, July 2:
Texas vs. AHFC
Tuesday, July 3:
Cleburne vs. Brazos Valley
Friday, July 6:
AHFC vs. Houston
Corpus Christi vs. Texas
OKC vs. Brazos Valley
Sunday, July 8:
Corpus Christi vs. AHFC
Texas vs. OKC
Tuesday, July 10:
Cleburne vs. Houston
Texas vs. Brazos Valley
Thursday, July 12:
Cleburne vs. OKC
Friday, July 13:
Brazos Valley vs. Texas
Saturday, July 14:
OKC vs. Houston
Sunday, July 15:
OKC vs. Corpus Christi
Texas Soccer Journal 