Before we start the first season, I thought I would further introduce the teams to give more history, detail, and overview for the first PSL season. I will also be writing team previews each season, I will also allow people to suggest names for each team's individual sports writers of these interviews. Hopefully I will get the first seasons preview and inaugural season out by Friday, as I'm mostly just tweaking things. As for the teams, lets start alphabetically with the:

  

  

  

I wanted the other NYC team to encompass the entire city, hence the inclusion of City in the name, yet still feel dangerous. Thus, the Pirate name and the lack of any club designation, the only team like it in the PSL. The oldest team of the bunch, as well as the most successful and historic. Initially founded in 1884 by Irish immigrants, the name pirates wasn’t initially chosen. It was given by fans due to their all black kits, aggressive style of play, and their proximity to the port (so close you could smell the fish). Their tenacity on both sides of the pitch lead them to be known all the way across the states. Their infamy was even greater when they won three straight National Challenge Cups in 1915, 1916, and 1917. They also won 5 NY-PENN League titles, including the infamous season last year where they only left the Hudson Valley 3 times all season yet were still claimed the champions. Owner Dick Koehler expects his side to dominate the PSL for a long time to come. 

  

  

Last edited by master BDoof (CodeG) (3/24/2021 4:36 pm)

Steelman wrote:

I'm looking forward to seeing how this goes. Good luck on your project!

thankyou so much, this project has literally torn me apart while simultaneously keeping me together the past few years. I'm so glad to finally be sharing it... even if the process will take me years to finish

Before we start talking about the season, let’s share a moment of silence for Irvin Gentry… Now that that’s out of the way, we can finally dive into the first official season of the Premier Soccer League. 

1922 Regular Season
Philadelphia and DC kicked off the inaugural season with a 2-2 tie. The tie was settled after a 86’ goal by Philly’s Adam Striker. I wish i could say the rest of the season was nice to both clubs, but both finished at the bottom of the table, with 26 and 27 points respectively. One upside for Philly was their remarkable defense, which gave up an average of 1.2 goals a game. But their offense could not get anything done. DC had similar problems. As for the favorites going into the season. The most surprising finishes would be Buffalo and Trois at 3rd and 4th respectively. Buffalo was rated the worst out of all 6 teams going into the season, mostly due to their lack of defense. But their offense shined with forwards Zach Pearce leading the league in goals and Sam Owen leading in assists. While Trois had numerous problems, such as an aging core, GK Ryan Downes missing the entirety of April-May, their biggest problem was lack of focus. Trois was preoccupied with the National Challenge Cup, in which they not only made the finals, they were the only PSL team to make it to the final four. Despite this, Trois would lose to the Tigres of Hartford in the final match 4-1. Going back to the PSL. The league was understandably ruled by Brooklyn’s powerful defense and NYC’s potent offense. With both finished 10 points up to the next closest team. Thus, both of them will play in the first ever Premier Soccer League Championship Game. In order of founder Irvin Gentry, the neutral site will be played in his former team’s stadium in Reading, PA. 





1922 PSL Championship Game I, Reading, Pa.
"How do you do. On this fond, quaint afternoon in Pennsland, two clubs will play to be immortalized within folk history for as long as history allows. The sounds of the Schuylkill River and bustling traffic still ever distant, would soon be dwarfed by cheers and chants of the crowd. Though as both teams hailed from New York, it was not nearly as loud as their home games. I did find some individuals in support of one or another despite the location of the game. The match started off quick with the first goal coming in the 5’ minute by Brooklyn’s speeder Dan Faria. New York City would tie it up 30 minutes later by way of a long kick by Jared Johnson. Going into the second half, Pirates young forward, Steve Thompson, demonstrated his skill well beyond his youth with three unassisted scoring chances in the first 10 minutes of the half. Though the tie would be broken shortly after by Thompson passing to Mike Strickland. A few minutes later Pirates winger Harry Kirkbride brought the ball from one end to the other before passing to Thompson who would finally score a goal. Now up 3-1 with twenty left, Brooklyn players were starting to look blue. As the minutes ticked down, Brooklyn would score again but it was not enough as New York City Pirates would win the first Premier Soccer League title in a dominating fashion with 9 shots on goal to 4. While saddened by my local team losing, the game was quite entertaining and the Pirates showed much talent that should lead them ahead." -James Tiberius, The Brooklyn Courier


BRK Faria 5’
  NYC Johnson 36’
  NYC Strickland 58’
  NYC Thompson 61’
BRK Murchison 88’
 

Last edited by master BDoof (CodeG) (3/28/2021 10:04 am)

Stickman wrote:

I've been meaning to write some comments on this series.  I like what I'm seeing so far!  As a fellow AHS member with 0 design skill, I like how you've gotten around it by describing (in pretty good detail) what each team wears and when.  That's a good way to let us visualize the teams and I can imagine what each looks like in great detail. 

So far, I feel my favorite team are the New York City Pirates, (no, not because they won the first championsip).  I like the all black idea for this team, they definitely feel foreboding, also it reminds me of the New Zealand All-Blacks, the only rugby team I know anything about.     I also enjoyed visualizing Trois Rivieres FC (more than I like having to keep scrolling down to see how they spell their name, lmao!  And yes, I'm fine with them not being black and yellow too), Brooklyn Blue AC, and Buffalo FC.   

Finally, scrooge John Budd is already my favorite character in the series.  I love how ridiculously cheap he is, bartering with other teams to change their gear just so he doesn't have to spend money on more uniforms is hilarious and probably realistic for the time period.  

Good start!  Best of luck with this series!

Thankyou so much for the kind words and excitement (again). I'm glad that my explanations of uniforms was that well received, I was really worried that I was mincing words and not describing enough (I have a tendency to either describe things too in detail or with no detail). 

Ah the Pirates, since I have already simulated every PSL season until 1991 I have plenty of things I want to say about them, but I won't. Fun fact, when I first made this league it was as an experiment to see what sticked, and I purposely made the Pirates as the only team that I knew wouldn't relocate ever (obviously I ended up enjoying the experiment so much I decided to expand upon it to make the PSC). Another fun fact, in my official Apple Notes sheet of seasons, Trois Riviéres FC is spelled wrong every single time they appear, and they're not the only one but thats for later.

Mr. Budd is definitely one of the most colorful characters in my league, and obviously, has appeared in the NBF as well. I'm very glad and appreciative that you enjoy it so much. Hopefully I won't let you down!

1923 Pre-season Team Overviews

Brooklyn Blue AC
Not only did they massively improve their weakness, they also improved their strengths with defensive depth. Forwards Bobby Walsh and Matt Greve look to be a terrifying front pairing when flanked by two of the league’s fastest wingers in Cameron Murchison and Dan Faria. Their biggest improvement wouldn’t be any new transfers, but the massive improvement made by captain Brian Giaccone. After losing the championship he went on a 4 month sabbatical to train his body and his football skills. He came back with a six-pack and a point to prove that he’s the best player in the PSL. Along with possibly the best goaltender in the league, Josh Machlin, Brooklyn has a huge chance at avenging themselves for last years failures.
Defense Rating: 5.4
Offensive Rating: 5.4
Overall Rating: 5.4


Buffalo FC
After a surprise performance last year netting them 3rd place, this year they will not cling to luck and instead worked on improving both the current players and bringing in new faces. They started at easily their worst position, being goalkeeper. Signing Ryan Moore from DC FC for 20k dollars was the largest transfer thus far, and potentially the most impactful. They also added B Ron Landry from Canada who will fill in the holes. Buffalo also sports the best team-depth in the league with 3 bench players who could be starters on other teams. Owner, Samuel Crane also announced that he expects them to not only be in the PSL Cup Finals but also the U.S. Challenge Cup Finals, which no team has done yet.
Defense Rating: 5.2
Offensive Rating: 5.3
Overall Rating: 5.2


DC FC
With the departure of team captain Zach Bombard, DC promotes M Kevin White from vice-captain to captain, making him the first African-American Captain in the PSL. Despite transferring away starting keeper, Ryan Moore to Buffalo, DC’s defense looks to continue being a wall. Though most of that is due to B Tony Payton who is easily the best player on the team. He has been on record saying he could defend an entire team on his own, though that doesn’t stop DC from placing veteran Pat Cox in the backfield to help. Former backup GK Ben Lund and transfer F Dan Watson look to fill in the gaps that left them second to last in the previous season.
Defense Rating: 5.4
Offense Rating: 5.1
Overall Rating: 5.3


New York City Pirates
Overall, the Pirates did not make any major moves following their PSL Cup win. They focused mainly on bringing their core back while fixing up the bench to hopefully make a run at the U. S. Challenge Cup. Which means all of their talents and skills stay in the Big Apple for chance at repeating. Another thing to note, other than captain M Steve Beeghly and F Josch Gleason (33 and 31 respectively) the entire rest of the team are all under the age of 30. Along with strides from GK Lee Belt and rookie back Jordan Powell, there seems to be no end in sight for this club.
Defense Rating: 5.6
Offense Rating: 5.6
Overall Rating: 5.6


Philadelphia Quicksilver FC
The ‘Silver enter into a crossroads for their franchise. Several core members are nearing retirement such as, GK Jesse Johnson 38, B Danny Herrington 39, and Captain M Trey Panico 37. While young stars such as GK Brian Graf and F Bobby Dickinson are on the horizon, the question becomes how will coach Justin Young balance a team with severe age and experience issues on all sides that already finished last in the previous season.
Defense Rating: 5.1
Offensive Rating: 5.0
Overall Rating: 5.0


Trois Rivières FC
Several changes appear on the horizon for Trois, their chances at the national cup are dwindling yet their owner stands firm that the team will put its eyes further than just their new league, which he relates the PSL to practice later on during his long address. Now the oldest team in the league and they are now without a true striker after selling Gates Frizzell to SC Cleveland. Despite that they still have premium talent in GK Ryan Downes, Fowards Xavier Turner and Ben Taylor, and new transfer M Andy Unruh look to solidify solid placings both league-wise and nationally.
Defensive Rating: 5.1
Offensive Rating: 5.2
Overall Rating: 5.2