The Flint City Bucks are excited to announce that they have partnered with Liverpool FC Michigan (Pontiac) to become a founding member of United Soccer League’s newly formed USL Academy.  

The new league is set to launch in 2021 as a platform for high-level regional competition and another step in the pathway for elite Michigan players (U16-U19) to gain access to the professional game through the USL. As part of this relationship with the Flint City Bucks, the LFC Michigan USL Academy team will serve as the player development arm of the Flint City Bucks, which is coached by LFC Michigan President, Andy Wagstaff.  

“We’re excited to form this affiliation with Liverpool FC Michigan,” said Costa Papista, Flint City Bucks’ President.  “Having a development team playing under our head coach, Andy Wagstaff, strengthens our player pool and creates more opportunities for elite players in Michigan to develop and play at a higher level.  A pathway to professional soccer is the ultimate goal of the USL Academy.  We’ve been impressed with everything we’ve seen from Andy and LFC Michigan.  It’s a natural fit for our two organizations and we are excited to see this academy opportunity come to life.”

The academy team will be formed through tryouts in early 2021 and will be comprised of players that fit into one of three categories: part-time senior players (who split their time with the USL Academy team and the FCB senior team); full-time Academy players and part-time youth players (U16-U19) who play for LFC Michigan or other area youth and amateur clubs.  Players who excel have an opportunity to move into the FCB senior team player pool and be selected to train and potentially play for FCB on match days.

“This is a great opportunity for our youth academy players,” said Wagstaff.  “It’s so exciting to open the pathway to professional soccer to our players.”  Bucks players are frequently drafted in the MLS SuperDraft or otherwise go on to play professionally every year.  Two Bucks’ players were selected in the first round of the SuperDraft this past year, one with Toronto FC and one with Atlanta United.  “No other semi-professional club in the country has put more players into MLS than the Bucks,” continued Wagstaff.

An international search will be conducted for the position of LFC Michigan’s USL Academy head coach and tryouts will be announced in early 2021.  More information will be posted on the club’s website, www.LFCInternationalAcademyMI.com.