Ryan Wall has joined with Wheeling’s first family of soccer, the Regans, in starting a senior level football club that allows players 17 and older the chance to continue playing the game they love.
Highlanders FC will make its debut in the Ohio Valley Premier League this summer. The team will get in a few friendlies before league play gets underway in early June.
It’s a pre-professional level club for adult men. Highlanders FC is holding a final tryout on Thursday, May 6 from 7-9 p.m. at the complex in East Wheeling.
Tryouts are by invitation only, but those seeking an invite are encouraged to apply on the team’s website.
Two former Wheeling Park all-staters have already signed on in Clay and Coleman Meredith. Clay just finished his first season at Grove City College while Coleman was named the boys’ Player of the Year during his senior season last fall.
There are more spots to be filled, but Wall, who is also one of the coaches along with Brandon Regan and J.J. Hawkshaw, noted the roster will be comprised of a lot of collegiate players with plenty of variety.
“The vast majority of the guys playing will be seasoned college players, and we’re excited about that. The other aspect is it’s going to be a mix of international and local players.
“Thursday will give us a final look at some guys and a first look at others. We did make some initial pics, but this will be an eclectic mix of nationalities on the roster.”
Brandon Regan was an assistant coach for six seasons at Division I Robert Morris, a program he played for before returning home to Wheeling to play for his father, legendary Wheeling University (then Jesuit) coach Jim Regan.
Brandon was a two-time all-WVIAC selection and later played a year for the Dungannon Swifts F.C. in the Irish Premier League.
His father Jim, along with brother Sean will also be part of the club. Jim Regan will serve as the Technical Director of Soccer while Sean will be the Youth Development and Recruitment coordinator.
Wall is currently a coach with the West Virginia Olympic development program, along with the youth club FC Alliance in Wheeling. He played professionally in England with the Bolton Wanderers FC as well as starring for four years for Rio Grande University.
Following his college career, he joined Jim Regan as his top assistant at WJU for three seasons and become close friends with the family.
“I’ve been in town for about 20 years now and when I first came to coach with Coach Regan at WJU, we tried to put together a team then, but it never seemed like the time was right in terms of availability.
“But Jim and Sean up at West Liberty, those guys are good family friends and we felt together it was time to put the team together.
“Even when I played, once you stopped playing in college, there was nothing really after. There was nowhere to go. This gives us the opportunity to fill that gap and provide some additional opportunities for players.”
The Idea Behind the Highlanders FC
Wall is a native of Glasgow, Scotland. He grew up in the shadow of the Old Firm.
That’s the collective name of the city’s two famed football clubs–Celtic and Rangers. They are by far the top two teams in the Scottish Premiership and the league’s fiercest rivals. For a U.S. equivalent, think Red Sox and Yankees.
But Glasgow features two other professional teams, Queen’s Park and Patrick Thistle, which compete in what amounts to the second and third tiers of the league. Again, for an equivalent, think AAA and AA in minor league hockey, so in this instance, the Nailers and Patrick Thistle are similar in levels.
How many soccer fans outside the United Kingdom can name those two teams? Better yet, Glasgow also features 10 other teams in the Scottish Junior Football Association, the amateur arm of the sport in Scotland.
It’s like that in nearly every town, not only in Scotland, but in Europe. There are semi-pro or amateur teams competing across the country, providing another level of competition as well as providing their respective towns with exciting sport to partake and enjoy.
“People are familiar with the big name teams and so forth, but not too many are familiar with the smaller teams unless you grew up in those areas. But there are a lot of local teams where you’ll still have 400-500 people in attendance.
“It becomes the focal point of the day and the teams have strong followings.”
The Highlanders FC may utilize up to 4-5 fields in town for matches but hope to make the East Wheeling complex its home pitch. It’s in the center of town and can be a focal point for fans to congregate, watch matches and then take in what else the city has to offer in terms of eateries and shopping.
The idea is to make it an experience, not just for the players, but for those in attendance as well.
“The reference point for most people is minor league baseball, or hockey, kind of like the Nailers,” Wall said. “We’re trying to do that, but on the soccer side and feel probably there is more scope to grow it and have an impact, since it’s more accessible as a sport. You just need a ball and a field.”
Big Benefit to the Players
There are a number of positives available to the players who eventually will comprise the Highlanders FC’s roster.
For high school-aged players (you have to be 17 to try out), it’s an opportunity to get their talents in front of scouts. For those top-level college players competing in the offseason, it’s an opportunity to be seen potentially by professional teams.
Professional soccer in the United States doesn’t just consist of the teams in the MLS. Teams like the Columbus Crew are in the first division of U.S. soccer’s professional arm. There are also Division II and III teams.
Division III, or the National Independent Soccer Association (NISA) consists of teams like the Los Angeles Force and Chattanooga FC. It’s a step up for senior-level players with the abilities to play professionally.
“From a player’s point of view, the top level players get a chance to play for college coaches, and the college players get a chance to be exposed to some coaches from the top 2-3 divisions,” Wall said.
The OVPL itself is a United States Adult Soccer Association affiliated league, and the only U23 amateur league in this part of the country.
It’s part of U.S. Club Soccer and thus, the league champion receive an automatic bid to the U.S. Open Cup.
The Highlanders FC is one of four new clubs joining the league, along with teams in Evansville, Ind., Indianapolis, Ind., and Dublin, Ohio.
It affords some built-in rivals with teams like Century United in Pittsburgh and 12 different clubs in Ohio. Proximity is one of the best parts for the club.
The OVPL is broken down into two divisions, but there’s no real lengthy trip anywhere in the league’s footprint.
“The league has a preliminary spring season going on now. The real season gets started in the summer,” Wall said. “There’s 24 teams. We’ll be in the valley conference with more of the eastern teams while the others are in the river conference. Most teams are within a 2-3 hours’ drive of one another.
“Another good part is because it’s an amateur league, that allows us to roster those college players since it doesn’t affect their eligibility.”
Wall noted the winners of each conference will square off in a championship match for the OVPL, with the winner receiving the bid to the U.S. Open Cup.
For more information, visit the club online or at its Facebook page.
