PEORIA, IL (Jan. 19, 2022) – Delayed for two years by the COVID-19 pandemic, Peoria City is set to debut in USL League Two in 2022, according to an announcement from team management Wednesday afternoon.
“On behalf of our ownership group, we cannot thank the Peoria community enough for the patience and support in our launch of Peoria City,” said John Dorn, Peoria City managing partner. The work of Jim DeRose and Tim Regan and the incredible vision for the Peoria community of Kim Blickenstaff is a testament to the commitment, values and culture of the Peoria community. We are humbled and excited to be part of that.
“After all the challenges of the past couple years, we cannot wait for Peoria to enjoy an exciting summer of soccer in the River City showcasing the best young soccer talent in the top amateur league in North America on their path to pro!“
For its inaugural season, Peoria City has been placed in the League Two Central Conference Deep North Division with five other franchises: Des Moines Menace, FC Manitoba, Minneapolis City SC, St. Croix SC and Thunder Bay Chill.
USL League Two is expected to announce each team’s 2022 schedule Jan. 27. Peoria City will play its home games at Bradley University’s Shea Stadium.
The club will unveil its franchise branding marks, technical staff, team roster, ticket plans and single-game promotions throughout the winter and spring. Fans are encouraged to follow Peoria City online at PeoriaCitySoccer.com and on social media outlets Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter for team updates and features.
About USL League Two
A part of United Soccer Leagues, LLC, which also operates the USL Championship, USL League One, Super Y League and the new USL Academy, USL League Two is the top pre-professional soccer league in North America, offering a summer platform for aspiring professionals across the United States and Canada. League Two is the defined and proven pathway for players to progress to the ranks of professional soccer, while its clubs become fixtures in the communities where they operate. More than 70 percent of all MLS SuperDraft selections since 2010 have League Two experience, including 66 alumni chosen in 2018 and 61 in 2019. Werder Bremen’s Josh Sargent, Newcastle United’s DeAndre Yedlin, and Atlanta United’s Brad Guzan are among the many U.S. National Team players to have competed in USL League Two before making their professional debuts.
