It's interesting to see the perception. The deals with TLfC have arguably strengthened the top division (added Tallahassee and Pensacola, for example). There's always some shuffling in the region, but the organization as a whole has grown, and I love that there's the opportunity to play nationally, beyond the league season at the higher level.
In my mind the top division and women's division aren't really part of GCPL anymore. They're now TLFC and WPSL. Especially considering that all of the clubs that made the TLFC jump were Eastern Conference teams. So GCPL is now only GCL2 with its 8 teams and no women's division. Sure the TLFC merger helped add some clubs and lower travel in the Gulf Coast, which is SEVERELY needed. But it still somewhat sucks that the league lost a decent bit of its soul, imo. The reason why GCPL was made was so that teams in the Gulf Coast didn't have to join a national league with the requirement to potentially pay for a cross country trip for a playoff game. So that point is somewhat antithetical to GCPL's philosophy.
I agree that was a part of the attraction for GCPL, and probably helped the considerable longevity of most of the clubs. I know that the GCPL itself still promotes all of it on Instagram as part of the organization. And most of the Western teams didn't 'move' to TLfC, with Gaffa and Gulf Coast United being notable exceptions. But I think the current structure will offer the best of both worlds. Clubs can choose to stay regional, or try their hand at getting to the Open Cup, etc. And hopefully some of the clubs that stepped away this year (Pensacola Bay United, Roots in men's, and Southern Soccer Academy) will regroup and be back next year. There's really a ton of quality
Yes and no to both the option of choice and best of both worlds. If a team a SOWEGANS, or maybe even Pensacola Bay United, wanted to join GCPL right now, they wouldn't be able to due to where ALL the GCL2 teams are. Which means there isn't a choice at all and potentially isn't the best of any world. I wouldn't be surprised if there was a club that maybe wanted to stay in GCPL, now GCL2, but couldn't because they'd stick out like a sore thumb in GCL2. Then, they might do good and have to pay for a cross countey tavel that they don't have money for. I know TLFC wants to have P/R with GCPL, but it's 100% not feasible right now, any TLFC/GCPL would need to create 2 or more GCL2 divisions, if they mirror the current divisions, before it could be feasible. I agree that there's a ton of quality and I also agree with the likely opinion that you have that in the end, these mergers will be better for the teams in the league. But in my opinion, the league itself was still severely kneecaped and will continue to be. Sure they Instagram still supports and reposts stuff from the WPSL and TLFC clubs, but the website hasn't been updated in nearly a year and it took until the GCL2 season was all but underway until we oj the outside knew what the hell was happening. If this isn't a kneecaped league, I'm not sure what is.
I would agree with almost everything you've said here. And I do have the opinion that all of the moves are likely to generally be better for everyone. I resist the kneecap tag because I can't discount some of the non-soccer reasons to embrace the TLfC/WPSL, which in many ways came along at the perfect time. So I've tended to view it as more of a stewardship.
Love me some GCPL!! Happy that it's continuing. Even in this semi-kneecaped existence.
It's interesting to see the perception. The deals with TLfC have arguably strengthened the top division (added Tallahassee and Pensacola, for example). There's always some shuffling in the region, but the organization as a whole has grown, and I love that there's the opportunity to play nationally, beyond the league season at the higher level.
In my mind the top division and women's division aren't really part of GCPL anymore. They're now TLFC and WPSL. Especially considering that all of the clubs that made the TLFC jump were Eastern Conference teams. So GCPL is now only GCL2 with its 8 teams and no women's division. Sure the TLFC merger helped add some clubs and lower travel in the Gulf Coast, which is SEVERELY needed. But it still somewhat sucks that the league lost a decent bit of its soul, imo. The reason why GCPL was made was so that teams in the Gulf Coast didn't have to join a national league with the requirement to potentially pay for a cross country trip for a playoff game. So that point is somewhat antithetical to GCPL's philosophy.
I agree that was a part of the attraction for GCPL, and probably helped the considerable longevity of most of the clubs. I know that the GCPL itself still promotes all of it on Instagram as part of the organization. And most of the Western teams didn't 'move' to TLfC, with Gaffa and Gulf Coast United being notable exceptions. But I think the current structure will offer the best of both worlds. Clubs can choose to stay regional, or try their hand at getting to the Open Cup, etc. And hopefully some of the clubs that stepped away this year (Pensacola Bay United, Roots in men's, and Southern Soccer Academy) will regroup and be back next year. There's really a ton of quality
Yes and no to both the option of choice and best of both worlds. If a team a SOWEGANS, or maybe even Pensacola Bay United, wanted to join GCPL right now, they wouldn't be able to due to where ALL the GCL2 teams are. Which means there isn't a choice at all and potentially isn't the best of any world. I wouldn't be surprised if there was a club that maybe wanted to stay in GCPL, now GCL2, but couldn't because they'd stick out like a sore thumb in GCL2. Then, they might do good and have to pay for a cross countey tavel that they don't have money for. I know TLFC wants to have P/R with GCPL, but it's 100% not feasible right now, any TLFC/GCPL would need to create 2 or more GCL2 divisions, if they mirror the current divisions, before it could be feasible. I agree that there's a ton of quality and I also agree with the likely opinion that you have that in the end, these mergers will be better for the teams in the league. But in my opinion, the league itself was still severely kneecaped and will continue to be. Sure they Instagram still supports and reposts stuff from the WPSL and TLFC clubs, but the website hasn't been updated in nearly a year and it took until the GCL2 season was all but underway until we oj the outside knew what the hell was happening. If this isn't a kneecaped league, I'm not sure what is.
I would agree with almost everything you've said here. And I do have the opinion that all of the moves are likely to generally be better for everyone. I resist the kneecap tag because I can't discount some of the non-soccer reasons to embrace the TLfC/WPSL, which in many ways came along at the perfect time. So I've tended to view it as more of a stewardship.