50 Years in the Making: FC 1974 Libertyville Outlasts Force FC in UPSL Premier Debut Meeting
By Stephen Hunt
Tonight was a historic night for both Force FC and FC 1974 Libertyville. Located in the northwest suburbs of the Chicagoland area, both clubs compete in the UPSL Premier Midwest Central division. This was the first time the two clubs met in the UPSL, with FC 1974 Libertyville traveling to the hosting Force FC.
This wasn’t just another UPSL Premier match up but two very long standing youth clubs finally facing off in fourth division men’s semi professional soccer here in the USA.
Founded in 1976, Force Football Club (Crystal Lake, IL) is a not-for-profit, 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to the development of all levels of soccer players in the McHenry County area and home to over 2000 youth players. This is their first year in the UPSL.
Greater Libertyville Soccer Association (Libertyville, IL), also a not-for-profit, 501(c)(3) organization, known competitively as FC 1974 Libertyville, was founded in 1974, is home to over 900 competitive players, 1500 recreational players, an adult recreational league and is entering its second year in the UPSL Premier Division.
Force FC joined the UPSL this spring, and after an undefeated run in UPSL Division 1, got promoted to the UPSL Premier!
Right from the first whistle, you could feel the energy, there was excitement, and passion that was rooted in 50 years of competition. These two clubs had faced off against each other over and over again, year after year at the youth level. At all various levels of competitive youth soccer, they both have a history. Years of hard fought battles, built up passion and exciting matchups of competitive club youth soccer. So this game meant more.
FC 1974 Libertyville, scored first with a cross into the box, from Kyle Jesuit* finding David Balase’s head to go up 1-0 in the first half. In the second half, FC 1974 Libertyville added 2 more with goals from Creasy Rivera* and Denis Dvoretskiy before Force FC got one back (Brett Oates). But Libertyville wasn’t done, with goals from Dvoretskiy, and Ezechiel Dossou Alowanou for a final result of 5-1, FC 1974 Libertyville over Force Football Club.
The UPSL gave both of these clubs the opportunity to finally evolve as (Soccer) Football should. Both long standing youth clubs, with established player development models, were able to add first team men’s soccer to their respective clubs. This was largely due to the USPL’s reasonable league fees. If the UPSL charged the similar large buy-in to participate, like other 4th division leagues require, both clubs, who function as non profit organizations wouldn’t be able to afford the opportunity to create a true men’s team at the top of each club’s pyramid. They wouldn’t have the opportunity to grow the game, or build a club community around their first teams in the same way.
At the end of the day, this cross county rivalry can only grow and become what a true rivalry should be, where the youth players can continue to battle it out alongside the newly added men’s first teams. This is good for soccer, good for both clubs, and good for the greater soccer community.
* Both Kyle Jesuit, Creasy Rivera and Owen Holevas (substitute) are homegrown players who grew up playing for FC 1974 Libertyville during their youth career.