We are pleased to announce that the Myrtle Beach Mutiny U23 PDL Team owned by Coast FA has agreed to an affiliate partnership with the USL Charleston Battery franchise.  The agreement will further enhance a path for Mutiny players to potentially reach the next level of professional soccer with the Battery. The USL was recently granted Division 2 status from U.S. Soccer beginning in the 2017 season making it the next level behind MLS Major League Soccer. The Charleston Battery was founded in 1993 and is the oldest continuously operating professional soccer club in the United States.The Battery are affiliate partners with the new MLS team Atlanta United which begins play in the spring of 2017. Home matches for the Battery are played at beautiful 5000 seat MUSC Stadium located in Daniel Island S.C.

“This is huge news for our club because it creates a potential path for current Coast FA aspiring youth players to the PDL,USL and MLS. A Coast FA kid can now dream as a three year old playing in our McDonald’s Rec League to reach our country’s highest levels of soccer. I think the one thousand families at Coast FA will immediately become Charleston Battery fans” said Coast Executive Director Heyward Gulledge.

The Myrtle Beach Mutiny was founded in 2011 by Norwegian National Trym Hogner and later purchased by Coast FA. The team competed in the NPSL though the 2016 campaign and won two conference titles while participating in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup once. The squad will be led by Kyle Russell, current Associate Head Coach for the Men’s Program At Coastal Carolina University. “This is a very exciting time. The Charleston Battery have a rich tradition on and off the field. Their staff does things the right way in Charleston and the affiliation is fantastic news not only the Mutiny players but for our entire soccer community along the Grand Strand. This is another great example of different organizations coming together to further the game of soccer in our country” added Coach Russell. Home matches will be played at Ashley Booth Stadium in Myrtle Beach, S.C. and the 2017 uniform kits will be sponsored by Capelli New York.

“We’ve seen it before, players can move quickly through the ranks,”said Charleston Battery Head Coach Mike Anhaeuser. “With our links to the MLS and the people we have coming to watch our games, you never know where these players might end up.”

Myrtle Beach Mutiny Sporting Director Pat Piscitelli added “The affiliation with the Charleston Battery will be a win – win situation for both clubs with our goal being to improve business and operations for both organizations. Both sides have agreed to one friendly match per year, coaches education, camp support and evaluation of Mutiny players by the Battery staff. This is a tremendous benefit for Mutiny players that wish to pursue the next level in Charleston.”