Special to IFN
The National Premier Soccer League (NPSL), the first and only men’s league designated by USASA as a Tier 1 national league, announced on Thursday that Statesville FC has joined the league. The expansion club will begin play in the 2026 season.
“We are thrilled to have Statesville FC join the NPSL family for the upcoming season,” NPSL Managing Director Cindy Spera said. “We will work together to grow the game in the Carolinas at a pivotal time in our nation’s soccer history.”
The team is led by CEO/Club President Craig Hollis, CMO/Director of Marketing & Public Relations Eric Hanson, COO/Vice President Alonzo Pineda, and CTO/Director of Football Justin Moose.
Hollis has 17 year of experience in in soccer. Before coming to the U.S. in 2012, he spent the first four and a half years of his coaching career at Chelsea FC. During his time in the U.S., Hollis has worked with multiple youth soccer clubs in multiple states, developing their programs, coaching/player development, and business models. Hollis holds multiple FA, U.S. Soccer and state coaching licenses and is currently the executive director of a youth club in Iredell County.
Hollis hopes to bring his unconditional love and passion for the beautiful game to Statesville through a much larger stage.
“Bringing the game of soccer through the NPSL will give our incredible community a reason to cheer, sing, and shout at a wonderful sporting event that will be designed for everyone to enjoy,” Hollis said. “Statesville FC will bring more than just an entertainment of sport, but also to serve as a symbol of pride that our community’s small business owners, future aspiring pro players, and families can all thrive from.”
Hanson, a Statesville native, has been involved with the sport of soccer for most of his life. After graduating from East Carolina University, he worked in the entertainment industry for a variety of companies such as House of Blues and Disney. For the past 15 years he has been boys soccer coach and business teacher at his alma mater, Statesville High School. He plans to incorporate his involvement with the club into his classroom, giving his students hands-on experience.
Pineda was born in California but spent most of his childhood in Mexico before coming back to the U.S., where he eventually started a family in North Carolina. He has worked in the construction industry for over 17 years, working in a family-owned business before launching his own construction company three years ago. Building and creating have always been a part of who he is as a person.
Outside of work, he is a proud father of three. All of Pineda’s children have played soccer, but his oldest son Antonio took it to another level. He went played NCAA Division I soccer before playing professionally in USL League One and winning a national championship with NPSL side Hickory FC.
Moose majored in psychology at Wake Forest University, where he was the ACC Rookie of the Year, a two-time First Team All-American, a Hermann Trophy award finalist, and set a school record for assists. He also played for the US U-20 National team and earned PDL Rookie of the Year with the Carolina Dynamo. The Statesville native was drafted seventh overall by D.C. United in the 2006 MLS SuperDraft.
He won two Supporters’ Shields and made appearances in CONCACAF Champions League. Other highlights from his 11-year professional career include a game-winning assist in the 2008 USL First Division Championship with Vancouver Whitecaps FC, earning UEFA Europa League qualification in 2014 with Finnish side Seinäjoen Jalkapallokerho, and setting a U.S. Open Cup record for the longest span between goals with Carolina Dynamo in 2002 and Wilmington Hammerheads in 2016. Moose spent two and a half years in the U.K. coaching with Southampton FC and completed a master’s degree in Football Coaching and Analysis.
LEARN MORE
Fans and supporters can learn more by visiting statesvillefootball.club or following the club on Facebook (@StatesvilleFC ), Instagram (@StatesvilleFC ), and Twitter/X (@StatesvilleFC). More information about expansion opportunities in the NPSL can be found at npsl.com/expansion.