West Michigan Edge
Encyclopedia
West Michigan Edge was an American soccer team based in Grand Rapids, Michigan
, United States
. Founded in 1995, the team played in the USL Premier Development League
(PDL), the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid
, until 2008, when the franchise folded and the team left the league.
The team played its home games at EK Stadium on the campus of East Kentwood High School
in nearby Kentwood, Michigan
. The team's colors were red, white and blue.
The club also fielded a team in the USL’s Super-20 League
, a league for players 17 to 20 years of age run under the United Soccer Leagues
umbrella.
Joel John Bailey
Brady Bryant
Neathan Gibson
John Michael Hayden
Stephen Herdsman
Dave Hertel
Neil Holloway Greg Janicki
Anthony Maher Stu Riddle
Josh Tudela
Joel DeLass
(2008)
Grand Rapids, Michigan
Grand Rapids is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan. The city is located on the Grand River about 40 miles east of Lake Michigan. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 188,040. In 2010, the Grand Rapids metropolitan area had a population of 774,160 and a combined statistical area, Grand...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. Founded in 1995, the team played in the USL Premier Development League
USL Premier Development League
The USL Premier Development League is the amateur league of the United Soccer Leagues in the United States, Canada, and Bermuda, forming part of the American Soccer Pyramid...
(PDL), the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid
American Soccer Pyramid
The United States soccer pyramid is a term used in soccer to describe the structure of the league system in the United States. The country's governing body for the sport, the United States Soccer Federation , oversees the system but does not operate any of its component leagues—with one temporary...
, until 2008, when the franchise folded and the team left the league.
The team played its home games at EK Stadium on the campus of East Kentwood High School
East Kentwood High School
East Kentwood High School is a public high school located just outside the city of Kentwood, Michigan, United States. It is part of the Kentwood Public Schools district, working together with the Crossroads High School, an alternative learning center...
in nearby Kentwood, Michigan
Kentwood, Michigan
Kentwood is a city in Kent County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 48,707 at the 2010 census, making it the second most populous suburb of Grand Rapids and the 25th most populous city in Michigan.-History:...
. The team's colors were red, white and blue.
The club also fielded a team in the USL’s Super-20 League
Super-20 League
The United Soccer Leagues Super-20 League is an American-Canadian soccer league for players 17 to 20 years of age. Introduced in 2006 it took the place of the U-19 age bracket in the Super Y-League....
, a league for players 17 to 20 years of age run under the United Soccer Leagues
United Soccer Leagues
The United Soccer Leagues is the organizer of several soccer leagues with teams in the United States, Canada and the Caribbean. It includes men's and women's leagues, both professional and amateur. Leagues currently organized are the USL Pro, the USL Premier Development League, the W-League, and...
umbrella.
History
The team played as Grand Rapids Explosion from 1995 to 1998, before changing names to West Michigan Explosion prior to the 1999 season, and adopting their final moniker in 2000.Final squad
Notable former players
Eric AlexanderEric Alexander (soccer)
Eric Alexander is an American soccer player who currently plays for Portland Timbers in Major League Soccer.-College and Amateur:...
Joel John Bailey
Joel John Bailey
Joel John Bailey is a forward who last played for the Carolina RailHawks of the USL First Division. He played three seasons in Major Indoor Soccer League.-Indoor:...
Brady Bryant
Brady Bryant
Brady Bryant is an American soccer player who currently plays for Charlotte Eagles in the USL Professional Division.-College and Amateur:...
Neathan Gibson
Neathan Gibson
Neathan Gibson is a Zimbabwen soccer player currently Coaching for Des Moines Menace in the USL Premier Development League.-College:...
John Michael Hayden
John Michael Hayden
John Michael Hayden is an American soccer player, currently playing for semi-professional indoor soccer team, the Louisville Lightning.-Youth and College:...
Stephen Herdsman
Stephen Herdsman
Stephen Herdsman is an American soccer defender playing for the Michigan Bucks of the USL Premier Development League.-Career:...
Dave Hertel
Dave Hertel
Dave Hertel is an American soccer player who currently plays for Richmond Kickers in the USL Professional Division.-Youth and College:...
Neil Holloway Greg Janicki
Greg Janicki
Greg Janicki is an American soccer player currently playing for Vancouver Whitecaps FC in Major League Soccer.-Youth and College:...
Anthony Maher Stu Riddle
Stu Riddle
Stu Riddle is a New Zealand football player.- Playing career :Less than a year after leaving high school at Wellington's Scots College, Riddle shot to prominence after a high-scoring debut season with Wellington United in the New Zealand Superclub competition.At the age of 19 Riddle was the...
Josh Tudela
Josh Tudela
Josh Tudela is an American soccer player currently playing for the Los Angeles Blues of the USL Professional Division.-College and Amateur:...
Joel DeLass
Joel DeLass
Joel DeLass is an American soccer player who currently plays for Dayton Dutch Lions in the USL Professional Division.-College and amateur:...
Year-by-year
| Year | Division | League | Regular Season | Playoffs | Open Cup |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 | 4 | USISL Premier League | 6th, Central | Did not qualify | Did not qualify |
| 1996 | 4 | USISL Premier League | 6th, Central Northern | Did not qualify | Did not qualify |
| 1997 | 4 | USISL PDSL | 4th, North Central | Division Semifinals | Did not qualify |
| 1998 | 4 | USISL PDSL | 7th, Great Lakes | Did not qualify | Did not qualify |
| 1999 | 4 | USL PDL | 7th, Great Lakes | Did not qualify | Did not qualify |
| 2000 | 4 | USL PDL | 4th, Great Lakes | Conference Semifinals | Did not qualify |
| 2001 | 4 | USL PDL | 2nd, Great Lakes | Did not qualify | Did not qualify |
| 2002 | 4 | USL PDL | 3rd, Great Lakes | Did not qualify | Did not qualify |
| 2003 | / | / | on hiatus | / | / |
| 2004 | 4 | USL PDL | 6th, Great Lakes | Did not qualify | Did not qualify |
| 2005 | 4 | USL PDL | 6th, Great Lakes | Did not qualify | Did not qualify |
| 2006 | 4 | USL PDL | 5th, Great Lakes | Did not qualify | Did not qualify |
| 2007 | 4 | USL PDL | 3rd, Great Lakes | Did not qualify | Did not qualify |
| 2008 | 4 | USL PDL | 5th, Midwest | Did not qualify | Did not qualify |
Head coaches
Joey Barone (2005-2006) Mark Bell (2007) Stephen HerdsmanStephen Herdsman
Stephen Herdsman is an American soccer defender playing for the Michigan Bucks of the USL Premier Development League.-Career:...
(2008)
Stadia
- Holland Municipal StadiumHolland Municipal StadiumHolland Municipal Stadium is a 5,322-seat American football stadium located in Holland, Michigan. Built in 1979, it is the home of the Hope College Flying Dutchmen football team. It is also used regularly for high school football, including the home town team, Holland High School. The stadium...
; Holland, MichiganHolland, MichiganHolland is a city in the western region of the Lower Peninsula of the U.S. state of Michigan. It is situated near the eastern shore of Lake Michigan on Lake Macatawa, which is fed by the Macatawa River ....
(2004) - Stadium at Forest Hills Central High SchoolForest Hills Central High SchoolForest Hills Central High School is located in Ada Township, in Grand Rapids, Michigan. It is one of three high schools in the Forest Hills Public Schools system...
; Grand Rapids, MichiganGrand Rapids, MichiganGrand Rapids is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan. The city is located on the Grand River about 40 miles east of Lake Michigan. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 188,040. In 2010, the Grand Rapids metropolitan area had a population of 774,160 and a combined statistical area, Grand...
(2005-2007) - Stadium at Mona Shores High School; Muskegon, MichiganMuskegon, MichiganMuskegon is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 38,401. The city is the county seat of Muskegon County...
1 game (2005) - Stadium at Cornerstone UniversityCornerstone UniversityCornerstone University is an independent, non-denominational Christian university in Grand Rapids, Michigan. The university emphasises the trinitarian belief in the triune God and the literal interpretation of the Bible...
; Grand Rapids, MichiganGrand Rapids, MichiganGrand Rapids is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan. The city is located on the Grand River about 40 miles east of Lake Michigan. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 188,040. In 2010, the Grand Rapids metropolitan area had a population of 774,160 and a combined statistical area, Grand...
4 games (2007) - East Grand Rapids Memorial Field; Grand Rapids, MichiganGrand Rapids, MichiganGrand Rapids is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan. The city is located on the Grand River about 40 miles east of Lake Michigan. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 188,040. In 2010, the Grand Rapids metropolitan area had a population of 774,160 and a combined statistical area, Grand...
2 games (2007) - Stadium at Crestwood Middle School; Kentwood, MichiganKentwood, MichiganKentwood is a city in Kent County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 48,707 at the 2010 census, making it the second most populous suburb of Grand Rapids and the 25th most populous city in Michigan.-History:...
1 game (2007) - EK Stadium; Kentwood, MichiganKentwood, MichiganKentwood is a city in Kent County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 48,707 at the 2010 census, making it the second most populous suburb of Grand Rapids and the 25th most populous city in Michigan.-History:...
(2008)