The Lincoln Club Soccer Team, based in Bristol, is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year with a big announcement about the league’s future.

The team will be joining The Champions Soccer League USA (CSLUSA), a quickly expanding league sanctioned with the United States of America Soccer Association that is part of the 4th Division of the US Soccer Pyramid, a semi-professional league.

“By being a part of the ‘Champions Soccer League USA’, our organization will be provided additional opportunities for local players to continue developing their skills and advance their soccer careers,” President and team coach Jonathan Delemos said in a release. “We have already been a part of local amateur leagues and have traveled to the Azores several times, but this puts us on a whole new level.”

There are 11 teams in Region 1 (Northeast division). The Lincoln Club team, based out of the Portuguese Beneficial Association in Bristol, is the only one from Rhode Island. Others are from Massachusetts, New Hampshire and New York.

The Portuguese Beneficial Association in Bristol is celebrating its 125th anniversary, making it the oldest Portuguese Beneficial Association in the country.
“It’s a great honor to continue working with such a well-respected cultural institution and we thank them for their support,” Mr. DeLemos said.

The Lincoln Club team has had tryouts and has signed up several players from area universities and other amateur leagues. The season will be starting in late April and runs through late August. Home game locations have not been announced, but are expected to be played in the East Bay. The team is looking for sponsors and will be holding it's first fundraiser on April 1 at the Club.

For more information, contact Mr. Delemos at 401-808-1579 or Tony Avila at 401-996-2020, e-mail lincolnclubst@gmail.com, or visit www.lincolnclubst.com.