WENATCHEE, WA— Wenatchee FC co-founder and co-owner Javier Reyna called it one of the “Most emotional, worst days of my life.” On Friday he made it official when he notified the Evergreen Premier League that his 3-year old club was folding. Wenatchee FC is out of the EPLWA, and for now at least, out of the soccer business.

Reyna spoke over the phone about his struggles in getting help with the everyday operations of his club. He says he had sponsors, that all the bills are paid, but that his family simply couldn’t continue “doing it all ourselves.”

The loss of Wenatchee FC means a hole in the middle of the state when it comes to elite men’s amateur statewide play. Yakima United remains alive and active in the EPLWA 108 miles to the south.

Wenatchee FC historical links:

At first, “Wenatchee United”

Wenatchee accepted into EPLWA

Galvan leads EPLWA in goals scored

Joining with Wenatchee FC Youth

A return to the Apple Bowl

“We were doing everything, from setting up to running everything behind the scenes,” Reyna said. “I just couldn’t ask my family to do it anymore.”

Further adding aggrevation to Reyna’s running of the men’s team, he tells goalWA.net that he thought he had found an answer to getting community help when he merged the name and crest with what is now called Wenatchee FC Youth (formerly Wenatchee Fire Youth, and other assorted clubs.) Instead, Reyna says he got little help from the youth club and no reimbursement for use of the dazzling WFC crest.

There are perhaps misunderstandings and a lack of clarity between the former WFC Men and the still-operating WFC Youth as to what each expected from the other. WFC Youth President Matt Wisen says his club is tied into the name and logo for at least another year because they have already spent thousands of dollars on new uniforms.

The Evergreen Premier League is expected to respond to these developments soon. The league’s Annual General Meeting was held on Friday in Yakima and the death of Wenatchee FC was front and center in conversations.