



BELLINGHAM, WA— Evergreen Premier League players will kick at the same ball as Major League Soccer stars in 2017 thanks to a new partnership with Soccer City and its owner / founder Drew Smiley.



“The ability for all EPLWA sides to compete against each other using the same match ball is critical to having a level playing field, both literally and figuratively,” says EPLWA President Peter Ostrovsky. “We are extremely grateful that Soccer City and its owner Drew Smiley have agreed to be our 2017 Official Match Ball Provider especially because of Drew’s grassroots with soccer at all levels in Whatcom County and beyond.”

The ball is the adidas Nativo, the official match ball of Major League Soccer. See how the patriotic theme of the ball was developed here.

Smiley knows first-hand about playing in the Evergreen Premier League. He was in goal for Bellingham United when they helped kick off the league back in 2014. “Playing for BUFC was an amazing experience,” says Drew. “I got a chance to end my soccer career in my local area and play in front of many friends and family. The professionalism and organization was top notch. Also I was pushed to stay on top of my game by the exciting young players and expectations of the coaching staff.”

Drew’s soccer shop business remains linked to the community. “We help out when we can, is our philosophy” he says. “If it’s a charity or a fund raiser or helping young talent get to the next level we try to be there for the community. There is no better feeling than watching young players make it into the college ranks or move on to the professional level.”

Soccer City was founded back in 1999. How the soccer world in the US and Whatcom County has changed since then! Smiley still provides the gear that players need to love the sport. “We live the game. We have played, we have coached and we are fans at every level of the game. Our company and employees are an experience which really is so much more than a business or a store.”