If there’s one thing that you’ve been able to take to the bank since he arrived in the USL Championship four seasons ago about Wal Fall, it’s this.

Wal Fall’s teams always make the playoffs.

He arrived at an already strong Rochester Rhinos side in 2016 and helped that side to two more postseason appearances. He even almost scored a memorable game-winning goal against the eventual title-winner New York Red Bulls II in the Eastern Conference Semifinals of the 2016 USL Championship Playoffs, an unforgettable contest that saw New York stave off defeat in the final minute of extra time before winning in a penalty shootout.

In 2018, he headed to Saint Louis FC – a club which at that point had not reached the postseason in its history. Injuries limited him to making appearances in only two-thirds of STLFC’s games, but he was part of 10 of their 14 victories that season, and in the 22 games he played Saint Louis conceded only 18 goals.

This year, he headed north to Ottawa Fury FC, another side that had struggled to reach the playoffs since joining the USL Championship. With 10 goals and three assists, Fall helped the side deliver a postseason berth.

Now he’s back with Saint Louis, where the side that showed such promise in reaching the Quarterfinals of the 2019 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup only to fall short in the league and miss out on the postseason again is hoping Fall’s presence can provide more consistency in the center of midfield.

Because, at his best, Fall can be one of the best box-to-box midfielders in the Championship. He’s scored 26 goals in 103 regular-season games, and in the games he’s appeared in his sides have posted a 0.86 goals-against average. This isn’t down to one man, of course, but Fall finds ways to make the teams he’s on better. His personal regular season record of 46 wins, 26 losses and 31 draws are testament to that.

“We’re delighted to welcome Wal back to the club,” said STLFC Head Coach Anthony Pulis in the club’s statement announcing his arrival. “He had a huge impact for us in 2018 and we look forward to more of the same in 2020. His composure in possession, technical ability and creativity will add a different dimension to us this year. He’s a winner, a fierce competitor and I’m really looking forward to working with him again.”